Chapter 22 – Love Between Two Silences
The night had slipped into its final hours. Silence lay thick over the house, a heavy shroud pierced only by the crimson glow of the moon, suspended in the sky like a burning ember, painting the rooms with a fire-like hue.
Inside, Eyas slept soundly in his room, while Rojen lay in hers—each lost in a different world—under the blood-red gaze of Alpha's moon as it poured its eerie light across their still faces.
But the silence was not complete.
From the kitchen came a steady crunching sound, as though someone was gnawing at the very fabric of the night.
The scene crept closer… revealing Saman at the table, devouring the leftovers Selene had prepared. He ate with strange intensity, as if the entire world had shrunk down to taste alone, ignoring the stillness, the lateness, everything.
Yet, a pair of eyes watched him quietly from behind the door.
From the shadows, Selene appeared, standing silently, observing his every move. He remained oblivious, chewing without pause.
The moment didn't last. A soft, lilting voice broke the hush of the kitchen:
Selene:
— "Did you like my cooking that much… that you'd wake in the middle of the night just for it?"
Saman froze, as though lightning had struck his spine.
The chewing stopped. The food stuck in his throat, sending him into a coughing fit. He pounded his chest, choking for a moment before finally forcing it down.
The voice was all too familiar. He didn't need to turn to know it was Selene.
She stepped closer, her movements unhurried, and slid gracefully into the chair across from him. Tilting her head, she toyed idly with a strand of her loose hair, her bright eyes studying him with teasing charm.
Selene:
— "There's no need to rush… If you're still hungry, I'll make you more."
Heat surged across Saman's face. Embarrassment rooted him to his seat, as if the earth itself had swallowed him whole. For a moment he dared not raise his head. But eventually, forcing himself, he looked up at her.
And when their eyes met… time froze.
His eyes widened, as though beholding a vision from another realm. Her beauty struck him like a painting woven from the moon's own light.
His fingers tapped nervously against the table in random rhythm, his heartbeat racing faster than his breath could keep up. Selene smiled softly and asked, with childlike innocence:
Selene:
— "Why won't you speak? Did the food get stuck in your throat?"
But Saman was elsewhere…
His gaze drifted to her unbound hair cascading down her back like flowing water, then to her short gray-and-white striped pajamas, the small buttons slightly open at the chest—an image of innocence tinged with dangerous allure.
Selene shattered the silence with sudden boldness:
Selene:
— "There's no need to stare at me so much… Sometimes, the eyes say everything."
It was the first step—an unmistakable sign.
Inside, Saman smiled. He felt there was no turning back. He drew a deep breath, and when he spoke, his words spilled as though they came straight from his heart:
Saman:
— "To contemplate… is to stand safely on the shore while watching the storm of your thoughts."
Silence returned once more, but this silence was no ordinary hush.
It was thick with emotion—an unspoken bond both of them knew, yet feared to declare. A silence that glowed between them, as if they were two souls in separate bodies bound by the same fire.
Saman lifted his head further, as though something inside him had broken free. His voice carried the weight of poetry:
Saman:
— "If only my heart had a mouth to cry out its pain…
Arrows of love strike from your gaze unseen,
Yet their wounds bleed in the silence of cold nights."
The words pierced Selene's heart like an arrow.
Her eyes widened, and a stunned smile curved her lips—one that lingered despite the blush rising over her face.
She found no words to answer. Only silence remained—denser than any confession.
Slowly, Saman rose to his feet, his strength nearly spent. He moved toward the door, intent on leaving. But before he reached it, a faint voice stopped him. Her voice:
Selene (whispering):
— "Love… is a battle you win only by surrendering.
… And I surrendered long ago."
He halted for a moment, a wide smile breaking over his face. Yet he didn't turn back. He left the kitchen, though his heart stayed behind, tethered to her words.
Selene stood by the window, the moon's red glow reflecting in her eyes. She whispered to herself, repeating the same lines he had spoken:
Selene (blushing):
— "If only my heart had a mouth to cry out its pain…
Arrows of love strike from your gaze unseen,
Yet their wounds bleed in the silence of cold nights."
---
Morning came, and the sun shattered the chains of night, filling their faces with new energy.
At breakfast, Rojen had already made up his mind. With a bittersweet smile, he addressed his friends:
Rojen:
— "I'll be gone for a while… Stay in touch. And you two, Eyas and Saman, don't you dare block my calls again."
They smiled back at him as he pulled out his Tower device. A translucent screen appeared before him. He selected Fields, then tapped Green Planet.
A prompt blinked before him:
Are you sure you want to request travel to the Green Planet? (Yes/No)
He raised his head one last time.
Rojen:
— "Then… goodbye, my friends."
He waved before pressing Yes. In an instant, his body vanished, swallowed by light.
Eyas sighed.
— "Ughhh… Now I've got no one left to tease."
Saman chuckled.
— "Hahaha! You're on your own now, bookworm. Lucky for you, I'm still here. If you apologize for betraying me with proper respect… maybe I'll stick around."
Eyas shot him a cold glance, his voice sharp as a blade.
— "And you… why are you even outside your dishwasher?"
Saman froze, then raised his hands in defeat.
— "Fine… I can't outmatch you in wit or words."
Laughter filled the room, Selene watching the scene with joy dancing in her eyes.
After more banter, the three of them headed out. Quick flashes of their day unfolded: the trio wandering the market, stopping by the Tower Sages' café for enchanted drinks, and returning home laden with ingredients for dinner.
By evening, they gathered around a table overflowing with magical meats of every kind.
Eyas bit into his food and smirked:
Eyas (teasing):
— "What's this, sis? Celebrating the departure of that annoying one?"
Selene chuckled softly.
— "No, it's a feast for your climb to the second floor."
Saman burst out laughing.
— "Hahaha! Finally, someone shut him down!"
Selene turned to him slyly.
— "And you too, Saman… Don't go choking on my delicious food again."
His laughter died instantly, his cheeks burning.
Eyas grinned, plotting mischief.
— "I'll take a picture of this feast and send it to the annoying one. I bet he'll get furious."
The scene shifted swiftly to dusk.
Eyas stood tall, ready to depart for the second floor.
He raised his head toward the ceiling, inhaled deeply, and whispered to himself:
"I wonder… what awaits me there, beyond the Zero Floor?"
And with that… the chapter ends.
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✦ End of Chapter 22 ✦