Childhood friend!!?? he exclaimed in his head, mind spiraling with confusion.
What else? A girlfriend? A fiancée? A wife? Or gods forbid—a kid?!
Is this world trying to throw me into a full-blown domestic fantasy setting?!
Okay. Panic later. First, clear this challenge. Prioritize survival.
He forced himself to stay calm and began browsing the situation rationally. He looked up and down at the supposedly childhood friend, whose face radiated enough fury to incinerate a tree. She looked like she could, and would, absolutely remove his bladder and wear it as a hat if he didn't choose his next words carefully.
"Umm… sorry," Eiden said, voice almost squeaking. He sounded timid, scared—and entirely unsure if the apology would even register.
"Sorry??? That's all you have to say? Really?!**" the girl growled, even more furious now. Her face turned crimson like an overripe tomato about to explode from rage ,her beautiful face twisted with desire to kill .
In the background, Sasha was trying to calm her down, tugging at her arm gently. "It's okay, Sister Zeli. He must have had his reasons. Let him talk, let him explain himself first… but please, just calm down. You're scaring him."
"I'm okay, okay?" Sasha added quickly, trying to offer reassurance.
"Okay?! You call this okay?! You were running around town asking every person about your brother. You were crying your heart out every single night!" Zeli shouted. Her voice cracked slightly at the end, revealing the raw emotions barely hidden behind the anger.
Sasha's face turned bright red with embarrassment at the outburst. "Sister Zeli…" she whispered, clearly wishing she could shrink into the floor.
Seeing Sasha's vulnerable expression seemed to finally affect Zeli. The furious girl exhaled deeply, puffing her cheeks and then blowing out air like a volcano losing steam. After a few moments, she crossed her arms and said, "Fine. Explain yourself then, Mister Aidren. What happened?"
That's what I'd like to know too, Eiden thought bitterly. Seriously. I'm the most clueless person here. I have more questions than the rest of you combined since yesterday!
He tried to think fast. Any lie would be a gamble. He knew nothing about the real Aidren—his habits, his story, or his connection to these people.
Silence filled the room for several seconds as he froze. The tension was thick. Even the dust particles floating through the air felt awkward.
"Speak!" Zeli commanded, her voice cutting through the stillness like a blade.
Eiden almost jumped out of the bed in fright. He gulped hard.
He slowly opened his mouth. "The thing is… the thing is…"
He was stalling. He had nothing.
"The thing is?" Zeli repeated, eyes narrowing.
"I… went to pick some herbs in the forest."
Another silence followed. The entire world seemed to pause.
Zeli's eyebrows twitched. "Are you… are you serious right now? Are you insane? Have you gone senile?!"
She lunged forward like a tiger, her hands nearly wrapping around his neck.
"Sasha, get off me! I'm going to kill him! Just once! Quick and clean!" she yelled, thrashing as Sasha hugged her from behind to hold her back.
"Sister Zeli! Please! Stop it! Don't strangle him!" Sasha shouted, trying her best to control her.
"Let me go, Sasha! Let me go! This pain ends now! All of it!" Zeli howled.
Eiden flinched and curled into a ball on the bed. Why do all fantasy girls in these worlds act like they're seconds away from murder?!
With no options left, and realizing no lie would save him, he let out a sigh.
"I apologize, Zeli," Eiden said, this time sincerely. "I'm sorry for making you and Sasha worry. I truly am. But… I can't tell you right now what happened. I need some time. Please… just give me that."
He lowered his head, his voice genuine and low.
The room froze again.
After a moment, Eiden risked a glance upward—only to see both Sasha and Zeli staring at him with expressions of pure shock.
Their eyes were wide. Zeli's mouth had dropped open just slightly, and Sasha had even covered her own with her hand.
Oh crap, Eiden thought. Did I mess up again? Did I say something I shouldn't have?
"Brother…" Sasha said, her voice barely above a whisper, "…did you just call her Zeli?"
Eiden blinked. "Yeah? I guess?"
Zeli's entire body stiffened. Her face turned a deep shade of red—so much that Eiden thought steam might shoot out of her ears. Her pupils locked with his.
And then—without warning—she spun around.
"Stupid!!" she shouted, then bolted out of the room, her hands covering her face.
The door slammed shut with a loud thud.
Sasha and Eiden just stood there, stunned.
"…What just happened?" Eiden said, blinking slowly, scratching his nose out of habit.
Sasha turned to him. "Brother… you never called her that before. Not once. You always called her Zelira."
Eiden tilted his head, confused. "What's wrong with calling her that?"
Sasha looked at him with a knowing expression. "Don't act ignorant. Zeli's had a crush on you for years now. That pet name? You using it? That means something to her. And saying it during a fight? That's like… emotional attacking her ."
"What?" Eiden said, brain still buffering.
"Did you say it just to get out of the situation?" Sasha asked seriously. "Because if you did, then please, don't ever play with her feelings like that. If Mom were alive… she'd be very disappointed in you."
Eiden stared at the door Zeli had vanished behind.
This world. This role. This insanity.
"...Come on. You have got to be f***ing kidding me."
To be continued...