The stream had ended just over half an hour ago. Saval was putting away controllers and turning off lights when his phone rang. He answered immediately upon seeing the name.
—Semiel?
—Yeah… —Semiel's voice was serious, a stark contrast to their playful tone earlier—. We need to talk.
Saval frowned, sinking into his chair.
—About that chat comment?
—Exactly. —A brief silence—. Saval… I think someone's trying to drive us apart.
A chill ran down Saval's spine. Drive us apart… Not again.
—Why do you think that? —he asked, forcing calm.
—Because it wasn't random —Semiel said firmly—. Antonella's name has come up too often lately. And today… right during the stream, with that question.
Saval pressed his lips together. He's right. This isn't just a curious viewer.
—Any idea who's behind it?
—Not for sure —Semiel admitted, though his tone betrayed suspicion—, but it reeks of Santiago. And if it is him… I doubt he's acting alone.
Saval leaned forward, irritation and worry twisting in his gut.
—You think Xavier's involved?
—Don't know —Semiel said—. He's… unpredictable. Not a friend, not quite an enemy. Just… thrives on chaos. And that worries me more.
Damn it… If Santiago and Xavier were collaborating, something bigger was coming.
—We won't let anything happen —Saval said firmly—. Not after everything it took to get here.
A beat of silence. On the other end, Semiel sighed.
—It's just… I don't want doubt creeping in again, Saval. They've done it before, remember? Antonella knew exactly where to hit.
The name landed like a weight on Saval's chest. Yeah… I remember too well.
—Not this time, Semiel —he whispered—. Not this time.
—Then we stay alert —Semiel said—. If they provoke us, we can't bite. Not publicly, not privately.
Saval nodded, though Semiel couldn't see it.
—I'm with you. —A pause—. And if it is Santiago… he has no idea who he's messing with.
—Hope you're right —Semiel murmured, exhaustion seeping in—. Because I'm not letting them break what we have.
Silence stretched between them, just shared breathing—heavy, but threaded with something unspoken. A promise.
—Get some rest, okay? —Saval finally said—. We'll talk more tomorrow.
—Alright… goodnight.
—Night, Sem.
He hung up and dropped his phone onto the desk, leaning back with closed eyes. We won't be torn apart. Not again.
Meanwhile, across the city, Santiago rewound the stream footage once more. His smile widened as Saval's microexpression flashed onscreen.
Knew it… There's the crack.
And he wasn't alone. Xavier, at his own screen, finished typing a message to Santiago:
—Have an idea. You'll love it. —