NOVEL NEXT Pain
Arthur and Nephis sat on the couch, cuddling each other. They didn't say anything and simply enjoyed their presence.
For Arthur, he was feeling too happy to finally have Nephis in his arms again. He still remembered everything from his past life, technically, and that made him appreciate the moment even more.
As for Nephis, she felt as if she was in a dream. She had loved Arthur for years and had imagined a future with him many times, however, she never confessed. Now that she was finally with him, she didn't care about anything else.
So, what if the world was dying? She was going to be with Arthur, and that's all she wanted. She had a content smile on her face as she remained in Arthur's embrace.
Arthur opened his eyes as he looked at the clock and thought, 'It's already 6. I only have two more hours, huh.'
He wrapped his arms around Nephis in a tight grip that Nephis didn't notice, and said, "Neph! I have something to tell you... you won't beat me, right?"
Nephis suddenly narrowed her eyes as she realized the position she was in. She asked, "What is it? I'll decide after you tell me."
Arthur looked down at her and shook his head, "Nope! You have to promise me first!"
Nephis tried to get out of his embrace, but he was holding her too tightly. She sighed, "Fine! I promise no matter what you tell me, I won't beat you."
"Ahem! That's good; remember, it's not good to go back on your words," Arthur coughed but didn't release Nephis. He didn't trust her one bit and didn't believe she would keep her promise.
"So, I'm going to marry someone else next week," Arthur dropped the bomb and prepared for a headbutt or something, but it never came. He had even closed his eyes, expecting a beating, but it never came.
He opened his right eye and looked down at Nephis, who was giving him a blank look. She said in a flat tone, "Release me! I'll keep my promise!"
Although Arthur felt that the situation was bad, he still released her and looked at her in nervousness.
Nephis cracked her neck and grinned, "I said I won't beat you, but never mentioned killing."
"Hey! Hey! Hey!"
"You seriously have the guts to tell your new girlfriend that you're going to marry someone else? Really? On the day you got together?" Nephis cracked her knuckles as she advanced toward Arthur, who began backing away.
"My dear Neph! Please listen to me," Arthur smiled wryly as he tried to say anything, but a punch landed beside him on the handle of the couch, shattering it into pieces.
"Your last words?" Nephis asked as she towered over Arthur, her fist raised in the air hanging above Arthur's head like an executioner's sword.
"I will marry you too, Neph. I love you and will never leave you," Arthur looked into Nephis's eyes and said, his voice devoid of any humor.
Nephis paused, stunned as her body trembled. She closed her eyes as she took a deep breath to calm her raging heart. She then spoke, "You deserve the title of playboy."
Arthur's scalp began tingling as a death aura washed over him. Trusting his instincts, he jumped back and looked in horror at his poor couch that was beyond recognition now.
Nephis looked at Arthur with complicated emotions swirling in her eyes. She sighed as she dropped her hand and went to sit on another couch. She said, "Let's talk!"
Arthur smiled and went to sit beside her. He grabbed her hand, as she tried to take it back, but Arthur held it tightly. He squeezed her hand and said, "I wasn't lying, Neph. I love you. But I'm sorry, because you aren't the only person I love. I know I'm a horrible person and I should be sentenced to death for doing such a thing to a person like you. But I still ask you to give me a chance. I promise I'll treasure you and won't ever let anyone take your place."
Nephis sighed as she cursed Arthur inwardly. He clearly knew how she felt, and that's why he was doing it. How could she remain hard when he was speaking such words?
"I'm sure you did the same in... future?...or past, whatever. So what did my past self do?" Nephis asked.
"She beat me into a pulp, but unfortunately that girl was too hopelessly in love and accepted this scumbag," Arthur replied, still holding her hand.
Nephis chuckled as she thought, 'That's so like me!'
"How did I die?" Nephis asked, raising her head to look into Arthur's eyes.
Arthur opened his mouth and closed it. He looked away, saying, "Can I not answer that?"
"No, I want you to answer it," Nephis insisted as she squeezed Arthur's hand. Her chest felt heavy catching a glimpse of pain in his eyes before he turned away.
Arthur hesitated but decided to answer. He remembered the day when he had watched Nephis's body being shredded in pieces and eaten by the Abyssal Creatures after the Voidborns left her half-dead. He still remembered her screams of agony, and they still haunted him.
"You... died protecting me. The Abyssal Creatures ate you," Arthur answered, not wanting to go into details.
Nephis shivered upon hearing that. She knew Arthur wasn't telling the complete truth, but she could hear the pain in his voice, so she didn't insist. She didn't want him to go through any more pain.
She hugged Arthur as tears formed in her eyes. She closed her eyes as she thought.
'He said he survived till the end and fought the Overlord of Voidborns. Doesn't that mean he had to watch everyone die before him? Every loved one, not only me but everyone. How is he even sane?'
Nephis had forgotten about everything and simply hugged Arthur tightly, wanting to soothe and share his pain. Her heart felt as if someone was ripping it apart just imagining the horrors Arthur must have gone through.
The world was already a place that could break even the toughest warrior, and Arthur had go
ne through the worst of it. It was already a miracle he was still sane.