Chapter 29 – Fourth Day of Rest (Part 2)
From the top of the treehouse, Cody looked beyond the camp.
There was Gwen, sitting with her back against a rock, completely immersed in her journal.
Cody frowned slightly, intrigued.
There was something about the way she wrote, the focus on her face, that made him climb down without a second thought.
What was she writing about? Maybe the treehouse? The events of the past few days?
Cody decided to find out.
Gwen was in her own world.
Sitting on a flat rock, journal in hand, her gaze occasionally drifting toward the chaos of hammering and wood unfolding in front of her.
She hadn't taken part in the construction, but she watched from afar, jotting down thoughts in her notebook.
The girls' night had happened the day before, and she still had reflections swirling in her mind.
After hours of intense work, the structure was finally complete.
The boys were celebrating their achievement, but Cody, from the top of the treehouse, noticed something in the distance.
Gwen was still writing, her pencil gliding precisely across the page, completely absorbed.
Without thinking too much, Cody descended quickly and approached quietly.
Quietly enough to make her jump.
"AH!" Gwen exclaimed, startled by Cody's sudden presence.
"Whoa, easy. Didn't mean to scare you… though I'm proud of my stealth," said Cody, smiling slightly.
Gwen exhaled deeply, brushing her forehead before giving him a mildly reproachful look.
"Do you have to appear out of nowhere like a ghost?" asked Gwen, dryly but with a small smile.
Cody shrugged, relaxed.
"When you work with heavy tools and superhuman strength, you learn to move with precision," said Cody, playfully.
Gwen rolled her eyes but calmly closed her journal.
"So? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be celebrating your masterpiece with the guys?" asked Gwen.
Cody sat beside her, stretching his arms with satisfaction before replying.
"I told them to rest. They earned it after four hours of intense work," said Cody, casually.
Gwen nodded slowly, resting the journal on her lap.
"It was impressive. I didn't think you'd finish so fast," said Gwen.
"Well, when you're a ninja like me, you can do a lot," said Cody, with a light smile.
Gwen let out a small laugh and settled more comfortably.
"By the way… thanks for the girls' night," said Gwen, in a neutral tone.
Cody raised an eyebrow with interest.
"Oh, right. How was it? Torture by exfoliation or actual relaxation?" asked Cody.
Gwen snorted with amusement and rolled her eyes.
"Bridgette dragged me into the world of cosmetics. Honestly, it was awful at first. Sticky masks, weird creams… Lindsay saying colors are the most important thing in life. Did you know there's a thing called 'undertone' for picking lipstick? I didn't. Now I do," said Gwen, with mock resignation.
Cody burst into genuine laughter.
"You know what? I never imagined you in that scenario. Did you survive?" asked Cody, amused.
Gwen sighed, crossing her arms.
"Well… Bridgette made it bearable. And I'll admit, I did sleep better afterward," said Gwen, relaxing her expression.
Cody nodded approvingly and leaned slightly toward her.
"Interesting… so technically, Bridgette holds the secret to getting you to relax," said Cody, with a teasing tone.
Gwen raised an eyebrow, eyeing Cody suspiciously.
"Why do I feel like you're trying to learn manipulation tactics?" asked Gwen, dryly but with hidden amusement.
Cody leaned back against the rock, still smiling.
"I never manipulate. But if I ever need you to chill, now I know exfoliation and ambient music might work," said Cody, playfully.
Gwen shook her head before chuckling softly.
Cody let the conversation flow naturally before leaning in again.
"You know, while we were building the treehouse, I saw you writing," said Cody, curiously.
Gwen looked up, twirling her pencil between her fingers.
"And?" asked Gwen, mildly interested.
Cody smiled and leaned a little closer.
"I was just curious… were you writing about us, the chaos of hammering and wood, or is there something more interesting in those pages?" asked Cody, suggestively.
Gwen felt Cody's closeness but didn't pull away. She looked at him for a moment before replying.
"Maybe," said Gwen, neutrally but with a playful smile.
Cody raised an eyebrow, catching the ambiguity.
"That 'maybe' sounds suspicious," said Cody, pretending to be deeply intrigued.
Gwen shrugged, keeping her calm expression.
"If you want to know, you'll have to find out," said Gwen, with a challenging tone.
Cody stayed silent for a moment before letting out a soft laugh.
"Challenge accepted," said Cody, leaning back against the rock and enjoying the moment.
The afternoon continued, and while the mood remained light, there was a spark of something else in the air.
Because beneath the jokes and casual talk, there was something more. Something Cody hadn't expected—but was definitely enjoying.
The breeze still whispered through the trees, rustling the leaves with a gentle rhythm.
The atmosphere was calm, but something in the air felt different.
Cody leaned a little closer to Gwen, watching her with an expression that wasn't just curiosity—it was determination.
There was something he needed to say. Something he couldn't keep dodging.
But it wasn't just the thought in his mind that pushed him forward.
It was the way Gwen looked at him.
For a moment, the camp's noise faded.
It was just Cody, Gwen… and that look.
It wasn't casual.
It was something else.
A mix of uncertainty, memories, and unspoken thoughts.
Cody saw it instantly. And in that moment, he knew he couldn't avoid it any longer.
It was time to talk.
"Gwen," said Cody, his voice dropping slightly, more serious now.
Gwen blinked a few times, sensing the shift in the air.
"What?" asked Gwen, though she already knew there was more behind Cody's gaze.
Cody took a deep breath before saying it.
"There's something we need to talk about."
Gwen didn't need to ask what.
She knew instantly.
Because the moment Cody said those words, a memory flashed in her mind.
The kiss.
That moment suspended in memory, the one she'd tried to ignore—but now returned with force.
Gwen felt a slight warmth in her face.
She didn't want to react so obviously, but her body did before she could stop it.
Her heart beat a little faster.
And for a second, her gaze dropped to the ground.
"I don't think we need to talk about that," Gwen murmured, looking away.
But Cody didn't let the moment slip away.
Without another word, he reached out and gently took her hand, making sure they stayed there, together.
Gwen felt the warmth of Cody's hand over hers.
It wasn't dominant or invasive.
Just firm.
As if saying she didn't have to run. That they could talk. That they could simply be there.
"You don't have to say anything if you don't want to," said Cody, calmly.
"But you don't have to run either."
Gwen looked up, meeting Cody's eyes.
There was something in his expression.
Something genuine. Something that made her heart beat even faster.
For a moment, the world seemed to pause.
Seconds passed, but neither let go of the other's hand.
It was as if that physical connection was enough to understand each other without words.
Gwen didn't know what to say.
But she didn't want to move either.
Because, for some reason, being there with Cody… just felt right.
The sun was slowly setting on the horizon, painting the sky with warm, soft tones.
Cody and Gwen remained seated, their hands still intertwined in a firm yet gentle gesture.
The atmosphere had shifted. A tension that wasn't uncomfortable—but inevitable.
It was the kind of moment you don't escape.
You face it.
Gwen lowered her gaze slightly, trying to control the strange feeling in her chest.
She didn't want to talk.
She didn't know how.
But she knew Cody would.
Because he wasn't the kind of person who left things hanging.
"You look uneasy," Cody said, his voice low but calm.
Gwen felt a slight chill down her spine.
Not because she was scared—because his words hit exactly where they needed to.
He was right. She felt uneasy.
She didn't know how to react.
Cody's presence, his steady tone, made her feel exposed.
"You don't have to say anything if you don't want to," Cody added, still holding her hand. "But I do want to say something."
Gwen felt her heartbeat quicken.
She didn't want this. Not now.
But Cody had already decided to speak.
She glanced sideways at him.
He didn't look nervous. He wasn't avoiding her gaze.
He looked confident.
Too confident.
"How can he look so calm?" Gwen thought.
His posture was relaxed, his expression sincere, and the way he held her hand wasn't possessive or invasive.
It was just Cody.
Someone who wasn't afraid to say what he felt.
Someone who wasn't seeking a reaction—just being honest.
Cody took a deep breath before speaking.
"About that kiss…" he said, his voice clear.
Gwen felt the impact of those words in her chest.
She didn't want to remember. Not now.
But her mind did anyway.
The feeling of the moment, the surprise, the intensity… it all came rushing back.
"It was something my inner feelings couldn't hold back," Cody continued, never breaking eye contact.
Gwen closed her eyes for a second.
"Why is he telling me this?" she thought. "Why not just leave it in the past?"
But deep down, she knew the answer.
Because that kiss wasn't an accident. It wasn't meaningless impulse.
It was real.
And Cody knew it.
And now… so did she.
"I didn't plan it," Cody admitted. "But I don't regret it."
Gwen's breathing slowed.
He was saying it with such certainty, such sincerity… she couldn't ignore it.
"It was spontaneous, and maybe it wouldn't have happened on another day. But it did—because there was something in the air. Something in you," Cody said, with a soft smile.
Gwen felt her face warm.
She couldn't react.
She couldn't look at him directly.
"Is he saying it was because of me?" she thought.
But before she could find an answer, Cody kept going.
"I'm not looking for a relationship," he said, completely calm. "I'm not trying to define what this means or what we should do."
Gwen looked at him for a moment, surprised by his honesty.
"Then… why say it?" she wondered.
Cody exhaled gently and smiled.
"I just want to be honest," he said, his voice steady. "Because you make me feel things I didn't expect."
Gwen felt a small shiver run down her spine.
It wasn't cheesy. It wasn't a love confession.
It was simply the truth.
And somehow, hearing it from him made everything feel different.
Silence returned—but now it was different.
No longer awkward.
It was a silence filled with meaning.
Gwen felt the warmth of Cody's hand, the steadiness of his presence, and the weight of what he'd just said.
Her mind couldn't fully process it.
"What do I do with this?" she thought.
She didn't have an answer.
But she didn't need one right now.
The afternoon drifted on, the sun painting the sky with warm tones, and the breeze carried a gentle calm.
Cody and Gwen remained seated, still quiet, still processing what had just happened.
But the calm was only surface-level. Beneath it, everything was charged with tension.
A tension Gwen felt more than ever.
Because now, she couldn't pretend nothing had happened.
Gwen bit her lip lightly, her gaze dropping to the ground as her mind filled with thoughts she couldn't control.
"Why do I feel like this?" she thought.
Cody's calmness, his way of expressing himself, his honesty without pressure…
All of it trapped her in a whirlwind of confusing emotions.
She didn't fully understand what she was feeling, but she knew one thing.
She couldn't ignore it anymore.
"It's just Cody," she tried to rationalize. "He's the same as always. He's just being himself."
But that was a lie.
Because something had changed.
The way he looked at her. The way he spoke. The way he held her hand—not to force anything, just to make sure they stayed there, together.
That gesture had been subtle—but deeply meaningful.
"If it were anyone else, I wouldn't feel this way," Gwen thought.
And there it was.
This wasn't just any moment.
This was something different.
Something Cody had sparked in her effortlessly.
And now she didn't know what to do with it.
Cody wasn't blind to Gwen's reaction.
He could see how she avoided his gaze, how she fiddled with her pencil for no real reason.
But most importantly—what she didn't do.
She didn't get up. She didn't leave.
She stayed, right beside him, even though she was clearly lost in her thoughts.
"I'm affecting her more than I imagined," Cody thought, with a quiet smile.
Not because he enjoyed it selfishly—but because it confirmed something.
What had happened between them wasn't just a random moment.
It had weight.
And Gwen was beginning to understand that.
"There's no need to rush this," Cody thought.
So instead of pushing, he did what worked best.
He stayed true to himself.
"Hey, Gwen…" Cody said, his voice gentle.
Gwen looked up immediately, as if her name in his voice had pulled her out of her own world.
And that made her realize something else.
She liked the way Cody said her name.
"I don't want you to overthink this," Cody continued. "I know you've got a thousand thoughts running through your head, and I'm not here to add more confusion."
Gwen swallowed softly.
Because somehow, Cody was saying exactly what she needed to hear.
No pressure. No rush.
Just honesty.
"I just want you to know I don't regret anything," Cody said, his voice low but firm.
Gwen felt a shiver run down her spine.
"I don't regret kissing you," Cody added, with a soft smile.
And there it was. The line that hit her square in the chest.
Because Cody wasn't playing games. He wasn't trying to manipulate or convince her of anything.
He was simply saying what he truly felt.
And somehow, that made Gwen see him in a whole new light.
Cody looked up at the sky for a moment, noticing the sun nearly gone.
He'd said enough.
The rest would be up to Gwen—and time.
So he stood up calmly, stretching slightly before looking at her again.
"You're going to be okay," Cody said, with quiet confidence. "Whatever happens next, we'll figure it out when the time comes."
Gwen didn't speak. She just nodded.
And then, just as Cody was about to leave, he did something that sealed the moment.
He leaned gently toward her, with the same calm he'd carried throughout the conversation.
And left a light kiss on her cheek.
Gwen felt her skin warm instantly.
It was quick. It was simple.
But she felt it.
And her heart beat hard once again.
Because now, she definitely couldn't ignore it.
Scene Shift
The water was cold but calm, wrapping around her body in a sensation of pure serenity.
Each stroke, each movement beneath the surface, helped clear her mind—helped release the weight of what had just happened.
She thought swimming would distract her. That it would pull her out of the storm of emotions and thoughts.
But even here, in this brief moment of solitude, everything remained.
Because no matter how much she tried to avoid it…
Cody was still in her head.
Cody stared at the sky as he floated on the water, letting his body relax.
"When I first got here, I thought this whole place was a cartoon," Cody thought, letting the idea drift without resistance.
Everything had that exaggerated vibe—bold personalities, chaotic moments.
But now…
Now it felt real.
Too real.
The emotions, the glances, the way the atmosphere shifted depending on what was happening.
"This isn't just a game. This isn't some fictional stage."
And there it was—the big realization.
This world had something special. Something that made him feel things he never expected to feel in a place like this.
Cody dipped beneath the surface for a moment, letting the water wrap around him before rising again.
He couldn't help it.
Thinking about Gwen inevitably led him to think about the other girls.
Because this place wasn't just full of challenges.
It was full of beauty.
Too much beauty.
Cody chuckled to himself, shaking his head slightly as he kept swimming.
"What am I supposed to do with so much beauty in one place?" he thought, amused.
Gwen—with her intense gaze and the way she spoke that always made him think deeper.
Bridgette—with her calm aura, her ease, and the way she made everything feel lighter.
Courtney—with her determination, her strength, her unshakable energy.
Lindsay—with her innocent charm and surprising ability to connect with everyone effortlessly.
It was absolute chaos.
But beautiful chaos.
Cody let himself float again, exhaling a soft sigh before muttering a stray thought.
"I wish it were as easy as in The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You."
Ah, if only anime logic applied here.
If everything were pre-scripted, if things just fell into place on their own.
If he could simply follow the path without having to process every emotion so deeply.
But that wasn't going to happen.
Because this wasn't an anime.
This was his reality now.
And even if he had to handle it the best way he could…
Something would come out of it.
That's what he told himself as he kept swimming, letting the water cover him once more.