How To Survive A Calamity-Chapter 249: Laughter

—Triing!

After Aurhea made sure to snag a strawberry milkshake of her own, the bell above the door jingled as we stepped out of the café. The waiter's overly cheerful send-off blended with Aurhea's light, satisfied humming.

"Thanks for coming!" he called after us.

I threw one last dry glance over my shoulder before the door swung shut and snorted under my breath.

'How about I thank you for coming... Wait. That sounded wrong. What does that even mean?' My face twisted slightly at the thought.

I shook my head and fixed my eyes forward as we walked. Beside me, Aurhea hummed cheerfully, like a kid fresh out of an ice cream shop, cradling her strawberry milkshake like a treasure.

Her smile curled, eyes bright as she stole a sidelong glance at me, as if something had just clicked in her mind.

"Oh, that's right. I heard you screaming earlier—everything okay, Vic?"

I rolled my eyes.

"That was because you practically wrestled me and beat me into submission until I gave up my milkshake," I shot back, glaring at her.

Aurhea giggled, the sound light and teasing, as though I'd just tried (and failed) to flirt with her.

"Oh, not that, Vic," she laughed, then her tone softened, more thoughtful. "I mean back at your dorm."

"Oh…" My stride slowed a fraction as memory caught up with me. "Right…"

The word sat heavy in my mouth, dragging the earlier mood down. I scratched the back of my neck, looking away and suddenly finding the sidewalk way too interesting.

Aurhea slowed her humming, her steps quieter now, the strawberry milkshake dangling from her hand like she'd forgotten it was even there. Her gaze flicked toward me, concern shadowing her bright expression.

"So?" she asked softly.

I shoved my hands into my pockets and blew out a sharp breath. "It's nothing, really. Just… a small accident."

"An accident?" Aurhea's humming cut short, her eyes flickering with sudden worry.

I glanced at her, then looked away, shoulders lifting in a helpless shrug as I quickened my pace. "Yeah… I stubbed my big toe against my desk. Nearly lost a leg."

Then i shook my head as though the memories burned me.

"It was brutal."

Aurhea flinched as I walked past, her expression twisting into something caught between scorn and deadpan disbelief. I pretended not to notice, though her gaze burned into my back like an accusation waiting for me to slip.

I turned at last, reacting with the mildest confusion I could muster. "What?"

Her eyes practically spoke for her: Really, dude?

I stayed stubborn, feigning ignorance.

She wasn't impressed. With a sharp huff, Aurhea strode forward until she was at my side, her steps clipped, her expression unamused. "You stubbed your toe?" she asked, the words laced with skepticism.

"It happens." I lifted a shoulder, keeping my pace steady.

"You can't be serious."

"I am."

Aurhea shook her head, still caught up in disbelief. "You're an Awakened, Vic. Eta-ranked. And somehow you expect me to believe that stubbing your toe made you cry out like you'd seen a nightmare?" Her eyes flared as she gestured sharply, hands cutting through the air to punctuate her disbelief.

"It was…" I paused, letting the silence hang before throwing her an annoyed look. "It hurt that bad."

I shook my head as if trying to wave her off and turned forward to fume.

"Besides, what even were you doing at my doorstep? In the first year male Dormitory. My Dormitory. What are you thinking?" I tried to shift the attention back to Aurhea.

On a serious note, however, i really was curious and suspicious about why Aurhea showed up at my door and brought me out up until now.

I hadn't seen Aurhea since the last time she showed up.

Last I checked, she was the Student Council President with an extremely packed schedule, and bloodthirsty, frustrated secretary that hunted her down like a bloodhound whenever she bailed.

Speaking of which...

"Does Caitlin, your… assistant, know?" My eyes darted around the corridor, half-expecting the black-haired secretary to leap out at any moment. I leaned closer to Aurhea, raising a brow in suspicion.

But she didn't answer. She just stood there, watching me, her expression unreadable.

"What?" Sensing something was off, i leaned away and asked.

"Vic… you know you can tell me anything, don't you?" Aurhea's voice softened, her golden eyes catching mine with a warmth that almost burned.

I didn't answer. Just stood there, face blank, my silence heavy enough to fill the air between us.

She sighed. "I know you don't… like me. You have your reservations—probably even suspicions about me. But I want to be there for you, Vic." Her words were slow, steady, deliberate.

This wasn't her usual chaos, the teasing banter she liked to throw at me. The look in her eyes now—soft, worried, sincere—wasn't an act.

And yet, she was right.

I didn't trust her.

No, not trust her enough to tell her what was really happening with me—there was no one I could tell that to—but trust in another sense: Aurhea was the President of the Student Council of Aegis.

And with the way things were going for me…

It was only a matter of time before I found myself at odds with the Awakened Academy.

One careless word around Aurhea might only hasten that possibility. I couldn't afford to keep letting my guard slip like this. Not anymore.

So, I'm sorry, Aurhea.

Even if you believe you have the best intentions for me…

I can't honestly return those feelings.

Besides, she was probably saying all this because of Adrienne—my sister. That tie between them, not me, was what fueled her concern.

"It's not just because of my relationship with Adrienne, Vic." Aurhea's voice cut through my thoughts, almost as if she had read them word for word.

Her eyes held firm, unwavering. "You're not a responsibility. I mean—you're not something I do because of someone else or circumstances." Her tone was steady, clear, fresh as dew.

"My relationship with your sister is different from my relationship with you. And maybe it wouldn't have even started if I hadn't met Adrienne, but…" Aurhea's voice faltered for a beat, her breath catching before she pressed on. "I really do want to be someone you can lean on—for comfort, for support. At least, while I'm still here in the Academy with you."

She paused, almost hesitating eyes soft but steady, as though bracing for rejection. Then, quieter—almost fragile:

"I want to be your sister."

My silence lingered, filling the space between us.

Her voice was steady, clear, fresh as dew. And for the briefest moment… I wanted to believe her. To let that certainty settle into me like a truth I could lean on.

But belief was dangerous. And in my world, dangerous was fatal. So I forced the thought down, locking it away with the rest.

Without realising, it seems after all this time alone... Somewhere inside of me, i must have always wanted someone like what Aurhea claimed she wanted to become for me.

The closest I'd have to a pillar like that, would be Addriene, my sister.

I wasn't going to deny or downplay how strongly i felt for the unexpected only sibling i got in this unexpected new world, but i couldn't even fully open up to Addriene.

Not to even mention anyone else outside my family. And someone i hadn't even known existed untill about a little over a week ago.

"So…" I scratched at my messy hair, breaking the silence, eyes darting anywhere but hers as i looked around awkwardly. "Is this one of those confessions I've heard about? Because I've gotta admit, I'm kind of embarrassed. Never been in this situation before. Hands are all sweaty…" I added, feigning mock embarrassment.

"Eh…?" Aurhea blinked, dazed, staring at me with a dumbfounded look.

I had to admit, seeing her like that made me want to grin and keep pushing.

So I rubbed the back of my neck like some awkward teenager.

"Damn… people are looking…"

We kind of were standing in the middle of the road after all...

"E-eh?! Wh-what are you talking about?" And just like that, Aegis Academy's queen shattered—composure gone, eyes spinning, ears and cheeks burning red.

"This is… what confession?! I'm not confessing anything! Seriously! What i mean is...!"

"Pftt—" unable to hold it back any longer, a laugh broke out from my lips. I double over my knee, cradling my stomach as i laughed uncontrollably.

Oh my God, it felt so good!

To finally get back at this annoying senior like this.

I never thought revenge could taste this sweet.

I laughed so hard, tears rolled out.

And for a moment, as i laughed, i forgot all of my pains and sorrows.

It was like i didn't have a demon in my left hand. Like my future wasn't bleak. Like there wasn't some entity pulling the strings of my fate in tge shadows.

There was only Aurhea.

Red-cheeked, flustered, pouting.

And for that fleeting instant… nothing else mattered.