Jude realized that Hannah noticed that he's staring. Feeling a flush of embarrassment at being caught staring, Jude quickly averted his gaze and rose to his feet. His actions betrayed a sense of restlessness, as if he were searching not just for their missing companions, but also for a distraction from the tension that hung between them.
Though outwardly he scanned the surroundings for signs of their friends, inwardly he grappled with conflicting emotions. On one hand, the urgency to locate their companions and ensure their safety tugged at his conscience. Yet, on the other hand, a fleeting sense of opportunity lingered in the air, a chance to address the unspoken tension that had surfaced between him and Hannah in the aftermath of their shared ordeal.
