They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System Chapter 488: That Had to be the Truth

It was like he had started allowing her into his space. But today at breakfast, Arthur barely acknowledged her presence. He had not spoken to her at all. He did not even eat. He just... left.

That was not normal. Not for Arthur.

A silent alarm began to ring in Somto’s mind.

Did Arthur find out sothing?

That thought tightened sothing in his chest, but he quickly dismissed it.

No... If Arthur had found out the real truth, his reaction would have been nothing like this cold, avoidant silence.

Arthur was not the type to act out passively. He didn’t do silent grudges. He was intense, composed, yes, but direct. If he ever felt betrayed, he wouldn’t freeze soone out.

No, he would confront the matter head on, calmly but clearly, and he wouldn’t back down until he understood everything. His fury was quiet but sharp, like a blade, or a quiet storm, not a violent one.

No... whatever this was, it wasn’t because of so truth he uncovered.

With that, Somto slowly cald down. The knot in his chest loosened, slightly.

But just as he started to breathe easier, a new thought crept in, one he had never really considered before... and it hit him harder than he expected.

The way Arthur’s been searching for that person all these years...

It never felt like just guilt.

It felt... deeper.

Somto stiffened.

What if Carl was right all along?

What if Arthur hadn’t been driven purely by friendship, but by sothing else, sothing more?

Love.

If that was the truth... if Arthur had really loved her...

Wouldn’t that an he, Somto, was betraying his best friend right now?

His gaze shifted to Nnenna without thinking. She was sitting a few steps away, lost in thought, her fingers absentmindedly playing with the edge of her sleeve. So unaware of the storm suddenly brewing in his chest.

But... no. It couldn’t be.

Arthur never admitted to being in love. Not to him. Not even to Carl, no matter how much Carl tried to squeeze it out of him.

Every ti the subject ca up, Arthur would shut it down. His face would harden, and all he would ever say was: "She’s my best friend. I let her down."

That was it. Just guilt. Deep, haunting guilt. Not love. Right?

Somto rembered the mont in the hospital back in Lionara, Arthur’s voice, the look in his eyes. He had looked like a man mourning a lost comrade... not a lost lover.

That had to an sothing.

That had to be the truth.

With that thought anchoring him, Somto exhaled and ran a hand down his face, shaking off the icy chill that had montarily gripped him.

For a second there, it had felt like soone had dumped a bucket of ice water over his head.

But now... he could breathe again.

Now that Somto had sorted through his own thoughts, he turned his attention back to Nnenna’s concerns, with a clearer mind and a steadier heart.

He looked up and saw her still lost in thought, brows lightly furrowed.

He spoke gently, "You know... Arthur still hasn’t found the person he’s been searching for."

Nnenna’s gaze shifted to him, curious.

"So days," Somto continued, his voice low and thoughtful, "it hits him harder than others. Makes him colder, more withdrawn. That’s probably what’s going on. It’s not you, Nnenna."

As he said it, he couldn’t help but sigh silently to himself.

Forgive , Arthur... I know you’re hurting. But this, this is for her good.

Nnenna stared at Somto for a long second. His words slowly seeped into her chest, warming the place where doubt had settled.

Somto has known Arthur almost all their lives, she thought. If anyone would know the truth, it’s him.

And with that, the weight on her heart lifted. Her shoulders relaxed. Her smile returned, soft but genuine.

"Where was I?" she asked, a playful light in her eyes.

Seeing her cheerful again, Somto leaned back into his chair with a small grin. "You were talking about what happened when Arthur walked in."

"Oh, right!" Nnenna perked up. "So, he walked in... in a way that even I have to describe as... ga aweso cool!"

Somto raised an eyebrow, amused.

"Then," she continued with a little dramatic flair, "’What’s this I’m hearing about a student being expelled... without evidence?’"

She mimicked Arthur’s calm yet commanding tone, and Somto chuckled.

Despite everything, the air in the room had shifted.

Lighter. Brighter.

For a mont, they forgot the complications waiting outside that door.

"I could feel the air freeze," Nnenna said, wide eyed, as she wrapped up the last part of her story. Her hands moved as she spoke, her tone rising and falling like waves. She talked and talked, pouring out everything like she hadn’t realized just how much she had held in.

And Somto... he listened.

He didn’t interrupt. Didn’t look away. He sat there, fully present, as if every single word she said mattered. If soone asked him to repeat the story word for word, he probably could.

By the ti she reached the end, Nnenna slumped back a little in her seat. Her throat was parched and scratchy. The sky outside was slowly turning dark.

"Wow," she muttered with a small, breathless laugh. "I didn’t even know I could talk that much."

As if on cue, Somto stood up and walked to the side wall. With a simple press of a button embedded there, a sleek compartnt slid open. From it, he took out a glass and filled it with warm water.

He brought it over silently.

Nnenna blinked, a little surprised, then smiled gratefully as she accepted it. "Thanks," she whispered.

The warmth of the water ran down her throat, soothing the dryness like a balm. She let out a soft sigh of relief.

Somto returned to his seat, casually closing the compartnt behind him before sitting down with the sa calm presence as always.

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