Elin jolted awake, water dripping down her face.
Ethan stood beside the bed, wearing a satisfied smirk.
Ethan: "Great. You're finally up."
Elin blinked rapidly, her eyes darting around the unfamiliar room before landing on him.
Elin: "Wait—what am I doing here?"
Elin: (And why am I wet?)
She pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her face.
Ethan: "You fainted during the workout."
Elin: "Workout…?"
Ethan: "You know. The one you did with Dylan."
Her mind snapped back to reality as the memories rushed in.
Elin: "I fainted!?"
Ethan: "Yeah. Dylan carried you here. You really shouldn't push yourself that hard."
Her cheeks flushed bright red.
Elin: "..."
Elin: (I can't believe I fainted. Ugh—just end me.)
Ethan: "Anyway, I made lunch. Want to join us?"
Elin: "Huh? Ah—no thanks. I'm not really hungr—"
A loud rumble from her stomach interrupted her. Seems like her stomach would beg to differ.
Ethan let out a small laugh.
Ethan: "I'll take that as a yes."
Elin's face resembled a tomato.
Elin: "..."
Elin: (Just kill me already.)
Her expression suddenly changed when she noticed the bandages on Ethan's arm. She grabbed his hand instinctively.
Elin: "What happened to your arm?"
Ethan looked slightly surprised.
Ethan: "Remember when I told you about the goblins we killed? One of them bit my arm and—"
He turned slightly and pointed to the bandage on the back of his head.
Ethan: "Another latched onto my head. That's where these injuries came from."
He said it almost proudly.
Elin: "And your finger?"
Ethan: (If I tell her she bit me, she might actually die from embarrassment.)
Ethan: "Just a small cooking mishap. Nothing serious."
They left the room and walked through the familiar, silent hallways.
Elin: "By the way… what did you make for lunch?"
Ethan: "Curry rice."
They entered the cafeteria and sat across from each other. The rich aroma filled the room, making Elin's mouth water.
Ethan: "Go ahead and eat. Dylan's taking a bath. I'll wait—it's kind of a tradition."
Elin clenched her fists, summoning every ounce of willpower she had.
Elin: "No, it's fine. I can wait."
She in fact could not wait, as a thunderous roar from her stomach reminded her of that.
Ethan: "You can eat. I really don't mind."
Elin: "I said I can wait!"
Ethan: "Okay, okay…"
Ethan: (This is painful to watch.)
He tried to avoide eye contact.
(Ten minutes later)
Dylan walked into the cafeteria, drying his hair with a towel. Elin's eyes lit up.
Ethan: (Finally!)
Ethan: "Took you long enough."
Dylan put the towel aside, grabbed a nearby chair, and sat beside Ethan.
Steam rose from the curry rice, filling the empty cafeteria with a rich, comforting smell.
Elin said a quick prayer in her mind.
Elin hesitated, then took a bite.
Her eyes widened.
The curry was warm and balanced—soft rice soaked in thick grav, gentle spice spreading through her chest. Before she noticed, she was already eating faster.
Ethan watched quietly.
Ethan: "No one's gonna run away with the food."
A moment later, Dylan took a bite.
Dylan: "This is good."
Ethan smirked.
Ethan: "Obviously."
They ate in silence, the clink of spoons echoing through the cafeteria. For a brief moment, all the worries of the world outside felt distant—held back by warm food and shared calm.
Elin glanced between Ethan and Dylan, studying them closely side by side.
Elin: (Are they really brothers?)
Dylan: "Sorry for pushing you too hard."
Elin: "It's okay."
Dylan: "I didn't expect you to faint during the warm-up."
Ethan: (Warm-up? Even I can do his warm-up.)
Elin: "Dylan?"
Dylan: "Yeah?"
She hesitated.
Elin: "Is Ethan… adopted?"
Dylan froze.
Ethan: "Why am I the adopted one?"
Elin: "I mean—Dylan is tall and handsome, and you're—"
Ethan: "Pfft—"
He burst out laughing.
Ethan: "Hahaha—!"
He took a breath, tried to stop, and failed immediately.
Ethan: "Tall and handsome? Is that a confession?"
Both Elin and Dylan started blushing.
Ethan: "You can't confess now. It's only volume one. The writer needs to drag this out for atleast ten more volumes."
Elin: "I—I didn't mean it like that! I meant you two look and act so different!"
Ethan: "By calling me short, ugly, and adopted?"
Dylan: "You can blame Ethan for my looks."
Elin: "Huh?"
Ethan: "He naturally handsome face but I dye and style his hair."
Ethan: "As for personality—it's always been this way."
Elin: "I see. Anyways Thanks for the meal."
She stood up, waved goodbye, and left the cafeteria.
Dylan: "So… have you decided?"
With just a few words the atmosphere shifted instantly.
Ethan hesitated, then nodded.
Ethan: "Ya.. We are escaping."