Chapter152XavierStepsinasInstructor
Thecane’simpactwasmild,yetitfeltsurprisinglysharp,giventheswelteringheatandtheirlightclothing-
Anthonygrimacedasthecaneconnected.
“Ouch,ithurts…”
“Whycan’tIgiveMillyahug,Grandpa<b>?</b>”
IthadbeenagessinceAnthonstsawMilly,andnow,asimplehugwasoff–limits.
Philip’ssharpncemadeAnthonyzipit,intimidated.
TheButsweren’taboutmalepreferenceoverfemales,buttheirold–schoolbeliefsfrowneduponcasualtoucheslikehugs.
MillywatchedAnthonyquietly,herbrowsknitting.“You’vegottensodark.WereyouinAfrica?”
Beforeshewentofftoshootherfilm,Anthonywasmuchlighter.Now,helookedcharred.
Atnight,you’donlyspothissmileinthedark.
Anthonyquietlylookedoverattheoldermanenjoyinghistea.Hesaidinahushedtone.“Sinceyou’renewhere,youmightnot beaware,buteverysummer,thoseofuswhoaren’tbusygetputthroughmilitarydrills,likestandingatattentionandmarchinginsync.It’satraditionGrandpainsistson.”
Milly’seyebrowwentup,“Freebirds?Who’sinyoursquad?”
“Justme,”Anthonyadmittedstraightforwardly.
Millywasspeechless.
Anthonywasfeelingabitslighted.Everyoneinhisfamilywascaughtupwiththeirjobsorinvolvedinfilmprojects,andtherehewas,theonlyonewithidletime,aimlesslypassinghissummers.
Previously,JordanwouldcoverforhimwhenGrandpawasaway.Anthonycouldgoofoff,andJordanwouldturnablindeye.
Thistimearound,Grandpacamebackunexpectedly,andtherewasn’tevenamomentforabreather,muchlessanychancetockoff.
Themorehethought,themoreupsethegotiningtoMilly,“Thistime,Xavier’srunningtheshow.It’s<b>a</b>wonderI’mstillbreathing!”
AsAnthonysulked,Millynoticedamanstandingtall,hisfacethepictureofseriousness.
Actually,itturnedouttobeXavier.
Millyhadbeensocaughtupin‘Anthony’sgoodlooksthatshpletelymissedtheguybesidehim.
Whenshelookedhisway,Xaviercaughthergaze,hiseyes<b>shining</b>withacold,distantdisdain.
Millyraisedaneyebrow.Shecouldn’tremember<b>doing</b>anythingtoupsethim,couldshe?
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Chapter152XavierStepsinasInstructor
Andsomething<b>about</b>hislookseemedalltoofamiliar.
Xavierhadastrongopinionaboutherl
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Thinkingit over,itmadesense.BeingthemostprotectiveoverStephanic, Xavierwouldnaturallybewaryofanyoneseenthreateningher.ThenovelsaysthatheevenwentintosciencetomakecosmeticsforStephaniewhenhefoundoutshe<b>was</b>allergic,whichshowshowmuchhecared.
Forabrotherwhodeeplycaredabouthissister,anychallengetoherstatusinthefamilywouldinstinctivelybemetwithopposition.
Whenfacedwithafamilymember’sanimosity,Millyseemedunaffected<b>,</b>simplybrushingitoffwithindifference.
Thebottomline.Manypeoplemightnotlikeme,butyou’renotworthbotheringabout!
Still,somethingcaughtherinterest.
“Anthony,wehavethesamegrandfather,sohoeXavier’stheteacher,andyou’rethestudent?”
Inacalmtone.Anthonyshared,“Well,XavierandJeffreyarejustayearapart.ThefamilywasaboutJeffreywhenhewassicklyasakid,leavingXaviertoourgrandfather.Grandpatookhiminandtrainedhimhardfromayoungage.Grandpaalwayssawhimasthefuturegeneral,butthen…”
Hisvoicefaded,“Noonecouldhaveguessedhisthoughts;hewasadamantaboutjoiningtheresearchinstitute.Grandfatherbeat<b>him</b>soseverelythatheranahighfeverforthreedaysandnights,nearlypassingout.”
Hearingthis,Millygotit.
Nowitall<i>clicked</i>!
Undertheirgrandpa’sguidance,Xavier<b>was</b>meantforthemilitary.Still,heshiftedpathsbecauseofhisdevotiontoStephanie,headingintoresearchinstead.
You’vegottorespecttheintensesiblingbondhere.
Withthenews ofMilly’sreturn,theeldestbrother,Jordan,madeitback<b>just</b>intimefordinner.
“Milly,I’msorryformydy.”
MillyhadalotofaffectionforJordanandrespondedwithakindsmile,“You’renotdyed,Jordan<b>.</b>Youstillhaven’thadyourmeal.”
Noticingthebeadsofsweatonhisbrow,sheofferedhimatissuetodabthemaway.
Asheleaneddown,Jordanletherremovethesweat.Hissmileremainedgentleevenwhile tinypiecesoftissueclutteredhisforehead.
Atthesametime,JonathanandAnthonyweresnackingonapplesoutofhunger.Watchingthescene,theirapplessuddenlyseemedlessvorful.
Inadispleasedtone,Jonathanremarked,“Hey,Milly,whyam Inotgettingwipeddown,too?”
“Yeah,what’sgoingon!You’repickingfavourites!”
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Millythrewthetissueinthewastebin,amusementinhergazetowards thetwosullenfaces,“Neitherofyouaresweating.”
Jonathangotup,slighted,“Alright,I’mgoingtorunteps!”
Anthony<b>was</b>quicktojoin,I’mintoo!”
Millyfoundherselfataloss<b>for</b>words.
Arethesetworeallyintheirthirties?
“Hangon.”Jordansuddenlycutin.
HiseyeswerefixedontheitemattachedtoJonathan’sbelt,andhislookwasmildintrigueandawhisperofcoldness.
Withaseriousdemeanour,heinquired,“What’s<b>that</b>you<b>have</b>attachedtoyourbelt?”
Underhisbrother’sintensestare,Jonathanhadajitteryresponse,“It’sasmallpouch.”
Hewonderedwhyhisbrotherwassuddenlycurious.Hehadmentioneditbefore,andhisbrotherseemedunbotheredbackthen.Whattriggeredhisinterestnow?
Anthonylet<b>out</b><b>a</b>derisivesnortwhileexaminingthepouch<b>,</b>andatraceofenvywasevident.“Millydidtheembroidery.”
Jealousybegantosurface.
Jordan’sexpressiondarkened,displeasedasheremarked,“It’sinappropriatetowearthiswhileyourun.Handitovertome,andI’llkeepitsafeforyou.Matchingthiswithyourleisurewearlooksawkwardandunappealing.”
Jonathanpaused,ncingathisattire.
Itindeedlookedmisced.
Heremovedit<b>and</b>handeditovertoJordan,urgingearnestly,Jordan,pleasekeepthissafeforme.I’ttachittomybackpackaftermyrun.Millystitchedthis,sotakingcareofitisimportant.”
Jordanslightlyraisedaneyebrow,respondingsteadily,“Understood.”
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