Chapter 9: The Confession

The tension between Ethan and Ava grew, as it became increasingly clear that this was no longer just a dream. What they had experienced was reality, yet somehow, they had been shown a glimpse of the future—one that had somehow rewound itself, bringing them back in time with all their memories intact.

Ethan looked at all of them, their faces now etched with tension.

 "Mr. Henry, what about the other people who were at the party? [He asked, concern evident in his voice.]

 [Mr. Henry's gaze met with Ethan's, said]"At first, I didn't believe Ava when she told me about everything. But as she described the deaths and the monster outbreak in detail, I realized I had no choice but to evacuate the hotel and cancel the party. As of now, no one is at WINGS HOTEL.

Ethan nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. A heavy silence fell over the room once again. Alicia stood up and made her way to the kitchen, preparing cold drinks and water for everyone. She returned shortly; a tray laden with glasses of cold drinks. One by one, she handed them out to everyone in the room.

Her gaze drifted toward Ethan, silently asking with her eyes if he wanted a drink. He shook his head with a smile, then scanned the room. His gaze lingered for a moment before he glanced at his watch—7:30 PM.

 "The monster had emerged exactly at 8:00 PM back then. If everything went the same as before, the outbreak would happen again at the same time. But the future had changed. I changed it. What if the outbreak never happened, or worse, if it occurred earlier? I don't even know if it happened only at the Wings Hotel or if it spread worldwide. We need to be careful" [He thought with a mix of concerned and fear.]

He checked his watch again – 7:34 PM. Only four minutes had passed. He scanned the room, where everyone was deep in conversation, discussing the situation and weighing their options for what to do next.

With heavy steps, Ethan made his way upstairs to his room. Ava's gaze followed him, noticing the grief and sorrow that weighed him down, as if a heavy burden rested on his shoulders. It was clear to her—he was the only man in his family, and the responsibility of protecting his mother and sister fell squarely on him.

Ava watched Ethan, her heart heavy with emotion. She couldn't help but remember the moment he rushed to save her when her legs gave out at the sight of the monster. Alicia, noticing Ava's gaze on Ethan, couldn't suppress the smile that tugged at the corner of her lips. She leaned forward to Ava and whispered…

 "Why don't you give him some company? I think he'd appreciate it if it were you" [Her voice soft yet teasing.]

Ava's heart skipped a beat at Alicia's words. Her pulse quickened, each second making her more nervous as she swallowed her unease. She nodded, standing up, and began making her way toward the stairs that led to Ethan's room.

Alicia smiled as the men continued discussing their strategies. Emily, Sara, Lily, and Clara all watched Ava as she made her way toward Ethan's room. Emily's chest tightened, and her gaze lingered on Ava for a moment too long. There was something about the way Ava and Ethan shared their quiet moments that made her feel both helpless and invisible.

She hadn't been part of the strange experience that had rewound time for them, and that made her feel like she was on the outside looking in. A surge of something she couldn't quite name bubbled up inside her—jealousy, maybe, or maybe just the painful reminder that she wasn't the one Ethan trusted, wasn't the one who had shared those memories.

She quickly looked away, trying to hide the bitterness creeping in. But inside, the knot in her stomach twisted with uncertainty, wondering if there was ever a place for her in Ethan's world.

[She didn't want to leave Ava alone with Ethan, but as she started to move forward, Sara grabbed her hand and said,] "Emily, wait."

Emily pulled her hand away, her eyes briefly flickering to Ethan before she forced herself to look away. A pang of jealousy twisted in her chest, but she couldn't help it. She had always admired Ethan from a distance, and seeing Ava grow closer to him stung more than she'd like to admit.

 It wasn't like she'd ever confessed, but the feeling had been there for a long time, and now it seemed like Ava was right in the middle of everything. Sara watched Emily carefully, her gaze softening with understanding.

"You know, it's okay," [she said quietly, knowing full well what Emily was feeling]

 "Hey, let's head to my room," [Sara said, without waiting for a reply. She started moving toward her room, with Emily following behind her]

Lily and Clara exchanged a glance, then silently followed them to Sara's room

7:40. Ethan glanced at his watch, frustration building within him. Only twenty minutes left until the monster outbreak. He felt the weight of the ticking clock pressing down on him. With a heavy sigh, he sat abruptly on his bed, his hands gripping his forehead in a desperate attempt to calm his racing thoughts.

Ava stopped in front of Ethan's room, her heart pounding faster with every passing second. Her hand hovered over the doorknob for a moment, uncertainty swirling within her. With a deep breath, she steeled herself and pushed the door open, her voice steady as she said,

 "If you don't mind, may I join you, Ethan?" [She asked, offering him a smile.]

Ethan startled at her sudden interruption and stood up abruptly. His heart skipped a beat when he noticed she was... alone. He nodded slowly, gesturing for her to enter his room.

Ava stepped inside, closing the door softly behind her. She glanced around, taking in the sight with quiet admiration. His room was neither too large nor too small. A big bookshelf lined one wall, filled with novels and numerous autobiographies.

His bed was pushed against the wall, neatly made, though she noticed a slight dip in the bedsheet where he had first sat. Her gaze shifted to a clean study table beneath the window, where his closed laptop sat surrounded by a few scattered books. Posters of animals decorated the walls, adding a touch of personality to the room.

 "You've maintained your room quite well, Ethan" [She said, rolling her eyes in admiration.]

 "T – Thank you." [He stammered.]

Ethan noticed Ava's gaze lingering on the bookshelf and said,

 "They're my collection of books I've read so far. You might find some interesting ones in there." [He added, a slight excitement in his voice despite the growing fear within him about the upcoming monster outbreak.]

Ava nodded, admiring Ethan's impressive collection of books—not just novels, but also works that had inspired many. She eventually shifted her gaze from the bookshelf to Ethan. For a brief moment, their eyes met, but she quickly looked away, her heart racing faster with each passing second. Amidst the growing tension between them, the air felt heavier, thick with emotions she could barely understand.

Ethan noticed Ava standing there and gestured for her to sit. She nodded and sat down on the bed. Ethan remained standing for a moment, unsure whether he should sit beside her or not. His heart raced in his chest, caught between his emotions and uncertainty. Ava, noticing his hesitation, gestured for him to join her, a subtle invitation in her gaze.

He nodded and sat beside her on the bed. The bedsheet dipped slightly under their combined weight. As he settled down, a strange sensation passed between them. They had danced together before, but this time felt different. Ava noticed the small gap between them and, without thinking, shifted a little closer. The movement caused her thigh to brush against his, a fleeting contact that made her heart race even faster.

The touch sent a sudden electric jolt through both of their bodies. Ava quickly pulled her legs away, her face flushing with a soft pink hue. The blush deepened, making her look even more adorable. She averted her gaze, her eyes dropping to her hands as she nervously began to play with her thumb, the tension between them thickening with each passing second.

The tension between them thickened, an unspoken weight hanging in the air. Silence stretched on, almost suffocating in its intensity. Ethan's heart pounded faster and faster, matching the rhythm of Ava's racing pulse. The unspoken words lingered, both of them aware of the heavy, electric charge between them.

 "Calm down, Ava," [she murmured under her breath.] "You've danced with him before. Why are you blushing and acting shy now? Just calm yourself.""

She slowly looked at Ethan and noticed that his gaze was also down, a blush creeping onto his cheeks. However, the air between them was thick with an unspeakable tension—one that had nothing to do with their closeness but everything to do with the looming monster outbreak.

 "This is the first time I've felt nervous around someone," [she thought, her heart racing.] "But I can't help it. Whenever I'm around him, emotions flow through me—raw, powerful emotions. Is it… love?" [A blush crept up her cheeks as she considered it.] "No—no, calm yourself. This isn't love… but why do I feel so drawn to him emotionally?"

She moved closer to him again. This time, their thighs touched, sending an electric jolt through her body. But she didn't pull away. She could feel the heat radiating from him, from his clothes. She observed him for a few moments before gently placing a warm hand on his shoulder,

 "Are you alright, Ethan? I understand you're worried about the outbreak that might happen soon, but don't worry. We're all here." [She spoke with a soft, concerned voice. Then, her voice faltered slightly as she added.] "I—I am here too… for you.

Despite knowing her words had flowed out naturally, she had confessed her feelings to him, albeit indirectly. Ethan's breath hitched as he processed her words. His heart began to race uncontrollably. He looked at her quickly, his gaze lingering, unsure of how to respond.

 "T—Thank you, Ava... for... for being concerned about me…" [He said, his voice trembling.]

Their gazes locked. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, words hanging in the air. Time seemed to slow down. Ava leaned in closer, her voice soft and full of affection as she said,

 "Ethan…" [Her voice slow, heavy with the love and emotions she'd been holding back, preparing to confess her feelings.]