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If I want to stay in this house for a long time, which of the three should I avoid crossing?
‘Think carefully, Jiyu Parker.’
She remembered hearing from Ae-jeong that Hunter had become so obsessed with tennis—which he had started as a social activity—that the Hamiltons were bewildered.
The parents had a vague plan to have Hunter learn the ropes at the family office after he graduated from college and gradually integrate him into the company's management. To them, tennis was like a "chicken rib"—something of little value, yet too precious to discard.
She wasn't sure exactly what a chicken rib was, but it sounded like a situation where they were stuck in a dilemma.
Hunter, with his arms crossed, was pretending to be indifferent, but it was obvious he was glancing sideways, waiting to see what she would say.
But it was one against two.
One Hunter versus two adults of the house. She concluded that it was safer to stick with the majority.
Jiyu swallowed hard and opened her mouth.
Please, let her voice not tremble.
[Um… you never know what might happen in life. So, I think it wouldn't be too l-late to check all the options first and then decide.]
Jerard snapped his fingers with a loud click. Then, he raised his voice as if to make sure everyone heard.
[As expected, Olivia. You're so smart. Exactly, a wise person checks all the options and makes the most rational decision before deciding.]
Hunter glared at Jiyu with a fierce expression before leaning back into the sofa, feigning leisure. Then, he spoke in a grumpy tone.
[I am absolutely not going to West Point.]
In the Hamilton family, there was a generational tradition of attending West Point, the U.S. Military Academy.
Jerard waved his hand dismissively.
[I don't expect you to. Following outdated traditions ends with my generation anyway. Even I only went because that Lafayette brat next door was going, and I was forced into it. Son, why don't you just see which colleges want you and under what conditions before making a decision? Just as Olivia said.]
Hunter snorted without answering. That was his way of agreeing.
Then, as if remembering something, he lifted his chin with a brazen expression.
[If I decide to go to college, add the ‘Triple H’ building in Tribeca to my trust fund list. You named it that just to give it to me anyway.]
This time, Jerard was the one who snorted. He agreed to that as well.
[Lauren, we've raised a complete highwayman.]
With a national rank of 1st, 1st in the Mid-Atlantic, 1st in New York, 12th in ITF Juniors, and a UTR of 12.68, Hunter was a blue-chip five-star player, ranked among the top three 11th graders in the country. As a promising prospect with a bright future, he frequently received interview requests from sports magazines.
As soon as the September term of 11th grade began, recruiting agents from various D1 (Division 1) universities visited Hunter, persistently courting him.
For some reason, Hunter temporarily pushed aside his dreams of going pro and chose Columbia University from the numerous places that had sent him love calls.
When Jiyu asked him why in passing, he simply shrugged.
[It's a hassle to go far away. It's a waste of time to adjust to a new court.]
Since his home ground was New York, it made sense in a way. As he said, there was already an infrastructure in place that rivaled professional players, so there was no need to waste time adapting to a new environment.
Hunter signed the LOI (Letter of Intent) with Columbia during the fall semester of 12th grade. As soon as the new year dawned, the official acceptance letter arrived.
Jiyu had always disciplined herself not to be jealous of Hunter or to indulge in delusions that ignored her place. His position had always been far above her, from childhood until now. It was a height she couldn't reach even if she stretched out her hand. A sense of hierarchy ingrained over a long time was difficult to escape.
However, the moment she saw Hunter toss the envelope containing his acceptance letter onto the table and head down to work out, a fierce jealousy she had never felt before surged within her.
Knowing the effort Hunter had put in, she knew the result was justified, yet she prayed and prayed with all her heart that such an opportunity would be given to her as well.
Going to Columbia University, becoming independent so she wouldn't have to live like a parasite clinging to the Hamiltons' goodwill, and becoming someone who could face Hunter as an equal. Those three were her wishes and her dreams.
Turning over on her bed, Jiyu pulled out the acceptance letter hidden under her pillow and read it once more. She always skipped the part about the scholarship, where joy had turned into despair.
She folded the letter bearing the Columbia University logo neatly along the creases and hugged it dearly to her chest.
‘This is enough. You've done your best. You worked hard, Jiyu Parker.’
And so, she gave up on her dream of Columbia University. To achieve at least the remaining dreams, she decided to go to California.
✾ ✾ ✾
As soon as she stepped out of the school gates, she spotted Joshua leaning against the school wall, staring at his phone. Jiyu approached and popped her face right in front of him.
[Hey, Josh.]
[Gah, you scared me!]
Thursdays were the days Daisy took a shuttle straight to the tennis academy on Randall's Island as soon as class ended. Therefore, Jiyu devoted her Thursdays to volunteer work.
[I hope we pick the new executives well. So that it can be maintained even after we go to college.]
Joshua shook his phone, which was filled with resumes, showing his determination.
The non-profit organization the two of them had co-founded provided translation services for bills and documents for elderly Asians who were not fluent in English. Gaining empathy from 1.5 and 2nd generation immigrants, it had been operated quite successfully over the past two years.
Yeojin had generously provided the mezzanine floor of Paper Crane for them.
[How many resumes came in?]
[Twenty-three. That's quite a lot, right?]
[Wow! I was worried, but that's a huge relief.]
Just then, an ice cream truck painted in blue and white pulled up in front of the school. As if sensing the weather was warming up, the truck had appeared right in front of the school to tempt the students on their way home.
[I always feel this, but that ice cream truck is an expert in strategic positioning. Want some? My treat.]
Joshua suggested.
[Really? I'll have strawberry with sprinkles. Thank you!]
After receiving two soft-serve ice creams from the truck, he handed one to her and took a huge bite of his own. Half of the ice cream vanished in one go.
[Ugh!]
He squeezed his eyes shut and clutched his head, complaining of a brain freeze.
[Josh! The ice cream!]
[…Huh?]
The lump of ice cream that had been perched precariously flopped onto the ground. He was occasionally clumsy and glitchy like this.
[Noooo!]
Joshua wailed, looking at the ground as if he had lost everything. He looked ready to lick the pavement if necessary. Jiyu stepped back from him and let out a small giggle.
Then, he snapped his head up, glared at her ice cream, and took a step toward her. He grabbed her wrist and leaned his head down.
Startled, Jiyu laughed and shouted.
[No, Josh! This is mine!]
She raised the arm holding the ice cream and pushed Joshua's shoulder away. As he opened his mouth and chased the ice cream as if trying to steal a bite, Jiyu laughed out loud.
Then, she flinched at an inexplicable, chilling aura.
A feeling of her entire body tightening and the hairs on the nape of her neck standing on end. She wrinkled her nose, feeling as if she could suddenly smell Hunter.
No way. He's not a dog.
At that moment, a long shadow cast over them. Jiyu froze. As the smile vanished from her face instantly, Joshua looked up with a puzzled expression.
[Move.]
A single rude and threatening word poured over their heads like ice water. Jiyu slowly turned around. Then, her shoulders trembled at the piercing gaze. Even though she hadn't committed a crime, her heart sank.
That gaze sliced through the air like a well-sharpened blade and stopped between Joshua's eyebrows. If he could fire a gun with those deep blue eyes, Joshua's forehead would have already been pierced.
A hesitant Joshua let go of Jiyu's wrist and cleared the way.
It was the crowded dismissal time, and the area around the ice cream truck was particularly packed. One could simply twist their body slightly to pass, as Joshua had done, but the great Hunter Hamilton never did such a thing.
Walking past with a grim face and hands in his pockets, he slammed right into Joshua's shoulder with a loud thud.
[Ugh.]
Staggering back a step, Joshua rubbed his shoulder and glared at Hunter. Hunter glanced down at him as if looking at a bug, then turned his head and walked away without an apology. The friends surrounding him giggled and chimed in.
[Isn't that your one-sided crush? Looks like he's got a boyfriend now. Too bad.]
[Oh my. Is the immortal crush of Triple ending like this right before graduation?]
[Shut up.]
Hunter snapped in a cold voice. At that, a burst of laughter erupted around him.
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