Novel Full Chapter 147: Unspoken Lines
Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Unspoken Lines
Na-rin held his gaze, her eyes steady. After a long moment, she nodded quietly, unbothered by the closeness. There was no hesitation, no embarrassment. “You can’t go back on your word. I’ll hold you to it… until the very end.”
Jaxon blinked, slightly taken aback by her straightforwardness, then a smile slowly formed on his face. “You’re the one who should worry. I don’t let go of anything I hold onto.”
Na-rin pressed herself a little closer, shaking her head. “I’m not worried at all.”
For a few heartbeats, they just stood there, gazes locked.
A sudden soft cough came from the side making them both turn. Natasha stood there, arms crossed, looking at them with a sharp gaze. “You two really are…”
She didn’t finish, but her intense gaze lingered. Na-rin quickly looked away, moving to Jaxon’s left side, leaning against him slightly. Natasha’s lips twitched in response as she glared at Jaxon.
“Sorry, we were… talking,” Jaxon said casually, opening his other arm in a loose gesture. “Want to join us?”
Natasha froze for a second. Then she looked away, muttering under her breath, “You’re shameless.”
Jaxon glanced at Na-rin. “Am I shameless?”
Na-rin tilted her head, thinking. “I’m not sure… maybe?”
Natasha clenched her teeth, clearly annoyed, but then, almost abruptly, she stepped forward and grabbed Jaxon’s right arm, hugging it close.
Both Jaxon and Na-rin blinked in surprise.
“What is this?” Jaxon asked, feeling the weight of both of them on either side.
“Quiet,” Natasha said softly, resting her head against his shoulder. “If it weren’t you… I wouldn’t ever do this.”
Her words trailed off, and the three of them stayed like that, shoulder to shoulder, in comfortable silence for a long while.
Jaxon leaned back, his eyes tracing the darkening sky. “I want to lie down…”
With the two girls on either side of him, he casually moved toward the back of the Hilux and stretched out, letting his body sink against the flat surface.
The girls hesitated for a moment, silently watching him. Jaxon chuckled softly and gently pulled them closer, letting them lie beside him. Their hair and clothes brushed against the metal of the truck bed, slightly rumpled.
“You really are shameless,” Natasha muttered, though she didn’t resist. She rested her head on his right arm, while Na-rin settled on his left.
“The sky looks so peaceful,” Jaxon said quietly, his gaze drifting upward. “Hard to believe it’s the same world down here.”
“Mm,” Na-rin hummed softly, her eyes fixed on the moon, wishing silently that this calm would last.
For a while, the three of them simply stared at the quiet sky, letting the stillness wrap around them.
After some time, Natasha’s eyes wandered to Na-rin’s pistol resting lightly in Jaxon’s hand. She turned toward him and spoke in a low voice. “Did you tell her about the exclusive skill?”
“No.”
“Hmm,” Natasha nodded slightly, then turned her attention to Na-rin. “How did you know about the stat gain?”
Jaxon blinked in surprise, looking at Na-rin from his arms. “You knew?”
Na-rin gave a small nod. “I’m not entirely sure about the stat gain you mentioned, but I figured out that we get stronger too when you keep telling us to take down infected.”
Jaxon gave her a small nod, slightly surprised at how quickly she picked up on things. “Don’t tell anyone about it.”
Na-rin looked up at him with steady eyes. “I won’t, not unless you say so.”
“Thank you,” Jaxon said, smiling softly.
“You should be careful about your words next time, Jaxon,” Natasha interjected from the side.
“It’s fine. I wasn’t planning on hiding it from her anyway,” Jaxon said honestly, meeting Natasha’s gaze without flinching. “I trust her.”
Na-rin’s hand tightened on his sleeve, tugging lightly to get his attention. “You trust me that much? Why?”
Jaxon casually glanced at the sky, then met her dark eyes, looking straight into her being. “Because it’s you.”
“I see…” she whispered, a soft warmth in her voice.
Natasha, listening quietly, tightened her grip on his arm. Her emotions swirled, and before she could stop herself, she asked, “Do you trust her more than me?”
Jaxon turned to her, reading the vulnerability in her eyes, the same look he had seen before when she needed reassurance. He took a breath and answered honestly, “I trust you both.”
Natasha blinked, then, impulsively, bit his shoulder like an infected.
“That hurts,” Jaxon said, wincing slightly.
“Hmph!” she snorted, but instead of letting go, she hugged him tighter, pressing herself closer as if to make sure he understood her feelings.
Na-rin silently watched them. She had always known that Natasha and Jaxon were siblings, but from the way they interact, the way she looked at him, the care, the protectiveness, it was clear Natasha felt something more than family for him.
“Natasha…” Na-rin called softly.
“What?”
“Do you hate me?” Na-rin asked, meeting her gaze.
“I do.” Natasha’s reply was blunt.
“Why?”
Natasha stayed silent for a long moment before speaking. “Even if the chances are low, you could take him away from us.”
Na-rin understood instantly, and shook her head. “I won’t.”
“Who would believe you?” Natasha muttered, resting her head back on Jaxon’s arm.
Jaxon said nothing, letting the two of them speak freely, his hands resting lightly on both girls.
Na-rin stayed silent for a beat before her voice returned, low but steady. “I dislike you too, Natasha.”
Natasha said nothing, but there was a hint in her gaze that she already knew.
“I’ve always been jealous of you,” Na-rin continued. “Back then, all I had was my mom. But she never really saw me as her child. I was just… a piece in her game, a tool for her ex-husband, or someone who could be useful to her someday. I rarely had friends, and I’ve always been afraid to open up to anyone.”
Jaxon felt the tremble of her hands as she spoke, though her voice remained calm.
“I want… what you have,” she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. “To be part of a family… Jaxon’s family.”
Jaxon pulled her closer, letting her lean against him, listening in silence.