Naya stared at him with a frozen expression. She didn’t think he would notice. His question…

“I don’t have a reflection. I don’t know what I look like. I thought I would be able to get a glimpse of myself, but I see you whenever I look into mirrors. Normally, I wouldn’t care. It doesn’t matter anyway.”

Jade stilled at her explanation. He floated closer to her. Too close, if Naya’s being honest. She leaned backward as he stared at her face.

“You don’t know what you look like?” He sounded terribly incredulous.

Naya breathed out when he straightened again. He has his arms crossed while scrutinizing her.

“That’s right. I guess it doesn’t matter to us. It’s not supposed to matter. It has no bearing in our ability to protect and guard humans’ fates.”

Still, being in his body, she had this nagging feeling of curiosity. As a guardian, she had been curious before but not this intense, and it’s something personal to her, too.

Jade went over to his study table and opened the drawers. He picked up his sketch pad and a couple of charcoal pencils.

Naya was stunned. Is he going to do what she thinks he’ll do with those? Jade may be an amateur but his sketches look realistic.

“Come and sit.” Jade pushed a chair and positioned it in front of the bed. He’s used to drawing while sitting on his bed.

“Are you sure? There is no need to do this.” She wanted to decline, but at the same time… she’s looking forward to it. There’s this… excitement within her. Is that what that feeling is called? It makes her restless.

Jade had to pull her up from the bed and push her down on the chair. Huh, she looks like a sheep. Obedient. Cute.

Jade shook his head before getting comfortable on the bed.

“Tilt your head down a little.”

Naya narrowed her eyes on him. What does he mean?

Jade sighed before leaning forward and reaching for her chin. She’s not used to instructions, he figured, so he simply touched her head to get the angle he wants. She looks beautiful up close. How can she have flawless skin? Wait, that’s not his skin, right?

He shook his head again to get those thoughts out of his mind. Naya frowned at him.

“Are you sure we should be doing this?” Naya asked, but then they have nothing to do. His arm and a rib are still healing. He won’t be going to school anytime soon. They both hoped no one from school would be sending things to do, like homework, for him to catch up. He’d rather have a break.

“Uh huh. Don’t bother me. I can’t focus when someone’s talking.” Jade’s expression looked serious as he started his outline.

Naya could only watch in silence. She’d seen him do this before. She knew. A corner of her lips curved upwards. If anyone asked her to do a sketch, she would fail. As she thinks about it, she might have to say she can only focus when certain conditions are met. Like how Jade is right now.

She watched him. Slowly, she got this different feeling from the way he looks at her. Was it what they call self-conscious? She feels somewhat shy, though there shouldn’t be any reason for her to be. His gaze on her is unsettling and the beating of her heart started speeding up. He looked serious and charming. What is this feeling? Naya is getting confused. She understands that humans have a complex range of emotions, but she’s not familiar with them.

“Stop frowning.” Jade had to say it after she remained that way for more than five minutes. He needs a specific expression on his drawing.

It took Jade nearly two hours. Naya being used to silence wasn’t at all bored as she watched Jade doing his work. It is what she does as his guardian, watching him.

Jade squinted at his output, then he held it up to see its likeness to the actual person. Wait, she isn’t a person. But for her to be this beautiful…

Jade thought she should take pride in the fact that in all his years, she’s the first one he described as a beauty.

“Here.” He carefully handed it to her. He’d like to see her reaction.

Naya took a deep breath before looking at his work. When she turned to look, she was stunned for a few seconds. Does she really look like this? She tilted her head as she studied her features.

“This is how I look?” She couldn’t believe it. She was prepared and has lowered her expectations already. What does she know about being conceited? In a way, she’s aware of what human emotions are called but she cannot associate herself with them before. She couldn’t understand why these people act irrationally when overcome with emotions. Somehow, she’s starting to understand.

She hadn’t realized that her eyes had teared up. She chuckled as she wiped her face. Why? Is this something to cry about? Four lifetimes, this is her fifth… and she now knows what she looks like.

“You look funny. Stop crying.” Jade picked up a handkerchief from his table and passed it to her.

“I know. I don’t even know why I’m shedding tears.” She roughly wiped her tears away, some dropped onto Jade’s drawing and she quickly dried it. It didn’t ruin the whole.

As Jade stood beside her, he put his hand on top of her head. It was a gesture he does to Oreo to comfort him. The kid used to cry a lot when he’s younger.

She sniffed and stared at the drawing once again. Jade let her stare at it some more. He can understand her fascination with it. These days, he decidedly sleeps at the foot of his own bed. He’s a spirit anyway. He lets Naya have the actual bed.

He stared at her as she stares at his drawing. She could stare for hours before she can commit it to her memory. She weirdly touched her own face as she ran a finger on the lines of his drawing.

“Are you sure this is how I look?” She couldn’t help asking. It was too much for her.

“Are you questioning my ability? Let me tell you, this is exactly how you look.” He briefly glanced at her before lying on the bed.

The next few days proved to be a challenge to Naya. She kept taking his sketch pad out and staring at his drawing. One time, they left the door unlocked and Jane came in.

“Who’s that?” She spoke when she’s already behind Naya. Both of them didn’t notice her approach and were caught off-guard.

Naya’s reaction was suspicious. She quickly closed the sketch pad, hiding the drawing from her. Jade sat on the bed. He was resting, and now it feels like he ran a marathon.

“What are you doing here?” They both stated. They did react similarly. Of course, Jane only heard “Jade”.

“She’s pretty. Who is she?” She decidedly took the sketch pad from her as she sat on the bed.

Jade narrowed his eyes on her. Yeah, she sometimes barges into his room, but not frequently these last few months.

“Uh…” Naya couldn’t give her an immediate answer. She widened her eyes at Jade. Her expression reads, “Quick, think of something! What do I tell her?”

Jade was equally rattled by this sudden situation.

“Someone you found online. An online friend or something.”

And so, that’s what Naya said. Jane’s reaction wasn’t what they were expecting.

“You made that up, didn’t you? I haven’t seen her. Is she from your school?”

“No.” Naya’s reply was instant. No, she isn’t. She isn’t even human.

“Did you draw this? You must like her to actually draw her. What’s her name?” She was immensely curious. Jade… she never heard anything from him about any girl. Whenever she asks if he has a crush, he would reply with a bored expression. He doesn’t have one. He doesn’t like a particular girl. He’s unlike her. Over the years, she had crushes on many boys.

Naya’s gaze darted towards Jade. She transitioned to telepathy.

“What do I say?” She almost screamed in her head, panicking.

“Tell her your name.” Jade was at a loss, too. He has no idea how this conversation is going to proceed. He only focused on the fact that Jane asked for a name. The first two sentences forgotten.

“Naya.” Naya replied simply.

Jane’s smile widened. He actually told her a name! Oh, Jade’s in love. That’s what went on her mind. He wouldn’t tell her a name if it’s no one.

“She’s pretty. Where did you guys meet?” She turned to look at the drawing again. Jade’s talented in making charcoal portraits.

“Tell her anything.” Jade gave up as he slumped back on the bed. It didn’t cause any ripple for Jane to notice.

“Online. Social media.” Naya thought wildly. Her brain simply didn’t work. If she’s watching this from a distance, she would berate herself for being flustered and unable to discern what Jane was thinking.