"But if you work just lightly from your house, then, how do you fill your time? Like what other things do you do?"
"Because I heard you maintain a garden at home as a hobby, but is that really all?"
Seeing how Eva gave him a brief glance upon hearing his sister's question before returning her attention back, Christian wondered if he wasn't supposed to have shared that detail with his sister.
"Well, strolling in my well-maintained garden is really my only hobby," Eva said with a small smile. "But if you're asking how I fill my time, well, there is one other thing."
"I like to collect old items, look through their history, and the like."
'That's also new,' Christian thought, finding it odd. A garden and old items didn't seem to have any connection. He felt the garden suited her, but this hobby? He wasn't so sure, especially since history was one of his most hated subjects in school.
"Oh, what's so interesting about this kind of thing? If you're unearthing them, that's one thing, but just collecting them is another."
Hearing his sister's peculiar tone and how she seemed a bit intrigued, Christian couldn't help but feel that, either way, it was a boring thing, and just didn't understand.
Eva, this time suddenly fell silent, her expression contemplative, as if she were weighing whether to share something significant or not.
"Well, I don't have that much interest in them exactly; I'm just imitating my family."
This time, Christian was quite surprised, as it was the first time she had really mentioned her family. But why did they collect these items in the first place? Then, was she trying to compete with them? That was the impression he got from her tone after all.
While noticing how the atmosphere had become a little awkward this time, his sister still asked a bit more about what kind of items she usually looked for and similar topics before finally closing this subject and opening another one, allowing the conversation to continue.
"How many unimportant things does his sister know?" was the question in his mind during this time, as his sister didn't seem to find any problem with opening many topics.
Even then, maybe his sister noticed how much she talked? Or perhaps she felt that she should give them some private time, because she finally said.
"It's a bit early, but I will go prepare dinner, and you can talk alone."
As Christian become alone with Eva, with the silence hanging between them, she finally looked at him with a smile that seemed a little intimidating and said.
"It seems that our conversation topics have all reached your sister!"
'Was that wrong? But had we talked about something important?'
That was what Christian thought as he didn't flinch under her gaze but looked closely into her eyes. Then, feeling a little bold, perhaps because it was on his home ground, he extended his hand and caressed her cheek as he replied.
Eva, who seemed a little surprised at first by what he did, ultimately didn't seem to mind his hand, as she just shook her head and said.
"It's not about whether you should talk or not, but rather, is there a need to say everything?"
'But I didn't mention the conversation we had at the riverside, which I found a little embarrassing and more private in the first place, along with some other small talks.'
"But I didn't say everything?"
"Hmm, well, forget it, then."
Hearing her helpless tone, and seeing how she had become silent but was still looking at him, Christian questioned whether it was because of his hand, which was still caressing her soft cheek and didn't seem to have enough contact. However, he lowered it, feeling that in the house with his sister, who could come in at any moment, it wasn't that appropriate.
More importantly, he felt a little embarrassed to be seen .
He lowered his hand and held hers instead, but rather than holding it normally, he intertwined his fingers with hers, which left him feeling content in the end.
As they sat there in silence, Eva finally leaned her head on his shoulder, and they remained like that for a long time until his sister arrived, surprising him with her sudden question as soon as she walked in.
"Should I take a picture of you?"
Annabelle looked at her brother and the woman he seemed to like.
She had arrived a little earlier and was quietly observing them. Even so, she still didn't know how to feel about Eva, as her defenses were quite high. She was waiting for their reply now, thinking it seemed like a somewhat meaningful moment for them, and they appeared to be good together. However, she also regretted why she had said it.
Seeing Eva raise her head, Christian knew she was going to refuse. So, while wrapping his hand around her head, he spoke first, preceding her for the first time.
As he replied and looked at Eva, who seemed a bit embarrassed for the first time, but remained silent in the end, Christian felt as if he were being overwhelmed by an immense amount of cuteness.
It was a happy moment, and his sister went along with him, even bringing the camera and taking more than one picture, which made him feel quite thankful for her.
Now, while holding the camera and looking at the pictures she had taken, he felt they were very beautiful, but they still didn't capture the adorableness of Eva.
Annabelle, seemingly unable to endure any longer, finally said.
"Okay, the dinner is ready. We should go eat while the food is still warm."
While Christian nodded and carefully set the camera aside, fearing something would happen to it before he could withdraw the pictures, they finally went to the dining room.
To come upon the scene of his sister showing the results of her efforts from her recent lessons as she set the table with a colorful spread of dishes.
"So, what do you think?"
Seeing how she was actually looking at him while asking, despite Eva being the guest and not him, and feeling the sulking tone of her voice, Christian didn't know exactly what was going on.
Still, in the end, he expressed his gratitude, as it was something she had done because of him.
"It seems quite delicious."
"Yes, I think the same."
Seeing how Eva followed him closely and how her tone clearly conveyed admiration, Christian thought for the first time that maybe being able to cook was something worth showing off.
Hearing his sister's reply, Christian was pulled out of his thoughts. Then he shrugged, went sat at the table with the others, and started eating, feeling that his sister's efforts had truly made a difference.
In the end, the meal concluded with everyone feeling satisfied. Annabelle now looked at Eva, sensing that she might leave at any moment, and finally said.
"While we've talked a lot, I realize I haven't asked about the most important thing yet, about my brother.
"Like what did you think of my brother when you met for the first time?"
"Oh, I'm just curious about how you see him, about your first impressions of him, so you don't have to feel uncomfortable."
Christian perked up at the side, giving his full attention, no, his 120% attention, as direct questions one were a little difficult for him, and he was genuinely curious.
Eva, who didn't let her expression reveal whether it was a difficult question for her or not, paused slightly to gather her thoughts before finally saying,
Eva looked at Christian, who was now gazing at her with widened eyes in surprise before shifting her attention to his sister. Noticing how the two siblings reacted similarly to her reply, she stifled a laugh and chuckled lightly. Without caring about the mood, she finally continued.
"Well, it was just a little annoying, and I wasn't offended by what he said in the end."
"Still, at that time, I didn't understand much about him. But now, I know that he's just a clumsy person when it comes to socializing, someone who has difficulties expressing himself."
'I have difficulties expressing myself?'
While Christian questioned himself upon hearing what Eva said. Annabelle adjusted her position after hearing the rest of Eva's words, feeling that what she said could actually be true. But, she asked again, as her curiosity had not yet been quenched.
"Then what do you like about him? Because from your description, those aren't qualities that are able to attract someone, especially someone like you."
With her most important question asked, Annabelle looked forward to Eva's reply. She understood her brother's perspective somewhat, especially since he had high standards, given that the first woman he showed interest in was Eva. But what about the other party?