The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 147: Ch : I’m over it - Part 4

Selene remained seated on the couch, her eyes glued to the TV screen, though her mind was far from it.

The news about the fugitive had stirred something within her—an unease, a deep-seated worry that she couldn’t quite shake off.

’I don’t want to watch more. The desperation in these people without power reminds me too much of myself. I feel like I would get sick if I keep looking more.’

Just as she was about to change the channel, Ethan walked in.

His presence was casual, but Selene had spent enough time around him to recognize that he was always watching—always analyzing.

It was an unconscious thing, but Selene felt her shoulders sag in relief and her senses becoming calmer when Ethan came into the room.

Ethan leaned against the back of the couch, arms crossed and it suddenly became easier for Selene to be able to breathe again.

’Huh! Since when did I have a problem breathing? I did not even realize...’

"You’ve been staring at that screen for a while. What’s going on in that head of yours?"

Ethan’s voice pierced through the fog that surrounded Selene’s brain. It made her able to concentrate more and also reminded her of what she was doing.

Selene blinked a few times before she clicked the remote, shutting the TV off.

"Just thinking."

Ethan raised an eyebrow.

"Dangerous."

Selene smirked.

"For who?"

He grinned but didn’t answer. Instead, he shifted slightly, glancing toward her with genuine curiosity.

"What’s on your mind?"

Selene hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.

"What do you think about people who turn toward... dangerous means to gain power when they can’t awaken?" she asked.

Ethan’s expression flickered with something unreadable before he leaned forward.

"You mean, like that guy on the news?"

Selene nodded.

"Yeah. And others like him."

Ethan was silent for a moment before he shrugged.

"I don’t think it’s wrong."

Selene tilted her head.

"Really?"

He nodded.

"Humans are greedy, desperate creatures. If they have a chance to grab onto something that might give them an edge, they’ll take it. It’s survival."

Selene studied him carefully, noting the calm conviction in his words.

"I get that. But what if their ’survival’ endangers everyone else? Isn’t that just selfish?"

Ethan let out a short chuckle.

"Selene, everyone is selfish. The only difference is how far they’re willing to go."

She frowned.

"So you’re saying you don’t care if someone uses others as stepping stones?"

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I’m saying that right and wrong only matter if someone’s alive long enough to be judged for it."

His voice was steady, but his words carried a weight—something old, something that didn’t belong to a simple twenty-something fighter.

Selene narrowed her eyes.

"That’s a pretty dark way of thinking."

Ethan smirked, though there was something hollow about it.

"Can’t help how I was born."

Selene huffed, crossing her arms.

"Liar."

That actually caught him off guard.

"Excuse me?"

"You weren’t like this. The Ethan I knew didn’t talk like this. He wasn’t... like this."

Selene said, her tone softer.

The smirk dropped from Ethan’s face. His expression turned unreadable.

"...Yeah?"

He muttered, almost to himself.

For a moment, he considered telling her.

Telling her the truth—that he wasn’t the Ethan she knew. That the real Ethan was asleep somewhere deep inside, and he was just... borrowing this body for now.

But just as the words began to form—

A sharp pain shot through his skull.

Ethan’s entire body tensed, his jaw locking as a presence deep inside him pushed back. His throat closed, and just like that—

His voice was gone.

Muted.

He couldn’t speak.

The ’real Ethan’ had stopped him.

Selene noticed his sudden stiffness.

"Are you not going to ask me more? Huh-Ethan?"

His hand curled into a fist.

Damn it.

That bastard.

The real Ethan had interfered, snatching control back for just a second to stop him from talking.

Ethan internally cursed.

’Couldn’t you just stay asleep?’

His temples throbbed as he tried to push back the headache. When he finally opened his eyes again—

Selene’s face was right in front of his.

His entire body locked up.

She was so close—too close.

The shock made him jerk back so violently that he almost fell off the couch.

Selene blinked, confused by his reaction.

"Are you okay?"

Ethan clutched his chest, steadying his breathing.

"Fine. Totally fine." Not fine.

Selene tilted her head.

"You sure? You look kind of... flustered."

’You’re literally in my face, how do you not see the problem?’

Ethan quickly looked away, muttering.

"I’m good."

Before Selene could question him further, Zara and Orion entered the room.

They took one look at the scene before them—Ethan still leaning too close to Selene, his expression a mix of exasperation and something else—and Zara’s eyebrows shot up.

"Oh-ho...Are we interrupting something?"

Zara smirked, crossing her arms.

Ethan blinked.

"What?"

Orion raised an eyebrow.

"You two look like you’re about to kiss."

Ethan choked on air.

Selene, completely unaware of how compromising their position looked, just blinked in confusion.

"Huh?"

Zara sighed dramatically, shaking her head.

"Clueless. You two are absolutely clueless."

Ethan had no words. His brain had short-circuited.

Meanwhile, Selene just turned to Zara, still not getting it. freewebnoveℓ.com

"What are you talking about?"

Zara dragged a hand down her face.

"Nothing. Just watching two oblivious fools in action."

Orion, standing beside her, just nodded in agreement.

Ethan let out a deep suffering sigh, leaning back against the couch. What the hell just happened?

Selene, still utterly unaware, just turned back to Ethan.

"So, about what you were saying earlier—"

Ethan shot up from the couch.

"I need some air."

Zara and Orion snickered.

Selene just watched him go, utterly clueless.

Zara shook her head.

"This is gonna be fun to watch."

Orion just chuckled.

"Yeah. If they ever figure it out."

From the look of things and the air between the pair, there was still a long way to go before they ever confessed. But at least, Ethan seemed to be aware of his feelings.