Chapter 4: The Traveler's Unexpected Quest
Nethan found himself staring at his phone, his thumb hovering over the "send" button. He'd been messaging with CrimsonRose for the past hour, their banter as playful and chaotic as ever. He'd confessed to her that he'd been watching her play Genshin Impact, and she'd responded with a playful challenge to a friendly duel.
He was about to accept her challenge, eager to prove his skills in the game, when he remembered Eiña. She was sitting at the table across from him, her eyes glued to her phone, a small, contented smile on her lips.
He couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. He was secretly messaging with her, sharing jokes and strategizing about the game, while she was sitting right there, completely unaware of his double life.
"What's so funny?" Eiña asked, looking up from her phone.
Nethan quickly put his phone away, trying to hide the guilty flush on his cheeks. "Nothing, just scrolling through memes," he said, his voice a bit too casual.
"Memes?" Eiña raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you a bit old for memes, Nethan? Shouldn't you be reading the news or something?"
He couldn't help but laugh. "What can I say? I'm a man of simple pleasures."
"I guess," Eiña said, her smile turning mischievous. "I thought you were more of a... a grumpy cat, all claws and hissing."
He grinned. "You're making me blush, Eiña. I'm not sure what to say."
"That's the thing about grumpy cats, they're usually pretty clueless," Eiña said, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
Nethan felt a surge of annoyance. He knew she was teasing him, but her words hit a nerve. He hated being called a "grumpy cat," even if she said it in a playful way.
"I'm not clueless, Eiña," he said, his voice a bit too sharp. "I just prefer to keep things simple. No need to overcomplicate things."
"Simple? Is that why you're secretly messaging someone while you're sitting with me?" Eiña asked, her voice laced with playful accusation.
Nethan choked on his coffee, the bitter liquid burning his throat. He couldn't believe she had caught him.
"What?" He sputtered, trying to play it cool. "I'm just... checking in with a friend."
Eiña tilted her head, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "A friend? Is this your online girlfriend?"
Nethan's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't believe she was so perceptive. He knew he couldn't deny it anymore.
"Maybe," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "But she's not the only one I'm interested in."
Eiña's eyes widened, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Oh really?" She leaned forward, her voice soft and seductive. "And who else might that be?"
Nethan felt a shiver run down his spine. He couldn't deny the fact that he was starting to feel something for her, something that was more than just a playful clash of personalities.
"You know," he said, his voice a bit shaky, "I'm actually starting to think that 'The Traveler's Unexpected Quest' is a lot more complicated than I thought it would be."
Eiña laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh, Nethan, you have no idea."
Her laughter instantly triggered something within him, a mix of frustration and annoyance. He hated the way she was trying to pry into his life, the way she was always pushing his buttons. He knew he shouldn't let it get to him, but he couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.
"You're right," he said, his voice laced with sarcasm. "I have no idea. You're such an expert on everything, aren't you? You know my secrets, you know my thoughts, you know my... everything." His voice was tight, his eyes flashing.
Eiña's smile faltered, her face turning serious. She had never seen him so angry, so defensive. "Nethan, I'm just..." She started to apologize, but he cut her off.
"Just what?" He snapped, his voice rising. "Just nosy? Just meddling?"
"Nethan, I'm sorry," Eiña said, her voice softening. "I didn't mean to pry. I just... I'm curious."
"Curious?" Nethan scoffed. "That's a polite way of saying nosy." He stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. "You know what, Eiña? I'm done. I'm done with your games, your snooping, your… everything."
He turned to leave, his anger simmering beneath the surface. Eiña reached out, grabbing his arm. "Nethan, wait. Please," she pleaded, her voice laced with a hint of desperation. "Let me explain."
Nethan shook his head, pulling his arm away. "There's nothing to explain. I'm not interested in your explanations."
"But I…" Eiña started, but Nethan was already walking away.
He stormed out of the coffee shop, the cool air hitting his face as he took a deep breath. He felt a wave of relief mixed with a strange sense of emptiness. He hated how easily he'd let her get to him, how his anger had flared up so quickly. But he couldn't deny that he was hurt, hurt by her nosiness, by the fact that she had so easily uncovered his secret.
He knew he had to clear his head. He needed to escape the chaos and confusion that had taken over his life. He turned and started walking, the direction irrelevant, the only thing on his mind the need to get away from it all.
He walked for a long time, the streetlights blurring into a kaleidoscope of colors as he lost himself in his thoughts. He thought about CrimsonRose, about their playful banter, their shared passion for the game. He thought about Eiña, about her bright smile, her mischievous eyes, the way she challenged him, the way she made him feel things he hadn't felt in a long time.
He realized that he was drawn to both of them, that he was attracted to their contrasting personalities, to the way they made him feel alive. But he was also afraid of them, afraid of getting hurt, afraid of losing himself in this new and unpredictable world.
He finally stopped at a park bench, his legs weary, his heart heavy with a mixture of emotions. He pulled out his phone, checking the time. It was late, but he couldn't help but feel a strange urge to message CrimsonRose. He wanted to talk to her, to escape into the world of the game, where things were simpler, where his true identity was hidden.
He opened their chat, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. He typed a few words, then deleted them. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. He was letting Eiña's words, her nosiness, her accusations, dictate his actions.
He knew he had to face her, to talk to her, to explain himself. He had to figure out where they stood, where their connection stood, where he stood in the middle of this unexpected adventure.
He put his phone away, a sense of determination filling his heart. He would find Eiña, he would talk to her, and he would face this "Traveler's Unexpected Quest" head-on.
