“No, not at all.”
“I feel like you two are practically dating,” Evelyn said. “Yesterday, something huge happened to you, and the first person you turned to was Kael-not your family. Doesn’t that mean he’s very important to you?”
“Yes, but… I’m scared. I’m still worried that I might face betrayal again.”
Even though I was certain Kael liked me now, there were so many obstacles between us. One was human, the other a werewolf. How could we ever really be together?
Just that alone made me think our relationship would be far more difficult than an ordinary one.
“Are you worried because he’s a celebrity, and you’re just an ordinary girl? If it became public, you’d be overwhelmed by his admirers?” Evelyn asked.
I nodded. “Yes, and you know Vivienne is one of his obsessive pursuers.”
“So what?” Evelyn said. “Think about it, Seraph. Haven’t you always been the one to back down before? And what did that get you? You got hurt. Relationships require courage!” She patted my shoulder with a confident, reassuring smile.
“Look at me and Judy-we’re open about it with everyone. What’s the big deal?”
Her carefree attitude gave me a bit of courage, but only a little.
“I’ll think about it,” I told Evelyn. But deep down, I knew this situation wasn’t as simple as she made it out to be.
“Alright, Seraph. Honestly, you’ve fought a great battle. So what if Vivienne is attractive? She’ll never win Kael’s heart. Seeing you with him probably makes her furious!” Evelyn laughed.
Her cheerful energy was infectious, lightening my mood.
“You have a point,” I said with a laugh.
Evelyn and I sat on the couch, a pile of snacks spread out on the table. We watched TV, chatting and laughing.
For a moment, I felt the pressure in my heart ease. It was like I had returned to the old days when I was just an ordinary girl. Back then, Evelyn and I would spend carefree afternoons watching our favorite movies and shows.
But after everything that happened, life changed. Evelyn started dating, and moments like this became rare.
After a while, Evelyn’s phone rang. It was Judy.
“Okay, I’ll head over now,” Evelyn said, hanging up.
“Going on a date?” I asked, watching her.
“Yep. Want to come with us?” Evelyn grinned, offering the suggestion.
I quickly shook my head. “No, no, I’ll pass. You two enjoy yourselves. I’m feeling a bit tired and want some quiet time.”
“Alright then,” Evelyn said, not pressing the issue. She went to her room to freshen up before leaving.
Soon, the entire apartment was silent, with only me left.
I realized that even TV could get boring after a while. But there didn’t seem to be much else to do.
After some thought, I decided to play a game.
Evelyn had bought a Switch console before, and we occasionally used it to play interactive games, like fitness or dance games. It also had other kinds of games, but I wasn’t in the mood for exercise.
Instead, I called out, “Marek, are you there?”
A gust of wind swept past, and Marek appeared before me. He still had that quiet, calm demeanor, looking like a shy, well-behaved boy.
“Are you okay? I didn’t ask-did yesterday’s events hurt you?”
Honestly, I couldn’t remember much.
Marek shook his head. “I’m fine. I got a little hurt, but you know how quickly werewolves heal.”
“Good. Can you play a game with me?”
I handed one of the game controllers to Marek. He looked at me, puzzled.
“Come on, play with me,” I said with a smile.
“Alright. When it comes to games, that’s my specialty,” he said with sudden confidence.
We played a highly popular game called It Takes Two. It’s about a couple who constantly argue and end up turned into dolls. Together, they face challenges to mend their broken relationship.
Marek played as Cody, the husband, while I played as May, the wife.
This game had always been tricky for me. Evelyn and I had tried playing it before, but we couldn’t get past the final level and eventually gave up.
I wasn’t sure if Marek’s confidence was just bluff, but his self-assured demeanor made me curious.
It didn’t take long to find out.
As the game began, we each controlled our characters. Soon enough, I died multiple times in one level while Marek breezed through it, waiting for me to catch up.
“Sorry, this is tough,” I said apologetically.
“Give it to me,” Marek said, holding out his hand for my controller.
I handed it to him.
With just a few swift moves, Marek navigated through the obstacles with ease. His skill left me speechless.
“You’re amazing!” I couldn’t help but give him a thumbs-up.
“It’s nothing. I used to play games a lot when I was bored,” Marek said.
“But weren’t you wandering in the forest before?” I asked, remembering his life as a lone wolf. Without the protection of a pack, he had to live cautiously, always on guard against danger.
“Of course,” he replied. “But sometimes, I found human society fascinating, so I’d sneak into towns. One time, I saw a group of kids playing games, and it looked fun. Ever since then, whenever I was bored, I’d go to arcades to play for a bit.”
Watching Marek’s smooth gameplay, I couldn’t help but marvel at his talent. Every time I struggled with a level, he effortlessly cleared it for me.
“You’re so good at this. If you worked hard, you could probably become a professional gamer,” I remarked.
“I like things the way they are now,” Marek said. “I don’t enjoy school or the restrictions of human society. This lifestyle suits me better.”
Well, I guess everyone has their own path.
Marek and I spent the entire day playing games, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I’d been saved.
Maybe the only way to escape the weight of my thoughts was to immerse myself in something else entirely.