MMORPG: I was BUGGED-Chapter 394: Clashing Emotions
"You . . . what are you doing here?" Xin’s voice wavered slightly as he struggled to process the reality that Seraphina was really standing in front of him.
Seraphina chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I needed a breath of fresh air, so I came here to our resort."
"Our . . . resort?" Xin repeated, his mind racing to make sense of her words.
Then, realization dawned on him. Azure Cove was part of the Fey’s business empire.
"Hey, Xin!"
Xin and Seraphina turned to see Xin’s classmates approaching, their expressions a mix of confusion and disbelief.
"Isn’t that Seraphina Fey, Xin?"
"You two seem close. What’s your relationship with her?"
"Wait, is it true that you two are really going out?!"
"That can’t be right? That’s Seraphina Fey! THE Seraphina Fey!"
Before Xin could offer an explanation, Seraphina interjected with a bright smile, reaching out to take Xin’s hand in hers.
"That’s right," she declared, "we’re going out. The two of us."
Xin felt a jolt of surprise shoot through him as his classmates erupted in shock and disbelief at Seraphina’s proclamation.
Meilyn’s expression hardened, her features tightening with a mixture of frustration and anger.
Meanwhile, Yuzuro’s shoulders slumped as she sank to her knees in defeat.
Once again, she had missed her opportunity. Tears welled in her eyes as a sense of regret washed over her.
The air buzzed with whispered conversations and curious glances, leaving Xin and Seraphina at the center of attention.
For a moment, Xin found himself at a loss for words, his mind reeling from the unexpected turn of events.
But as he looked into Seraphina’s eyes, he felt the background fade like it was only the two of them.
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"Man, I can’t believe you’re really going out with a heiress beauty like Seraphina, no less," Rever exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief and jealousy.
Tyler burst into laughter, shaking his head. "I told you so. None of you believed me."
Rever shot him a skeptical look. "Because everyone knows you’re popular for your pranks, Tyler. And Xin didn’t even confirm it."
"Hoi, Xin, how did you manage to snag someone like Seraphina Fey?" Rever pressed, his curiosity mirrored by the other men who had gathered around, eager to hear Xin’s secrets.
Caught off guard by the sudden attention, Xin glanced over at Seraphina, who was reclining on a pool bench surrounded by their classmates catering to her every whim.
It didn’t take long for everyone to cozy up to her, drawn in by her magnetic presence.
For a fleeting moment, Xin worried that Seraphina might be overwhelmed and annoyed by the attention, but to his relief, she seemed unfazed by the adoration.
"Hoi, Xin, are you listening to us?" Rever nudged him, snapping him out of his reverie.
Xin blinked, feeling the weight of everyone’s expectant gazes on him. "Um, sorry. What were you saying?"
"Share your secrets with us mere mortals. Come on, man, I need someone like Seraphina Fey in my life too!" one of the men pleaded, echoing the sentiments of the group.
"Yeah, spill the beans, Xin! Don’t be stingy with the details. We’re all dying to know!" another chimed in, eager for insider information.
Xin felt the pressure mounting as he struggled to come up with a response.
He wasn’t sure how to explain anything since everything was a lie in the first place, nor did he feel comfortable divulging the intricacies of their relationship to a crowd of curious onlookers.
Caught between a desire to appease his classmates and a reluctance to say anything, Xin found himself at a loss for words.
Instead of answering, he offered a sheepish smile and shrugged, hoping to deflect their inquiries without arousing further suspicion.
But the persistent questioning continued, leaving Xin feeling increasingly uncomfortable as he grappled with the dilemma of how much to reveal.
In the midst of the commotion, Seraphina glanced over at Xin, her gaze meeting his for a fleeting moment before she returned her attention to her companions.
Great. Thanks so much for the help. Xin thought.
Rather, why was he suddenly found himself in a tight spot?
Meanwhile, Seraphina excused herself, her departure surprising everyone.
"What? You’re leaving already?!" the others exclaimed in protest, their disappointment evident.
"I’m only here to catch a quick breath of air. I don’t want to intrude on your reunion," Seraphina explained with a warm smile, her gaze lingering on Xin for a moment before turning to the group.
"But we want you to intrude," someone piped up, echoing the sentiments of the others.
Seraphina chuckled softly, waving at everyone. "Enjoy the rest of your day, everyone, and take care of Xin for me."
With that, she departed, leaving behind a sense of longing and admiration in her wake.
"She’s so cool."
"Yeah, she’s even nicer in person."
"I always thought she was a snob, but she’s really kind."
"Xin is so lucky."
"Yeah, I wonder how they got together."
"Wait, does that mean Xin isn’t single, and he and Meilyn couldn’t be together now, right?"
At the realization, all eyes turned to Xin and Meilyn, only to find that Meilyn had disappeared.
"Hey, where did Meilyn go?" someone asked, scanning the beach in search of her figure.
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"Seraphina, Lady Seraphina, wait!" Meilyn called out, her voice echoing in the lobby of the hotel as she hurried to catch up with Seraphina’s departing figure.
Seraphina halted, her graceful demeanor belying the tension that lingered beneath the surface as she turned to face Meilyn, her expression guarded but her smile still intact.
"Can I help you?"
Meilyn gathered her courage, her fists clenched tightly around the fabric of her coverall as she met Seraphina’s gaze. "Do you really like Xin?"
"What do you mean?" Seraphina’s tone was carefully neutral, but Meilyn sensed the underlying scrutiny in her words.
"I just . . . I just thought it was strange that Xin got together with you in such a short amount of time. He isn’t the type of guy to just go out with someone he barely knows," Meilyn explained, her voice tinged with certainty.
