Between Life

Chapter 16: Ego

Lior and I exchanged glances, both equally puzzled about how to resolve this awkward situation, or even feeling like we wanted to escape from it. Hanna was inside the tent, Yura was heating up the situation, and Kevin was, well, Kevin.

"Yeah, I know it's my fault. I'm the one being selfish. I regret it, but it feels pointless now. I've already ruined tonight, our night together. Especially since Hanna probably already hates me with all my behavior. I didn't realize how annoying I must be in her eyes," Kevin said, accompanied by a sigh.

Lior gently rubbed Kevin's back, trying to calm him. "You need to apologize. We've all come here, and we've all been preparing for this night since last week, just to come camping in this area on the weekend because it went viral," Yura said, taking a frustrated breath. "It's like, when else is Yura this determined to leave the house, right? If I had known this, I would have just stayed at home relaxing and watching anime. I don't want to know, okay? You and Hanna need to make up before sunrise. It's crazy that I have to deal with your problems like this. You're the one who likes Hanna, why are we the ones worrying about your issues? Anyway, I'm going into the tent," Yura continued, then went inside, leaving me, Lior, and Kevin sitting in silence, staring at the campfire.

Suddenly, Yura came out of the tent again, but this time she was holding a hand, Hanna's hand. "Let go, Yura! You're crazy! Let go, it hurts!!" Hanna tried to pull her hand back. But who would have thought that Yura was so strong?

"This one here, come on, you two go somewhere, just not far from here. If someone's kid goes missing, we'll all be in trouble. Go on, go far away, sort out your problem. Problems need to be solved, not left alone. Even food, if left for too long, will rot. Go on, sort it out. You're always fighting, like cats and dogs," Yura said, sounding like a mother shooing her child, almost making me and Lior burst out laughing.

"Alright, you two go. Just don't go too far, and make sure you resolve your issues calmly. You're always fighting, like cats and dogs," I said, with Hanna looking more sulky and Kevin taking a deep breath before standing up. "Let's go," Kevin said shortly.

The two of them walked away, away from our tent area. Lior, Yura, and I hoped they would come back, at least with their issues resolved.

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(At a place not far from the camping area)

Hanna leaned against a tree, focused on her phone, while Kevin seemed lost in thought, looking around.

"Sorry," Kevin said, sounding a bit embarrassed.

Hanna took a deep breath and put her phone in her pocket. "Since when?" she asked. "Since when have you liked me? What do you like about me?" she continued.

Kevin's face turned red, and he cleared his throat, perhaps due to the awkwardness. "Well, I don't know. I just suddenly liked you, not as a friend but as a woman. I like your confidence, your courage to express what you want, and, well, you're beautiful. I don't know why, but you always look beautiful in my eyes, even though my behavior must annoy you every day. That's just my way of getting more attention from you. Even though I'm a guy in our group, before Lior came along, I know you, Yura, and especially Seraphina, just see me as a friend," Kevin said.

"You all don't feel awkward showing your true selves to me, and for some reason, I think that if I want more attention from you, I have to be more annoying," Kevin continued, then lowered his head.

"Why me? From what you said, I don't feel like there's any special reason for you to like me. Yura has similar traits to mine, confident and always willing to express what she wants. About being beautiful? Yura and Seraphina are also beautiful," Hanna said, seeming unsatisfied with Kevin's reasons.

"What other reason do you want? If my heart wants you, if my eyes only see you, are you forcing me to like someone else? Does love always need a reason, Han? Fine, then why did you date Ronald?" Kevin asked, looking directly into Hanna's eyes.

Hanna rolled her eyes lazily. "Of course, love needs a reason. It's nonsense to say that love doesn't always need a reason. If you want to know why I'm dating Ronald? Well, let me tell you the most certain thing: Ronald is better than you. Ronald knows how to treat me like a good man should. I always feel comfortable around him. I can tell him everything, from the smallest things to the problems I face. I can act like a child around him, I can cry to him. He's the best man I've ever seen. A handsome man," Hanna explained, crossing her arms.

Kevin looked at Hanna seriously. "Okay," he said, then smiled. "Okay, if that's the case, it's good that Ronald treats you well. I truly regret all my behavior towards you all this time. Forgive me, Han. We've been friends for so long, I beg you not to let it be ruined because of this. I'm really sorry. You can ask me anything as long as you forgive me," Kevin continued.

Hanna nodded slowly. "Okay, I forgive you. But, it feels like it'll be very difficult to go back to how things were before, for now. But, we'll still be friends as usual," Hanna said. Then, Kevin nodded.

A few minutes of awkward silence only added to the tension. "Um, let's go back to the tent, shall we? The others are waiting," Kevin said, and they returned to their tent.

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(Back at their camp tent)

"Where's Sera and Yura?" Kevin asked, noticing Lior was alone. "Why are you alone, Li?"

Lior looked up at Kevin, "Sera fainted, and Yura's taking care of her inside the tent. Not long after you left, she suddenly said her head hurt so bad, then she fainted," Lior explained, looking grim. Upon hearing this, Hanna immediately went into the tent to see Seraphina lying unconscious, while Yura was still trying to wake her up.

Kevin sat down next to Lior, gazing at the campfire. "She's probably just exhausted," he said reassuringly. Lior just nodded wearily.

Inside the tent, Hanna and Yura were trying to wake Seraphina up, but there was no progress. Several hours had passed, and it was nearly midnight. "Sera, wake up, please," Hanna pleaded, shaking Seraphina's body. Suddenly, Seraphina's eyes opened, and she sat up abruptly. "Finally!!! I'm back!" she exclaimed, making Hanna and Yura look at her oddly.

"What do you mean? What's back? What's wrong with you?" Yura asked, puzzled. Suddenly, Seraphina hugged Hanna and then hugged Yura. "Oh, I missed you both so much. Finally, I can touch you again," Seraphina said, making the situation even weirder.

"Ser, are you awake now?" Kevin asked as he opened the tent, seeing the three girls hugging each other. "What's going on here? Is there another tear-jerking event or something?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, Kevin!!!!" Seraphina exclaimed, standing up and hugging Kevin. "I missed you so much!" she continued, hopping around excitedly. "What's wrong with her? Is she possessed? Do we need an exorcism in this tent? Wake up from a fainting spell acting like a crazy person. You fainted for a few hours, not like you've been abroad for years saying you missed us," Kevin said, then lightly tapped Seraphina's head.

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Hi Guys

did any of you already know about what is going on with seraphina? i think mostly of you all already guessed it right? yes, the real seraphina that owned that body is back to her own body. as for other seraphina? well must wait for next chapter to know about that hehe (^◕.◕^)

don't forgot to vote and comment!

hope y'all like my first story (even its kinda weird xixi)