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Villain Ch 125. Are You Going To Use Your Tentacles?
Allen plugged the charger into his phone and then placed it on the table next to him. As he sat down on the chair, he noticed that Zoe sat a little farther away from him. It was clear that she wanted to create some space between them, to make things less awkward. But they still sat facing each other.
Both of them put on their VR headsets, preparing to enter the virtual world of Hell’s Gate once again. A second later, they found themselves standing in the same place where they had left off – the Cursed Crypts’ throne room.
They looked around. Unlike before, there was no one else in the room except for the two of them.
The first thing Zoe did was open her friend list screen. She wanted to check who was online. Luckily, there were only two of them. Her heart was beating fast with excitement and nervousness. She had been waiting for this moment for so long, and now that it was finally here, she didn’t know what to feel.
Allen noticed her expression and spoke softly to her, “Zoe… It’s okay to let them know. They won’t be mad at you or anything.”
Zoe closed the hologram screen in front of her and turned to face Allen. Her cheeks were slightly flushed as she said, “I know. Let’s say I’m a little nervous about my first experience. So, I want to hide this from the others.”
As if on cue, the two of them walked out of the throne room, the echo of their footsteps filling the dimly lit corridor.
Allen glanced at Zoe and asked, “Is this because of your mom?” he continued their conversation.
Zoe’s head snapped up, surprised by the sudden question. “My mother?” she repeated, trying to wrap her head around the connection he had made.
Allen nodded slowly. “I realized your mom loves to organize everything and likes it if things go her way. A dominant and independent woman who can handle anything and can be relied upon. So, I thought it was the reason for your shy personality. Or at least… It makes you feel not capable enough to do everything since you feel you can’t do as well as her,” he analyzed.
Zoe was taken aback by his observation. He had only met her mother a few times, yet he was able to see right through her. She had always been the quiet one in her family, content to let her mother take the reins in most situations. She couldn’t deny that her mother’s strong personality had influenced her own behavior.
It was common for family dynamics to shape an individual’s personality, especially when one member was deemed successful. It could create a sense of inferiority and inadequacy for those who hadn’t achieved as much, and it could be worse if the comparisons happened frequently. This was precisely the case for Zoe, but instead of being compared to a sibling, she was in constant competition with her mother. Zoe had always felt overshadowed by her mother’s success and independence, which made her shy and unsure of herself. Allen knew this because he had experienced it too with his siblings.
As they walked down the hallway, Allen could sense that Zoe was lost in her thoughts. He didn’t want to push her to talk, but he knew that it was essential for her to confront her feelings. “Is something on your mind?” he asked her gently.
Zoe looked up at him, her expression unsure. “I’m just thinking about what you said earlier. You’re right. My mother is a successful woman, and I’ve always felt like I can’t measure up to her. I’ve been trying to be someone I’m not,” she admitted.
Allen nodded in understanding. “It’s natural to feel that way, Zoe. But you don’t have to change who you are to please others. You need to learn to accept yourself and be satisfied with the best of what you can do,” he encouraged. 𝚍ｏ𝚟𝚕.ｏｒｇ
Zoe bit her lip, considering his words. “I understand what you’re saying, but it’s not that easy. I’ve been living like this for so long, and it’s hard to break free from it,” she said, her voice tinged with self-doubt.
“I know it’s not easy, but you have to start somewhere. Don’t let your flaws define you, but instead, use them as an opportunity to improve yourself. Nobody’s perfect, and everyone has their strengths and weaknesses,” Allen said.
She glanced at Allen. “I’ll try,” she said in disbelief. She didn’t know how many times Allen had exposed her today.
Soon, they arrived in her room. Allen followed Zoe into her chamber, taking note of the oceanic theme that permeated the room. Despite the theme, the chamber still managed to maintain a medieval impression. The walls were adorned with several colorful shells, giving off a serene and peaceful aura. It was a beautiful sight to behold, and he couldn’t help but marvel at the sight.
The room was quite spacious, with a large four-poster bed in the middle of the room, decorated with seashells and coral. The sheets were a deep shade of blue, mimicking the color of the ocean on a clear day. The room was also illuminated by several lanterns with shells dangling from their bases. They cast a soft, warm light, adding to the room’s serene ambiance.
He turned to face Zoe, his expression serious yet concerned. “You’re not going to use your tentacles, are you?” he asked, making sure to clarify what they were going to do before they proceeded any further. Zoe’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, a mixture of nervousness and apprehension coursing through her veins. The thought of using her tentacles, an ability that she possessed as part of her character in the game, made her uneasy.
“I don’t think I have the guts for that,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She was still new and wasn’t confident enough to use it.
“Okay,” Allen nodded understandingly, his eyes flickering with compassion
Then, without further ado, he approached Zoe. An announcement appeared in front of him and he chose yes.