The Hyrule Paradox: Worlds Collide | BOTW Isekai (Book 1)

Chapter 25: Hearts

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Olivia looked confused, but agreed, and Jordan led her outside to the unlit fireplace that sat just outside the house. Olivia took a seat on one of the low wooden stools in front of it and Jordan sat down across from her, and took a moment to start a fire. It was nighttime now, and the only light was coming from lamps and fireplaces. The fireplace crackled in front of them as Jordan began to speak.

"I gotta talk to you about what happened last night." he told her, his serious tone setting the atmosphere for the conversation. Olivia tilted her head.

"What do you mean?"

"After we finished cleaning up Lynn, I crashed on the couch. Next thing I know, it's the morning, and you are curled up next to me." he told her, allowing some of his agitation into his words to show his disgust and unease. He saw her try to keep her face neutral, but it was slowly showing some guilty conscience. "I don't know why you did it, but it violated my personal space, and it seems clear to me that there was something behind it, and so I'd like to figure this out."

"Whaddayamean?" she asked all too quickly.

"I want to know why you did it, and what's going on here."

"I...um..." Jordan raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "Okay, fine. I thought maybe...you know...I might...like you again. But I didn't really know how I felt."

"So you decided to take a direct approach?" he asked calmly.

"Yeah, I guess. I did that last night to see if it would, I don't know, awaken any feelings in me, and maybe in you too." she said.

"Did it awaken anything in you?" he wondered. She shrugged uncomfortably.

"Maybe a little. It obviously didn't for you, right?"

"Not even in the slightest. Would you like to know how I feel?" she looked up at him and nodded silently. "I don't feel anything for you at all. We broke up forever ago, it feels like now. It's done, and I'm not going back. You're my best friend, but nothing further. And even if I did have something for you, I would shut it down because I don't want to get back into it."

And that was that. He had told her how he felt. Now all he could do was wait for her reaction. And after some tense silence, she responded, staring into the ground.

"I understand. You don't have any feelings for me, and the feelings I have left aren't strong enough. It only makes sense that our previous relationship isn't coming back. Thank you for your honesty. I think I'm going to go to bed now."

She got up, and headed back inside, all the while shaking her head at herself. A minute later, Amber exited the house, followed by Mayla. They walked over and sat down next to the fire obviously wanting to talk. Jordan offered them a nonchalant "Sup?" as they looked at him.

"You know what's up. What did you tell Olivia?" Amber demanded.

"I told her I didn't have any feelings for her." he replied shortly.

"Wait what?"

"Yeah. Apparently that's why she decided it was a good idea to sleep next to me last night." he explained roughly.

"So what exactly did you tell her?" Amber demanded.

"Can I ask something first?" Jordan cut in before he could get interrogated, "What happened when she walked back inside?"

"She had a straight face. I think she was mad at herself for letting her feelings take control of her when she did that." Mayla reported, "The vibe was a bit somber, but she wasn't super emotional, from what I could tell."