"Gerard."


    Just then, Healy''s voice pierced the air.


    "Mosquito bite?"


    Healy locked at Gerard, surprised. "Gerard, what happened to your face?"


    There was a noticeable swelling on the right side of Gerard''s face.


    Gerard licked his back mr, his tone casual. "My grandma smacked me."


    "What?" Healy thought he was hallucinating.


    "Yes, you heard me right."


    It wasn''t until Gerard spoke again that Healy was sure he wasn''t imagining things.


    "Seriously, your grandma did that?"Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    In Healy''s mind, J doted on Gerard. She wouldn''t even raise her voice at him, let alone harm him.


    But then...


    Gerard continued, "She even kicked me out of the house.”


    "No way," Healy was utterly shocked.


    Gerard nodded, "It''s true."


    Knowing this wasn''t the ce for such conversations, Healy then said, "Gerard, you shoulde to my ce! George and Kearney are there!”


    "Alright." Gerard turned to follow Healy.


    "Meow." Simba sat on the ground, looking pitifully at them.


    Healy turned around, "Gerard, is this your cat?"


    Gerard shook his head, "Why would I own such an ugly cat?”


    "If it''s not yours, then let''s head out!" They continued on their path.


    "Meow!" Simba immediately followed Gerard.


    "Gerard, are you sure that''s not your cat?" Healy asked, puzzled.


    "It''s not.”


    Scratching his head, Healy said, "But it keeps following us.”


    Gerard looked back at Simba, "Stop following me! Even if you do, I''m not going to keep you!"


    "Meow meow!"


    Simba, undeterred, kept up with them until they got into the car.


    Gerard, with a heavy heart, shut the car door with Simba outside.


    The engine roared to life


    Gerard leaned back in his seat.


    "Holy cow! That cat is almost flying!" Healy eximed.


    Locking back, Gerard saw Simba sprinting at top speed.


    "Stop the car!" Gerard suddenly said.


    The driver promptly stopped, and Gerard stepped out.


    When Gerard got back into the car, he had the dirty cat in his arms.


    "Gerard, you''re going to keep it?" Healy asked curiously.


    Gerard''s expression remained


    unchanged, "I''m not keeping this.


    ugly. cat. I just want to find a ce to


    ditch it so it stops following’ me!”


    "Oh." Healy nodded


    Soan, the car stopped in front of Healy''s house, a familiar vi.


    Gerard, a frequent visitor, carried Simba inside alongside Healy.


    Seeing them, George and Kearney asked, "Gerard, Healy, you guys got here fast! What''s up?"


    Healy replied, "Ran into Gerard on the way."


    Kearney noticed the cat in Gerard''s arms and asked, "Since when do you have a cat, Gerard?"


    Without directly answering Kearney,


    Gerard tossed the cat onto the =


    balcony, warning, "Don''t run off! Or


    you''re bing cat stew tonight!”


    "Meow!"


    Gerard shut the balcony door and turned to George and Kearney, "That''s not my cat. It''s just a cat I''m trying to get rid of."


    "Gerard! How could you think of ditching such a cute cat? If you don''t want it, give it to me!" Kearney said, excited.


    Gerard walked over, "The cat''s too ugly. It''s better off gone."


    Only when-Gerard approached did -.


    Kearney 1 Hotice the injury on his face,


    immediately forgetting about the’


    cat, Holy smokes! Gerard, what


    happened to your face?’


    Hearing this, George, who had been feeding the fish, rushed over.


    "What happened to Gerard?"


    This was the first time they''d seen Gerard injured, especially on his face.


    Clearly, it was from a fight.


    "Did someone bully you, Gerard? Tell me, and I''ll sort them out for you!" Kearney rolled up his sleeves, ready for a fight.


    "Count me in!" George picked up a pair of nunchucks nearby.


    Gerard justughed, "Nobody bullied me. My grandma hit me." His tone was so light, as if he was discussing what he had for breakfast.