C5 Isabella's POV

Isabella's POV

All Antonio and I had done was kiss each other privately because it was considered improper to do such things in public. Even so, we didn't do it frequently because it was pointless and had no effect.

My shocked eyes widen as she nods, "Well?" How did it go? I push.

She pouts and gives it some thought. We didn't do that, I suppose. She points to the phone's screen and says, "We had heard that there were more nice things you could do from some of his buddies down at The Compound. But it never made me feel as amazing as it did for him.

I make an effort to comprehend what she is saying and give my opinion. Did you make him feel better, then? I think so she said.

Mr. Gaius has consistently asserted that serving others is how women get the most joy. Of course, being willing comes first, but generally speaking, we are supposed to bring pleasure.

While chewing on her lower lip, Nora nods. "Yes, well, going by the noises and sounds coming from this man," she says, pointing to the man behind the screen. The identical noises were being made by Joshua. However, I've never felt as amazing as she did. She talks while keeping her gaze fixed on the naked woman on the television.

I scowl, trying to think of a way to help her, but she continues. Do you ever consider the possibility that your chosen group isn't the right one for you? The thought is spoken in whispers. Like... sometimes I consider what I might do if I wanted a lady, like Lucile and Shelby, who were given to her. Maybe I was mistaken for Mr. Gaius? She extends.

I glance at her in disbelief. The only reason Lucile and Shelby were paired together was because neither of their supposed soul mates had arrived home from college.

Shelby was abducted by the insane people living outside, but Lucile's assignment had passed away from anxiety brought on by the severity of the outside world. Both of them had fallen in love as a result of spending so much time together dealing with the death of their assigned.

Only because Mr. Gaius had decided to give them something to help them cope with the loss of their allocated soul partners did this uncommon but stunning thing occur love.

It's not possible. Mr. Gaius is always right, even when it comes to his tasks. You are destined to be with a man if he pairs you up with one. I reply as Nora nods, but grief is there in her eyes.

She has an angry expression in her eyes, and I pucker my lips as I consider this.

Mr. Gaius was error-free. What if he did, though? And who was I to pMrent Nora from learning the truth? What if it made her joyful instead?

Her anguish touches my heart, and I am moved to want to comfort her. "Well..." I murmur while chewing my lower lip. She turns to face me, eyes gleaming for any guidance, and I do my best to respond. Perhaps you should give it a shot just to be sure?

She gives me a big smile before her face falls. If they learned that I disobeyed Mr. Gaius' instructions, they would punish me. Furthermore, I don't believe anyone would be willing to challenge someone with his level of power.

She was accurate. I'll complete it. I say this with the best of intentions. She gave me a dubious look, but I persisted.

We're not exactly in the Outpost right now, are we? "And I would technically be doing this to prove to you that the ways of Mr. Gaius are never wrong," she says, shaking her head slowly. So, in a way, I am serving all of us. I make excuses.

"Really?" Still looking at me, she murmurs. I turn to my best friend and nod before sitting up straight. I give you my permission to kiss me.

My companion needs a moment to gather her thoughts before she can move cautiously. She continues to creep forward with nervousness as I wait patiently.

It gets to the point where I can no longer take it, so I go forward and lightly roll my eyes before uniting our lips in a kiss.

And as I had anticipated, neither Nora nor I seem to be experiencing anything miraculous.

She grips the back of my neck and tilts her head as she gives me a stronger kiss when I try to back away.

My eyes widened as she began to kiss me differently than Antonia had ever done, proving to me that I was mistaken in thinking she didn't like it.

Maybe she enjoyed the flavor of my strawberry chopstick. I simply pull away, trying to regain my breath, but I still rub my lips against her hungry ones.

The night air is filled with our labored breaths and the chirping of insects in the woods.

In search of a response, I turn to face her. "Well?" I prodded.

She gives me a sidelong glance as if I had just figured out the most difficult conundrum ever. I exclaim, "Holy God! She shouts.

I suddenly gasped and scolded her. "Speak more softly! If someone overhears you cursing like that, you will suffer terribly.

She smiles and giggles while oblivious to me. "Kissing Joshua was so much worse than that! It improved greatly toward the end, especially when I began to see that girl from the movies we watched on the phone instead of you. She comes clean.

I looked at her in awe. Mr. Gaius was always right, but here she was in front of me, beaming broadly after we had just kissed.

I chose to concentrate on the now and laughed with my buddy, happy that she had been able to have a moment of clarity.

We both stop laughing when we hear a noise coming from my gadget. My face wrinkles as we look down at the screen, and I acknowledge the tiny pop-up.

It was a notice, which I found absurd because I had only occasionally seen them on my messaging app but never in my online mail.

Why did they confine the small guys' couriers to a screen when they could have just as easily allowed them to use the actual mailbox?

That was something Jonathan had set up for me, telling me I ought to be checking it and taking it seriously—but it was something I had never understood.

Sighing, I finally clicked the pop-up that brought up a message in my virtual inbox. My eyes widen as virtual confetti explodes on the screen when I click the message to view the letter.

Nora observes me from behind. That's strange. She murmurs, but I didn't pay attention as I read the screen that says New York University -Action Required: Status of Admission Application.

The more I read, the more my brows wrinkle as I scan the message. What must be done? There hasn't been a choice made yet. July 31 is the last day to accept the offer from New York University.

It is followed by a list of guidelines for virtually accepting the offer. How is this even possible? I shrug skeptically as I read the letter again to make sure my eyes aren't playing tricks on me in response to her question.

I had less than two weeks to decide if this letter was accurate. Could Mr. Gaius have made a mistake? I inhale, feeling my heart beat faster at the idea.

Nora makes a head shake. "No, this letter is undoubtedly deceiving you.

I look at her with pursed lips. How did you find out? If Mr. Gaius was mistaken about Joshua, then perhaps he will also be mistaken about this. I murmur as I observe Nora's brows rising. She recognized my argument.

Even though it is so strange to him to be erroneous, he was already shown to be incorrect after only 20 minutes.

I think about what to do next while gazing down at the message. Accepting would entail breaking Mr. Gaius' vow and immersing myself in life outside The Outpost.

Mr. Gaius might be able to explain this. I wasn't even sure if I wanted that.

I naturally wanted nothing more than to go be with Jonathan, but it had been months since I had spoken to him. Was I truly prepared to take a chance by going alone into a world I knew nothing about? Was I prepared to reject the safe life Mr. Gaius offered?

Did I, however, really need that security?

And the more I considered it, the more I got the impression that it was all a trap.