Chapter77JonathanJealous
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ObservingAnthony’sdeparture.MillyguidedJonathanintotheroomandcedabottleofdisinfectantonthetable.“Letmeattendtoyourinjuries,Jonathan.”
Jonathanwascaughtoffguard.“You…
Howhadshefoundout?Hehadn’tevenmentionedhiswound.
Millyseemedtoperceivehisbewildermentandexined,“Ihaveakeenolfactoryperceptionforblood.Icoulddetectitassoonasyouapproached.”
Shecouldn’tquiteelucidateherpeculiarability,butfortunately,Jonathandidn’tpressforfurtherdetails.
Aftercleansingthebloodstains,neutralisinganytoxins,andfetchingthebandages,Jonathancoollydered.“I’drathernotusethegreenones.”
Hisobstinacywaslikethatofachildrejectingacertainvourof candy.
Millysighedandopenedthebandagecontainer.“Thenpickhatsuitsyourpreference.”
Thebox,modestinsize,containedanassortmentofbandagesindifferenthues:red,green,blue,purpleeachadornedwithwhimsicalcartoonmotifs.
Interpretinghissilenceasdisapproval,Millysuggested,“Theinjuryisn’tsevere,soyoudon’tnecessarilyhavetousethem
“Blue.I’llgowiththeblueones.”
“Okay.”
Sheproceededtoaffixthebluebandage,featuringasmalldogmotif,tohispalm.
Jonathanappearedcontentasheinspectedthebandage.Hequickly talliedthem.Thereweresevenandahalfcatmotifsonthegreenbandages<b>,</b>whiletherewereeightforthepup.<i>I</i>have<i>half</i>amotifmorethanAnthony.
“Readytogo?”Millypackeduphersuppliesandopenedthedoor,wonderingifthreeminuteshadpsed.
JonathanlingeredbehindMilly,hisgazefixedonherwithasilentintensitythatseemedtohintatdispleasure.
Perplexed,Millyquestioned,“What’swrong?”
<i>I</i><i>didn’t</i>upsethim,<i>did</i><i>I</i><i>?</i>
Withoutaword,Jonathancoldlyraisedhishand.“Myhandhurtstoo,”hestatedbluntly.
“Huh?”
“But<b>you</b>
didn’tblowonit<b>for</b>me.
*****usedfeelingasenseofurgency.Sheapproachedhimandblewafewbreathsontohisinjured
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Jonathan’plexionvisiblyimproved.Withacolddemeanor,heinsertedhishandsbackintohispocketsandraisedhischinarrogantly.“Thisissochildish.Onlykidswillbelievethat.Whowouldbelieveinsuchnonsense?”
Yet,thecornersofhismouthnearlytouchedthebackofhishead,betrayingahintofamusement.
Millysuppressedasmile,beginningtoquestion theirmaturitylevels.Aretheyreallygrownups?My,eventhree–year–oldsaremorematurethantheyare.
Shenoticedshehadn’tbeenreluctantaboutgettingclosertoLeonorAnthony.EvenJonathan,whomshe’donlymetforthefirsttime.Shecouldn’thelpbutwonderifherpreviousmentalstruggleshadbeenresolved.Wasshenolongerresistanttoformingconnectionswithothers?
AsMillyandJonathanreachedthestairs,theyencounteredAnthony,whowascraning<b>his</b>neckupwards.
Anthonyncedatthestopwatchonhisphoneandscoffed<b>,</b>“Threeminutesandonepointseventysevenseconds.Twosecondstoo<b>slow</b>.”
MillywastakenabackbyAnthony’smeticuloustiming.“Iwasalreadyhurrying,”sheprotested.
Anthonypursedhislips,relenting,“Alright,I’llletitslidethistime.HencedcautiouslyatJonathanbehindher,thenleanedin,whisperinginherear,“DidMr.Jonathanbotheryouearlier?”
Millyanswered,“Nah.”
“Ifhetriesanything,justgivemeaheads–up.I’vegotsometricksupmysleeve.Rememberthoseembarrassingbed–wettingpicsfrombackintheday?Icouldtotallydropthoseonline,andhisfanbasewould…”
ThesuddeninterruptioncutAnthony’ssentenceshortasathrowpillowconnectedsquarelywithhisforehead.
Jonathan’sfaceflushedcrimson,hisjawclenchingwithfrustration.“Cutitoutwiththegossip,willyou?”
“Gossip?I’vegotproof,man.Doubtme?I’llpullitup.”Withthat,Anthonyfishedouthisphone,flippingthroughhisphotocollection.
Jonathan’stemperred,hisgriptighteningonAnthony’sshoulder.“Enough,Anthony!Ichallengeyoutosettlethislikemen.”
Astheconfrontationescted,Millyfeltaheadachebrewing.
SympathytuggedatherheartforJordan.Raisingfiveyoungersiblings,particrlyteenageboysproneoutbursts,was<b>no</b>walkinthepark.
Observingtheshowdown,Jordanfurrowedhisbrow,maintaininghiscalmdemeanoruashesignaledIvan.“Tossthemout,Ivan.Theycaebackoncethey’vesortedthemselvesout<b>.</b>”
Ivanhesitated,eyeingthetwo
Itseemedoddtohim–boysusuallythrewpunches,nothair–pullingandspitting.<i>Isn’t</i>thatabit…unorthodox?
to
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Andwhydotheyholduptheirpinkywhiletheytearateachother<i>.</i>
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Thankfully,despitetheirscuffle,theyweren’pleteidiots.AtthesoundofJordan’svoice,theyreleasedeachother,castingsheepishncesattheirbandagedhands.
Fortunately,theband–aidsheldupunderscrutiny.
Oncetempershadcooled,JordanturnedtoMillywithasmile.“Hey,Milly,thechefwhippedupsomegarliclobster,yourgo–to.Wanttogiveitashot?”
Millynodded.“Yeah,soundsgood.”Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.
NestledbesideJordan,Millyrxedashesetdownatteroflobsterbeforeher.Thescentofgarlic,tingedwithadashofspice,teasedher<b>senses</b>.
Stephanie’seyeslingeredonthelobster,atwingeofenvyevidentinherexpression,longingforatasteherself.
Noticingherlonging,Xavierextendedashrimptowardsherbowl,murmuringsoftly.“Here,Stephanie,enjoythisshrimp.”
GratitudefloodedStephanie’sfeaturesasshencedathim.Thanks,Xavier.You’realwayssoconsiderate.”
Whiletranquilityheldswayononeside,pandemoniumeruptedontheother.
JonathanfoundhimselfseatednexttoMilly,typicallyAnthony’sspot,muchtoAnthony’schagrin.
DemandingJonathanyieldtheseat,Anthony’sirritationwaspalpable..
Remainingunperturbed,Jonathanreclinedcalmly.“WhyshouldIgiveupmyseat?Igotherefirst.I’fortablewhereIam.”
“Youlittle…
Furious,AnthonysnappedupachairandsqueezedhimselfbetweenMillyandJonathan,stoppingatnothingtogetaspot.
Millywasspeechless.
<i>What</i><i>?</i><i>Is</i>thisyour<i>lucky</i><i>spot?</i><i>Why do</i>youguysfightoverit?
AsMillybegantorise,preparingtosurrenderherprimespot,Jordansteppedin,shootingAnthonyasternlook.“Hey,buddy,shiftovertotheseatnexttoyou.
Anthonypushedback,grumbling.Nah,thisspot’sminefromthestart.Whyshould<b>I</b>budge?”
HehadahunchthatthisMr.Jonathanhadsomesneakyagendauphissleeve!
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