Chapter76GetMetheGreenOne
Finished
Theteen,whomomentsago hadboastedabouthisfightingprowess,rospliantly,followingthegirlupstairs.Despitethis,hecontinuedtoextolhisownvirtues.“Hey,Milly,wasn’tIsomethingjustnow?Letmetellyou,I’vegotTaekwondoskills–I’matthefourthlevel!”
“Yeah,impressivestuff,Anthony,”Millyrepliedcasually,hertoneacknowledging.
“Absolutely,letmetellyou,ifitwasn’tforme,Mr.Jonathanwouldhavebeenamess.Iwould’vidintohimuntilhelookedlikeawreck,punchafterpunch!”Anthonyboasted,histoneswellingwithpride.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.
TherewasnoneedtoseeAnthony’s<b>face</b>.Hemustbesmugabouthimself.
Jonathan,overhearingthis,letoutaderisivesnort,feelingatwingeofembarrassmentonAnthony’sbehalf.TheideaofAnthonndingpunchafterpunchwaughable,especiallyboastingaboutbeingafourth–level Taekwondopractitioner–utterlyshameless!
ThemoreJonathanruminated,themorehisirritationgrew,hisfistclenchingtightlyonthesofa.Suddenly,atinglingsensationshotthroughhispalm,drawinghisattention.
Openinghishand,henoticedabloodstain,likelyfromscrapingitduringtheearlierscufflewithAnthony.Hisgazeflickedinvoluntarilytowardthe<b>stairs</b>,wheretwofigureshadalreadyvanished.
Besidehim,Stephanieloungefortably,enjoyingfruitpeeledbyaservant,herattentionfixedontheTV.Sensinghisgaze,shelookedoverinconfusion.“What’sup,Jonathan?”sheinquired.
Jonathanpursedhislips,disyinghisbloodiedhand.“Nothing,”hemuttereddismissively.
Itissnothing,really–aminorwound<i>hardly</i>worthfussingover.NobodyshouldadoptAnthony’sdramaticir.Afterall,ascratchwasjustascratch.
Hmph!
Stephanienoticedhismood,blinked,anduponseeing<b>that</b>heseemedfine,swiftlmented,“Jonathan,thatoutfityourockedontheTVshowwaskiller,likeitwastailoredjustforyou.Fansareraving–youtotallyovershadowedOliver!”
“Isthatright?”JonathanncedindifferentlyattheTVscreen.Acharacterheoncereverednowfelckluster,weighingonhisheartwithadisquietingheaviness.
JonathanlingeredoutsideMilly’sdoor,hesitatingfor<b>a</b>prolongedmomentbeforerappinglightly.
Hadhelosthisbearingsearlier?Jordanhadinstructedthestafftosummonthemfordinner<b>,</b>sowhyhadherusheduphere?Whatwashedoing?Whatifhisactionsweremisconstruedbyhisshrewdnewstepsister?WouldStephaniebedispleased…?
Milly’sdoorstoodslightlyajar,andthroughthecrack,hecaughtsnippetsoftheirexchange.
“Idon’twantthis,it’ssme.I’matoughguy!”
Bnce:
638
196
Chapter76GetMetheGreenOne
“Fine,don’twearit
“No,wait,I’llputiton.Let’sgowiththe
greenone.”
67%
Finished
Anthonygrimacedatthegreen,cat–patternedband–aidonhishand,expressingdisdain.“Thisband–aidtotallyruinsmymachovibe!”
Millytidiedupthecottonswabsandalcohol,rollinghereyes.
<i>You’re</i>barelyevenacollegekid.There’snothingmachoabout<i>you</i>yet.
“Keepitdryforafewdays.Ifyouneedtowashyourhands,useawetwipe,”Millyreminded.
“Gotit.”Anthonynodded.
Aftertidyingup,Millyroseandsuggested,“Let’sgo,dinner’salmostready.Timetoheaddownstairs.<b>”</b>
Atthementionofdescending,Anthonypromptlyslumpedontothetable,groaning,“Idon’twannagodown.Myhandstillstingsabit–it’stoopainful.I can’tfacedinnertonight.”
ThemerethoughtofheadingdownstairsandfacingthatbuffoonJonathanignitedasparkoffurywithinAnthony.
Once,hewould’veeagerlydescendedtoconfronthim,butnow,withhissister’sband–aidprotectinghishand,hecouldn’triskitgettingrubbedoff.
Milly,unabletodecipherAnthony’sinnerturmoil,heardhispainedcryandassumedhisdistresswasgenuine.“Stillhurting?
“Comehere,I’llblowonitforyou.It’llsoothethepain,”sheoffered,drawingfromthfortingmethodsoftheirorphanagedays,whenGrandmawouldconsoletheminsimrways.
Whileuncertainofitsefficacy,shecouldn’trecanyresidualpainafterGrandma’sministrations,onlyagrowingsense<b>of</b>case.So,itmusthaveworked.
Anthonyhadn’tanticipatedsuchatenderresponsetohiscasualoutburst.Hiseyeslitup<b>as</b>heextended<b>his</b>hand.
Millygentlyblewonthewound.“Feelingbetter?”
JustasAnthonywasabouttonod,hepaused.“Well,uh,Icanstillfeweebitofastingthere…
Millyloweredherhead,blowingonitafewmoretimes.
“It’simproved,butstill…ah!”
Millylightlytappedtheunaffectedarea.“Notakingadvantage.Get<b>up</b>andlet’sheaddownstairs.”
“Okay.”
AnthonyfortedbyMilly’scare,grinnedasheopened<i>the</i>door.However,hisexpressiondarkeneduponseeingthefigurewaitingoutside.
Bnce:638+196
Chapter76GetMetheGreenOne
Jonathan,caughtoffguardbyAnthony’sswiftresponse,feltmomentarilyflustered.
Finished
Fortunately,hisemergencytrainingasanactorkickedin,andhequicklposedhimself.“Jordanaskedmetofetchyou…let’sheaddownstairsfordinner,”herepliedsmoothly.
Stillsimmeringwithirritation,Anthonyrespondedtersely,“Fine.”
TurningtoMilly,hesuggested,“Let’sheaddownstairstogether.”Hisexpressionbetrayedahintofconcern,<b>wary</b>ofleavingheralonewithJonathan.
Jonathan,observingtheirexchange,slidhishandsintohispockets,histoneicyasheremarked,“Suityourself.”
Ashebegantoleave,hefeltagentletugonhissleeve.Then,asoftvoicespoke,“Anthony,yougoJonathanandIwiledowninamoment.”
ahead.
Anthony’seyeswidened,hisgazeakintocatchingatraitor.“What?”
“You,you,you…“hestammered,pointingatMilly’sactionswiththefervourofahusbandcatchinghiswifeininfidelity.
Millyfoundhisdramaticsexasperatingandsighed.“Anthony,justwaitamoment.Canyougivemethreeminutes?IfIhaven’edownbythen,youcaeupandfindme.”
Armscrossed,Anthonyremainedobstinate.“No,sayithere.”
Millypursedherlips,notinghisstubbornness
“Howaboutyoutimeme?Ipromisetobebackinfrontofyouinthreeminutes,okay?”
spinghisteeth,Anthonybegrudginglyagreed,histonecold.“Fine,justthreeminutes.I’llstartthe
timer.
<i>He</i>promptlyretrievedhisphone,startingthestopwatchwiththeprecisionofsomeoneafraid<i>of</i>beingevenaseconte.
Millyremainedsilent,amixtureofdeterminationandresignationinherexpression.
12:48Sun,23Junt.
AFilmQueenofTwoWorlds