The lounge was bustling with activity. Most of the scouts and hunters were having their breaks at the same time, but John was lost in his thoughts, absentmindedly sipping on his coffee. It was time to learn more about the couple he had to break up. He had a good feeling about this quest. Not only did it seem to be a multi-stage quest, but it also had an unknown reward. John thought the reward this time must be substantially better than the last ones.
It was his best chance to gain power before Theodore and his men attacked the base. He decided to use the Web of Whispers, to eavesdrop on their conversation. He didn’t know much about the target, but it wouldn’t hurt to learn more about them.
John closed his eyes and concentrated. Soon, the voices of the couple reached his ears.
"Babe, when did you change the curtains?"
"Huh? What are you talking about, Matt? Did you even look at the clock? You slept through the morning, get out of the bed! Your shift is starting soon!"
"Babe, why is the bed so soft?"
"Are you still talking about curtains? What’s wrong with you? It’s the apocalypse. What curtains? You didn’t change anything and you were sleeping like a log."
John kept on listening to more inconsequential dialogue, but he managed to gain something out of it at least. They were talking about shifts and other mundane things, uncharacteristic of an apocalyptic world, but John understood. The man worked for Theodore and they had some kind of deal. At least, it would certainly help his conscience if the man wasn’t an honest-to-god man in love.
The man, Matt, would be gone for most of the day, and Celeste would stay alone, terrified.
He could use this. He could lure a monster close to their home and swoop in and save her. It wouldn’t guarantee anything, but it could be the reason he needed to form a connection. At first, just friendship, but it could escalate and who knows, maybe it’d be easier than he first thought.
The system quest said adultery, but it was vague. It was vague enough for John to have hope. Maybe it would ask him to steal Celeste away from Matt and live happily ever after, who knew?
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John sighed and returned his attention to the couple’s conversation, they were still talking about trivial things and John was about to lose interest.
"I’ll see you later, babe. Love you." Matt said. John heard footsteps, then the sound of a door shutting followed and the footsteps disappeared.
"Bye," Celeste muttered.
She let out a tired sigh, John heard water running and the sound of clothes dropping. John waited patiently until Celeste got out of the shower and made his way out of the lounge.
Dalia followed John out of the lounge.
"Dalia? Where are you going?" Maria called out to Dalia, "it’s my turn to stand guard on the walls," Dalia replied, trying not to stutter or show any sign of hesitation, "oh, you’re right," Maria said, "be careful," Dalia nodded and followed John out of the lounge.
She didn’t trust him, she couldn’t understand what was going on through his mind or what he was planning, and it made her anxious, why was he being friendly with Amber and June? Did he want them to become his women as well?
She had begged him for a chance, but now here she was, already going crazy with jealousy, but she couldn’t help it. She took a step forward to follow him, but someone grabbed her from behind, it was Julian.
Dalia turned around and sighed, "what do you want, Julian?"
Julian was stunned, his usual smiley and cheerful self was replaced by a frown, "where are you going?"
"Let go of me, I have work to do," Dalia replied, she didn’t have time for his childish games, not anymore, she was going to win John back.
"Work? What work? We need to talk, Dalia! You come in one day and end things, no explanation. It is because of John?"
Julian accused her and Dalia didn’t know what to say, she didn’t have the courage to face his accusations, not after what she did, not after what she said to him.
Julian sighed and grabbed her wrist tighter, "don’t go, let’s talk, please. You don’t have to explain anything, but we’re still friends, Dalia."
"We are not friends, Julian, let go of me," Dalia spat and Julian’s grip on her wrist tightened, "listen, I don’t know what John told you, but you shouldn’t believe everything he says, okay? He’s dangerous and unpredictable."
Dalia was seething in anger and she yanked her hand, freeing herself, "you don’t know anything, Julian! Leave me alone!" She yelled and stormed off.
"Fuck," she cursed under her breath. She had acted rashly again and didn’t think things through. Slowly, but surely, she felt herself losing control of her emotions. Was it because of John? Or was she becoming more impatient because she didn’t want Julian to come between her and John? She didn’t know, and she didn’t like it either way.
Dalia kept cursing under her breath, frustrated and angry at herself, but her anger vanished the moment her eyes fell on John.
’No, I won’t lose to her! She is only using him for his protection!’ Dalia thought and glared at Amber who was laughing with John. She was telling him about her experience, and her life before the apocalypse, but to Dalia it seemed like Amber was telling John sweet nothings, trying to woo him and steal him away from her.
Dalia’s anger and frustration grew the more she watched Amber laugh and giggle around John, ’calm down, Dalia, don’t get carried away,’ she told herself, but the more she tried to calm herself, the angrier and more frustrated she became.
Dalia gritted her teeth and stomped towards them, but John turned around and left before she could reach them, ’fuck! Wait for me!’ She thought and followed John, she didn’t care about anything anymore, all she wanted was to spend time with John, to make sure he doesn’t fall for Amber’s charms, ’it should be me! It should be me who stands by John’s side, not her!’ She cursed, her eyes blazing with fire and her heart pounding in her chest.
Dalia ran after John, but his figure vanished and disappeared into the desolate streets. Dalia cursed under her breath and kept running in the streets, she had no idea where John went or where he was heading to, but she didn’t care, she had to see him.