The Transmigrated Author
Chapter 56: Awkward Silence

[Pinnacle Academy Stadium 1 - Arena A Student Section Stands]

"Rel, Camila just sent me a message" Jan poked me showing the notification on his watch.

[Notifications:]

[Messenger App: Camila Garcia (Classmate): Jannnn I would love it if you come see me at the arena tunnel ฅ^ >ヮ<^₎]

Looking at the message I assume this is Camila's way of pouncing for praise from Jan and also trying to win his heart. I think it was pretty obvious what she was trying to do.

"Oh, I see," I replied uninterested. "Well, Goodluck with that Jan I'm gonna leave."

Getting up from my seat I gave my self a little stretch before leaving then I felt the strength of two mountains grab my wrist.

"No. You're going with me." Jan said while gripping my wrist tightly.

[Warning! You're losing -1 HP every second Jan holds his grip on you.]

"Okay, okay. I'll go with you." Shaking off Jan's grip from my wrist, the aftermath of the pain settled in afterwards.

ACK!

I followed Jan towards the exit stands, to the tunnel where students emerged after each match.

[Pinnacle Academy Stadium 1 - Arena A Hallway]

There was no escaping him which meant I had to third wheel their supposed meet up and Can't he read between the lines? Camila wanted Jan to go, not us two.

Finally arriving I could feel myself getting a little uncomfortable since Jan had no idea what Camila wanted. But I don't know either, so I'm not really in a place to say anything.

As a silhouette that outlined Camila emerged, my eyes found her amongst the scattered groups of students congratulating on her overwhelming win.

I expected Jan to offer a nod, a few careful words of praise. But what I hadn't planned for was how she moved when she saw Jan.

Her entire energy completely changed, That brief rush of joy and what seemed seconds away from an embrace... all came to a stop when her eyes darted toward me.

That open warmth shouldn't exist yet. Instead of just an embrace, her arms reached towards him...then dropped abruptly.

Suddenly, her face seemingly changed into a strained mask of disgust. Her reaction to me was the harsh confirmation.

a flat tone, "Oh…uh, it's you Rel" held less gratitude and more 'why did you ruin this moment?'. And somehow, Jan only got brighter at the inclusion.

Looking at Jan I realised how much I had failed as an author.

And then, to add insult to injury, Camila added, "How thoughtful of you to bring a friend, Jan. I didn't think my invite was enough so you brought another person..." It was polite, but the tone of sarcasm hurt me the most.

Jan, the airhead, beamed. "Well of course! Rel did tell me he had a match next, so I thought it was convenient to bring him along."

There was no hidden layer to him, no reading between the lines. That sincerity made it so much worse. my main character simply existed within the narrow world I built. He would always misunderstand. Always miss the subtleties of the emotions swirling around him.

Yet, it was also...accurate. This was how I wrote him.

Camila managed a tight smile, the sarcasm edged in ice. "Is that so? You're so considerate, Jan." He missed it again. It was a heavenly joke I wasn't laughing at.

His genuine "Why thank you, Camila!" almost broke something within me. It was tragically perfect. This entire farce was of my own making.

I couldn't even force a frown. Instead, a helpless chuckle slipped out at the sheer absurdity. That oblivious protagonist, my most important creation, was also the source of such unheroic embarrassment.

Then, like the cruel whims of a god mocking its flawed creation.

BZZZT! BZZZT!

my watch erupted with a notification.

[Your Upcoming Match Schedule...]

[Round Of 30 Knockout stages:]

[Name: Axel Saint Rel Laurence]

[Matches Completed: 20]

[Match Number: 2]

[Time: 9:30 AM]

[Opponent: ???]

[*Reminder your weapon is still at the reception.]

Saved by the watch the alert informed me my registered weapon awaited pick-up from reception. This was my chance to leave the two alone.

"I've gotta run," I choked out, a weak lie as I slowly moved away from the two. Yet, my escape was swiftly blocked.

"Leaving already? Oh yeah! I left my sword at reception as well! I'll go with you Rel." I swear, his eyes sparkled with an enthusiasm even my impending fight couldn't evoke.

It was the final blow. That "yeah!" like my revelation was some delightful coincidence… it broke something in my writer's brain. Is he stupid because he's the main character? Or Is he the main character because he is stupid?

I tried to word my reply to Jan as clearly as possible. "Wait - no, don't follow! You…don't even know what…where it is. It's fine, stay here! I got it!" The desperation must have echoed in my tone even though I barely recognized it.

He blinked, confused. "Don't you need to know which one's mine? Let's go together! It'll be faster like that, right?" My hands clenched; every second in his presence chipped away at whatever composure I tried desperately to maintain.

Suddenly, Camila. No longer politely amused, but cold fire. "Why don't you two lovers just go and get your weapons together already?" It wasn't gentle teasing, but the sting of someone tired of watching others fail at basic social interaction.

And maybe she was right. If anything, my cowardice in running would only solidify whatever bizarre idea her joke had in Jan's mind.

Jan turned toward Camila, the presence of his smile now completely absent. With a clarity that stung far more than Camila's sarcasm, he simply stated, "We're not lovers, Camila."

This wasn't the flustered denial of hidden emotion, but a simple statement born of fundamental disconnect.

If there was a fact to be put out there on the internet it would be that Jan is straighter than a pole.

"Right, Rel?" Jan turned towards Rel, expecting an agreement but Rel was long gone before anything was said.

__________

Authors Notes:

- When writing the Camila and Jan scene the song I was listening to was: Catching Feelings - Justin Bieber, It's a good song tbh.

- It is a rule within the academy that no weapons are allowed within the stands so students either leave their weapons back in their dorm rooms or hand them into the office reception. Those who are caught breaking these rules get their weapons confiscated and suspended for 3 days.

- For second year and third year students at Pinnacle get 3 days off as the whole Academy classes are paused due to the Scouting Invitational Tournament.

- Rel didn't bother to get Jan's weapon.