16 - Knock on the door [1]

My room, right now, steamed with youthful passion.

The atmosphere was intense.

In both of our minds, Wendy and I knew that the inevitable was going to happen.

I accepted it. So did she.

Beyond just acceptance, Wendy acted.

Slightly lifting her own weight, she reached for a kiss but then a knock came to my door.

—Knock!

She paused and tilted her, staring in the direction of the door behind me.

I turned my head as well, looking in the same direction.

Whoever that is, they didn’t realize what they had just done.

I was enraged, Wendy even much more than I was.

I returned my gaze back to her.

She was almost tomato red with anger. Burning with annoyance at this person whom we are yet to find out who they are.

Naturally, that was expected.

Who wouldn’t be mad?

We were having a moment of passion, almost about to get into the real deal and this is what we get.

An interruption.

—Knock!

Not long after the first, a second knock came.

This person was really here to see me... or Wendy. The latter, however, was least likely.

Wendy moved her attention back to me, her face contorted in anger.

"Are you expecting anybody?" she asked, coming off more like an interrogation than a plain, innocent question.

I noticed the effort she put in not to come off as rude with her question.

Shaking my head, I answered. "I am not."

She was close to flipping anything around her upside down.

Wendy ground her teeth and walked back to my bed where her clothes had been laid.

She put them back on, adjusting her bralette while I made my way to the door to see who had come.

I turned the door handle, pulling it inwards as the door opened a little, allowing me enough space to poke my head out and see who was knocking.

A little air of surprise struck me right where I stood as I saw this person.

Her silver hair elegantly framed her face as she stood there like a straight statue, waiting for me.

"Eris...?"

That was certainly a surprise.

I would never have expected Eris to come to the boys’ side of the hostel, how much more my own room.

"W-What brings you here?"

Her cold eyes ran over me from head to waist, easily figuring that I probably had a towel or the most minimal cloth on at this moment.

"Remington, can we talk?"

She was curt, leaving no room for friendly courtesies.

Eris DeLorentis wanted to get to business, which made me wonder what exactly it was that she wanted to talk about.

’Was it about Absolute Zero?’

That was the first thing that came to mind. After all, she had witnessed that ability of mine.

Her gaze ran over me again. "But if now is a bad time, then I will—"

"I will go change. Wait here."

She paused and stayed silent for a second or two before nodding her head.

Sooner or later, Eris and I were bound to have a conversation because I also wanted to talk to her.

Whether she came to me or otherwise, it didn’t matter now.

Either way, we had the opportunity to ask each other what we wanted.

I didn’t know for certain where Eris would seek me out but for me, I needed her help.

If there was anyone close by who understood my ice ability and how it would probably work, it would be her.

I nodded back.

Just as I was about to turn around, I felt Wendy’s arm curl around mine.

Her breasts pressed firmly against my body.

It was clear, even to the blind, that this was an intentional act. She did this as if she was marking her territory.

I gave her a sidelong glance.

"What do you want here, Eris?"

Her words fired like bullets filled with spite at Eris.

Eris expressed a half smile that faded in a second. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Her attention was on Wendy and looking at the two of them, I didn’t realize that there was ever this much bad blood between them.

Maybe witnessing it firsthand was better for objective assessment than reading it in the words of the original author of the novel.

Eris’ eyes narrowed, turning even colder.

I could feel it, the enmity between the two of them seemed to have deep roots.

Without a doubt in mind, I knew that if nothing was done here, these two beautiful ladies were willing to tear each other apart.

"Isn’t that Miss DeLorentis to you... Arclight?" Eris replied calmly.

The coldness in her voice was enough to freeze the very air around us if that was a thing.

"You are here to try and steal him, aren’t you!"

Wendy was furious now.

Her antlers and the leaves sprouting from them were starting to extend, growing as her emotions rose.

"Like what you already did wasn’t enough."

I had to act before things got out of hand.

"Enough Wendy," I said.

My voice was sharp enough to put her back in line, leaving no room for argument.

Wendy lowered her head and stepped back, heading into the room with a sad expression on her face.

I sighed as I watched her.

I would have to sort that out later.

As for Eris. "Wait here for me."

She said nothing as I closed the door.

Standing with my hand still on the door handle, I looked at Wendy.

She was sitting on the bed with her knees to her chest and arms around them, and her face turned away from me.

I rubbed my forehead.

"What have you done, Link?" I said in a low, regretful tone.

"Come on, Wendy. She just wants to talk and nothing more."

I walked over to her, resting my hand on her shoulder but she shrugged it away.

Of course, the female attitude when they are angry or pretending to me.

"Let me just see what she wants and—"

"She kissed you, Link."

"Huh?" I blurted out.

Eris kissed me?

I blinked a few times, ransacking my memories in split seconds but nothing that popped up in my head showed such an image of Eris kissing me.

Just the thought of it alone made me crawl.

I couldn’t picture Eris and I in such a situation... yet.

Her bond value with me was still at 12.5, so that scenario was impossible.

Wendy nodded like she could swear that what she said was true.

"She did. Everybody knows except you," she persisted. "She took advantage of you and that’s why I attacked her."

Hearing this, my ears tingled.

The corners of my eyes twitched in disbelief.

What did Wendy just say?

"You attacked her?"