Chapter 100: 100 | Back

Jason remained standing in the living room.

His eyes stayed on Sarah through the glass door.

She stood with her arms folded, staring out at the street below.

She hadn't moved.

Vivian sat quietly behind him.

Neither of them spoke.

The silence became unbearable.

Finally, Vivian whispered, "You should go to her."

Jason nodded.

He reached for the balcony door.

Before opening it, he stopped.

"Vivian."

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for being honest."

She looked at him.

"Don't thank me yet."

Jason gave a tired smile.

"You really like saying that."

"Maybe."

He opened the door.

The evening air entered the room.

Sarah didn't turn around.

Jason stepped onto the balcony and closed the door behind him.

For several seconds, he simply stood there.

Then Sarah spoke.

"Don't."

Jason stopped.

"I wasn't going to say anything."

"I know."

She looked over the railing.

"I just don't want you to try to make me feel better immediately."

Jason nodded.

"Okay."

Sarah remained silent.

Jason stood beside her.

Not touching her.

Not forcing her to look at him.

Just standing there.

After a while, Sarah finally spoke.

"I knew."

Jason looked at her.

"What?"

"Not everything."

She shook her head.

"But I knew she liked you."

Jason didn't answer.

"I could see it yesterday."

Sarah smiled faintly.

"I just didn't want to admit it."

Jason leaned against the railing.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Because I was scared."

"Of Vivian?"

Sarah shook her head.

"Of myself."

Jason frowned.

"What do you mean?"

She looked at him.

"I kept thinking that if I acted confident enough, everything would be fine."

She laughed quietly.

"But I'm not that confident."

Jason watched her.

"I don't want to lose you."

"You won't."

"You can't promise that."

Jason fell silent.

Sarah looked away again.

"That's the problem."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Jason said, "What do you want me to do?"

Sarah looked at him.

"I don't know."

"Do you want me to stop talking to her?"

Her expression immediately changed.

"No."

Jason was surprised.

"You don't?"

"No."

Sarah shook her head.

"If I tell you to stop talking to her, what happens?"

Jason didn't answer.

"You'll resent me."

"No."

"You might not now."

She looked directly at him.

"But eventually."

Jason remained quiet.

"And then I'd always wonder whether you were only staying because I forced you to choose."

She took a breath.

"I don't want that."

Jason's chest tightened.

"Sarah..."

"I want you to choose me because you want me."

The words landed heavily.

Sarah continued.

"Not because I'm your girlfriend."

"Not because you feel guilty."

"Not because Vivian is complicated."

"Because you actually want me."

Jason stared at her.

"I do."

Sarah's eyes softened.

"I know."

She looked down.

"That's why this hurts."

Jason didn't know what to say.

Sarah stepped closer.

"Tell me something honestly."

"What?"

"When you look at Vivian..."

She paused.

"What do you feel?"

Jason's mind went blank.

There were a hundred answers.

Friendship.

Concern.

Curiosity.

Attraction.

Guilt.

Something else he hadn't fully admitted.

He could lie.

It would be easy.

He could say, "Nothing."

Sarah would probably know.

Instead, Jason took a breath.

"I don't know."

Sarah nodded.

"That's what I was afraid of."

"But I know how I feel about you."

She looked at him.

"I love being with you."

Sarah's expression softened.

"And I don't want to lose what we have."

She remained silent.

Jason continued.

"But I also don't want to lie to you about what I feel."

Sarah closed her eyes briefly.

"Thank you."

Jason frowned.

"For what?"

"For not lying."

She wiped at the corner of her eye before any tears could fall.

"I'm still angry."

"I know."

"I'm jealous."

"I know."

"And part of me wants to tell Vivian to stay away from you."

Jason nodded.

"But I won't."

She looked at him.

"Because she didn't do anything wrong."

Jason felt a strange weight leave his chest.

Sarah turned toward the balcony door.

"Come inside."

They returned to the living room.

Vivian immediately stood.

"Sarah..."

Sarah raised a hand.

"Don't."

Vivian stopped.

Sarah walked toward her.

For a moment, the two girls simply looked at each other.

Then Sarah said, "I'm not angry at you."

Vivian looked surprised.

"You aren't?"

"I'm angry at the situation."

She paused.

"And maybe a little angry at Jason."

Jason raised an eyebrow.

"Why me?"

"Because you're standing there looking innocent."

"I'm not innocent."

"Exactly."

Vivian laughed softly.

The tension cracked.

Sarah sat down.

Vivian slowly sat as well.

Jason remained standing.

Sarah looked at him.

"Sit."

Jason obeyed.

The three of them were once again on the same couch.

But something had changed.

There was no pretending anymore.

Sarah looked at Vivian.

"So."

Vivian swallowed.

"So?"

"You said you like him."

"Yeah."

"Do you want him?"

Vivian's face flushed.

"I don't know."

"That's not an answer."

Vivian looked at Jason.

Then back at Sarah.

"I think I do."

Sarah nodded slowly.

"Okay."

Jason stared at Sarah.

She was taking this far better than he expected.

Then Sarah said something that made both of them freeze.

"Then don't run away."

Vivian blinked.

"What?"

"Don't run away just because you feel guilty."

Sarah's voice was calm.

"If you genuinely have feelings for him, pretending they don't exist won't make them disappear."

Vivian looked down.

"But you're his girlfriend."

"I know."

"Then why are you telling me that?"

Sarah smiled sadly.

"Because I don't want this to become a secret."

Jason's expression changed.

A secret.

That was exactly what had been happening.

Everyone had been carefully avoiding the truth.

Vivian hid her feelings.

Jason avoided examining his.

Sarah pretended she wasn't afraid.

Now everything was out in the open.

Sarah leaned back.

"I don't know what happens next."

Vivian nodded.

"Me neither."

"But at least we're not pretending."

Jason looked between them.

For the first time since yesterday, he felt like he could breathe.

Then his phone vibrated.

He took it out.

[Quest Progress: 18%.]

Jason's eyes narrowed.

Another notification appeared.

[Conflict Stabilization detected.]

Then:

[Primary relationship trust: Increased.]

Jason stared.

The system was responding to their honesty.

He quickly locked the screen.

Sarah noticed.

"System?"

Jason's heart skipped.

She couldn't know.

"No."

She studied him.

"You're a terrible liar."

Jason smiled awkwardly.

"I know."

Sarah shook her head.

"Whatever."

Vivian looked at him.

Something about her expression told him she had noticed his reaction too.

But she didn't ask.

Instead, she stood.

"I should go."

Sarah looked at her.

"Why?"

"You two need to talk."

Sarah shook her head.

"No."

Vivian stopped.

"I think we've talked enough tonight."

Sarah pointed at the couch.

"Sit down."

Vivian slowly sat.

Sarah looked at Jason.

"There's something else we need to discuss."

Jason became serious.

"What?"

"Tomorrow."

"What about tomorrow?"

"I don't want us to spend the entire day pretending everything is normal."

Jason frowned.

"Okay."

"I want to do something."

"What?"

Sarah looked at Vivian.

Then back at him.

"All three of us."

Jason stared.

Vivian looked equally confused.

"Do what?"

"I don't know yet."

Sarah smiled faintly.

"But I think we should spend time together."

Jason raised an eyebrow.

"Together?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because if we're going to figure this out, I don't want us hiding from each other."

Vivian looked uncomfortable.

"Sarah, are you sure?"

"No."

Sarah laughed.

"Not even slightly."

That made Vivian smile.

"But I'm willing to try."

Jason looked at both of them.

He didn't know whether this was the best idea he'd ever heard or the worst.

His phone vibrated again.

He checked it beneath the table.

[Special Condition Detected.]

Jason's expression changed.

[Joint Interaction Opportunity.]

[Potential Quest Progress: High.]

He stared.

The system had been waiting for this.

A genuine interaction between all three of them could accelerate the quest.

Jason slowly put his phone away.

"Okay."

Sarah looked at him.

"Okay?"

"Let's do it."

Vivian hesitated.

Then nodded.

"Okay."

Sarah smiled.

"Good."

She stood.

"It's getting late anyway."

Jason checked the time.

Almost eleven.

"I should probably head home."

Sarah nodded.

"I'll walk you down."

Vivian stood too.

"I'll come."

Sarah looked at her.

Then smiled.

"Of course you will."

Vivian rolled her eyes.

"You started this."

"I know."

The three of them left the apartment.

This time, the walk downstairs wasn't silent.

Sarah and Vivian talked about something insignificant.

Jason walked between them.

It felt strange.

But not bad.

At the entrance, Sarah hugged him.

"Text me when you get home."

"I will."

She pulled back.

"And don't overthink tonight."

Jason smiled.

"Too late."

Sarah laughed.

Vivian stood a few steps away.

Jason looked at her.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

She hesitated.

Then smiled.

"See you tomorrow."

Jason nodded.

"See you."

He turned and began walking.

After a few steps, his phone vibrated.

He stopped.

[Temporary Quest.]

[Progress: 21%.]

[Phase Two has been completed.]

Jason stared.

Another notification appeared.

[New Objective will unlock in 12 hours.]

He frowned.

So tomorrow wasn't simply another day.

The system was preparing something.

He put his phone away and continued walking.

Behind him, Sarah and Vivian remained at the entrance.

Neither had gone inside yet.

Jason glanced back once.

Sarah was saying something to Vivian.

Vivian listened.

Then both girls looked in his direction.

Jason turned away.

His phone vibrated again.

This time, there was no system notification.

It was a message from Sarah.

Sarah: Don't worry.

Jason smiled.

Jason: About what?

Sarah: Tomorrow.

A second message followed.

Sarah: Whatever happens, we'll deal with it together.

Jason stared at the words.

Then he replied.

Jason: Together.

He put the phone away.

For the first time in two days, he felt genuinely hopeful.

Maybe this could work.

Maybe honesty really was enough.

Maybe the three of them could find some kind of balance.

Then his phone vibrated one final time.

Jason frowned and checked it.

The system had sent another notification.

[Warning.]

[Host has misunderstood the nature of the Temporary Quest.]

Jason stopped walking.

His smile disappeared.

Another line appeared.

[The objective is not to choose between Sarah and Vivian.]

Jason's eyes narrowed.

Then the final message appeared.

[The objective is to determine what Vivian is willing to sacrifice for the Host.]

Jason stared at the screen.

His expression slowly hardened.

"What the hell?"

The system window disappeared.

Jason stood alone beneath the streetlight.

For several seconds, he couldn't move.

He had thought the system was testing him.

He had been wrong.

It was testing Vivian.

And if that was true, then tomorrow's meeting wasn't going to be about fixing their relationship.

It was going to reveal just how far Vivian's feelings actually went.

Jason looked back toward Sarah's apartment.

The lights were still on.

He thought about Sarah's trust.

Then Vivian's confession.

Then the system's final warning.

His stomach tightened.

Whatever Vivian was going to be asked to sacrifice...

Jason had a feeling he wasn't going to like the answer.