Hey guys, Tanucki chan here I'm so sorry for not posting a new chapter these past few days 😔 I know some of you have been waiting and I really appreciate your patience.
Things got a little hectic, my grandma had to be taken to the hospital, and it's been a lot emotionally and time-wise. Thankfully, she's stable now and one of my uncles is traveling soon to help take care of her, so things are calming down a bit.
Thank you so much for sticking with me, love you all tons
Enjoy the chapter!
.....
The morning slipped away with unimportant tasks—tidying up, organizing cables, making sure everything was ready for the next streams. After lunch, he stretched out on the couch, phone in hand. There were messages in the usual group chat—George telling some absurd story about his neighbor, David sending stickers. And one from Semiel.
"Just finished cleaning the fish tank. Bet you didn't know I have a fish named Pablo?"
Saval chuckled lightly.
—Of course I didn't know that," he typed quickly. "How long have you had a fish?
—Two years. But I never introduced you because he's antisocial. Like I was in first year.
—You weren't that bad in first year," he wrote. "You became friends with me.
The reply took longer than usual.
—Yeah. That was the best part of that year.
Saval stared at the message longer than he should have. He read it twice, as if it held some hidden meaning, but in the end, he just smiled and set his phone down on the table. There was something about Semiel lately—in the way he spoke, in the way he looked at Saval when he thought no one would notice. Something different.
And he… felt it too. He didn't know exactly what it was, but he felt it. In the way he relaxed when Semiel was nearby. In how he laughed more easily. In how much he thought about him when they weren't together. It wasn't just friendship. Or maybe it was—but the kind that spills over the edges.
Later, as the sky began to darken, Saval texted him.
—Wanna hop on a call and play something?
—Yeah, just gotta get things ready here and I'll log on.
They loaded up Minecraft, and the world they'd been working on was just as they'd left it. Semiel had been determined to build a giant tower-like house, and Saval had gone along with it, adding ridiculous decorations. That night, though, they spent their time exploring. They descended into a massive cave they'd left unfinished.
—Don't put the torch there," Semiel said, laughing. "You're blocking my view.
—Oh, sorry, Mr. Architect.
The sound of their voices mixed with the game's effects filled the room. At one point, Saval stopped mining and just watched Semiel move around in the game.
—Can I ask you something?" he said, without thinking too much.
—Go ahead.
—Why did you look at me like that the other day?
Silence. Only the echo of digital footsteps and the buzz of a bat in the background.
—What day?
—When I dropped my ice cream cone, Saval swallowed. You took my hand and just… kept looking at me.
The pause was even longer this time.
—I don't know… Semiel finally replied. It was an impulse. I didn't think about it.
—And now?
—Now I'm thinking too much.
Saval smiled faintly. He knew he was playing with fire. But something inside him wanted to keep talking, to keep skirting that edge of possibility.
—What if we don't think? — he said.
Semiel didn't answer—at least, not with words. Saval heard him laugh softly, a nervous laugh.
—Then I'd say I want to see you tomorrow. That we could go out for a while, like before. Just you and me.
—Is that a date? Saval asked, his heart beating faster.
—I don't know. What would you say?
Saval leaned back in his chair, staring at the screen without really seeing it. Lava illuminated one corner of the cave. He thought about Mia. He thought about how he'd had fun with her, sure—but not like this. Not with this mix of nerves and tenderness twisting in his chest.
I rejected him back then, but little by little, I'm feeling something more. Is it really just friendship?
I'd say yes — he finally answered.
Semiel let out a sigh. He sounded relieved.
—Then I'll see you tomorrow.
—Yeah — Saval said. See you tomorrow.
They played a little longer, but neither was really focused anymore. Something had shifted in the air, in the tone of their voices. When they said goodbye, Saval logged off and sat in front of the screen for a while, silent. Then he looked up at the ceiling.
He didn't know exactly what he was feeling. But he knew he wanted to keep feeling it.