CHAPTER 21: BLOCKS OF LIES AND TRUTHS

Semiel ran a hand down his face before joining the stream. His mind was still spinning from everything that had happened the night before.

Saval.

Antonella.

The truth he had hidden for far too long.

But no more.

The subathon had been planned for months. And even though Saval had told him that after today, he never wanted to see him again, at least for now, they'd be together. This was his last chance to do something. He couldn't waste it.

He launched Minecraft and logged into the server. The pixelated landscape loaded onto his screen, but his focus was on the voice chat, where he could already hear Saval talking to his audience.

—Like I was saying, we'll be playing modded Minecraft today. Let's start building the base here—Saval's voice sounded normal, but Semiel could tell he wasn't okay.

Semiel took a deep breath and spoke.

—I'm here, Saval.

That brief silence felt short, yet unbearably heavy.

He hadn't imagined that after yesterday, this would be how they spoke again. Through a voice chat, in the middle of a game, forced to work together. As if nothing had happened. As if they hadn't exchanged words that would leave lasting scars.

—Ah, Semiel, dig over there—Saval said suddenly.

Cold. Distant.

Like they were nothing.

Semiel nodded, even though he knew Saval couldn't see him. He started breaking dirt blocks in silence, each mouse click feeling like hammering nails into something fragile.

He had decided he wouldn't stay quiet today. But he had to be careful. He couldn't just blurt everything out. Saval was still furious, and he had every right to be.

As they played, Saval talked about their plans, how long the subathon might last, the rewards. But Semiel could only think about one thing.

How much longer until Antonella arrived?

—What mods did you add, Saval?—he asked, trying to break the ice.

—Some horror ones, one that lets you craft overpowered weapons, and another where if you kill too many animals, they start attacking you for revenge.

—Wait, so if I kill a cow, its ghost is going to come after me?

—Exactly.

—That's insane, but I'm in.

—That's the plan. Let's beat Minecraft, Semiel. Get your keyboard ready, we're going all in.

—Relax, I got this. I'll carry us. I'm heading to the mines for iron, need anything?

—Find a lava pool so we can build the Nether portal.

—Got it, captain.

—Ha, just go already.

—Okay, okay, I'm going.

As they played, the tension between them started to ease. The silence became conversation. The distance, less suffocating.

—Saval, I found diamonds! Time to make a shovel—Semiel said, his excitement genuine.

—We're making a shovel with your head, idiot. Store the diamonds, we need more for weapons.

—Fine, fine, but you need to find some too. I can't carry you all by myself.

Semiel glanced at the chat. The viewers were enjoying themselves, gifting subs, hyping up the game.

Good.

This is going well.

We're talking more, easing into things.

I just need to keep guiding this in the right direction.

If I do, I'll get a chance to talk to him later.

One Hour Later

They had been playing for an hour when the sound of someone joining the voice chat echoed through his headphones.

Antonella.

The atmosphere, which had just started to feel lighter, immediately shifted—tangible even through the screen.

—Sorry, guys, I had some important things to take care of before coming—she said, that sickly sweet tone as present as ever.

Semiel clenched his jaw.

Saval didn't respond right away.

But when he did, his voice wasn't the same as before.

—Oh, of course. Important things. As always, right?

Antonella laughed, as if she didn't catch the sarcasm. But Semiel knew her well enough to know she had understood every word. And that she was loving every second of this.

The game went on, but now every move felt heavy. Antonella kept getting close to Saval's avatar, joking with him, handing him the diamonds she found, speaking in that sweet voice she used whenever she wanted to make him forget everything bad. And Saval—though he wasn't blind—kept tolerating it. Maybe because he still had feelings for her. Or maybe because he was just too exhausted to fight.

Frustration burned in Semiel's chest.

—Saval, I need you to come here for a second—he said finally.

Saval hesitated for a few seconds before moving. His avatar walked over to where Semiel was and turned to face him.

—What.

Semiel swallowed hard.

On-screen, their characters stood in front of each other, but in reality, the distance between them had never felt so vast.

—We need to talk.

Saval let out a sharp breath.

—Not here.

—Here is the only place where you'll actually listen to me instead of running away.

Saval didn't reply. Beside him, Antonella kept moving, building something with wooden blocks, pretending not to hear. But Semiel knew she was listening to every single word.

—Wait—Saval said, muting his microphone on the stream so the audience wouldn't hear.

—Antonella isn't who you think she is—Semiel finally said, cutting straight to the point.

The clacking of Saval's keyboard stopped for a second.

Then, Antonella's laughter filled the voice chat.

—Oh, Semiel. You're not starting with your little dramas again, are you? Today is an important day for Saval. You shouldn't bring this up right now.

Semiel had to resist the urge to slam his fist against his desk. But he couldn't afford to lose control. Not now.

—She's lying to you, Saval. She blackmailed me into doing exactly what she wanted. That's why you hate me right now.

Silence.

—If you really believe Antonella has always been honest with you, tell me I'm wrong. Tell me you've never noticed that she's different from how you remember her.

Another silence. Longer this time.

Semiel could picture Saval clenching his fists, staring at the screen with that serious expression he always had when he was analyzing something he didn't want to accept.

—I'm not doing this here—Saval said at last. —Not in front of everyone.

Semiel nodded. Because that, at least, was something.

Not forgiveness.

But not a complete rejection either.

Antonella let out an exaggerated sigh.

—Always with these ridiculous fights. Can't you drop the drama for once in your life, Semiel? You wonder why Saval doesn't trust you anymore, but all you do is try to make him fight with me. It's pathetic.

Semiel felt bile rise in his throat.

—What's pathetic is how you keep playing with him like he's just another chess piece.

Saval exhaled sharply.

—Enough.

Semiel fell silent.

So did Antonella.

—We'll talk later—Saval said, voice sharp. —Not now.

Semiel pressed his lips together. It wasn't what he wanted.

But for now, it was enough.

They went back to the game, pretending for the sake of the stream that nothing had happened.

But something had changed.

Semiel could feel it.

Saval could feel it.

And Antonella knew.

This was the beginning of the end of her game.