He continued reading Dune, losing all sense of time. It was only after three more hours had passed that he stopped. That wasn't because he got bored with it. Instead, that was because of a certain someone who barged into his room.

  William, raising an eyebrow, bookmarked the page and closed it before looking at the intruder, "What is it?"

  Eve didn't reply immediately and ran a finger along his desk. She examined the dust on her hand, "Your room is filthy."

  "That's what you came here for? To insult my room?"

  She turned to face him. "No, I came to drag you out of here. You've been holed up all day."

  William rolled his eyes, "Not like you're any different. Since lunch, you've been in your room. And it's not like I've been doing nothing either. I've been practicing the violin and guitar. And I've been reading." He waved the book in front of him, showing it off.

  Eve's eyes narrowed as she focused, "Hmm... Dune? I heard it's pretty good. Haven't read it myself. How is it?" She leaned against the table.

  "In my opinion, it is deserving of its reputation as one of the best science fiction novels. Very good worldbuilding."

  She hummed, "You can tell me about it later. Maybe I'll read it. Right now, Sarah wants us downstairs."

  "What for?"

  She looked at him like she was looking at an idiot, "For dinner, obviously. Don't you see the time?"

  Oh, it's 6 now... "Alright, that one's on me. Let's go." He used some effort to get out of bed before washing his face. After a sigh, he followed Eve downstairs.

  Dinner was just like lunch. With some bantering and great pasta, the dinner was over. Though, as he was about to go back up to continue his reading after helping Sarah with the dishes, he heard Sarah say, "Don't go yet. I have something planned for the three of us."

  William raised his eyebrow, "Oh?"

  Sarah beckoned him and Eve over, "Come, come. Let's play a game." Sarah led them over to the living room, and there it was. The devil of all board games. Monopoly.

  William gasped, "No!"

  Sarah grinned, "Yes! Now, come. No escaping for the both of you."

  William and Eve groaned as they took their places around the table on the living room's floor. "Monopoly takes forever. Don't we have anything that's a bit faster?" Eve complained.

  "Then you'd better win quickly." Sarah was already setting up the board.

  William teased Eve, "You could let me win. It'll be over quickly that way."

  She shot him a glare, "I'd rather play the game a hundred times than surrender in Monopoly."

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  After helping Sarah set the board up, William picked up the little car token. "Heh, I'm picking the car."

  Eve quipped as she picked up the dog token. "You always pick the car. It's just a lump of metal. The dog's much cooler."

  "Tell that to my car. And how's the dog much cooler? What're you gonna do with it? Shock it?" William threw a jab at a certain streamer from his previous life, though nobody would get the reference.

  She was visibly disgusted, "As if. I'd never shock a dog!"

  Sarah picked the top hat, "Don't start fighting now. I imagine we'll be fighting plenty after the game starts. House rule! No loans between players, and if you land on Free Parking, you get whatever's in the pot."

  "There's a pot?" William asked.

  Sarah nodded, "All the tax money and fees go to the pot. Whoever lands on Free Parking takes it all!"

  Eve's eyes lit up, "That's interesting."

  And fight plenty, they did. As they started playing, William rolled first and landed on Oriental Avenue. He bought it immediately. Eve landed on Reading Railroad. Sarah landed on Community Chest.

  "Bank error in your favor. Collect $200." Sarah smiled as she took the money.

  The game progressed. William bought properties aggressively. Eve focused on the railroads and utilities. Sarah played conservatively, building her empire slowly. William landed on Community Chest.

  "You have won second prize in a beauty contest. Collect $10." William picked up $10.

  Eve winced, "Oof. Only second place?"

  William gave her a middle finger.

  "You're buying too much," Eve said as William bought another property.

  "I have enough cash reserves."

  "Barely."

  "That's still enough." He rolled the dice. Double threes. He moved his piece and landed on Chance.

  "Advance to Boardwalk."

  "Fuck yes." He bought it without hesitation.

  Eve groaned, "Of course, you get Boardwalk."

  "Skill," he said.

  "That's literally luck."

  "Skill in rolling the dice."

  She rolled her eyes. "That's not what you said the last time."

  He waved his hand in dismissal, "That one doesn't count."

  She snorted and rolled the dice. The game went on, becoming more and more unbalanced as the game went on. Once, Sarah got lucky by landing on the Free Parking, which gave her $1000. Still, it didn't matter, since in the next few turns, she landed on boardwalk and became bankrupt.

  "Fuck," Eve exclaimed as she set the money in her hand on the table. "I declare bankruptcy. I don't have any way to come back from this. You win, happy?"

  "Very," William replied cheekily.

  She rolled her eyes and hugged him from behind, "You're the worst."

  "Huh? What's with this sudden aff- oof." His sentence was cut short, as a pillow came from behind him, wrapping around his face, suffocating him! It was an assassination attempt! By none other than his most trusted Eve! The betrayal!

  As William was dramatizing the situation, Eve pulled him to the ground, straddling him. She grabbed another pillow as a weapon as she raised it above her head. "Any last words?"

  He gasped dramatically, "Betrayed... by my own girlfriend... Tell Sarah... the pasta was good..."

  "Idiot!" She brought the pillow down on his face like she was using a mace.

  He tried to grab the pillow, but she was faster. They wrestled for control of the weapon.

  Sarah was already on the sofa, having already stored and cleaned the table where they played. In fact, when they were playing, she had already made herself a cup of tea. As she sipped the tea, she spoke with a slight smile, "You two are like children."

  "She started it!" He said, still trying to wrestle the pillow away.

  "Liar! You were gloating!"

  "I earned the right to gloat!"

  Eve hit him square in the face again, but this time, he was able to grab the pillow. He tossed it aside, using his superior size and strength to flip their position. Now, he was on top.

  "Ha! Victory is mine!"

  She glared up at him, "This is abuse of power."

  "This is called being stronger than you."

  "Cheater."

  "Sore loser."

  After staring into each other's eyes for a while, they laughed. William gave her a little kiss before getting off her. He offered her a hand, and she took it. He pulled her up. He went back to his room after saying goodnight to Eve and Sarah and giving a little group hug.

  He looked at the time. It was 9 now. Let's sleep early for once. That night, he didn't suffer from any nightmares.