Common Sense Hijack System-Chapter 128

One week later, the harsh winds outside had grown louder, carrying an ominous howl that seemed to echo through the walls of the small apartment. The power grid had been unreliable for days, and now, the communication lines were completely down. Karl sat by the window again, his face illuminated by the dim light of a single lantern.

Layla approached him cautiously, wrapping a thick scarf around her neck. She stopped a few steps away, hesitating before speaking.

"Karl," she said softly, her voice barely cutting through the sound of the wind. "Have you heard anything?"

Karl shook his head, his eyes fixed on the stormy horizon. "No. It’s been silent. No messages, no updates... nothing."

Layla frowned, her fingers gripping the edge of her scarf. "And Valencia? Any luck there?"

He turned to look at her, his expression calm despite the situation. "Nothing. But she’s with them. She’ll keep them safe."

Layla nodded, though the reassurance felt thin in the face of their isolation. She glanced back at Jane, who was sitting at the kitchen table, scribbling notes in a small journal. The room felt colder than ever, the silence between them filled with unspoken fears.

"Are you sure you don’t want to rest?" Layla asked, stepping closer to Karl. "You’ve been keeping watch every night. You need sleep."

Karl’s lips curved into a faint smile, though his eyes remained tired. "I’ll rest when I know you’re all safe."

Layla opened her mouth to argue, but Jane’s voice cut in from the kitchen.

"He’s as stubborn as ever, Layla. You won’t convince him," Jane said, her tone light but tinged with concern.

Karl chuckled softly. "She’s right. But thanks for trying."

Layla sighed, giving up for now. She moved to sit beside Jane at the table, the two women exchanging a glance that spoke volumes. They both knew how much Karl was sacrificing for them, but they also knew there was little they could do to change his mind.

As the night wore on, the storm outside grew fiercer. The walls creaked under the pressure of the wind, and the temperature inside continued to drop. Karl eventually relented and joined them at the table, his blanket draped over his shoulders like a cape.

Jane looked up from her journal, her gaze softening when she saw him. "You’re finally sitting down. Does this mean you’re actually going to let us take care of you for once?"

Karl smirked faintly, shaking his head. "Don’t get used to it."

Layla chuckled, though her laughter lacked its usual warmth. "We’ll take what we can get."

For a while, they sat in relative silence, the only sound the faint scratching of Jane’s pen and the howl of the wind outside. It wasn’t much, but it was a moment of calm in the midst of chaos.

Then, as if sensing the shift in mood, Jane set her pen down and looked at Karl. "You know," she began, her tone light but serious, "you don’t have to do all of this alone. We’re here too. Let us help, even if it’s just in small ways."

Karl raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "And what exactly would you do, Jane? Fight off the storm? Fix the broken communication lines?"

Jane smiled, undeterred by his sarcasm. "Maybe not, but we can at least make sure you’re not starving yourself or freezing to death while you’re busy trying to save the world."

Karl sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I’m fine, Jane. Really."

Layla leaned forward, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "But for how long, Karl? You’re carrying so much on your shoulders, and it’s only getting harder. Let us share the weight, even if it’s just a little."

Karl hesitated, his gaze shifting between the two women. For a moment, he looked like he might argue, but then he sighed again, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.

"Fine," he said quietly. "But don’t expect me to make a habit of it."

Jane and Layla exchanged a small smile, a silent victory between them. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

That night, an unexpected warmth began to fill the room, despite the biting cold that still seeped through the walls. The three of them sat closer together, sharing a blanket in the dim glow of the lantern. The quiet murmur of conversation and soft laughter started to break the heavy silence that had lingered for days.

Karl leaned back slightly, letting himself relax for the first time in what felt like weeks. Jane and Layla, seated on either side of him, exchanged glances, their expressions softer than usual. The unspoken bond between them seemed to grow stronger in that moment, a shared understanding that words could not fully capture.

As the night wore on, the boundaries between them seemed to blur. Layla rested her head lightly on Karl’s shoulder, her fingers brushing against his arm in a gesture of quiet comfort. Jane followed suit, leaning into his other side, her touch hesitant but filled with a subtle longing.

At first, Karl remained still, his gaze flickering between them as if unsure how to respond. But then, he exhaled slowly, the tension in his posture melting away. He allowed himself to accept their closeness, his arms instinctively wrapping around them both in a protective, almost tender embrace.

The shared warmth grew more intimate, their touches lingering longer, their gazes meeting with unspoken emotions. What started as a simple moment of solace gradually deepened, the barriers they had all built around themselves crumbling in the quiet vulnerability of the night.

Their closeness gave way to a series of gentle, tender gestures—touches, caresses, and whispers exchanged in the dim light. It was a rare moment of intimacy that none of them had anticipated but instinctively welcomed.

By the time the lantern’s light began to flicker, the three of them were no longer simply seeking comfort in each other’s presence. They had crossed a threshold, finding a new closeness that felt both unexpected and inevitable. As they lay together, their breathing steady and synchronized, the unspoken understanding between them deepened, forging a bond that would not easily be broken.

The next morning, sunlight filtered weakly through the frosted windows, illuminating the small apartment with a faint golden glow. The storm outside had finally calmed, leaving behind a quiet stillness that felt almost surreal. Karl stood by the stove, humming softly as he prepared breakfast—a rare sight that immediately caught Layla and Jane’s attention. freёnovelkiss.com

Jane smirked as she watched him, her chin resting on her hand while she lounged at the kitchen table. "Well, someone’s in a good mood today," she teased, her tone dripping with playful sarcasm.

Karl glanced over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow. "What? Can’t I enjoy a quiet morning?"

"Oh, sure," Jane replied, leaning back in her chair. "But it’s not every day we see you humming while cooking. What’s next? A smile that lasts longer than three seconds?"

Layla stifled a giggle, covering her mouth with her hand as she joined Jane at the table. "You do seem... lighter today," she added, her tone gentler but still teasing. "Almost like the weight of the world isn’t entirely on your shoulders anymore."

Karl rolled his eyes, though the faintest hint of a grin tugged at the corner of his lips. "Maybe I just got a decent night’s sleep for once. Ever think of that?"

Jane wasn’t letting him off the hook that easily. She leaned forward, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh, is that what we’re calling it now? A good night’s sleep?" She chuckled, her voice dropping into a mock whisper. "Because if I remember correctly, you seemed very awake last night."

Karl’s ears turned red as he turned back to the stove, pretending to focus on flipping the eggs in the pan. "I have no idea what you’re talking about," he muttered, his voice a touch too defensive to be convincing.

"Really?" Jane pressed, her grin widening. "Because it looked to me like someone was having the time of their life. All that ’I’m just trying to keep everyone safe’ talk, and yet—"

"Jane," Karl interrupted, his tone firm but not harsh. "Drop it."

But Jane wasn’t done. "Come on, Karl. Admit it," she said, leaning her chin on her hand again. "For someone who acts all serious and self-sacrificing, you sure didn’t hold back last night. In fact, I’d say you were the one who enjoyed it the most."

Layla’s cheeks turned pink, and she looked away, trying to suppress her own laughter. Karl sighed heavily, turning off the stove and setting the pan down before facing them.

"Alright, fine," he said, crossing his arms and giving Jane a pointed look. "I enjoyed it. Happy now?"

Jane grinned triumphantly. "Very."

"But," Karl added, narrowing his eyes at her, "don’t think for a second that this means I’m going to start taking orders from you two."

Layla finally let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "No one’s asking you to, Karl. We just like seeing you relax for once. You deserve it."

Karl sighed again, though this time it was more resigned than exasperated. "Yeah, well, don’t get used to it," he said, though the small smile on his face betrayed his words.

Jane leaned back in her chair, folding her arms with a satisfied expression. "Oh, we’ll get used to it, alright. After all, it’s not every day we get to see the great Karl let his guard down."

Karl shook his head, but there was no real annoyance in his expression. If anything, he looked... lighter. Happier. And for the first time in a long time, the weight he carried didn’t seem quite so heavy.