The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 215: Ch : A relaxing Truth - Part 3

Ethan went quiet. His eyes stayed on the sand as if he was trying to find the right words hidden beneath it. The silence stretched between them, growing heavier with each passing second.

Then, his voice barely above a whisper, he spoke.

"Do you...Do you wish you had your old friend back?"

He hesitated, then looked up at Selene with a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.

The question caught Selene off guard. She blinked, her brows drawing together.

"Ethan?"

She asked softly, her tone filled with concern.

He looked nervous. His jaw clenched, and his hands tightened into fists at his sides. It was so unlike him—so unlike the Ethan she had grown used to seeing in these past months.

"What’s gotten into you?"

She asked gently, her heart pounding as she watched him struggle with something deep inside.

Ethan’s gaze stayed locked on her, searching her eyes for something—maybe for reassurance, or maybe for an answer he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear.

Selene didn’t look away. She could feel the weight of his question pressing down on her, but she refused to let the tension shake her.

"It doesn’t matter. I might have wished for you to come and save me once."

She said softly, her voice steady but kind.

Ethan’s eyes flickered with something—pain, guilt, maybe both.

"But I realized that there was nothing for you to save me from."

Selene continued.

Her voice grew quieter, but her words carried more strength.

"I had to stand up for myself. I had to be the one to save myself."

Ethan’s jaw tightened, his teeth sinking into his lower lip as he listened.

"And once I understood that, I stopped wishing to be saved."

Selene said.

Her words hung in the air, heavy yet freeing.

Ethan looked down again, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Selene could see how much her words affected him, but she didn’t expect what came next.

"Selene..."

He looked back up, his eyes filled with something she couldn’t quite place.

"I’m not...What if I tell you that I’m not your childhood friend."

He paused, his voice barely above a whisper now.

Selene froze.

"What?"

She whispered, her heart pounding louder in her ears.

Ethan’s expression was unreadable, but his eyes... His eyes held a deep, painful truth.

"I’m not him. Not... really."

Ethan said again, his voice more firm this time.

Selene felt her breath catch. Her mind raced to process what he was saying, but it was like her thoughts couldn’t keep up.

"Ethan, what are you talking about?"

She murmured, her voice barely steady.

Ethan bit his lip again, his body tense with hesitation.

"You don’t know..."

He said quietly.

Selene’s pulse quickened.

"Then tell me what you want me to know."

She urged, her voice almost pleading.

Ethan hesitated for a moment longer. Then, finally, he took a deep breath and spoke.

"My consciousness...It was thrown into this dimension one day."

He started slowly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Selene’s eyes widened.

"What?"

Ethan’s gaze stayed on her, watching her carefully as he continued.

"I don’t know how or why I came here, but... I wasn’t born in this world.""

He admitted, his tone laced with frustration.

Selene felt her chest tighten.

"I...I found Ethan—your friend—when I arrived here."

Ethan’s voice grew quieter, as if he was afraid to say the words out loud.

Selene’s breath hitched.

"His body...It was compatible with me. Our souls matched somehow."

Ethan’s eyes darkened.

Her mind spun, but she forced herself to stay focused.

"We formed a contract. But... I don’t remember what it was about."

Ethan said softly, his expression clouded with confusion.

Selene’s heart pounded.

"As soon as I entered this body, I could sense it. This world... it’s heading toward its end."

Ethan continued, his voice heavy.

Selene felt a chill run down her spine.

"I recognized the signs because...Because it happened in my world too."

Ethan paused, his jaw tightening.

Selene’s stomach dropped.

"I don’t know how long I’ll be in this world, but I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing."

Ethan admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

He looked at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of determination and regret.

"So, I decided to help Ethan."

Selene’s mind was racing, trying to make sense of everything he was saying.

"I helped him get stronger, and I swore... I swore I’d do whatever it takes to save this world."

Ethan murmured.

Silence stretched between them.

Selene’s heart pounded so loudly she was sure Ethan could hear it.

"Why...Why are you telling me this?"

Her voice was barely a whisper now.

Ethan looked at her, his expression unreadable.

"I don’t know, I just... felt like you needed to know."

He admitted softly.

Selene’s chest tightened.

Ethan’s eyes stayed on her, searching for something in her expression—maybe understanding, maybe acceptance.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Selene’s mind was a whirlwind of emotions. Confusion. Pain. A strange sense of relief that she didn’t quite understand.

She opened her mouth to speak but found no words.

Ethan’s gaze dropped, his shoulders slumping slightly.

"I didn’t...I didn’t mean to confuse you."

His voice was barely above a whisper now.

Selene took a shaky breath.

"No. You didn’t confuse me."

She murmured, her voice quiet but firm.

Ethan looked back up, his eyes filled with uncertainty.

Selene’s mind was still processing everything he had said, but one thing was clear.

"You’re not him..."

She murmured softly, her eyes meeting his.

Ethan’s jaw clenched slightly, but he nodded.

"But you’re still you."

Selene whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Ethan’s eyes widened slightly.

"And right now, that’s all that matters to me."

Selene added softly, her expression softening.

Ethan’s eyes softened, and for a moment, all the tension between them seemed to fade.

"Thank you."

He murmured softly.

Selene felt her heart skip a beat and she asked softly.

"Ethan... what’s your real name?"

Ethan paused, his expression distant as if searching through memories that no longer existed.

"I... don’t remember."

He admitted, his voice laced with quiet frustration.

Selene’s heart clenched, but she didn’t look away.

"Will you tell me when you do?"

She asked gently.

Ethan’s gaze softened, and a faint smile tugged at his lips.

"You’ll be the first to know."

He promised, his voice steady despite the uncertainty lingering in his eyes.

Selene nodded, her heart feeling a little heavier.