Chapter 4
Zara said that line in a quiet voice. Yet, it caused everyone in the room to freeze as if someone had pressed the pause button. Just then, the door behind her swung open.
Soren stepped inside. His face fell as his gaze swept over was soaking wet.
he chaos and landed on Zara, who
He was clearly displeased when he asked, “What on earth do you think you’re doing?”
No one had expected Soren to get angry over Zara
After a brief silence, someone laughed awkwardly and tried to explain, “We were just joking around with Zara. Don’t take it seriously.”
“Is this any way to joke around?” he retorted sharply. He showed no sign of intending to
brush off the incident..
Zara, however, was far more surprised by his reaction than anyone else.
Given how coldly Soren had treated her over the years, his friends had always mocked and belittled her. She had grown used to their humiliation and hostility. Surprisingly, he was standing up for her now.
“We just thought that since the person you’ve been pining for all these years is back, she should know her place and back away,” one of them said with a nervous chuckle, attempting to smooth things over.
But before they could finish, Soren snapped in a cold and commanding voice, “Shut up!”
Ignoring the confused looks from the others, he grabbed Zara’s arm and turned to leave. However, just as they reached the door, Winry walked in.
When she saw that he was about to leave, she pouted as a look of dissatisfaction surged in her
eyes.
She s
said, “Soren, we haven’t.even finished the game. I just got back to the country, and I’m finally having fun. Why do you have to go now?”
Soren had been determined just a moment ago. But upon hearing Winry’s words, he became
hesitant.
So, he turned back to look at Zara and asked, “Can you hold on a little longer?”
Zara glanced down at herself and smiled at how ironic the situation was. Her clothes were soaking wet, and there was blood smeared on her forehead. It was obvious she wasn’t fine. Yet, he asked her if she could hold on for a little longer.
At this point, she didn’t even have the energy to be upset with him.
ל
“Go ahead and continue your game,” she said listlessly.
Her agreement to concede seemed to lift a weight off Soren’s shoulders. He relaxed visibly as the others quickly urged him to sit back down on the couch.
The group resumed their game of truth or dare. To the very first round, Soren lost.
“Soren, at what age did you first feel your heart futter?”
Upon hearing the question, the others exchanged knowing glances between him and Winry. True to their expectations, he answered without Hesitation.
“15,” he said without missing a beat.
Zara couldn’t help but recall that according to the information she had read, Winry had moved into the villa next to Soren’s when he was 15.
Perhaps it was bad luck, but Soren lost the next two rounds as well. The questions became increasingly provocative.
“Soren, how old were you when you first had a wet dream?”
“17”
“And who did you dream about?”
The final question stirred loud laughter and teasing remarks from the group. Soren, however, fell silent. Just as he was about to forfeit and take a shot as punishment, someone stopped him.
“Come on, Soren. If you don’t want to say the name, just give us an initial!”
Zara sat quietly to the side. She watched as he finally released the glass in his hand and uttered a single letter, “W.”
W for Winry.
That much was obvious to everyone. Not only did Zara fathom who he was referring to right away, but so did everyone else in the room. The teasing voices grew louder, and Winry’s face
turned red with a mixture of embarrassment and pride.
Amid the noise, she finally looked up. With a hint of triumph in her eyes, she glanced at Zara, who was sitting not far away.
She commented, “Zara, it must be boring sitting over there by yourself. Why don’t you join us?
Feigning politeness, her invitation left Zara no room to refuse. She walked over and sat down as the game continued.
Luck shifted, and this time it was Zara’s turn to lose. She casually drew a card from the stack. After turning it over, she read the question printed on it.
“Is the person you love most in this room?” She read aloud.
“That’s too easy!”
“Exactly, everyone knows Zara loves Soren the most!”
Complaints filled the room as everyone assumed the answer was obvious. Under their expectant gazes, Zara slowly shook her head and said, “No.”
