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purehypnotic · 15 hours

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⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡୧ 🎮𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒐 𝒈𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔🎮୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆

𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒐𝒇𝒇 𝒙 𝒇𝒆𝒎!𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓

(𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒑𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒚𝒑𝒔𝒆)

𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭, 𝐉𝐞𝐚𝐧, 𝐊𝐮𝐫𝐭, 𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞, 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲.

"𝐆𝐮𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭" 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐲𝐩𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦.

"𝐈'𝐦 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭" 𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝, 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬. 𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐈 𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐝𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞.

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 - 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝.

𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐨 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐭, 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 "𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲" 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐊𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐊𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐨. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞�� 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬.

𝐈 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞-𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐉𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞, 𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.

𝐈 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦, 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫. 𝐀𝐬 𝐈 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦, 𝐉𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞. "𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫?" 𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫.

"𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭" 𝐈 𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞. "𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭, 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞-𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐊𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭" 𝐈 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞.

"𝐈 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐭, 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭?" 𝐉𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬.

"𝐌𝐡𝐦𝐦" 𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲.

"𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰," 𝐈 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬, "𝐖𝐞'𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐲'𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰" 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐬.

"𝐍𝐨, 𝐧𝐨, 𝐧𝐨, 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐘/𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮" 𝐉𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 "𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞".

" 𝐇𝐞, "𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬" 𝐦𝐞? 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞" 𝐈 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐝, "𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬" 𝐈 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐭 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟. 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝.

"𝐘/𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞" 𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐈 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐟𝐲 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬.

"𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞," 𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡. 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐮𝐟𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚.

"𝐖𝐡𝐨'𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞?" 𝐊𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐊𝐮𝐫𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐣𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐫-𝐣𝐚𝐰𝐬 𝐈'𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐭. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡.

"𝐍𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞" 𝐈 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲,

"𝐍𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞? 𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫?" 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧.

"𝐎𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝," 𝐈 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩, 𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐈 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫.

"𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐭, 𝐈'𝐦 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲," 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐦, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝'𝐯𝐞.

"𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐈 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝'𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬," 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐲𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐬. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 "𝐎𝐤 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐈'𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞", 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐛𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦.

"𝐈'𝐦 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬, 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐠𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞?" 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐮𝐛 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝.

"𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐡 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐥, 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬" 𝐈 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐥.

𝐀𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞, 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐬.

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐈 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐝 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞. 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭, 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬.

"𝐈 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬" 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐬𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫.

"𝐖𝐨𝐰, 𝐬𝐨… 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐟𝐭?" 𝐈 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬, 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰, 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝, 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝. "𝐈'𝐦 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐛 𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐃𝐢𝐩" 𝐈 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬. "𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝" 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝, 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫.

"𝐇𝐞𝐲, 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲" 𝐈 𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝, "𝐎𝐨𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐨" 𝐈 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬.

"𝐘𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐚'𝐚𝐦" 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬.

"𝐇𝐞𝐲, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠" 𝐀 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦, 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐲𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥.

"𝐖𝐨𝐚𝐡," 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬, 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬, 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝. 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞, 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐦𝐞.

"𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐤?" 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧,

"𝐘-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐡, 𝐈'𝐦 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭" 𝐈 𝐚𝐝𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬, "𝐖𝐚𝐢𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭?" 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬.

"𝐃𝐮𝐡," 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬.

𝐖𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫, 𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐚𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞𝐬, 𝐈 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐩 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲.

"𝐍𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬," 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭.

"𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰" 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡.

"𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞" 𝐈 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝, 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲-𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡,

"𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝" 𝐇𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝, "𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲" 𝐇𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝.

"𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧, 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐬, 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞" 𝐈 𝐟𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝

"𝐎𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐘/𝐧" 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦. 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝.

"𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲, 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞," 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭-𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐢𝐭, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

"𝐎𝐤 𝐬𝐨, 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐭" 𝐇𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬, "𝐈 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧, 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲" 𝐇𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞.

"𝐨𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐭 𝐮𝐩" 𝐈 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐦, 𝐈 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐟𝐲 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞.

"𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐭, 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫" 𝐇𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫,

"𝐞𝐡 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐚 𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬" 𝐈 𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬, 𝐈 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐳𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝, 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬, 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐞𝐱𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐞.

"𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐞" 𝐈 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐮𝐩, 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬, 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝.

"𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞" 𝐈 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐉𝐞𝐚𝐧, 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭, 𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐊𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐮𝐬.

"𝐖𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭," 𝐊𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬.

"𝐖𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐮𝐲" 𝐈 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐛.

"𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐡" 𝐉𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞, 𝐈 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞, 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞.

" 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭" 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐉𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬,

"𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐡 𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫" 𝐊𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝.

"𝐖𝐞'𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫," 𝐉𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐜 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.

"𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭-" 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐢-𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞,

"𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫" 𝐈 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫.

"𝐖𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐬," 𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐄 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝

"𝐎𝐨𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰," 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝.

"𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦," 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬,

"𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐚 𝐠𝐮𝐲" 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝, 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞.

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amnignsity · 2 days

Text

Help is what you need, And I'm here.

⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆ ❣ ⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆

Hybrid!Yang Jeongin x Human!F!Reader

Mentions of how a woman's month is[Kinda educational I guess], Fluff, A little bit of Angst, ongoing...

No beta read.kinda.

The clouds darken as you looked up at the sky—hand over your mouth as you breathe against your fingers before rubbing both your hands together to create a friction that could warm them up.

You sighed realizing that it was gonna rain today—Grabbing your phone from your pockets as you turned it on and took a look at the weather forecast. Still being sunny, guessing sometimes it wasn't accurate.

Feeling the drip of water against your hands as you quickly placed your phone back inside your pockets and pulled your jacket up above your head trying not to get wet or you'll get sick—the rain drips down a bit more faster than before, you could see some people and hybrids running for cover under the shops with a roof over the entrance.

You were a bit too far from it so you decided to go at the alleyway that was much closer, the rain was getting heavier by the second making you lift up your jacket even more so as you try to cover yourself from the droplets of water pouring down the darken clouds.

Reaching the alley as you finally get some cover by a closed shop at the back door of it you just stood still looking over the small roof of it—you sighed realizing you might have to stand still for awhile until it dies down seeing how dark it was you doubt it'll be fast.

You crouched down grabbing your phone from your pockets as you lean against the closed steel door - just letting yourself forget about the calming rain for a second before hearing small whimpers close to you making you snap your head upwards towards the noise.

You slowly put your phone back in your pockets as you look around, the alley was slightly dark but you could still see clearly—the small roofs creating small space for you to go towards the sound.

Putting your jacket over your head as you make your way towards the small whimpers that was coming from the end of the alley close behind the trash bins—you walked towards it being careful not to utter a sound.

The box was getting poured by the cold rain making you cover it with your jacket as you stood above it seeing a curled up—cat? dog? pomeranian? you squinted before you eyes widen while letting out a small gasp as it slowly uncurls itself having big ears and big eyes, it makes eye contact with you.

It was a fennec fox you looked at it with a surprised look—mouth slightly hang open while the fox just stares at you before it's eyes widen too immediately leaning against the box much more closer while letting out small growls while you blinked very confused as to who left such an adorable creature here alone in the alley.

Looking around but just deadpanning at yourself for searching when clearly it was an alley. You just glanced at the fox who was weary of you even as far as to growling at you but you just huffed at it before giving it a small smile.

"Don't worry...I won't hurt you...You were uhmm..getting rained on so I just wanted to..." You speaked slowly trying to think of ways to say your intentions seemingly right now your brain was slightly lagging due to the sound of the rain.

The rain was always a comfort for you to slow your brain down finding some sense of safety from it.

"Cover you..." You blinked feeling awkward as you stare at the fox who stares back finally stopping it's growling as it tilts his head to the said seemingly understanding you.

Although it was still weary and you could understand why as you were a stranger—you as well were not fond of strangers, you decide to sat beside the box despite probably getting your clothes dirty and wet the fox was shivering and probably cold.

You could deal with it for a short time then never leaving your apartment again for multiple months before going out again. The fox still cautious at you just stares before laying back down curling itself while the rain drips down against you two with only your jacket being your cover from it.

You sighed closing your eyes before hearing a yelp beside you when thunder suddenly made it's appearance you quickly glanced at the shaking fox who seemed to be even more scared as you gently pulled the box closer making it take a peek at you who closed her eyes as you just held his box close as if you were hugging it and protecting it.

Having a slight gratitude towards you—the fox gently moved it's self close to you, still having a slight small distance as he laid down the box but still enough where it felt it was okay and safe for itself.

"You okay?..." You asked softly against the thunder and rain as you looked down at fox who just let's out a small whimper curling itself—you didn't know what to do so you just stayed still being careful not cross it's boundaries.

You didn't know how long it has been but you could feel the weather slowly calming down with your jacket drenched and you but the fox seemed okay even a bit more dry than before, you took it as an okay job.

Slowly you folded the drenched jacket squeezing it before folding again to remove the excess water it soaked in. You stood up earning an ear perking up at your sudden movement from the fox as it slowly opened it's eyes seeing you stood over it's box—it let's out a small growl probably thinking you'll do something to harm it.

You shake your head slowly backing away while it stares at you confuse tilting it's head to the side. "I'm leaving...Uhm..Don't worry...The weather's cleared up..." You said making the fox look up and indeed it the rain stopped.

You gulped slightly awkward but you just moved even more backwards while the fox looked back down towards you with somewhat big glossy eyes as it moved closer to the side of the box towards you.

"Bye little fox..." You uttered waving it with a small smile over your lips while the fennec fox lets out a sudden small whimper but you didn't hear it—as you slowly turned around taking a step before stopping as you heard rustling behind you turning around once more as you see the fennec fox face planted over the floor with it's box fallen along with him.

You quickly moved towards it crouching down as you gently held it. "Eh?! Are you okay? little fox?..." You held it with the most gentle grasp as it let's out a small whine, while you picked it back up placing it down as it stood up looking up at you—remembering the fennec fox doesn't like strangers as it made you quickly utter apologies.

"O-h... sorry for touching you-...?" You said briefly stopping as you were about to removed your hands off it—it gently rubs it's small head against your hands making your heart skip at how cute it was being. Not being able to keep a smile over your lips you let out a chuckle while the fox made some happy noises back.

"Do you...like it?..." You asked with a soften tone while the fox just huffs letting out a happy noises. You gently gave it head pats before slowly retracting your hand back but the fox just gently bites your hand tugging you by the finger back towards its box that's fallen to the side.

The fox just let's go of your finger for a bit while you looked at it confused as it makes it's way towards the box pushing it back up—before jumping off it as it nibbles your hand again seemingly trying to tug you towards it once again.

"Little fox do you want me in?.." You asked moving towards the fox's tugging while it let's out happy noises still mouth over your finger as it jumps back in its box with your hand over it's mouth giving it a small lick.

You chuckled giving it some more pets while eventually you told it you need to go, earning some whines of protest and growls but getting happy again once you gave it pets.

That's how you met the hybrid not actually knowing it was one at first when you decided to make it your pet at first but eventually knowing it once you guys went to the vet.

It went like this ⤵

The fox nibbled your hands while you gave him pats—currently on the vet to make sure he was alright and safe from any diseases. You found out about his gender when he was laying down on your bed after a warm bath you made for him on that rainy day.

The Fennec fox was just enjoying your soothing pets when the doctor came in immediately earning the fox's attention as his ears perked up—sniffing the air as it growls standing up on your lap sensing a new person coming in.

There wasn't really anyone else at the vet considering it was a weekday mostly everyone would either be at work or school—you held the small fennec fox against your arms gently whispering soothing words.

"It's okay little fox...He's just gonna make sure your okay..Vets are doctors for animals did you know?.." You smiled while the fennec fox looks at you with big eyes before looking back at the vet who seemed to be a hybrid as well.

The Fennec fox nodded slowly although snuggling against your chest even closer—still wary and cautious. The hybrid smiles at the two of you as they lead you towards an office where you both could talk privately.

It was well organized and clean as expected—you sat infront of him while the hybrid vet sat on his own chair behind the table.

"Hello, I'm doctor Kim Seokjin. What seems to be the problem?.." He smiled while he puts on his glasses, you smiled back while gently giving the fox some headpats that he likes earning you happy noises from said fox.

"Uh..hi to you too as well..I would like for this fennec fox to get checked up for any diseases and problems it may have...Uhm..I found him at the alley and he seems attached after that incident.."

You said a bit slowly just making sure he'd understand—the doctor nods as he looks down at the fennec fox who seemed to be just laying down on your lap at the moment.

"Sure no problem.." He responded while he stood up—the little fox staring at him while you also stood up. He tells you to place the fennec fox over a bed he has for check-ups on animals. You sat back down on the chair while the fennec fox gives you a doe eyed look. You gave him a thumbs up while the doctor gives him a check-up.

Thankfully he wasn't too rowdy or stubborn after like 3 minutes, just letting the doctor check him up—although he'd get fussy if the doctor would touch his ears and his tail for a bit too long.

After awhile the doctor said he was alright and that nothing was wrong, feeling some gratitude towards the doctor while paying for his services.

The fennec fox snuggled back into your arms while you held him.

"By the way, the fennec fox hybrid seems to trust you alot. You must've done some good deeds for it, it's rare keep it up." Seokjin smiles at you while you smiled back.

"Ah it was nothing-... wait hybrid?.." You stopped briefly while you looked at him with a dumbfounded expression while Seokjin on the other hand just continued smiling at you. Slowly you looked down at the fennec fox who seems to also be looking up at you especially with those big eyes of his.

Silence makes itself known as you stared at the fennec fox.

"Yes hybrid...Wait did you not know?.." Seokjin looks at you now also confused while you just gave him a dumbfounded look—Seokjin chuckles at your expression.

"His name is Jeongin...Yang Jeongin we did some hybrid talking while you were...uhm how should I say this..dozing? zoning off earlier." Seokjin chuckles while you felt embarrassed— earlier while Seokjin was checking up on said little fox who's name is jeongin, you were clearly zoned off just staring into space comfortably while you waited.

Hybrid talking is like telepathy in a way through gazes and smells only hybrids and animals know—well unlike animals, hybrids can talk through human languages as where to animals talk in animal languages only including body language, noises and scents.

Hybrids created this systems called 'quick tell' for communication to other hybrids although as it says it's only for a short amount of time.

'Quick tell' is used for unbonded hybrids to communicate—it's very different from where they are bonded as they can feel each other's emotions through with a much longer telepathy at any given time despite the long distance.

Hybrids could also use this for their humans if bonded—but if not bonded they can't as it's very special only for that one special person or hybrid.

Feeling embarrassed as you hid your face against jeongin's tummy earning you small licks over your cheek and forehead while he makes happy noises, Seokjin just smiles at you two. You bid your farewells and make your way on your car, placing jeongin at the front passenger seat while you sat on the drivers seat sighing deeply while the fennec fox just looks at you confused.

You smiled at him—he was just the cutest and you couldn't help it. Earning you a nibbled on the fingers and a playful growl as you chuckled at him.

"Let's go home shall we, jeongin?..." You grinned while jeongin stops his playful nibbling and looks at you with sparkling eyes as you said a sentence he has been wishing for every night while he laid down curled up into a ball on that pitiful box.

Home...He's going home..

Gently patting his head while you start the car— Jeongin couldn't help but just stare at you through his big fennec eyes as a warm feeling spreads from his body.

He's really going home...His home, Him and His human going back to their tiny but comfy apartment. The fennec fox huffs making happy noises while you chuckled as you drove.

Such a sweet and memorable moment he could never forget.

Now time has passed since then - you and jeongin have gotten much more closer than before just hanging out and sometimes even playing fight although even if you both were now together for like 5 months as caretaker and hybrid - jeongin still hasn't shown you his human form.

You asked the fennec fox about it and he just tilts his head looking at you confused - you explained it to him what you meant. In the end you were met with huffs and nibbles seemingly the fennec fox was ignoring your words from earlier and now just distracting you with it's adorable playful banter.

You laid sprawled out on the bed just looking at the ceiling - lately you've been feeling cramps over your lower abdomen and somewhat slightly empty too. Looking through tiktok and multiple searching browsers you've discovered you're either in your either into one of the four phases women's go through - Follicular, Ovulation, Luteal, or menstruation.

Follicular : Days 1-13 - post-period until ovulation, naturally you feel much more stronger even as far as to energetic and less bloated, etc...

Ovulation : Around the day 14 but can lasts longer up to 3 days or so - You'll get some discharges here and there and sometimes light cramps, Having a high libido too, etc...

Luteal : Days 15-28 is after ovulation with the next being menstruation - You'll feel less energetic and would preferably just eat more but that's okay, etc...

Menstruation we already know about it. Questioning your symptoms and how you've been doing, you've got some light cramps, maybe sore breasts and stuff nothing unusual and maybe some discharge which means you're probably close to your ovulation week.

You sighed in relief as you know the reason - your hormones are a bit confusing to you but it's fine you still adore your body. Although you couldn't help but get restless, currently jeongin's been also getting rowdy plus being stubborn and your confused, with him snuggling up against your lower abdomen too more frequently.

You had a guest over which was your friend as you both had a project to do and finish by the end of the week - usually jeongin wouldn't let some pathetic random in but unless if its for your projects and stuff.

Also yes he does call them pathetic and randoms cause he dislikes humans and hybrids not you though your his human, your kind and good unlike some. His generous human.

Although there was this guy named Kim Seungmin let's just say the two got a bit close after the man's arrival every day in a week straight cause of a large project you two had to do - he wasn't fond of him no. He was just tolerable unlike the other randoms. He was a puppy hybrid too, small and dainty which easily jeongin could over tower giving him some okay remarks.

Jeongin was currently on the living room sleeping from a very low battery energy level at the moment - you guys played fight for a long time earlier, you were tired to say the least as well considering the fennec fox's energy was high but good thing you finally got him tired.

You could hear your stomach rumbling making you groan as you lazily melted down on your bed onto the cold wooden floors of your apartment - sitting still for a moment as you try to guess what you are currently wanting to eat at this time around. It was close to dinner which probably means you should start cooking up.

Jeongin was probably hungry too but you should ask first - you lazily walked out of your room as you made your way towards the living room where jeongin was sleeping, looking at the couch you could see a man?... A MAN IN YOUR LIVING ROOM?! NAKED!

Your eyes widen as you let out a squeal before shutting your mouth quickly - going to the kitchen to grab a pan, not a knife as you don't have to get into prison just yet...Maybe you should..Actually no it's fine. Slowly making your way back to the living room with your pan up in a swinging stance.

You began overthinking - Maybe this was jeongin? Actually where was that little fox? Did this man eat him?! No jeongin would began screeching and growling, your little fox was a fierce and stubborn fighter, Who is this man?! Probably jeongin- but what if it wasn't him? I don't know man the front door didn't open- okay calm down everybody group meeting!.

You were talking to yourself in your head while you look at the man who seemed to be getting restless - you flinched slightly as your hands began getting shaky and sweaty. You either have two to more possible reasons this could be jeongin.

Slowly towering the man as you look at him, he has ears and a tail. You sighed okay maybe you were overwhelmed by the sudden appearance and maybe scared but it's not like you just see a random dude on a Saturday at 5:37PM sleeping on your couch.

Placing the pan back in the kitchen as you go back to the living room - crouching down as you sat in between your knees, poking the man's cheeks which you confirmed to be jeongin by the sight of the ears twitching and the tail moving a bit.

He seems to be having a nice dream - Jeongin slowly opens his eyes, feeling you poking through his sleep as he makes eyes contact with you. He let's out a screech with widen and panicking eyes. Grabbing a pillow as he hides his face from you also covering his clearly naked lower form with a blanket near the couch - you placed it there for the tiny fennec fox to cuddle with.

"H-human! You shouldn't do that! I-...Don't look at my face!..." Jeongin mumbled while you looked at him confused - why must you not look at his face? You'll understand if he said lower body but face? This man was absolutely breathtaking.

"Jeongin?...why not?.." You asked poking his thighs while he let's out a squeak at your touch - peeking up to see your face not written with disgust but confusion.

"I-...Don't I look horrid to you?..." He mutters while you just stared at him confused as you tilted your head to the side. "Horrid?...What are you talking about, Little fox?..." You asked standing up while jeongin observes my movement. You sat beside him and gently caressed his thighs in a gentle manner earning a small purr from the fox.

Jeongin felt embarrassed to say the least, he had never once introduced you to this form just hiding his face against a pillow. "I-...Don't I look scary?.." Jeongin mumbles quietly, thankfully though you caught on to that as you moved closer. Wrapping your arms around him with the pillow in between still.

"My little fox...Jeongin is never scary to me..You look beautiful, jeongin..I mean it..Human means it.." You said in a gentle manner although slightly awkward when it's comes to comfort and words together combined. Jeongin's eyes sparkled at your words peeking up the pillow as he locked gazes with you. His eyes round and doe - he's so adorable you might just have to sleep forever if he keeps making your heart clench. You cannot handle cute activities from the fennec fox hybrid. No.

"My jeongin is so cute~.." You said cooing him while using a baby tone you always use whenever he was being cute in his hybrid form - slowly jeongin puts the pillow down and placed it over his lap, still shy and embarrassed but let's you coo him and give him kisses all over his face as you always do to his other form. Although he couldn't help but began feeling flustered as his cheeks began getting redder each affection and affirmation you give him.

He hides his face against your neck - grumbling at you but you couldn't help but just chuckle at him. He was big, bigger than you with his clear muscles too. Oh gosh. Why was he so big in human form but small in hybrid form.

"Jeongin?..." Jeongin didn't respond back as he slowly shifts both of you Ina cuddling position with you underneath him and him above you. Wrapping his arms around your waist slowly - you couldn't help but get flustered, the man's hands was huge and placed on your lower back.

"It's almost dinner what do you wanna eat, Little fox?.." You uttered asking him while you run your hands through his orange hair - Jeongin lets out a purr while hiding his face against your neck even more closer. Slowly getting closer like dangerously close to your face, you feel a slight change of pace by your heart somewhat more faster. You couldn't help but get flustered as an attractive man was currently on top of you with his face close to you.

"Human..." Jeongin uttered gently nuzzling his face against your neck, feeling heat creep up against your face as you look at him.

"Yes..J-jeongin?." You cursed yourself for stuttering and maybe for feeling nervous. Jeongin thankfully didn't notice as he was to busy being all up in your neck.

"Can i scent you?..." He asks, his lips close to your skin actually forget close it's already touching - His hands gently caressing your side while he continues hiding his face against your neck.

"I-...Uhmm sure?.." You nodded slowly - gently patting his head making him purr even more. Having a small information about hybrids - it was said that scenting helps a hybrid feel comforted and that's all you know of it. Although it's mostly done with other hybrids and sometimes humans of hybrids who has a close and deep connection with one another, you felt happy as jeongin thought of you as someone close to him.

Jeongin huffs against your neck noticing how happy you are - his nose sensitive as he takes in more of your scent. It was sweet and just right but also addictive to him, rubbing his cheeks against your collarbone and neck while you just let him do what he wants.

You can't lie it was comfy getting affection from the other - jeongin let's out a small growl as he nibbles your skin a bit making you slightly confused as you looked down at jeongin who seems to be looking at the door.

You could hear the door bell ringing - you didn't know who it was, jeongin just nibbles your collarbone slowly holding you tightly against him not letting you go or even move an inch towards the door.

"Jeongin...someone's at the door..i need to answer it-.." You said in a low tone while the hybrid just whines against you - nuzzling your neck being fussy and stubborn. You sighed as you gently patted his head making him look up at you with those big doe eyes of his.

"It can wait" Jeongin muttered softly while leaning closer as he nuzzled his nose against your—your heart slightly fluttered at the soft act while jeongin continue to keep on giving you affection.

You couldn't help but just sigh as his grip on you tight, he didn't wanna let go and you doubt he'll ever want too anyways. For a human to finally accept both his forms, he vows in himself that he'll definitely take care of you.

His human...How precious.

Author's note: I've wanted to post this for awhile also it's ongoing! If you want I can tag you for the next one, just tell me okay? Thanks for reading! ¦] I kekeke

ᯓᡣ𐭩Mxlist°

#skz #stray kids #fanfic #ideas #angst with a happy ending #yang jeongin x female reader #yang jeongin imagines #fluff #inspiration #yang jeongin #i'm whipped #hes so cute #short story #ongoing #i'm so excited

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aqualogia · 4 months

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hi I really like your mb and I'm new here. Do u have any suggestions or tips to make mb? like where did u get the pics and the captions.

𝓜oodboards: a guide for beginner blogs!

I decided to bring here a small tutorial that can help other blogs that are starting out and still have questions that need clarification, with tips and links that you may need. I wrote this from my point of view of creating moodboards and I tried to be as brief as possible in my explanation, there may be errors in English as I'm not fluent in that language and everything here was translated using Google Translate, any questions you can contact me via asks or by message.

how do I find pics for moodboards?

Pinterest is where you will find most images for moodboards, so create a Pinterest board just for these images, separating them into subboards for each color or aesthetic to make it easier.

Some blogs leave the link to their Pinterest accounts in pinneds or in the carrd, you can follow them and save the pics they published on the app in your boards, this will influence the Pinterest algorithm so that they recommend more of the type of images you want.

You can also search on Pinterest for the aesthetic and color you want (coquette pink aesthetic, cottagecore aesthetic, y2k, etc.).

how to make moodboards + tips:

Well, it's not such a complicated thing for me. I generally make moodboards with 6 or 9 images, taking inspiration from the moodboards of other blogs that I admire, so I can get an idea of how to make the captions and how to position the photos in a way that matches them.

To make it easier, first I create the moodboard and then I look for an icon of a kpop idol that can match the aesthetics and color of the moodboard. The reverse can also be done: first choose an icon and make a moodboard for that image, paying attention to the color palette and tonality (and for some reason, for me it's better to create moodboards in Tumblr's light mode instead of dark mode)

When I finish the moodboard, I add the caption, the hashtags (which will be very important for your post to reach other people) and maybe a divider. You can find these dividers on other blogs or by searching for "dividers" on Tumblr.

If you want to split a photo into two or more images, use this site.

how to create captions:

To make the captions, I use parts of songs that I like or that I found searching on Pinterest for "Spotify song lyrics", but they can also be album or song names, movie names, a phrase you thought, etc. The symbols you will put in the caption can be found on this website or just by searching for "symbols", "kpop symbols", "kaomojis" on tumblr.

If you want to use a different font for the letters, there are these two websites (01 and 02). And to change the color, there are also these two tutorials (01 and 02).

what to do to make your blog "popular":

Add popular hashtags that relate to the content you are posting. If you use almost the same tags as other big blogs, your posts will have more reach. Posting frequently and your account looking nice and organized helps too.

Ask several other popular blogs to promote your account. This was very important for my profile to grow in the number of followers and engagement.

Join the events that some blogs do, as they offer good prizes like reblogs if you win. And remember to have patience, as it often takes a while to get good engagement on Tumblr.

#୨ ♡ ୧ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀୨ ♡ ୧ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀୨ ♡ ୧ #kpop icons #kpop moodboard #moodboard #tutorial #how to make a moodboard

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munequitta · 7 months

Text

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀thank you so much for 100+ little dolls.

i think a lot of my ‘popularity’ ( aaa i don’t know how to word it properly so sorry ໒꒰ྀི ∩⸝⸝∩ ꒱ྀི১ ) probably came from blogs like @gigittamic and @fairytopea so thank you very much to them ♡

esp : creo que un gran parte de mi 'popularidad' ( aaa no sé cómo expresarlo correctamente, así que lo siento ໒꒰ྀི ∩⸝⸝∩ ꒱ྀི১ ) probablemente provino de blogs como @gigittamic y @fairytopea así que muchas gracias a ellas ♡

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A SPECIAL THANK Y♡U T♡ D♡LLS :

eng : i was so very happy but also confused to see that my posts started getting 100 or more notes after a few days and honestly ? i don’t feel like i deserve but ? thank you ૮꒰ྀི つ˘ `⸝⸝ ꒱ྀིა i’m so so grateful for everything oh my little heart 💗💗

esp : estaba muy feliz, pero también confundido al ver que mis posts empezaron a recibir 100 o más notas después de unos días y honestamente ? no siento que me merezco, pero ? gracias ૮꒰ྀི つ˘ `⸝⸝ ꒱ྀིა estoy tan agradecida por todo oh mi pequeñito corazoncito 💗💗

-milk ♡

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀L♡VELY BL♡GS ( FAVORITES ) :

@agsthv @baesol @bambicito @coralidos @fairytopea @gaecoo @gigittamic @ha-erins @iluvrei @jeonzio @jaes1lvr @khaer @lorlita @muruffin @plutism @p-oisn @raeceah @tookio @v6que @wiotas @yeonzzen @yeritos @y-vna + more 🎀

( sorry for tagging, let me know if you don’t like being tagged, i can remove it. / perdón por etiquetar, avísame si no te gusta que te etiqueten, puedo eliminarlo. )

if anyone needs a portuguese translation, let me know so that i can add one next time using a translator 🤍

#୨ ♡ ୧ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀୨ ♡ ୧ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀୨ ♡ ୧

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sugucidal · 2 months

Text

# HOW TO SEDUCE YOUR NEIGHBOR 101 !!

CHAPTER ii. [9.1k words]

୨୧‬┊pairing: toji fushiguro x fem! reader

୨୧‬┊synopsis: the shopping trip you were forced to go on with Toji doesn't go exactly as planned.

୨୧‬┊warnings: taboo cw! + semi-smut + age difference (reader is 19 and toji is 34 ) + slow burn + one-sided pining + attempt at humor + slice of life + reader takes multiple L's + megumi is mentioned + reader gets objectified (not by toji) + toji is a serial hoe

୨୧‬┊a/n: make sure to check out my main post! ive included a pinterest board for everything described + a playlist ♡

MAIN POST | part i. > part ii. > part ii.

You didn't know if it was a blessing in disguise, or a curse. Perhaps a cruel joke the world was playing on you like it always did. Yet here you were again, your knee high fluffy socks skidding across the oakwood flooring of your room, scouring through your closet like a deranged cat looking for something to wear on today's decor run.

"Shoes, shoes…I'm missing shoes," digging through the furthest corner in the enclosed space of your closet, you spotted an unopened box on one of the shelves. It was a simple pair of heeled, white mary janes with a heart buckle. You got it 2 birthdays ago but never saw an opportunity to wear them, until now.

Your mother told you that Toji was picking you up at 10:30 am despite you telling her that you would go after lunch.

'He's a busy man. He said this is the only time he's free today.'

"Yeah, of course he is. Always busy doing God knows what." Sighing, you decided on your ensemble for this morning. It was rushed and unplanned, but it would have to do.

Looking at the time on your phone, you saw that it was 10:15. You've still got 15 more minutes left till Toji arrives to pick you up. Letting out a breath, you sat on your bed, shoe cladded toes tapping the floor as your knee bounced, restlessly waiting.

Going over to your floor length mirror, you checked over your choice of outfit once more. It wasn't too cold of a day, so you opted for a knitted long sleeved, off-the-shoulder, cream toned sweater dress that hugged your curves. With its hem stopping just right underneath your ass.

You were debating between thigh highs or leg warmers, but decided leg warmers looked better scrunched down on your ankles with the shoes you opted to wear. You didn’t do much with your hair last night since you were only at home, but since you were going out in public today, you felt like doing something with it. Something cute specifically, as you opened your vanity drawer deciding which accessory to wear today. Picking some silk ribbon you saw laying about, you braided it into your hair, sealing it with a rubber band and tying an extra ribbon into a bow to conceal it. And finally, you had your bag. Well, more like bear. The teddy bear backpack you had on matched well with the neutral color scheme. So, you went for it. Honestly, you reminded yourself of a doll. A doll with a pretty face, and a whole lot of problems.

Taking a deep breath, you puffed out your chest. Your confident expression stared back at you, but on the other side of that mirror you felt nothing but anxiety simmering the longer you stood there in silence.

"I might as well wait for Toji outside then." It was no use standing around in your room. The bed looked way too inviting as it only made you think of excuses not to go. You wouldn't let your bed get the best of you this time.

Walking down the stairs, you headed towards the entrance, petting your cat's furry head along the way. Upon opening the door, you were met with the sight of freshly layered snow. It was thin, barely half an inch thick, but it already had you feeling a little better with the anticipation of making a snowman with it once the days got colder. You remember there was a time when you used to do that with Toji.

God, you can't even reminisce about the past without Toji having some part in it.

You desperately needed to figure out how you were going to do this.

Last night was a bust. Not much progress was made besides the fact that Toji actually spoke to you for the first time in years. Not that he had much chance to do so sooner even if he wanted to, with you a couple hours away from home and all. But it was the bare minimum. Right now you needed a plan, and you needed to think of one fast.

Standing against the railing of your porch, you sorted through your thoughts. You're going to get picked up by Toji in less than 10 minutes. You'll ride in his car, pretend that everything's okay because it is, you'll buy whatever this party needs, and if it goes well you'll confront him on the ride back home. And that'll be the end of that.

Easy.

But when is anything ever easy when it comes to that man. Nothing. The answer has always been nothing.

This line of thought has you so deep into your own frustration that you don't even realize you've been ranting to your teddy bear backpack. Murmuring to it harshly, and rolling your eyes like you're gossiping with a friend about the latest dumb thing that happened on Twitter today.

And it's only when you see a black pickup truck from your peripheral vision pulling up, that you stare back at the bear in horror. Mind being snapped back to the present, and feeling embarrassed that you were seen like this. A man was causing you this much turmoil, that you've been complaining to a damn backpack about it.

Quickly putting your bag back on, you smoothed out your sweater dress. You really fucking hope he didn't see that.

Facing towards the driveway you paused. Your eyes widened, already in awe at the vehicle as you saw it more clearly up close.

The last car you saw Toji with was an old, red Toyota truck. It did it’s job, but definitely not without a couple repairs here and there every so often (that you may or may not have checked him out while he was doing so.) So seeing this new, shiny, black Chevy parked right outside the driveway was definitely an exciting upgrade. The wheels were lifted, making the body higher than its original design, and the windows were tinted midnight black, making it nearly impossible to see who was inside unless you stuck a cheek to the glass.

Overall it was big, and intimidating.

Just like him.

'Guess those freelancing jobs paid off then.’

*BEEP BEEP*

Jesus. You didn't even notice Toji had already parked. How long were you just staring at it for? If he started to honk at you, it must’ve been more than what society deemed normal.

Running up to the passenger side of the truck, albeit meekly, you stopped right in front of the door just as the tinted windows were being pulled down giving you a better view of the inside. There sat Toji on the other side, upper body turned and facing towards you with one hand still on the wheel.

Toji’s eyes almost popped out of his sockets at your appearance but it was quickly masked by a look of amusement.

"You busy daydreaming or what?"

Ignoring his remark, you placed your hands on the edge of the cold glass, peering up at him and around the interior.

“So, new truck huh?”

"Oh this? Yeah, got it not too long ago after receiving my payment for….from work."

You squinted your eyes in suspicion, noticing that he caught his words, but you weren't going to question it. No, you were going to let it go. You knew he wouldn’t tell you anything anyway, most likely just brushing it off as suddenly being hit with a stutter. He never spoke about his “overseas” jobs that he apparently racked up stacks of cash from, and despite him saying it was only freelancing work, you had a hunch it was something a lot shadier than that. You weren’t that dumb. Which is exactly why you weren’t going to ask.

Choosing to stay oblivious, you gave a compliment instead. "It's nice, Toji. Really."

You were about to open the door to get in and cut the small talk short (and because you’d rather bask in the in-system heating than out in the cold) but it wouldn’t budge. It was still locked. Why isn’t he unlocking the door?

Instead of unlocking the door for you like normal people do when picking up a person with their car, Toji isn't exactly someone you'd consider normal. Instead, Toji looked you up and down slowly as an awkward silence took over. You stood there rigid, allowing him to unashamedly undress you with his eyes. At least you think that's what he was doing. He’s being really bold today…does he seriously not plan to open this door?!

Your mind was running a mile per minute. You felt exposed, vulnerable, but you kind of liked the attention he was giving you right now. Especially since he hadn’t bothered to give you any last night. Not that you blame him. Looks like the effort you had put in, despite being rushed, was working, leaving him dumbstruck. You felt proud that you managed to have him speechless.

Unfortunately, your sudden boost in ego was quickly shut down.

"What the hell are you wearing?" Oh. Talk about anticlimactic.

"Huh? W-what do you mean?"

"I mean," He stood there, a single eyebrow raised, and vaguely gesturing to your form with his hand, "This."

Looking around to see if anyone else was witnessing this, you quirked your head in question. "What about it?"

"I know ya didn't just decide to go out looking like that when it's freezing out here. Go back upstairs and put some real clothes on." He looked at you sternly with a scowl etching onto the scarred side of his lip, arms crossing in front of his chest.

Was Toji actually scolding you right now? The nerve of this guy!

You hadn’t seen it right away, but after staring back at him in disbelief at what you were hearing, you noticed his own personal ensemble.

There’s no damn way…

Looking up and down at him as he had done to you just moments prior, you saw that he was wearing an unzipped puffer jacket with a hoodie underneath which was fine, you had no issues regarding that. The problem was what he was wearing below.

This man, who was condemning you on your sweater dress because it was apparently unfit for “freezing” temperatures, was wearing shorts and slides. At least he wore socks with it, if he hadn’t you think you may have actually gone back home and let him do the shopping himself.

You couldn’t help but let out a short laugh, but quickly shut up after seeing Toji wasn’t finding this as amusing as you were.

This was crazy.

Tilting your head to the side, you scrunch your nose in disbelief. “You’re telling me to put warmer clothes on, when you’ve got shorts and slides on?”

Toji was quick to counter. “It’s not the same, don’t compare it.”

“Yeah it is!”

“Look kid, I’m not gonna argue with ya. Either change your clothes, or stay home.”

That’s exactly what you want to do. But you know deep down you can’t, you already told yourself you had to sort things out with him. And the first step to that, is sorting this out.

‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ - - - - - - - - - - ୨♡୧ - - - - - - - - - -

After a couple pleading looks and adamant convincing of, 'I'm not cold!' 'I swear I'm fine. It doesn't even feel like winter out here!'

Toji relented. Letting out a sigh, shaking his head as he told you, 'Fine, whatever. But don’t come cryin’ at my feet when your stubborn ass gets sick and your mom gets mad at you.'

Now here you were, seated on the heated, brand new black leather seats of his Chevy after he finally gave in and unlocked the door, letting you in. You spent the trip with your head resting against the palm of your hand somberly, as you watched the scenery of snowy trees and other cars pass by.

The awkwardness throughout the entire car ride was at an all-time high. Higher than what it'd started out with earlier. You were both quiet; your brain a little less. Toji's disappointment regarding your attire was a total blow to your ego. You were just trying to look cute.

Not like it was meant for him anyway.

Is what you wanted to try convincing yourself in order to feel better, but really, you knew it was a lie.

As for Toji, that thought you had earlier about him ogling you? It was right on the money.

But he had to quickly save face by instead acting like a concerned adult worrying about the wellbeing of his innocent, young neighbor. If he was being honest, he didn’t give two shits about what you chose to wear. As long as it was for his eyes only.

Yes, he knew he’d hurt your feelings for telling you to go change. He understood that he was being overbearing and unreasonable especially after you brought up his own attire, but you had to understand. He physically couldn’t accept seeing you wearing an outfit that barely covered your ass like that in public when he should be the only one to see you looking like that. Yes, he was sick for looking at you that way and he knew that which is exactly why he needed you to cover up. Both so that no other creepy assholes (except himself) could see you that way, and because he doesn’t think he could control his thoughts about you for the next couple hours you have alone together. It’s why he had to shift in his seat a couple times. Though, you didn’t notice that.

This game you were playing with him? This seducing thing? With little skirts and shit, yeah it was doing something to him.

Maybe you haven’t changed as much as he thought. As they say, old habits die hard.

After about 15 more minutes of unspoken thoughts, you finally arrived at the store.

Why did you agree to do this again? Oh yeah, you didn't.

Unbuckling your seatbelt, you took a deep breath to try and regain your composure. Just focus on the task. Opening the door, you hopped down and out onto the recently snow-shoveled pavement with Toji following suit as he turned off the truck, taking the keys from the ignition and shutting the door behind him.

You could feel Toji’s burning gaze boring into your back as he walked behind you, keeping a slight distance between you and him but still enough that people could tell that you two came together. Entering into the store, you whipped out your phone, unlocking it and clicking on the notes app filled with a list of things you needed to get that your mom instructed you two to buy. You crossed your fingers hoping you could get all this done quickly and smoothly.

Obviously, life loves to humor you because things did not go smoothly.

Everything was going well at first, you scoured the aisles looking for streamers, fairy lights, pretty napkins, silver and white balloons, and whatever else was needed; putting it all into the basket that Toji was holding, still following you like a sort of puppy—or more like a guard dog with the menacing aura he carried around himself with every step he took.

Walking around you’d occasionally find something that caught your eye, tinkering around with the item for a couple seconds before putting it back down and walking over to the next intriguing thing—like a snow globe you found of a character you recognized filled with pink and white sparkly snow. You bet your ass you added that one to the basket. That hello kitty snow globe was a need, not a want. How something like that even found its way to a store like this was beyond you, but hey, you weren’t complaining.

You even found cute little hats while looking around and managed to get Toji to wear a pair of elf ears while you wore a Santa hat, telling him a silly joke about how he was Santa’s jolliest helper. That only earned you a huff, and roll of his eyes as he took off the ears and pulled the hat you wore down over your face, chuckling as he watched you make dramatics about how you were being suffocated despite being able to breathe perfectly fine.

Interacting like this with him gave you butterflies. You’d let him ruin your perfectly styled hair if it meant things were going back to the way they used to be between you both.

Everything was going fine.

You were actually having…fun. Which you hadn’t anticipated. You were so caught up about feeling like you were on thin ice with Toji, and though you still sort of felt that way, you felt ecstatic that things were beginning to feel normal. Like nothing even happened.

“Hmm, looks like the last thing on this list are more scented candles. Thought we already had some? Oh well.” You shrugged your shoulders. You think your own obsession with candles might have stemmed from your mom now that you think about it.

Toji leaned his body over your shoulder, looking down over your list himself at the check marked boxes except for one. You immediately stiffened up, not expecting him to get so close to you, and especially not for him to make body contact with you. You wish you didn’t have all these layers in the way. You internally shook the thought off before it could escalate. Now was not the time to be having these touched starved thoughts!

Pulling away from you, but still keeping close enough that you could feel the warmth radiating from his body, he put the basket down next to your feet. “Yeah, I saw a couple of those on the other aisle we passed by.”

“Oh good! One of us can get it. Stay here and I’ll quickly-“ Your suggestion didn’t even have a chance to reach the other end of Tojis ears before it got shut down.

“Nah, you stay here, and stay put while I grab it. And don’t go straying off you understand, kid?” Toji looked down at you, waiting for your answer. He’d rather not leave your side, especially since he didn’t trust that you wouldn’t get distracted by something and walk off like a lost mouse-but he tried to reason out in his head that it was only one item. He’d quickly get it and come back, and you’d still be there.

You weren’t going anywhere.

So why did he find it so hard to walk away from you? Must be some type of trauma he thinks.

Nodding your head, with a ‘Mhm! Promise. Not going anywhere. Nope, staying put.’ Toji searched your face to see if you were lying but decided you weren’t, and began jogging off towards another aisle in a different section of the store.

He couldn’t help but have a bad feeling about this as he looked over at all the scented candles, picking up the most expensive looking ones.

“S’not my money anyway..”

Maybe he should’ve just taken you along with him. It’s not like it would’ve caused the both of you any more hassle than going alone would. Shit. Something was gnawing at Toji to hurry the hell up and get back to you. As he briskly walked to the aisle where he had left you, he was met with something far worse than overpriced décor, and it had him seething.

There you were, face scrunched up, and looking highly uncomfortable as some random guy, around your age it seemed, was trying to flirt with you.

Keyword: Trying.

Toji didn’t know who this guy was but he knew damn well what was happening, and he wasn't going to let it slide. Not on his watch. That he wasn't even wearing.

You hadn't noticed Toji's arrival yet. Still preoccupied with keeping calm and trying to ignore this random man that thought it would be chivalrous of himself to make comments about your body. Saying things about how he doesn't know why your man let you out like that, and if you were his bitch he wouldn't let you out his sight.

It's a good thing Toji wasn't there to hear any of that.

What Toji did hear as he was silently coming up behind the both of you, that almost made him run up and deck the guy in the nuts was when he leaned his body down exaggeratedly to look at your ass and said, "DAMN. That's more ass than…. I've seen….in a while!"

This prick didn't even know where the hell he was going with that line, but Toji sure knew where that guy was gonna end up if he tried it again.

At this point, you were more than ready to kick this guy in the balls, but you didn't want to anger him. Who knows what this guy has got going on in his head? He's harassing you at a decor store for fucks sake!

Before you were thinking about making a run for it to the direction of where Toji had gone, deeming your situation helpless without him; it seemed like someone finally answered your prayers because the moment you looked back, there he was standing right behind the both of you.

'How did I not notice him?? He's wearing slides for god sake! I should've heard the 'plip' 'plaps'!'

"The fuck are you doing?"

The guy was still leaning down when Toji spoke up. He was about to cuss out whoever this other guy was for interrupting his daily "I objectify women for fun" hobby, until he looked up. There Toji stood, 6'2, built like he was made for war, in his shorts and slides, holding candles, and a look so threatening etched onto his face, you think this guy may have almost shit his pants. If the audible gulp meant anything.

"O-oh fuck. Look sir, I was just admiring your hard work, very beautiful daughter you have here. Didn't realize…Sorry." The way he ran away was almost pitiful. Almost. But none of you had any pity for trash.

'Well that was quick', Toji thought. He assumed he might've had to light up this candle he was holding and choke him with it but it seems that wouldn't be happening today.

That's one less crime the authorities could pinpoint on him.

Turning his attention towards you, he asked if you were alright.

"Sort of…not really. Being objectified isn't exactly the greatest feeling…" Toji noticed the way you hugged your hands around yourself, most likely trying to cover up. Suddenly feeling too exposed for comfort despite attempting to brush the interaction off.

Maybe you should've listened to Toji earlier and changed your clothes to something more fitting for winter weather. Screw looking cute.

Though, the regret didn't have a chance to get very far because suddenly you were being brought back to the present.

"Lift your arms up."

Huh? "Wh- why?" The next thing he did nearly had your heart leaping out of your chest. Taking off his puffer jacket, he nudged your arms to lift up so he could help put it through the holes of the sleeves. After checking to make sure it was on properly, he zipped it up a bit more than halfway and patted you down in an effort to make you look a little bit less like the emo version of the Michelin Man.

"You gonna be okay?" You were still a little surprised at the gesture, especially since it was coming from him of all people, but you answered, "..Yeah. Yeah, I'll be okay."

"Good. Lemme finish paying for all this crap and I'll drop you off at your place."

Leading the way towards the cashier, he placed his large palm over your lower back and kept it there until your goods were paid for, and you were out the door.

Situating yourself on the seats of Toji's car, you couldn't help but feel a smile creep up on you, desperately trying to bite it back. You're wearing his coat.

He put his coat on you.

You think you could die of happiness right now. But, you'll save that for later. That whole fiasco that happened at the store still had your mood all sour. You really didn't want to go home yet. And as Toji began to pull out of the parking lot, you spoke up.

"Toji? I don't really feel like going home yet.."

"Yeah? Aight. We'll stop somewhere, I know a place."

Nodding your head, you mumbled a 'thanks', grateful that he took the hint and didn't try to argue with you or ask any questions. Toji can be empathetic when he wants to be sometimes.

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Apparently, when Toji said he 'knew a place', you didn't expect it to be…this.

"Cinnabon? Really?"

"What? You don't like their cinnamon buns? We can go someplace else if you don't want em.”

You paused. Well, now that you were thinking about it…"Okay. Yeah. Yeah, I do like those."

“Besides,” Walking over to the counter to order, Toji got into line, “I remember ya telling me one time that you liked this place."

He still remembers something like that?

You didn’t answer. Instead you followed the nod of Toji’s head telling you to leave the ordering to him and to go find a table to sit at. Looking around, you saw that all the tables were already preoccupied. Damn. Walking back to Toji, you suggested ordering it to go and just finding some place else to sit at like that wooden bench you saw just outside the establishment, which he seemed to favor far more.

Leaving him to his vices, you exited the shop and went to sit outside on the storefront bench, patiently waiting for Toji to get back with your food. Looking around there was still a thin sheet of snow covering some areas of the pavement, most having melted throughout the day or driven over by now. Yet it seemed as though the temperature had no plans of rising as you breathed out a puff of steam, remaining at its crisp, nearly frosty condition. It felt peaceful.

The few minutes of alone time you had to yourself was the most silence your brain has allowed itself to be in within the 24 hours of Tojis reintroduction into your life.

The oversized puffer jacket you still had on made those hours feel shorter by reminding you of just how much "excitement" had managed to happen—you bet you looked silly as hell with it engulfing your frame, but you couldn't find it in you to care about that at this moment. Especially since it was serving its purpose of protecting you against the cold that you found yourself surrounded by as you sat there waiting.

Leaning back against the wood, you felt something hindering you from going all the way. Your teddy bear backpack. You forgot you even had it on as it was hidden underneath the coat Toji had quickly put on you. Yeah, you must've looked really stupid. Fighting back a grimace and ignoring the fact for your own peace of mind, you went to remove the coat. Leaving it piled behind you on the bench as you took off your bag, placing it onto your lap.

Reaching into your bag, you took out your trusty emergency makeup kit. Wouldn't hurt to do a quick touch up… Looking over in the direction of the sudden sound of a bell being rung, you peered over to your left to see that it was just someone stepping foot out the shop with a cup of what looked to be hot chocolate.

'Hopefully Toji get's back soon.'

Focusing back on the task at hand, you clicked open a compact inspecting the state of the way you looked with the mirror. The sight that greeted you brought out a breath of relief. Not a single thing out of place. But just in case, you patted on a little bit of powder for good measure, and reapplied your clear lipgloss so the cold air could struggle to nip at your lips.

After assessing what needed to be assessed, you put your pouch back into your bag and immediately piped up at the sound of the door chiming again. You couldn't help but do a small cheer as you saw that it was finally Toji approaching you, carrying a bag containing your icing drenched cinnamon bun, a hot drink of some sort, and a bottle of water.

Handing you your food and drink, you thanked him and immediately dug in once it was within your grasp. Taking a bite, a bit of steam emitted from the warm and gooey bun melting on your tongue, flooding your taste buds with a mix of sweet and nutty spice. Damn, you were a lot hungrier than you thought. But you suppose that's due to having skipped breakfast in the morning. Stuffing more into your mouth, your eyes met Toji's to see him already sitting beside you and looking down at you, snickering.

"Hwat?" The question came out muffled from your cheeks being stuffed like a squirrel.

He looked off to the side for a second, still snickering before he answered, "Nothin."

Swallowing your food down harshly, you pouted with your brows scrunched together and took notice that you were the only one eating.

"How come you didn't get yourself one?"

He deadpanned. "I don't want diabetes."

"Right…of course not…" Such a Toji answer, you thought.

It felt a little weird to be the only one eating, but he kept refusing everytime you asked if he was absolutely sure he didn’t at least want a bite. It was silent between you two except for the occasional slurp of your drink, and you think Toji noticed it too because suddenly he started conversing with you, catching up a little bit on how the both of you have been.

"So kid, how's the university life been treatin' ya?"

"Hm? Oh uhm, it's been alright I guess." You shrugged, fork still in hand.

"Just alright? Sounds pretty lackluster to me."

"It is." You sighed.

"You tellin' me you don't, what- party? Or done those weird cultist initiations you kids do at sororities."

"Yeah…no. I'm too busy actually studying most of the time. I've been to like 2-ish? parties, but that's about it. And sororities? You couldn't possibly pay me to join one of those.” You’ve heard one too many stories of premature deaths being caused by sororities. You didn’t particularly feel like gambling your chances. Plus, you weren’t really into the whole sisterhood-brotherhood thing, too weird.

As the conversation progressed between your frankly unexciting school life, Toji recalled some neighborhood fiasco that happened while you were away.

"...Then this kid's boyfriend starts beating up the guy that tried to take her purse."

"No way! This really happened in our neighborhood? Where like.. nothing ever happens?" To think that a crime had actually happened in the most safest, suburban of neighborhoods that you lived in for your whole life and you weren't there to witness it.

"I'm tellin' ya it was set up to make himself look good. A robbery in broad daylight? In this neighborhood? Bullshit."

"Why does all the exciting shit always happen when I'm not around?" You whined, sighing out your disappointment.

Closing the box to your nearly finished cinnamon bun and placing it beside you on the bench, you suddenly remembered something.

"By the way! My mom told me you have a son? How come you never mentioned him to me before?"

And just like that, Tojis brows immediately furrowed as if the question was one he hadn't expected to be asked, especially not coming from you. Leaning forward with a grunt, he rested an elbow on his knee, propping a palm under his chin as he proceeded to look at you with the most dramatically bored expression you’ve ever seen on someone's face- one that rivaled even yours.

It screamed, ‘let's get this shit over with.’

"You never asked. Besides, why you askin' about him now?"

You noticed the way his mood instantly changed after mentioning him but...it was probably nothing right?

Regardless, he didn't seem to be exactly… excited at the mention of his son, so you treated lightly with your next words. “Well, my mom is telling me that I should start looking for a good boy to date and she mentioned your son.”

He laughed out in disbelief. “Gumi? That boy? Ha, good luck with that. He wouldn’t know the first thing on how to treat a girl.”

He couldn’t treat you the way I could. Is what he wanted to say.

Awkwardly you answered, “Well… anyway, I don't think he even goes to my Uni…I think. So it wouldn't really be an option.”

Toji stayed silent.

The sudden uncomfortable silence that took over had you overthinking all over again.

What's wrong? Does he have a bad relationship with his son? Is that why he looks irritated? Should I ask? No. He might get more irritated. Shit. Okay, subject change.

Slamming your hands onto your thighs a little too hard in an attempt to calm your nerves, the sound seemed to catch Tojis attention. Snapping him out of whatever trance he was in, and back to his usual demeanor.

You rubbed your arms out of awkwardness. “Sooo, yeah. Sucks, I wasn't there to witness a fraudulent act of chivalry right in my own neighborhood."

Toji was thankful you moved on from the topic of his son, he didn’t want to think of that little squirt right now.

But then it got him wondering…

"You ever had a boyfriend before?"

The question surprised you a little. Okay maybe a lot. You didn't think he'd be even remotely interested in your love life.

"No… I've never had one." While there was no shame in not having had a significant other at your age, still you couldn't help but feel embarrassed admitting it to Toji.

Toji raised a brow in suspicion. "You sure you're staying clear of boys?"

This behavior he was exhibiting was starting to confuse the hell out of you. First he scolds you on your attire this morning, and now he's interrogating you on your love life? He was being way overprotective, almost acting as a parent, and it was seriously beginning to make you feel hopeless.

You nodded. "Yes, Toji. I'm not interested in college guys. They don't know what they're doing,"

That answer seemed to be good enough for Toji, but to both his and your utter surprise you continued, "But I've done other things."

Straightening his back up against the wooden bench in interest, Toji beckoned you to continue on. Truth be told, he didn't want to hear you talking about boys. Just the thought of you with some dumbass little boy made him irrationally bothered. But there was one thing itching at him to ask.

One thing he simply had to know.

"Oh yeah?"

"Just casual stuff. Nothing serious.."

Toji hummed. It was cute how you were beating around the bush about whatever 'things' you've done. He'll humor you this time around.

"We talkin' the 'clothes on' type of stuff?"

"Well…not exactly.."

Your lack of elaboration following your answer made Toji egg you on further.

"Don't start gettin' all shy on me now. Let me take a guess, this has somethin' to do with how you mentioned that college boy's don't know what they're doing, yeah?

And like clockwork, the words proceeded to flow past the tip of your tongue without a second thought.

"Remember how I also mentioned earlier that I've gone to only a few parties? Well at one of those parties, I got left alone by my friends in favor of hooking up with some guys they thought were hot."

"Sounds like some shitty friends."

You grunted. "Tell me about it. Anyways, here I am, sitting alone on this couch that's thankfully only mildly sticky from whatever wasted student had spilled their drink on top of it, and this guy sits right next to me. We talk, things happen, and we find an empty room."

Toji hums, signaling to you that he's still listening.

Immediately, irritation is apparent on your face by the way your eyes narrow as you recall the memory. "He puts his hands in my pants and this dumbass can't for the life of him find where my clit is and is just rubbing around. Then he has the nerve to ask if I came yet!? Bitch I'm not even moaning!"

Toji nods, intently listening to your rant. Biting back his amusement at your outburst.

"And the same fuckin thing happens again except with a different guy I had been seeing for less than a week. Except—get this, he asks me what a clit is. Like are you for real!?"

Taking a deep breath, you tried channeling your nerves. "So that's that. College boy's don't know where the clit is—hell, they don't even know of its existence."

Slumping your shoulders, you kicked at the tiny stones on the cement with your shoe.

"It's why I've never gone further than that."

If you were being honest, even if those guys did know their way around a woman's body, you don't think you could find it within yourself to stick around for it. You already knew what your mind was banging against your skull to say. Deep down, somewhere in the backrooms of your brain, you know it's because of Toji. It's always been him; the man you're still holding out for. Hoping he'd be the one to take your virginity.

Whatever. It was a pipe dream anyway. And you definitely weren't going to tell him that.

Speaking of telling him…

‘Why did you tell him all that!? Why did you have to run your mouth!!’

You stammered out an apology. The gravity of what you just up and confessed dawned on you, leaving you a cringing mess from within.

"I-I'm sorry…I don't even know why im telling you all this-"

Toji is quick to dismiss the apology. Truth be told, he was delighted to hear that you were still a virgin.

“Don't worry bout it’. It's nothing to be embarrassed of.

“I mean yeah…but still…”

Turning to face you, Toji placed his hand gingerly upon your thigh, giving it a light squeeze in what you assumed to be an attempt at reassurance or maybe it was comfort? You couldn't really tell, you just knew that the warmth of it felt nice.

“Listen, if I’m tellin’ you that being a virgin is nothin’ to be ashamed of, then its not. Look at it this way, you ain’t a teen mom, something not many can say nowadays.” He shrugged.

He kind of had a point. Though his comforting skills were kind of ass.

“Yeah..okay. Thanks for listening then.”

“No problem.”

You thought after your little rant the atmosphere would return to its awkward state as it seems that's how it had been every time you spoke with Toji—yet oddly enough, it felt like you had somehow managed to get closer to him by opening up about your struggles.

Suddenly feeling a spout of hunger befall you once more, you took the last remaining bite of your cinnamon bun, slowly licking off the icing that had gotten smeared onto your lips.

Toji eyed the action intently, internally shaking a head at himself.

‘This little minx..’ but before you could make eye contact he abruptly withdrew his hand, fishing a phone out his pocket and checking the time. Huh, you hadn't even noticed his hand had still been on you.

“It's already almost 4, think it's time to call it a day.”

With a sound of surprise, you rose up from your seat, closing the box once more as you watched Toji stand up from his own spot, already patting on his pockets for the car keys.

You hadn't even noticed that much time had gone by.

“Thanks again for the cinnamon buns and of course, for listening.”

Toji only hummed in acknowledgement.

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The ride home was spent surrounded by the sounds of muffled radio chatter, ever so slightly noticeable with the engine of the truck at a constant thrum. The sun surprisingly hadn't gone down yet as it typically would have on any other winter day and you made sure to thank your lucky stars for those few more minutes of sunlight.

On the other hand, you couldn't help but feel sad. You didn't want the day to end yet, especially not when progress had been made between the two of you. Then it hit you, progress had been made. While you didn't actually confront him about what had transpired on that faithless day, it was still worth celebrating.

Baby steps are still steps after all.

And the more you thought about it, it began to occur to you that today…today kinda felt like a date. In a messed up sense. To others this would've been a failure of a day, but to you? You were elated.

‘Maybe now's my chance to talk to him about what happened back then.’

Sitting up just a little bit straighter in your seat, you turned your head to face Toji, contemplating on the right words to say to him. Just when you were on the verge of starting your sentence, Toji’s phone suddenly began to ring, vibrating atop the center console.

Without bothering to check who was calling him, Toji answered the phone, putting it on speaker. Nothing to be worried about anyway, probably some scammer giving Toji his routine call.

“Yo, what’s up?”

Without a second to waste, a feminine voice practically cried from the other end.

“Tojiiii, baby it’s been so long, when are you coming over?? You know I miss you-”

Before this unknown lady could hope to finish her sentence, she was abruptly hung up on–courtesy of Tojis hand flying to take the call off speaker, fumbling for a good second only to ultimately end the call for good measure.

Clearing his throat, Toji continued to keep his eyes focused on the road ahead. Can't be having you both end up in a car crash right?

“Sorry about that, that was… just one of my old close friends.”

“Uh huh. Ya’ll must've been real close.”

Toji ignored the snark.

“Anyways, go ahead, what were you saying?”

“I…wasn’t saying anything.”

Thankfully the call was received just minutes short of arriving at your home. Pulling into the driveway, the truck on neutral, you waited a few seconds to see if Toji would say anything more. He didn’t.

Holding back a shaky sigh, you unbuckle your seatbelt and exited the vehicle, opening the passenger side to pick up the bags of decor that you went to buy in the first place.

“Wait, let me help ya out-” Toji last minutely interjected as he turned his body over in his seat to face you.

“No need. I already got it.” Picking up the last bag (thankfully they weren’t very heavy), you slammed the passenger door shut. You contemplated giving Toji a proper farewell bidding but with the way you were feeling right now? You didn’t want him to see the ache painted in your eyes. Instead, you continued walking down the shoveled path and up the steps to your house, fishing the keys out from your keychain and unlocking the door, closing it behind you.

Kicking your shoes off and slipping some slippers onto your feet, you laid the bags over the kitchen counter letting whoever discovered them first deal with the contents inside as you made your way up the stairs to your room, plopping onto your bed face first.

You nearly teared up at your own naivety.

Holy shit. ‘I’m so stupid.’ Was all you could think of as the booty call Toji had received replayed in your mind. This wasn’t any new information on Toji that you hadn’t already known about yet it hurt so bad.

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On the other hand, Toji couldn’t help but feel the same way. When he saw you safely get back into your home, he shifted gears to reverse, pulling out the driveway and driving back to his own place.

Closing his eyes for a moment, he pulled out his phone from the cup holder it fell into amidst his struggle to end the call earlier and proceeded to call them back.

One ring was all it took for them to answer, and one second was all it took for Toji to cut them off before they could say anything more.

“Don’t fuckin’ call me again, understand? Good. Now, fuck off.” Hanging up before she could respond or attempt to call back like an idiot, he blocked her.

Letting out a rather loud groan of irritation, he gripped the steering wheel with both hands in indignation, letting his head fall as he could feel a headache coming on.

“Fuck.”

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Laying on your bed disappointed, you curled up thinking about the events that transpired earlier. The whole trip felt like an actual date—up until that call anyway. It was probably the worst way the day could have ended. Your bad luck was unimaginable.

“I need to find myself a four leaf clover or something at this point…”

Honestly, you didn't want to get out of bed. You wanted to lay down and wilt like a flower that never gets any sunlight. Stuffing your face into your arm, it occured to you that you were still wearing Toji’s jacket.

“Maybe I should stop trying to go after someone who’ll never like me back…” You mumbled to yourself, sitting up and throwing the coat towards the nearest chair it could land on.

Were you really this delusional? You saw the way he was looking at you—you shook your head, trying not to overthink it.

‘I guess I had the wrong idea.’

Feeling defeated, you knew if you wanted to continue moping about this, you’d have to do it after a shower; lest you end up skipping your skincare routine leaving you with another thing to sulk about.

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You couldn’t sleep.

Restless, you tossed and turned trying to find that sweet spot that would have you suddenly waking up to the birds singing. Come the fuck on..! I just want to sleep, dammit!

Grunting, it seemed no matter where you tried to place yourself within the comfort of your sheets and plethora of pillows engulfing you, you just couldn’t seem to knock yourself out.

Only one option left.

Slipping a hand underneath the blanket, you let your fingers wander across your skin. Giving each of your tits a soft squeeze under your shirt as you slowly began to relax, sighing in content at a teasing roll of your bud, slowly hardening at your touch.

Growing tired of the teasing and beginning to feel heavy with need, you ran a finger down your panties, keeping it firmly pressed against your slit as you slowly raised your hips up and down in tandem with your middle finger, rubbing yourself over the cotton material. You could feel yourself getting hotter, wetter. A small, sticky patch of your own arousal seeping through the garment as you finally had enough, moving your panties to the side and making contact with your sickened clit. You wasted no time in parting your lips with your pinky and index, and letting both your middle and ring finger draw tight circles over your bundle of nerves. Immediately settling into a steady rhythm that was sure to have you quickly coming undone.

As your breathing picked up, so did the small whimpers escaping through your lips. You tried your best to stay as quiet as possible, but fuck was it hard when all you wanted to do was mewl out a certain someones name, imagining it was him playing with your pussy like this.

Toji.

Even just sounding his name out in your head had you bucking your hips against the friction you were creating. His large, warm hand stuffed down your panties, and cupping your pussy from behind while rubbing at the entire expanse of your puffy cunt messily. Fast. Drenching his palm in your juices. Wondering what it'd feel like to have his long, fat fingers plunge into you as your own currently probes at your clenching hole, dipping in slightly only to take it back out. It didn't feel—wouldn't feel nearly as good unless it were his.

You felt so close. Your fingers were starting to ache as you exerted them, moving it against your swollen clit quicker than before. It started to hurt, but the feeling of adrenaline rushing through you to finish made your brain block it out, replacing it with the endorphins of white hot pleasure that you anticipated to burst at any minute now.

You clamped your legs around your hand, curling into your side like a ball. You wanted to stop, it was too much. But you were so fucking close. Your shaky whines were no longer being held back, eyes squeezed shut and the side of your face pressed against your pillow muffling it as best you could to prevent it from being heard outside.

Just a little more…

Come on come on come on..! Your hand wouldn't stop unless your body reached its peak, only increasing in its pace. Holding your breath, the sound of your palpating heart was deafening as you continued letting out harsh pants.

You felt the familiar feeling of your lower abdomen tightening, coiling up and finally bursting like a dam. Your toes curled up as you threw your head back further into the pillow, unable to stop the sudden cry of Toji’s name that accidentally slipped out from your parched mouth at the pressure of your orgasm rushing over you like a tidal wave.

Before you could bask in your post orgasmic bliss, Toji bursts through your door. The fucking man himself. In the flesh..?

In a panic, you pull your stiff hand away from between your legs as if it were scalding hot oil, grasping the blanket up towards your chin to cover what you’d just been essentially caught doing.

“Heard you screamin’ my name out, sweetheart.”

You’d think any normal reaction to being intruded on by the person you were just fantasizing about would be to first ask some questions—yet there you laid calm as a cucumber, watching as he inched closer to you.

Toji smirked. “Don’t start gettin’ all shy on me now. Let me hear you scream my name again for me.”

You don’t know how he got to you so quickly but Toji was already slipping his hand under the covers towards your pussy, finding it slick and sticky from your high, smearing it all over as he ran his fingers up and down your sensitive slit.

Retracting his hand back from underneath, he relished in the way your arousal stuck to his fingers like a spider's web as he spread them out, glistening against the soft lighting of your suddenly oddly hazy looking room.

Fueled with newfound urgency, Toji threw the covers off of you, yanking your body up to stand on the floor as you both made your way towards your vanity, back hitting the edge of it as you steadied yourself against Toji's chest. It was all moving too quickly. Too fast. Before you could stop to process your surroundings properly, Toji’s large hand hastily groped your tits as his other fingers that were touching on your pussy earlier prodded at your mouth to open. Without a word, you wrapped your lips around them like a good girl, sucking—tasting yourself before he removed them in order to turn you around.

Just then, you realized you both were naked as Toji lifted one of your legs up onto the vanity, dragging his wet fingers over his cock as he moved to align it with your dripping hole. You couldn't form a thought. As if on autopilot. Only the unbridled, desperate need to have Toji in you remained.

No. Scratch that. You felt your own thoughts before you could form them, as if it weren’t your own. It definitely was though. You don’t think anyone could too how fucking badly you wanted this man. Now he was finally about to fuck you? You may as well have been the luckiest woman on planet earth.

And as you begin to feel the sensation of Toji's cock about to enter you—confirming that notion, the door to your room bursts open again.

Wait.

“Wake up.”

What?

“Wake up!”

Is that my fucking cat talking!?

“WAKE UP!”

Groggily opening your eyes, you're met with early winter sun seeping through your thin curtains, casting a hazy glow into your room. You hear birds singing.

“What the hell was that…” Stretching the sleep out of your limbs, you noticed your hand was still situated inside your panties.

You closed your eyes, trying to recall your dream. “So half of that was real?” Well, up until Toji bursted into your room, you suppose. And when your cat spoke up telling you to wake the fuck up.

Ugh.

Sitting up, you rubbed your eyes, leaning over the bedside to pull your diary sitting on your nightstand towards your lap. You had to write this shit down.

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After jotting down as much as you could recall from the dream without mixing it up with what you were actually getting up to in real life, you left the diary on the same vanity dream version Toji almost dicked you down on.

Throughout the day, you couldn’t stop thinking about Toji. Hell, your feelings for him increased tenfold just from that measly dream alone. You don't know if it's solely your dreams doing that made you feel like you suddenly had a genuine chance with him but fuck it.

You thought about the events of yesterday and recalled when he grasped your thigh. That couldn’t have just been nothing right? The way he eyed your lips too as you licked icing off them. He didn't think you noticed, but you did. Of course you did. It was on purpose after all.

And the icing on the cake? When you brought up his son, Megumi. You didn't want to assume anything but you could've sworn you sensed jealousy swimming in those green eyes of his. How ironic.

Shit, maybe you do have a chance with Toji after all. All he needs is a little push.

With all the evidence stacked up in your favor, you knew you had to devise a plan.

A plan on how to seduce your neighbor.

You giggled to yourself.

“Mama chose a thought daughter.”

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