It had already been four months since Sana began working on her camera. The camera was now complete, and she was putting the final touches on the film—almost ready for testing.
Making the film, however, turned out to be far more complex than creating the camera itself.
For the longest time, Sana hadn't done a single thing to irritate Levi, which was unusual for her. She liked to tease him, and it had become one of her favorite pastimes. But today, she had refrained from her usual mischief.
She decided to make tea for everyone. She handed a cup to Isabel and Farlan san, but Levi remained silent, watching her closely.
They all began sipping their tea, but Levi's gaze never wavered. He was staring at her, his eyes fixed on her face as if waiting for something.
"What happened? Is there something on my face?" Sana asked, her voice light with amusement.
Levi simply stared back at her, his expression innocent and unreadable.
"Here, have this," she said, laughing to ease the tension, "otherwise my stomach's going to ache."
"Just kidding," she added with a playful grin.
Levi's face was always worth watching when he was confused or annoyed. She loved seeing his expressions after she teased him. It never failed to entertain her.
Sana, always one for mischief, scattered her pens and papers across the table. She knew exactly how it would affect Levi—he hated disorder.
Levi, of course, threatened to beat her for doing so, but it was an empty threat. He had never followed through. She knew he wasn't as nice as he pretended to be, yet there was something about the way he tolerated her antics that made her want to push his buttons even more.
"You know, Farlan san," Sana said casually, "today I saw this adorable little kid with sleek eyes and black hair. Guess where I saw him?"
Immediately, everyone's mood shifted. Their expressions darkened, and Sana could almost feel the weight of their glances on her. It was as though she had said something wrong, or perhaps she had invoked a primal instinct in them.
"What are you all thinking? I'm not talking about Levi! There was a kid in the shopping district, you see," Sana clarified quickly, trying to dispel the tension.
But it was too late. By mentioning Levi, she had already set things in motion. Levi stood up and advanced toward her, his expression unreadable.
Sana's heart raced. Today, it seemed, she had gone too far. She grinned, knowing she was about to pay the price for her teasing.
With a sudden burst of energy, she rushed upstairs, trying to escape. But Levi was already at his limit, and she could feel the distance between them closing fast.
Sana couldn't help but laugh, even as she fled. The chase was exhilarating.
However, there was nowhere to run. She had backed herself into a corner, quite literally.
With a wall behind her and no exit, she knew she was trapped. There was no escape. All she could do now was wait for the inevitable.
But as she glanced up at Levi's approach, she realized she wasn't as scared as she might have been. There was something about the situation that made her pulse race—not fear, but adrenaline. She was caught, but it was almost like a game.
Levi's hands grabbed her shoulders and pushed her gently against the wall. He was much too close for comfort, and she could feel her heart racing. Why was her pulse quickening like this?
It wasn't love, she realized with a jolt—it was just the rush of cortisol. The kind that made her thoughts scatter and her breath hitch.
She couldn't look away from his eyes. The moment they met, everything around her seemed to fade. Her mind went blank, and she was left speechless.
What did he even say after that? Sana couldn't remember. She couldn't focus. She was too overwhelmed by the moment.
Levi finally stepped back and headed downstairs, leaving Sana standing there, still dazed.
When she regained her senses, she remembered the camera and the film she had been working on. It was ready for testing. But before that, she had a plan.
Later that evening, they all gathered to test the camera. Sana had set up a few benches, and everyone took their seats while she adjusted the gravity lamp to illuminate the scene. She clicked the shutter, and then turned off the lamp.
After that, it was time to develop the film. The underground had surprisingly good conditions for processing photographs, and now it was only a matter of waiting to see if the camera had worked.
Sana didn't waste any time dwelling on the results. As the night wore on, she tossed and turned in her bed, unable to sleep. Her mind was too active, thoughts rushing through her head, but the physical exhaustion didn't seem to come.
She stared up at the ceiling, her body restless but her mind racing. Was it just the adrenaline from earlier still affecting her? The rush of cortisol? Or was there something more to it?
Eventually, she lost track of time, and morning came without her even realizing it. She jumped out of bed and rushed to check on the film.
She stared at the photograph with wide eyes.
"Yesss! Yes! It worked!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.
"What happened, Sana?" Farlan san asked, sensing her joy.
"I have something to show you all!" she called out, rushing downstairs, the photograph clutched in her hand.
Once they gathered, Sana slowly turned the photograph toward them.
The moment they saw it, their faces lit up in surprise and excitement.
"Kyaaaaaahhhhhh!" Isabel shrieked, her voice filled with awe.
Everyone was transfixed, studying the photo over and over again, as though trying to comprehend what they were seeing.
Sana smiled, satisfied with their reaction. "Oye, let's take more pictures! I'll grab the camera," she suggested, still caught up in the excitement.
Isabel immediately followed her, eager to continue the fun.
The two of them asked one of the workers outside to help take a picture without explaining what it was for. Afterward, they went to develop the new photos.
When they returned, Sana and Isabel joined the others for tea and breakfast. Everything felt lighter, more joyful than it had in a while. Yet, deep down, Sana couldn't help but wonder what would happen when they eventually had to leave the underground.
The time was approaching, and there were so many uncertainties. But for now, they were all together, and Sana had one more task to handle—cleaning the sniper rifle.
She had to make sure it wouldn't be found when Erwin arrived.
Time had slipped by so quickly, and Sana couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency building inside her. But, for the moment, she was content with the success of the camera and the simple joy of being with her friends.