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Earendil's chuckle faded into a smile, and he nodded.

"I had a feeling you might," he murmured. His smile widened, and he leaned back against the tree. "Go ahead, ask away."

He suspected that he knew what she was going to ask. After all, he had been wondering for a while now how much of that conversation she had overheard.

Earendil was startled by the question. Indeed, it was different than what he had expected. He had expected her to ask if there were someone that he loved. But ... like?

"I ... like many people," he replied, frowning gently. "My friends, my family ... there are even acquaintances that I like. That's ..."

He hesitated, then murmured, "Forgive me for saying so, but that is ... a bit of a strange question. I ... I'm not sure if I understood you correctly ..."

Earendil's face flushed slightly, but he chuckled softly. "Ah," he murmured, "that's more the question I was expecting. And to be honest, I've been expecting it since the day you overheard my conversation with Shael."

He smiled down at her, his smile ... well, embarrassed.

"Before I answer your question," he murmured, "will you answer one for me?" He hesitated a moment, then asked softly, "How much of that conversation did you overhear? I've been wondering since I realized ..."

Earendil blushed deeper and looked away. "I see," he murmured. "Then I don't even need to answer your question ... you already know the answer."

Though it was also evident that she had not heard who it was. Now what? Should he tell her? Should he let it go for now? Perhaps he would leave it to her, see if she would press further. Did he want to tell her? Desperately. But he was afraid ...

"Though you should know," he added, "I don't mind that you eavesdropped. Honestly."

Earendil shrugged. "Not when the whole world knows," he replied simply. "I know, one would think that I'd get up the guts to talk to people, but ..."

He hadn't been the one to bring up the subject with Shael, it had been she who had asked him.

Earendil pursed his lips slightly, thinking deeply.

"Let's just say ... I've been honest with people who have asked me about it," he murmured, "but I haven't gone out of my way to specifically tell anyone. That day ... when I was talking with Shael ..."

He grimaced. "She brought it up. Just ... just up and asked me. I couldn't deny anything."

He shrugged. "Still."

"Hey," Earendil murmured, putting one arm around her shoulders and hugging her lightly, "don't feel bad. You're usually very observant. More than most people. There's just ... some areas where you don't seem to see as much as others, shall we say."

He smiled down at her gently. "You know I confide in you more than anyone else, right?"

Earendil smiled and let her lean against him, making no move to change their position. It was the most he had allowed himself ... ever, and he was a little anxious that she might become irritated with him, but at the same time he knew he didn't want to let her go - not yet.

He watched as Miyuki played around in the grass beneath the tree. There was a part of him that wanted to continue the conversation with Lin, since it had come up, but the rest of him was still afraid ... afraid that things would change between them, that she would keep a distance from him if she knew how he felt. Because he knew she didn't feel the same.