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Hunter barely managed to keep himself from spitting out the water he was drinking, coughing as it went down the wrong pipe. Even so, he laughed like a madman.
The only reason he had accepted the request to play a ping-pong game with a stupid penalty was that he was confident he would win. He was ambidextrous, though his left hand was slightly more developed than his right. He didn't want others to know that, so he planned to trade points back and forth and then pretend to barely win.
However, during the game, he had locked eyes with Jiyu. The popsicle twins were nowhere to be seen, and she was standing alone in line in front of the photo booth. Then, Steven Burlinsky blocked her from view. He caught a glimpse of Jiyu's troubled expression as they spoke, before she was hidden again.
'Do those two know each other?'
Just then, he saw Steven hold out his phone to her.
'No way. Is that nerd trying to get Jewel Parker's number?'
Hunter scoffed. The Jiyu he knew had been introverted and cautious since childhood. She was the kind of girl who would hide behind his back if a stranger approached her at the playground. It would be a miracle if she didn't run away when a strange boy asked for her number. But then, Steven triumphantly pumped his fist in the air. Hunter blinked in disbelief.
'Did she actually give it to him? What if that guy turns out to be some psycho pervert stalker?'
While he stood there staring at the scene, a white ball bounced once off the green table and flew away. Following a loud cheer, someone shouted the score.
[3 to 4! Wake up, Triple! The penalty is actually Kiss or Slap!]
But Hunter couldn't focus on the game at all. This was all because Jiyu Parker had suddenly caught his eye.
He puffed out his cheeks and let out a sharp breath. He tried to ignore the heat slowly rising up his spine to the back of his neck and gave a smirk.
Whether she gave him her number or not.
What does it have to do with me.
[Consider yourself lucky. I'll give you one point every ten seconds.]
Hunter shouted boldly toward his opponent, whom he didn't even know. But right at that moment, the damn Alexander de Lafayette appeared.
Jiyu turned to look at Rex and stood with her back to Hunter. Then, Rex toyed with her face before pulling her into a sudden, tight embrace.
Immediately after witnessing that scene, Hunter served the ball, but he put too much strength into it. The white, lightweight ball didn't even touch the table; it flew high into the air like a tennis ball.
Right now, a game like this wasn't what mattered. His breathing grew ragged, and his eyes felt hot.
[Fuck.]
Though his subconscious athletic reflexes allowed him to return the opponent's serve, he didn't even attempt to hit the ball coming back. This was because Rex, keeping a close eye on Hunter, tilted his head provocatively and leaned in as if to kiss Jiyu.
[3:6! Triple, you lost!]
Jeers and cheers erupted simultaneously.
However, all the noise felt distant, drowned out by the thumping of his pulse ringing coldly in his ears. To think he had lost three points in a row in a bet he had been playing for fun, taking it easy on the other side, only to end up with a penalty.
[Kiss or Slap, Kiss or Slap!]
The kids surrounding them chanted in unison. But his gaze remained fixed on the photo booth, refusing to move.
[Are these people crazy...?]
Hunter muttered, having witnessed the brazen display of affection between Jiyu and Rex.
'Fuck. I couldn't even do it once, even though I begged for it.'
As soon as that thought crossed his mind, he froze like stone.
'What. Did I want to kiss Jewel Parker?'
His mind became a tangled mess. Misdirected anger poured like boiling lava into his heart. His burning heart hammered violently against his ribs like a mallet. His entire solar plexus felt a dull, aching pain.
'Have those two been dating behind my back all this time?'
He had thought their relationship was a bit strange for a while. Jiyu, who was distant and passive with other kids, was quite friendly only with Rex. And Rex, who played mischievous pranks on everyone, had never targeted Jiyu.
"Fuck."
He spat out a curse through his teeth. Strangely, in the worst situations, Korean curses came to him first.
Someone kept tugging at his arm from the side.
[Triple, aren't you doing the penalty? Everyone's waiting.]
Keeping his eyes fixed on the photo booth, Hunter shook off the arm and took a step forward. The expectant faces parted before him like the miracle of the Red Sea.
[What, you're not running away, are you?]
As someone spoke up, a barrage of jeers followed.
[Shut up.]
[Hunter? Where are you going? Aren't you doing the penalty?]
Someone blocked his path with a coquettish voice. A blushing Sienna smiled brightly at him and blinked.
Ah. A tedious, clinging leech. If she weren't a girl, he would have shoved her aside with his shoulder already.
[I'm on my way to do the penalty, so move.]
With the bare minimum of manners, he half-turned his body and slipped past her.
[Where... who are you going to...?]
For a moment, Sienna's eyes narrowed, and with a spiteful expression, she whipped around to look around. Taking advantage of that gap, Hunter passed her and headed toward the photo booth.
✾ ✾ ✾
[Hey, Triple. What brings you here?]
Rex asked slowly with a smirk. A startled Jiyu pushed away the arm draped over her shoulder and turned around. This time, he didn't hold onto her.
Hunter was glaring at Rex with a cold, sunken face. It was the same expression he wore during the last tournament final when Dmitri kept making low-quality provocations.
'Why is he like that again...? Surely they aren't going to fight here?'
Rex had mentioned some bet and penalty earlier. She had no idea what his intentions were. They weren't children anymore, yet they seemed desperate to tear each other apart every time they met.
The word 'frenemy' described these two perfectly. Rex seemed to do it for fun, and Hunter... how should she put it... seemed to hate the sight of Rex being with her.
Whatever the reason, the best course of action was to pretend not to notice and avoid them. She didn't want to draw attention to herself when she was already between two people who stood out even when alone.
Jiyu stealthily checked their moods, and seeing the line move, she took a step forward and ignored them.
It was Jiyu's turn next. Just then, Chloe appeared holding lemonades. The timing was impeccable.
[Olivia! Sorry I'm late, I spilled the lemonade on the way and had to get more.]
[Chloe! Thank you so much!]
Jiyu felt as if she had found a savior.
[Oh, it's almost our turn!]
At that moment, Hunter and Rex surrounded Jiyu simultaneously. Rex leaned in, draping his arm over one of her shoulders.
[Don't play poker, Hunter Hamilton. I feel like you'll gamble away all the land your ancestors left you.]
Rex sneered. However, without a word, Hunter slapped Rex's arm away, knocking it off Jiyu's shoulder.
'Ah. Here we go again.'
Jiyu squeezed her eyes shut and opened them. There were too many eyes watching. Today was the first time she realized Chloe's small eyes could get that wide.
As she tried to slip away from between the two, shifting only her eyes, Hunter grabbed her wrist and pulled.
[Where are you going?]
His voice was almost a growl.
[Uh? Me? I-I'm just standing in line.]
Jiyu shook her wrist free and linked arms with Chloe. In her heart, she wanted to use Chloe as a shield and hide behind her. It was exhausting to have everyone's attention focused on her because of Hunter and Rex.
Then, Hunter stepped closer to her and spoke.
[Kiss or Slap.]
In an instant, the entire group surrounding them inhaled sharply.
[Cough!]
Chloe sprayed bright red fruit punch from her mouth, doubling over and coughing.
Jiyu, her face turning pale, blinked and looked up at Hunter, then whipped her head around to glare at Rex. The penalty... the penalty Hunter received was Kiss or Slap?
Reading the silent question in her eyes, Rex stealthily backed away.
[Where are you looking?]
Hunter placed a hand on her shoulder and snapped.
[Hunter... why are you doing this?]
Jiyu asked, her lips trembling.
[Didn't you hear? Kiss or Slap.]
[Why are you doing that to me—]
Hunter's gaze shot out a blue flame of anger like a laser light.
[Why. Is that bastard okay, but I'm not? Are you two dating or something?]
[...What on earth are you talking about. Hunter, please don't do this.]
With a face pale as a ghost, Jiyu lowered her head and pulled on Chloe's arm as if searching for a place to hide. Having recognized the familiar pattern, Hunter finally looked around.
Realizing that this was not a level of attention Jiyu Parker could handle, he stepped closer to shield her. Just then, a group of people poured out of the photo booth.
Hunter quickly yanked open the curtain of the photo booth and pushed Jiyu inside. Then, he stepped inside himself and closed the curtain.
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