Chapter 97: 97 | External

He spotted Kyle and Leo near the entrance.

Kyle noticed him first.

"Jason!"

Jason looked over.

Kyle waved him over.

Leo was beside him, drinking from a bottle of water.

"You disappeared yesterday," Kyle said.

"I had plans."

"What kind of plans?"

"Normal ones."

Kyle stared at him.

"That's suspicious."

Leo laughed.

"Everything is suspicious to you."

"Because Jason has been acting weird lately."

Jason raised an eyebrow.

"Have I?"

"Yes."

"How?"

Kyle counted on his fingers.

"You're exercising more. You're dressing better. You're always disappearing somewhere. You're dating Sarah. You're suddenly good at talking to people."

Jason looked at him.

"That's a lot of things."

"Exactly."

Leo shook his head.

"Leave him alone."

Kyle pointed at Jason.

"I'm just saying something happened."

"Nothing happened."

"That's exactly what someone who had something happen would say."

Jason laughed.

"Go to class."

"We have ten minutes."

"Then waste them somewhere else."

Kyle grinned.

"Fine."

They started walking.

Jason relaxed slightly.

Normal conversation felt good.

Simple.

Nobody knew about yesterday.

Nobody was asking questions.

Then they reached the building.

Vivian was standing near the entrance.

She was talking to another student.

Jason's steps slowed.

She noticed him.

Their eyes met.

She gave him a small nod.

He returned it.

Nothing else.

Kyle noticed.

"Who's that?"

Jason looked at him.

"Vivian."

"You know her?"

"Study group."

Kyle looked between them.

"Since when?"

"A while."

"How come I've never seen you two talk?"

"We do."

Kyle shrugged.

"Okay."

They entered the building.

Jason glanced back once.

Vivian was still talking to the other student.

She wasn't looking at him anymore.

For some reason, that bothered him.

He ignored it.

Classes passed slowly.

During the break, Jason checked his phone.

Sarah: Lunch?

Jason: Sure.

Sarah: Cafeteria.

Jason: Okay.

He arrived a few minutes later.

Sarah was already there.

She waved him over.

"Hey."

"Hey."

She moved her bag so he could sit.

"How's your morning?"

"Fine."

"Fine?"

"Fine."

She smiled.

"You're tired."

"A little."

"You stayed up again."

"No."

"Jason."

"I went to bed at midnight."

"That's late."

"That's normal."

"Not for you."

He laughed.

"You've become my mother."

"Someone has to."

They ate together.

Sarah talked about one of her classes.

Jason listened.

Then she asked, "How was Vivian this morning?"

Jason paused.

"Fine."

"Did you talk?"

"Just said hello."

Sarah nodded.

"Okay."

He looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because I was curious."

"About what?"

"Whether things were awkward."

"They weren't."

"Good."

Sarah smiled.

Then she changed the subject.

That should have been the end of it.

It wasn't.

Because halfway through lunch, Vivian walked into the cafeteria.

She was with two other girls.

Sarah saw her immediately.

She raised her hand.

"Vivian!"

Vivian looked over.

She smiled and walked toward them.

"Hey."

"Sit."

Vivian hesitated.

Then pulled out the chair beside Sarah.

Jason was across from them.

The three of them ate together.

The conversation remained normal.

Sarah talked.

Vivian responded.

Jason occasionally added something.

Then one of Vivian's friends walked past and called her name.

Vivian turned.

"Coming!"

She stood.

"I'll see you two later."

Sarah nodded.

"Okay."

Vivian walked away.

Jason watched her go.

Sarah noticed.

She didn't say anything.

A few seconds later, she asked quietly, "Are you okay?"

Jason looked at her.

"Yeah."

"You were staring."

"I wasn't."

"You were."

He sighed.

"Maybe."

Sarah studied him.

Then she smiled.

"Don't worry."

"About what?"

"Whatever you're thinking about."

Jason frowned.

"You don't know what I'm thinking."

"Maybe not."

She picked up her drink.

"But I know you."

Jason smiled faintly.

That should have made him feel better.

Instead, it made the guilt worse.

Because Sarah did know him.

She trusted him.

And he was keeping something from her.

Not an affair.

Not a betrayal.

But still something.

He didn't know whether that distinction mattered.

After lunch, Jason returned to class.

His phone vibrated during the lecture.

He ignored it.

It vibrated again.

He glanced down.

Vivian.

Vivian: Can you send me the notes from today?

Jason: Sure.

He sent them.

Vivian: Thanks.

Jason: No problem.

A minute later:

Vivian: Are you free after class?

Jason stared at the message.

He typed.

Jason: Why?

Vivian: I want to talk.

Jason: About?

Vivian: Yesterday.

Jason looked toward the professor.

Then back at his phone.

Jason: Okay.

Vivian: Library?

Jason: Sure.

He put the phone away.

The system appeared.

[Secondary target interaction detected.]

[Quest condition satisfied.]

Jason stared.

Then another line appeared.

[Warning: Repeated private interactions may accelerate emotional attachment.]

He frowned.

The system disappeared.

Jason leaned back.

"Great."

The student beside him glanced over.

Jason lowered his voice.

"Nothing."

The lecture continued.

When class ended, Jason went to the library.

Vivian was already there.

She was sitting near the back.

She waved.

Jason sat opposite her.

"You wanted to talk."

"Yes."

"About yesterday?"

"Partly."

She closed her notebook.

"I talked to Sarah last night."

Jason's expression tightened.

"What did she say?"

"She asked me how I felt about you."

"And?"

"I told her."

"Everything?"

"Not everything."

Jason waited.

Vivian looked at him.

"I told her I was attracted to you."

His chest tightened.

"Why?"

"Because she asked."

"You could have lied."

"I don't want to lie to her."

Jason nodded.

"Okay."

"She asked if I thought I could develop feelings."

"What did you say?"

"I don't know."

Vivian looked down.

"That's still my answer."

Jason leaned back.

"How did she react?"

"She was quiet."

"Angry?"

"No."

"Jealous?"

"Maybe."

"She didn't say."

"She doesn't always say what she's feeling."

Jason smiled slightly.

"She definitely doesn't."

Vivian smiled too.

Then the smile disappeared.

"She told me something."

"What?"

"She said she doesn't want me to leave."

Jason frowned.

"Leave?"

"The apartment."

"Why would she think you'd leave?"

"Because things might become uncomfortable."

Jason nodded.

"Are you planning to?"

"No."

"Good."

Vivian looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because Sarah would hate it."

"Only because of Sarah?"

Jason paused.

Vivian noticed.

"That's what I thought."

Jason looked away.

"You're my friend."

"I know."

"I don't want to lose that."

"Okay."

She was quiet.

Then she said, "I don't want to lose it either."

They sat in silence.

Around them, students turned pages and whispered.

The library felt strangely peaceful.

Vivian finally spoke.

"I've been thinking."

"About what?"

"If we had met under different circumstances."

Jason looked at her.

"You mean if you hadn't been Sarah's roommate?"

"Yes."

He didn't answer.

"What would you have done?" she asked.

"I don't know."

"Would you have asked me out?"

Jason looked down.

"I don't know."

"You really don't?"

"No."

She smiled faintly.

"You're terrible at this."

"At what?"

"Answering questions."

"Because there isn't always an answer."

"Sometimes there is."

"Maybe."

Vivian leaned back.

"I think I would have said yes."

Jason's chest tightened.

She looked away.

"That's why I don't want to think about it."

Jason nodded.

"Neither do I."

"Because of Sarah?"

"Yes."

Vivian looked at him.

"And because you love her?"

"Yes."

She nodded.

"Okay."

There was something in the way she said it that made Jason feel guilty.

He leaned forward.

"Vivian."

"Yeah?"

"I don't want you thinking you're somehow less important because you're not my girlfriend."

She stared at him.

"That's a dangerous thing to say."

"I know."

"Because it makes me want to believe you."

Jason didn't know what to say.

Vivian smiled sadly.

"That's why we need boundaries."

"Agreed."

She nodded.

Then she closed her notebook.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"That's all I wanted."

Jason stood.

"Then we're good?"

"We're good."

They walked out together.

This time, they didn't speak much.

When they reached the entrance, Vivian stopped.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah."

She smiled.

Then walked away.

Jason watched her for a moment.

Then he turned.

Sarah was standing across the walkway.

Jason froze.

She was looking directly at him.

She hadn't been there when he entered.

She must have arrived while he was inside.

Jason walked toward her.

"Hey."

"Hey."

She smiled.

"Finished studying?"

"Yeah."

"How was it?"

"Good."

She nodded.

"Did you two talk?"

Jason hesitated.

"Yes."

"About yesterday?"

"Yes."

Sarah looked at him.

"Did she tell you she talked to me?"

"Yes."

Sarah nodded.

"Okay."

Jason waited.

She didn't say anything else.

"Are you upset?"

"No."

"Sarah."

"I'm not upset."

"Then why are you looking at me like that?"

She smiled.

"I'm trying to figure something out."

"What?"

She stepped closer.

"Whether I'm jealous."

Jason blinked.

"And?"

"I don't know."

She laughed softly.

"That's the annoying part."

Jason smiled.

Sarah touched his arm.

"I trust you."

"I know."

"But I also have eyes."

"What does that mean?"

"It means I can see how she looks at you."

Jason went quiet.

Sarah looked toward Vivian.

She was already far away.

"She likes you."

Jason didn't answer.

"I know you don't want to admit it."

"She told me."

Sarah's eyes returned to him.

"She told you?"

"Yes."

"When?"

"Today."

Sarah took a breath.

"Okay."

Jason waited.

Sarah looked down.

"That hurts."

His chest tightened.

"I'm sorry."

"I know."

She looked up.

"But I don't blame you."

"You shouldn't."

"I know."

She smiled faintly.

"I blame the universe."

Jason laughed softly.

"Fair."

Sarah leaned against him.

"Just don't make me regret trusting you."

"I won't."

She nodded.

"Good."

They started walking.

After a few steps, Sarah said, "Actually."

"Yeah?"

"I want you to come over tonight."

Jason looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to be alone with my thoughts."

He nodded.

"Okay."

She smiled.

"Good."

That evening, Jason went to Sarah's apartment.

Vivian was there.

The three of them had dinner together.

It was awkward at first.

Then Sarah deliberately changed the subject.

She started talking about a professor.

Vivian joined in.

Jason laughed.

Gradually, the evening became normal.

At one point, Sarah went to the kitchen.

Vivian looked at Jason.

"You okay?"

"Yeah."

"She told you."

"Yes."

"How bad?"

"She said she was hurt."

Vivian lowered her gaze.

"I knew it."

"But she doesn't blame you."

"She should."

"No."

"I do."

Jason shook his head.

"Stop."

Vivian looked at him.

"You don't get to decide how I feel."

Jason smiled faintly.

"Fair."

She smiled too.

Then Sarah returned.

"What are you two smiling about?"

"Nothing."

Sarah sighed.

"Again."

Vivian laughed.

"Sorry."

Sarah sat down.

She looked between them.

Then she smiled.

"Okay."

Jason frowned.

"What?"

"I think we're going to survive this."

Vivian looked surprised.

"Really?"

Sarah nodded.

"Yes."

She leaned back.

"But I have one condition."

Jason waited.

Vivian waited too.

Sarah smiled.

"No secrets."

Jason nodded.

"No secrets."

Vivian nodded.

"No secrets."

Sarah held out her hand.

"Deal."

Vivian took it.

Then Jason placed his hand over theirs.

"Deal."

For a moment, all three laughed.

The tension broke.

And Jason realized something.

Maybe this could work.

Not perfectly.

Not easily.

But perhaps.

Then his phone vibrated.

He ignored it.

Sarah looked at him.

"Check it."

"It's probably nothing."

"Jason."

He pulled it out.

The system notification appeared.

[Primary relationship stability: 92%.]

[Secondary relationship stability: 64%.]

[Conflict level: rising.]

Jason frowned.

Another line appeared.

[Next objective will be triggered by an external event.]

He read it twice.

Then the phone vibrated again.

This time, it wasn't the system.

It was Bree.

Bree: I need to tell you something.

Jason replied.

Jason: What?

Bree: It's about Vivian.

His expression changed.

He looked up.

Sarah was watching him.

Vivian was too.

Jason typed.

Jason: What about her?

Bree didn't answer immediately.

Then:

Bree: I think she likes you more than she's admitting.

Jason stared at the screen.

Another message came.

Bree: And Sarah knows.

He slowly lowered the phone.

Sarah looked at him.

"What?"

Jason didn't answer.

Vivian watched him carefully.

Then Sarah's phone vibrated.

She checked it.

Her expression changed.

"What?"

Jason looked at her.

"What's wrong?"

Sarah stared at her screen.

Then looked up.

"Someone sent me something."

"Who?"

She didn't answer.

Jason's phone vibrated again.

Bree.

Bree: Don't panic.

Jason stared at the message.

Then another arrived.

Bree: But someone else knows about all of this.

Jason's stomach dropped.

Someone else.

He looked at Sarah.

She was staring at her phone.

Then at Vivian.

Vivian looked confused.

Sarah slowly stood.

"Jason."

"Yeah?"

"I think we have a problem."

The system appeared.

[External event detected.]

[New objective loading.]

Jason stared at the screen.

The next line appeared.

[Protect the primary relationship from external interference.]

[Time limit: 72 hours.]

Jason's blood ran cold.

Because beneath the objective was one final line.

[External party identified: Unknown.]

He looked around the apartment.

Sarah was standing beside him.

Vivian was across from them.

And suddenly, the situation had changed again.

This time, it wasn't just the three of them.

Someone else knew.

And Jason had no idea who.