Egress

Seven: NERVES

🎧 Music Recommendation: Lily by Alan Walker 🎶

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  "Where the hell is Mason?"

  I slowly opened my eyes to see Melissa pacing in panic. Her fingers flew to her mouth, and she began chewing her nails, anxiety practically emanating from her. What was she so worried about?

  "I don't know, Mel. I have been trying to call him, but he hasn't been responding," Silas replied, his eyes fixated on his phone.

  "Ugh, that slow, lazy, dumb-as-a-doornail goblin! Soon, it will get so late at night, and then, it would become too dangerous to go into the woods."

  Silas furrowed his brows. "Don't worry, Mel, and chill out. If that happens, we can just go tomorrow."

  "No! We have to go tonight. Tonight is the first time in years since my parents left me home alone. Who knows when I'll be left alone again?" Melissa rubbed her fingers on her shirt to wipe away the saliva from them and brought her hands to her hair. "Oh, where is that twerp?"

  "Mel, I think you should just calm down." I laid my head back on the soft headrest and let out a sigh.

  "Ugh, geez! What's with all of you telling me to calm down? You know what? I'm going outside, I can't stay here anymore," Melissa snapped, not leaving any room for replies, as she stormed out of the living room.

What's up with her?

  "Finally!" Silas exclaimed suddenly. I turned to him, startled, and he said to me, "Sorry, I was just relieved Mason finally replied to my texts. He said he'll come in a few minutes."

  "Oh, that's a relief. Now, Mel can stop panicking," I replied with a small smile.

  "Yeah." He smiled back at me, gazing at me with his blue, twinkling eyes. "Eve, can I ask you something?"

  I nodded. "Sure, why not?"

  "First of all, you already know I have feelings for you, right?" he began, before standing up from his seat and sitting beside me on the three-seater couch. "Actually, I don't want to pester you about anything, but I just want to know about this certain thing. I don't know if I'm just getting mixed signals, and I just want everything to be clarified. Oh, and, it's not like I want to force you or anything, but it's just–"

  "Dude, enough with all the 'justʼs', and get to the point," I laughed.

  He chuckled and clasped his hands. "Yeah, you're right; sorry about that. I won't beat about the bush anymore.

  "So, my question is: do you like me?"

  "Do I like you?" I averted my gaze to my phone in thought.

Should I really answer this? I think I should. But how do I answer without hurting his feelings?

  I cleared my throat. "Silas, you're amazing, honestly. And I–"

  "On second thought, it was a mistake going outside. I think I'll stay here," a familiar voice said, interrupting me.

  I turned to the door and saw Melissa standing at the doorway with a strange expression.

  "Mel, I thought you left." I smiled at her but received an annoyed look in response. Although my smile faltered, I added, "Silas said Mason will be here in a few minutes, so no need to panic anymore."

  Melissa did not respond to me and, instead, went to sit on the chair Silas sat on earlier. Then, a deafening and painful silence ensued. The atmosphere was thick with tension and awkwardness. Her cold aura made it difficult for me to even try starting up a conversation. Why was she acting like this all of a sudden?