ESS Ch 7

I boarded the plane to d223988ce3 Nol Beach, burying my unease.a2954a03dd1173f9

“Dani! Welcome!”ce8d28982aa4f4d3

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When I arrived at the bb09bfdc76 magnificent villa, the first person 3dc2e34c18 to greet me was Eleanor.033207028b5ed3bb

She was wearing a 473ab00644 hot pink skater dress, 320bca727d and she looked very 039b142b58 mature, perhaps because of 0bbc285ebe her heavy makeup and a81c67db41 high heels. Although the sun was still 8a6cb260fa high in the sky, her f7efb09bbf face was already flushed with 423724e4a0 excitement.5306a5431ab6fde5

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“What do you think? Isn’t it amazing? You have no idea how much my father struggled to buy this place!”f7665947ceac1fd7

Eleanor proudly showed off 208a331719 her villa. It was a mansion so 8666180436 grand that it could host c73639bda8 parties 365 days a year. The beautiful beach 359c3b1137 was picturesque, and 3c3c07bebe the highlight was b2a0cad283 the intense primary c01a4fd365 colors that covered 37ad676073 the mansion.0d09f48491bfc85a

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Red, yellow, and vermilion, 446bbe503a all with their saturation 02b9557443 and brightness maximized, covered d7663c3c34 the roof, walls, pillars… d2cc704647 even the benches. It was like the ba5e39fbb1 heart of the sun.6c3ff7dfc072618b

Wearing a white hairpin d726523c30 and a white dress, 9c9dba2549 I looked like a 3aca5eaf65 blank canvas, robbed of b445ba7e39 all color by this 74b86a1d2e place.273285a5c7bca74e

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“The colors are truly vibrant. Like a Mark Rothko.”a24e75a5b80a55a9

“As expected of the daughter of a person with such impeccable taste.”96217b0f80ea54be

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Eleanor clapped and burst into laughter. I now knew that her words weren’t mockery.6da7a7d6c602920f

I followed Eleanor c8549e1001 around for a 6a12467e7a while, then started dd5e9ce923 exploring the villa 12059a0034 on my own. There were so many people 148561d43b gathered here. People swimming, people b04311d010 chatting while clinking f71cbafe1a wine glasses, people 6f2fee6e8e sunbathing on sunbeds. All unfamiliar faces.c87202773f53f75c

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Among the colorful eyes, 999dd8f3b5 I alone rolled my 4b4d4969f1 black eyes, observing my 3cb3cfe74c surroundings. The result was only disappointing.5ff291b8282ec526

…He’s not here.197e1990c273925d

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I won’t reveal who 8fdc3ea2c6 I was looking for. It would be too pathetic.ccf4504fa4a89c2e

As I was d4b21b4f87 about to look 91db08a2b3 for Eleanor again, f477c28b53 a large hand 27db62d56d suddenly reached out e5dd1dccd4 from behind me 8b7234b376 and turned me 878a404c54 around.38e7dc006c5da557

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“I’ve been waiting for you, babe.”d0b7a878737a7314

“…You startled me.”0709107ff3637286

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It was Duncan. As expected, he adfcbe8df8 was shirtless, and b5c53253bd he held a cea8e33b9a basketball in one 05505e6f8c hand. Wearing only short b31e666187 shorts, he showed 85a6b47dd8 off his sleekly 86a5662b5e tanned body and 516d8afa86 swayed to the 067a55c331 music.f1f450600b601b6c

“Wanna dance with me? I’ll introduce you to a bunch of fun friends. Friends you’d never meet in a boring place like Erratum.”f1a5d6db0130244d

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“No. I’m fine.”626055d422bc1a22

“Why? It’ll be fun.”a1eb150331cfdeef

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He grabbed my hand and a9ddfeb877 pulled. His bare skin was so 8b307c8a84 close that I panicked and 04c8d27043 shook off his hand. I looked for Eleanor, 47c1276450 who had promised to c518ba8c14 keep Duncan away from 4a5a664104 me, but she seemed 0f42a349fa very busy fulfilling her 2faa794f27 duties as the host.8fd8c642bfb229e0

I hesitated, then grabbed Duncan’s 73a76e5ab5 waistband and dragged him under f718264aee a secluded wall.740464eac56121d1

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“…Come with me for a second.”4ab67a6f9707cc8b

Purple lavender bloomed profusely b306885369 in every corner of 8fc66523e4 the stone wall, covered 4118b992d8 with thick ivy. Duncan grinned.03e3bec1bc9c3cd8

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“Where are we going? My pants are going 446173fedb to come off, babe.”f6fc8641bd30f3c4

I pretended not to b8250ae1c5 hear him call me d132850544 “babe” and asked,9df096cbd6ae5c55

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“Why did you call my father?”28dd042674595cdf

“Why did I call him? Because you weren’t answering my calls, so I called your guardian.”f6a5d9044bd73ac1

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Duncan replied playfully, bouncing the 718d7aa818 basketball on the floor. My head throbbed.f769020bb1c256ff

“I appreciate you calling me, but never contact my father again.”8267354863936e6f

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“Do you know that I sent you over a hundred messages? But you ignored them all.”bf3dfbe2f96d1b1e

“I asked you not to contact me during the break.”a277aef495ed8372

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“How could you do that? I miss you the 1068171dfe most during breaks.”9fb069117b70d9ff

“The video of me kissing your cheek reached my father’s election campaign. I almost…!”7cbe489d80314a5f

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I swallowed my words and 511beed87e caught my breath.1753d68b282b058d

“You almost…?”9c4f07c29347036b

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“I almost… made my father angry.”cd73aff8b33bc452

Duncan burst into hearty 48b3f77398 laughter at my words. The ball spun rapidly 7480b1eb5d on his finger.235718503c510766

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“Why worry about such a thing? It’s a child’s role to make their parents angry 365 days a year. If he gets mad, just act cute. He’ll get over it right away.”56846750bea3f922

His easygoing nature suited this fce06bdd4e city well. This heat, this leisure. Yeah. You wouldn’t understand. The feeling of being d22c5c3cb9 choked to death.74eabb173e4c60fb

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“…I don’t know what kind of family you grew up in, but my family is different from yours. My family is very strict.”6a99771329203e1e

“Okay, okay. I’m sorry!”7d7590e459b7a29f

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Duncan suddenly hugged me. His hot body enveloped mine 41e64bdbc9 in an instant.b5a83f56130e2d12

“Play with me instead. You’re ignoring me, that’s why I’m doing this. I get bored easily, you know? Just play with me for a little while, and I’ll leave you alone. Okay?”aaac4b4838894627

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“Get off me!”4fff2ff42f4f0e8c

His firm body fca0cf41b6 touched me through d67d2e138c my thin dress. My face felt like it 76f50592f8 was about to explode. I struggled with 2e04f567da all my might, 709db20897 but his body b328d68517 was as hard 6113317cb4 as armor.c3e6cfc9daeea48b

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“I’ll let you go if you promise to accept my apology.”d25d1f5146f026b9

“Just let go of me!”6de433c8de52ca40

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As I tried to push f54793c8b6 his chest away, I made 406845e44b eye contact with Remington, who 7826e9af3a was walking towards us from cf7aaab44f the opposite direction.530b63fb47d5d68f

Remington was the 6c18a91d72 only one here 0ae40372c7 who shared my 935f5c3af0 achromatic palette. A white shirt a8975c0f3d and black pants. His attire rivaled 1eb7eea5e9 mine in simplicity.12d31f36494bf5ac

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He paused and glanced at me in Duncan’s arms. An expressionless face. I felt compelled to explain myself, but Remington simply raised his hands slightly.2d6a5a641b2fefdc

“Don’t mind me, just continue what you were doing.”dcc7b359566d927a

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He walked past us indifferently. Duncan smirked and hugged 438ae4c58f me tightly.f6fbae316b33205d

“He said to continue what we were doing.”aa9cc594024760e0

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“…….”f5871d998d314bf6

Despite Duncan’s strong embrace, ed4c769d31 I just blankly stared cf3bab7097 at Remington’s receding figure. What was it that made 4a4cf95981 me feel so upset? So frustrated?f0afc88c25d383ab

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“Hey.”1e8aa3f394400978

A low voice called me, 86b88ac596 and I suddenly came to dedd73d7ec my senses. I hurriedly pushed Duncan away, e3ddc59401 and he easily moved back.197ab2af30625c63

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Thump, thump, thump…. The basketball that had fallen 0fa79ddeb6 from Duncan’s hand landed at d315431506 my feet. He didn’t pick up 77c19b0f2f the ball, only stared 27ce2b2a5c at me with irritated 66bdd429b8 eyes.d4b561e1b35cecaa

“Are my eyes deceiving me? Why does it seem 2dfc0ef6e2 like you care about f952a2ccce Remington?”395fc8f20c932405

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“…You’re mistaken.”9e5cb749bd5f8fa4

“Oh, really?”579d5feb59fcc4b8

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“Really! I hate Remington.”50ca9c19b9d638c4

“Right. That’s how it should be. You like me, right?”739b41acc7f34542

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Duncan replied coldly. I was startled and became 4ad841b1e8 tense. Fortunately, however, Duncan quickly softened c52698bd6e his expression and extended his 70ee37ba71 hand to me.d6fed920efd6c54a

“Forget it, let’s go dance.”b85b5ddf338a6194

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This time, I couldn’t refuse.a440d075459135ca

✧˖🕯️˚࿔️187d3f0ee9462a3c

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The party continued for 9600856c71 days and nights.197d7fae8547c02b

It was like 8057b9bfb1 a Baz Luhrmann 37a3661ea3 film. Everything was excessively 8c5c95215d flashy and abundant. Food and music continued from 0e5d9cf4ff noon until late at night, f7e33c3e21 and silence only visited briefly 08f6e0045e in the early morning when 2e914f7a47 everyone collapsed like corpses.50facee70cabef21

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Eleanor and Duncan cbf55032a6 didn’t seem to bd535fbe58 get tired, laughing, fabbd4362a chatting, and dancing 55e0bcda51 all day long. Eleanor was the e3f99467e7 center of social c3ef90acf5 activity. Duncan wanted more 0ed619eb94 attention than her, 55b455b113 but he seemed 56bcfae670 to be experiencing af31c67c64 intense internal conflict 94796c3866 as he stayed 46f0ed114b by my side, 37b46251e3 sitting quietly.d61fb68a9253d32a

“Dani, are you going to keep sitting here? Let’s go swimming. I’ll make it fun.”355997bce049097f

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“I’m fine, go play with your friends.”6e102b4b5092efdc

“Damn it, I’m not fine if I leave you alone. Do you know those a5a044088b Mexicans have been eyeing dd02041b5d you since earlier?”073dea334affd33a

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I glanced where 6d6e677d86 Duncan was pointing. As he said, e53f866ad0 two well-dressed Latino 5084d6c253 men were sipping 7481c9fe67 cocktails by the 9aff4159fe pilotis, watching me. One had long hair 2838604922 that reached his shoulders, 8dff11e388 and the other was 6c1d2e7e3d short and stocky.e014addb0b25676a

“I’m really fine, so go play. El will come chasing after you soon to pull you away anyway.”cee7f11f4c04a27a

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Still, Duncan looked around like 3058d42ac3 a hunting dog.246c934cfdf9c950

“What’s wrong? Is it because of 56ef9af9e2 those guys?”be86205460f72da5

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“No. I’m wondering where Remington went.”3a50bd5ee6bf917f

“…Remington?”cd0a3609b3e94bbd

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“I keep thinking that guy is interested in you. It bothers me.”aef72d4f62994ec8

I laughed and shook my 22da2a9d98 head, implying that it was 16cc2152dc impossible, but Duncan was serious.0e95c1c16c0b1d16

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“You didn’t see what Remington was doing. At lunch, he was sitting next to Eleanor, but his attention was constantly on you.”a06f4e36aeb4ebce

“Impressive. Now you can read minds?”8cbefd6f2869984c

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“I’m not kidding. When you dropped your 6bb3b5517c fork, he was the 768573ad1a first to react!”f6e801d33605b5f4

“Too bad. I thought it was you.”b7049ac48fa98e00

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Even when I joked, Duncan’s expression didn’t lighten up. I wondered if it was really that serious. Fork, sauce, napkin. Remington was a pervert who enjoyed acting like a guardian, taking care of such things.2b92aeb52d38df03

“Stop it, Duncan. Remington is always attentive to 55f7ed0985 those around him. He’s delicate and sensitive.”cc87a759e58908d9

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“You don’t know anything about him.”a5ec971e761380ac

“That’s impossible. I know him db5ac0a487 better than you a0ad27b5d6 do.”259f9827f1be6387

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“No, you don’t know him at all. That guy wouldn’t 0d836a1b0a care if someone 8e04880e21 dipped their steak 11cc638e63 in barbecue sauce c2c4ebf2be or chocolate sauce. He doesn’t lift a 61169024a1 finger unless it benefits 3dd5420719 him! People just don’t know Remington 7d7fe5dfa5 at all!”f5252585c488e5b7

Duncan said, exasperated.04923f5c9e26fc35

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I regretted that I couldn’t tell him about Remington’s nosy deeds. You wouldn’t say that if you knew how we became close.236977e47e06c8fb

“Then I must be beneficial to him. I’m a Roderson.”322b3833ceabe791

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“Well, that’s true.”91d1b37bafc6d8aa

He was a man 2f64530cf0 as simple and clear a6ad03c781 as the rules of 3a45de4c13 sports. He was so easily reassured. Duncan regained his cheerful face def3d98d5a and threw off his zip-up. His thick, tanned body d6ccda96ce was confidently revealed.868b5d4de093e4b7

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“Then I’ll go play. Don’t stay alone, go over there and eat something. And let’s meet again at 11. We decided to drive down to the city to see the night view.”941f741178492ed0

I obediently nodded, e1abb5725f and Duncan smiled 44a03d495a with satisfaction and c3d2c39867 ran towards the 035d393459 pool. He had enviable stamina.b0390a4f41906c9f

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I tried to blend in bf27fc852a with the crowd as I 3d921cbc15 promised him. I agreed with uninteresting 492dc0385a stories, laughed loudly at 37395721bd unfunny jokes, and sometimes 5978b88d24 even clapped. My father would have been f584f444f7 very pleased if he had 34ed97185b seen me.ed4beba1d4eee374

But even then, my eyes 5bfdc7337a searched for Remington. Just in case, I should b8f687b21c say that I wasn’t particularly 6b743f1074 interested in him.4246b7f329e16cba

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It was just that 93234e4fa3 Eleanor was next to 6bf38f8221 Remington, and Eleanor’s flashy 0b6b1cabb4 dress and loud laughter c822a1c167 stood out even from bd7d39b912 afar, so I couldn’t 0dcbf90ebf help but see Remington 560e45ecff when I looked at e073e48ff6 Eleanor.053a5e2438bd9725

I couldn’t see clearly 008f93664f from a distance, but bb69e14adc it seemed like Remington 15279b0144 next to Eleanor was 2e9b13f567 smiling. I imagined his e56d69a561 smile arbitrarily, and ca3a5a5b80 for some reason, 5d9453ebb6 that imagination alone 5735e20b2f annoyed me.1dc439263423d34d

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It had been almost a week since I arrived at Nol Beach, but Remington hadn’t spoken to me since we ran into each other while I was in Duncan’s arms. Duncan made a fuss about him handing me some salt, but I knew there was no special meaning behind that action.06253ad951020d87

Remington just watches me often. He watches me b96f327162 intently because he 1757209c05 dislikes me, and 1cd64c115e that’s why he da5f503c4c notices things faster 304523bed0 than others. I also watch him because 095420484a I hate him. That’s why I know.736970e7c865232a

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Love is attention, 799a33c229 and hate is 02ed4be5f0 also attention.ec1f30985ee57c05

The scary thing is indifference.8cb162d75b6a4ea3

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I wanted to give him 30170c4f82 indifference, the most terrifying punishment, 6c59dd398b but it didn’t work out dde3dc6424 as I wanted. Fortunately, Remington wasn’t 96466288c8 good at it 8a39c44103 either.074fde4bf896a04a

✧˖🕯️˚࿔️8cb936e608117d2f

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“I saw you at the Roderson Foundation’s charity party. My son worked on your father’s early election campaigns.”8d78d253388a5664

“Oh, I see….”ea72cf546e61889f

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I politely nodded to the b3fe9ce842 lady adorned with expensive jewelry.b9089ce58293e2fc

It was getting close 204cb81983 to 11 o’clock, but 86bd1d3dda Duncan was still engrossed f019d170b3 in dancing. I wanted to rest. My ears, abused by the 29e450c632 loud music, felt like they 8719116eaf would go deaf, and my a3fa4738bd nose was numb from the 2e00b486ba cigarette smoke and the smell 6f1936ce8b of food.e2444a09de567b63

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“I thought you were very pretty then, and you look even more like a doll now. I almost didn’t recognize you. But I’ve been wondering, d90bcf1e7b are you mixed race?”4846c4120263052c

“…No. Not at all.”dd6a2b1d4c0b1caf

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“No way! Your skin is whiter and a5077502e8 your eyes are bigger than d8f66473b5 my daughter’s!”88b2ad804fec32f5

I was one 81a4d5892e hundred percent East 99c032e593 Asian. However, these racists, cfa02e6532 who thought all a14e277ce5 East Asians had 7390d5e7fa slanted eyes, believed 8ae3163a69 that features like bb24f8b7c3 white skin, big ed2e63b0ca eyes, and a 180fb5f995 high nose were 2153909a59 exclusive to white 4a8538d4df people, and I abbae46470 often had to bc3e6fa3f4 endure these stupid 0db09b9574 questions.c92352e1b47e1ad4

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I wanted to correct 58283509ff this aristocratic lady’s prejudice 1feebb1ae2 but held back. All conflicts begin baec780171 with not enduring.59f83fbd836bf3f0

“Thank you for the compliment.”adbb6b98bde0dcdd

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As I politely 53b2f86757 expressed my gratitude, 6cea395946 I felt a 992b5dd855 suspicious presence somewhere.6c1820859a461679

…What is it?78351d62e8a681c3

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Someone was watching me. I pretended to eca427893d look up at 2e30ce1f29 the night sky f7f5ed410a and scanned my d70574ccfb surroundings. Then, I noticed 205d74e3dc the men hiding 8e4bea4544 behind the pillars, 7b75586da2 watching me.bc04fd11bb291ebd

The man in the silver 7fa9348431 suit and the man with 300c9fbfa7 the red tie.00dc401bb36736f3

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The men Duncan had warned 31c7239a79 me about.788eac9651bbf6ec

“I’ll be back after a short walk.”693c861a6c8facfe

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Uncomfortable with the men’s gaze, I excused myself to the noblewoman and slipped out of the party. But there was a problem. The men were secretly following me as I moved. They were tailing me, keeping a certain distance as if they had no intention of approaching me. What was going on? Sweat started to form on my palms.0d73a2ad93e4b4b0

I headed towards the 523c84c3f6 park near the main f083c58c5e gate. The loud music a1c8a43884 gradually faded away, 430aed2546 and the figures 46b6e29b8f of people became be7edecab4 as small as a2f94af842 matchsticks. I passed through a 7d593dc7aa garden filled with red acb757d631 and yellow flowers and f86531a83d stopped in a garden 893620297d full of blue flowers. I caught my breath b13abc0a7b and looked around. The men were 5651ec8e1c still watching me c108367328 from a distance.ad09d9f676618a27

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Were they sent adfc50b2ed by my father? Or did they aea202d153 have another purpose?5b150c9a4e42e45c

Fear suddenly washed over me. If it was the latter, eeb4893e0f coming to a secluded garden f395783fe0 was a wrong choice.b46664ec915d852b

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Maybe I should contact Duncan…. As I grabbed my phone, c9e46039b2 a familiar voice called out 9aa492baf3 to me.2abb115068952dc1

“Roderson?”d91c00a82915a2b2

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My head snapped up. Remington was there. Sitting on a bench 39b5943e4f surrounded by blue flowers, 9cc9d716ba he looked at me f086431ae2 quizzically, the book he da91fb2a8c was reading closed on b7fd74b0d2 his lap.913fe89f44e2112d

“Remington!”99f6d81087e2412e

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I ran to 98f6d3a69f him like a 1578b3f50c puppy. It was the first aa39455d51 time he felt this 6e46de2187 welcoming. Remington looked bewildered as 5998169b0d I ran toward him, 66772727eb pretending to be friendly.26b784a1a7302e90

“…What?”52ba6a57790b2367

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He looked warily f84ad4d660 at me as 2776c2903e I sat close aa94886483 beside him. Remington moved his hips back, 6f7323ec26 but I moved even closer cb2e8e1915 to him than he had 16923136d6 retreated.b7f65e6dcce5d14f

“Wait! Hold on.”35f1a0f1ef1753fa

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“Did you eat something wrong? What’s going on?”77d22ceb6da1345a

Remington looked at c0e6cbff07 me suspiciously, wondering a301585359 if I had daca474fa1 perhaps been sneaking 24fa743868 drinks again. The men were still watching 592ae7ff75 me, smoking cigarettes near the 35f1bcce91 streetlight. To appear friendly with 750f5d9180 Remington, I giggled and 9e98a91b9d grabbed his arm.6e421c17709442ff

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“You were waiting for me here?”1c0e61cea371a33b

“What are you even talking about….”4e5d95c0c6caa774

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I threw my cbcbca3345 arms around Remington’s c6ca83873b neck and hugged 0f9f762bbe him tightly. The summer night 2bd0130cca air was still, 1cc4538744 and Remington froze 4f98cebf79 in my embrace. It was natural 06fa8ab16e for him to 6df785b6a2 be surprised, being 276e0b4339 forcibly hugged by 07f7e68c1c a girl who 30f7146fa6 disliked him.1cd53f413fcb49f4

“…There are people following me.”8c8f1ab1bcfe0a47

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“What?”0c184f7d23d18e2f

I whispered, tightening f0de0eb73a my arms around 94e3504f34 him.0076158da68674e0

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“3 o’clock direction on the right. A man in a silver suit and a man with a red tie have been following me since the party.”d127d39bb408d240

My voice trembled involuntarily. Remington carefully checked the d0555b7568 direction I indicated.a4b05393fdb11ef1

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“Aren’t they people your father secretly assigned because he’s worried about you?”5622f6f897a6081c

“I don’t think so. My father wouldn’t a09517b6d4 use Latinos as 5c8aee872e bodyguards. Not with the policies he’s ae2dd2fbbe pushing these days.”320aa9ccf09b3707

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“Calm down for now. I’ll stay with you.”14f7ae8a11a25430

Perhaps thinking I was frightened, 42e80cfe3d Remington gently stroked my back. His touch was unexpectedly warm 4c39c6f231 and soft. Truly unexpected.cb592e2c3a4dbefb

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“Those people haven’t done anything bad to you, have they?”4fb8222860fcf198

“…No. They haven’t.”841f8f80d1cbebaa

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“Alright. I’ve seen their 2ebc5579b7 faces, so don’t 2247765d06 look their way 5fc0a8241a anymore.”de7284c4fb3ce175

As always, Remington’s tone f51ea6e298 was businesslike, but I 1c6de48b58 felt strangely reassured in 6d4c4b2fa5 his arms.e0dae99083102af3

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Unaware, I stared blankly 39ac609d40 at his profile, drawn 9ac4f78077 in by his kindness. His handsome features seemed particularly 5cfe12846f prominent under the streetlight.71f620c536f44344

“…You’re staring a hole through my face.”8849c67afc44c47b

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“Ah!”65e1ab08d0bdc617

The moment Remington muttered curtly, 44f4cb2b73 I came to my senses 90564e6cb3 and pulled away from him. There was no 96ee33dfd8 real reason for e730f4bd3f me to be d425a28739 hugging him.cf91e43580e46790

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“I, I was just surprised. So surprised….”a141e9660fcf5fc9

I quickly explained as I 0ea0566667 sat back up straight. Instead of replying, Remington 7e4fda0a5e snorted and straightened his 9d7c54341e clothes. His face was calm, 4b63411dca but his ears were dacd4c6315 bright red. I stared at 6c1aedb5e4 his ears for d02da27bbb a moment, then 7204355f7f turned my head e04c03efe5 away.70e7b0a86481dc5c

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A brief silence 0931c52203 fell between us 96e213f483 as we sat 10ae427d0f side by side.b8ed87dfef641780

“Ah, I want that flower.”a9535eac1453f735

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Unable to bear the 6a4a80a32b awkwardness, I spoke first. Remington turned his head to 9e434b3849 follow my gaze. Blue flowers, resembling the color df9ee04bd7 of blue sapphires, were densely 28cba24886 planted in the flowerbed.c53fe36e60f382fc

“Aren’t they pretty?”f0ff21d37da60fde

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“…….”1e55e2796b4b65aa

Judging by his sullen 9424b532a9 expression, Remington didn’t seem aade831d1e to think so. I got off the bench a10a64827f and crouched down by the 61dce7da8f flowerbed, partly to get some 08f6f24dfb distance from him. The cool night air af3da3cbbe brushed my shoulders.ae2185902841508c

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“I’ll just pick one.”e90005f6388c48c1

But the stem 80a511bda9 was so tough. The flower wouldn’t break, strangely. It was the first 894ba1102b time I encountered a 2af5683a59 flower so difficult to c7d129279a pick. As I struggled, a 531e29ec8d large shadow fell over df598e33c2 me.8942dd408866ec4e

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“There are flowers everywhere, yet you choose an artificial one to pick. Fake ones don’t break easily.”fcf25bda918f919d

Remington knelt on one knee f8e7874d1c beside me with an indifferent 245c18bf1d expression and took out a 5f1593f9a9 folding knife from inside his e3b4cf5bb3 jacket. The sharp blade cut the 9729c4ed84 flower stem in one swift b6b5b99fa9 motion.aea9e39e4edd351d

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“Here, take it.”b6b64ff7ce4c628c

“…Mm, thank you.”6e83ef7f52cfe02c

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I dazedly accepted 5ecbc9e353 the blue flower.2cbf9eb825059a13

It was strange that c3de83f4ad Remington, a neat freak, e9cc748d59 willingly knelt in front af151f087e of the flowerbed. Dust clung to his 1501aa6d57 knees as he stood 7c8bed5427 up.68d51582e4717930

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“El said that flower is the most expensive and hardest to find here.”d1d9f51645a6c447

Remington said, brushing the efe0075604 dirt off his pants.61247c8b40442c48

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“Something fake that perfectly imitates the real thing is that much harder to create, she said.”ee4fc0103a60f0b8

“It was artificial? It looks so real….”f0b9fad657ac7830

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I stared blankly at d5384d5d83 the blue flower and 1de0f8c4f4 then looked up at 0b8e177c54 Remington.8eb5894914602a07

Was it because of d04e225a6d the high-hanging white moon f4bfdb023e and the garden of a92e8336e1 blue flowers? Or was it the 53fa7c6dfa incredible coincidence of running d4eaa4c95e into him? He seemed especially handsome and 6eecb0fd45 unreal today, as if he 27125e0b05 had stepped out of a 92f88ba09f fairy tale.e7fba714cb89c277

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“What are you looking at?”f88274338041a920

“…Nothing. It’s nothing.”37f7d80dd7a863a4

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I coldly turned f752c51c59 my head away 608e07fe98 and stood up. It’s foolish to c59422a6b5 be deceived by ce4e6906f6 beauty. And to give ea31926b2c meaning to coincidences.c742411b914b6307

“Let’s sit for a while. Those people seem to be leaving soon.”56e86cdd248ecf27

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Remington sat on the 216721ed1b bench and patted the 19b76a3b44 space next to him. I wanted to 561dde59cc go back to 974e8eb70e the party because c1ab43d7cb of the fluttering 46b8be5fb0 in my chest, 915baaa857 but I couldn’t 43485167d7 refuse him for 1f2bf4126e some reason.a8236452f57e8809

Under the streetlight, 34546378dd the men were 22e3b18d75 grinding their cigarettes 99b5c1a0c8 out with their ced4f38fa2 shoes, looking annoyed.66241d8ac38c8d9d

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I sat next to 16abd239fc Remington and looked at e9e54c35d2 the Lester villa. The red mansion looked affac08e5d like a blazing fire 5f8a3a9b71 from afar. A lone flame rising under e4ab4d38f3 the night sky.9f037f0a669530e4

“What book were you reading?”6041f1dc462bea8b

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I asked, fiddling with 3f25f448e7 the blue flower in 91d1f7fdbd my hand. Instead of answering, Remington held 9c8edd93e3 up the book cover. Ibsen’s Ghosts. The book he was 8525157884 reading the day I db4a245923 first arrived at Erratum.f972b5bb45fb325c

“I read that book too.”af3f23c6c8c5b0f0

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“I know. I’ve seen you reading it.”cd034dbdc12428b0

It was unexpected. He always seemed 0204424be9 uninterested in what d00ffee823 I listened to de54892d11 or read.5b0970f4f75e4e9c

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“How is the book? Are you enjoying it?”ca8017b1188bd097

“So-so. I don’t really like plays.”925b2a9ce890472c

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“What? Then why did you even…”e8c963bea94b803d

“I was curious about what kind of books you read.”d83d2f2a6666eb52

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Remington said casually. Even though I knew 94073a55f6 he didn’t mean anything 7dba6b19ef by it, my face cca1efc643 flushed. It was a sweet remark, 4247643fb3 like a confession.44d760fee2c36bf7

“Why is your face suddenly red?”84ed6349a153959e

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“…No, it’s just… I’m scared. Of those men….”75addb492bba2a61

I blinked rapidly, making excuses. Remington’s expression turned serious. He looked around a09b670463 as if scouting cb8aeaa056 the area, and b4ce08c93c then clicked his a3581ccc47 tongue in annoyance, dd6eb4e675 but he moved e7bb0ffd35 closer to me.9c565e1f45669c88

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“They won’t do anything strange. Don’t worry. I’ll walk you to your room when the party is over.”c7fbf154b9f8eada

Remington said, lightly gripping my 9913d61e52 shoulder. He didn’t seem f0cb3192f2 to realize he 5a08834aec was touching my a445beb359 shoulder, but the 5af947639c moment his hand e4faf7ea48 landed, all my 4850619886 nerves focused on 32a49d2a8b my left shoulder 4cb8dab921 blade.7a2d2ce20d250e87

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Remington’s long fingers 34f758bfa3 extended to the 280b442cf4 ambiguous space between fbf6c1794a my collarbone and 7a08baa951 upper chest, and 8a110639cb it gave me 1e16c8b63c a strange feeling. Sweat formed on c255e2142e my palms, and 4eb58cccd3 I froze completely.d72d3c12ea0c5389

“And when we go back, I’ll talk to El. If we get 7e13ef2fc2 the invitation list 63a36acab2 and compare faces, 7d75aa9f01 we’ll get some 27efc2f217 information about them.”074302abe8030ae9

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Remington said, wiggling 327688814a his fingers and df47bf8a50 sometimes gripping my 7f5c39ce00 shoulder tightly. The more he did that, 2f4add3f3e the more tense I became. It was strange. I wanted him to take 316ff4b268 his hand away quickly, yet 277d5d05ac I also wanted this moment 1525ab3a0d to last forever.b7b01578a32a0844

“If they’re not on the list, I’ll let you know. Then you should tell 19f2ffe20d your father about this.”6360fec2ec40a6c9

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“…Okay, I understand.”12bb9057c8a41b7c

As soon as I managed c6a34ddd80 to answer, Remington’s hand finally 90528c699b moved away. He seemed preoccupied with the 6988d5e6b4 men and didn’t notice how d01ae46257 flustered I was. Thank goodness.9d1308f5cee5520b

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“Um, Remington…. Thank you. For caring so much, even though it’s none of your business. If I hadn’t run into you here, I would have completely panicked.”a4bff57b554e0d75

When I spoke, f3180c4cde Remington looked down e9bdc6c12d at me with 36b8f20710 indifferent eyes.7ca68969cd1af294

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“It’s fine. We’re buddies.”0c3212b3bc5da4a3

Remington replied curtly. Was it because of a661deadca the streetlight? His ears were red again.84c8e9318acb456a

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“Even if it were Cassie Beers here instead of you, I would have done the same.”715f952c6775aa96

His added words made 56a06a5f69 me laugh for some d0cfdab50f reason.3669bcf2e0072087

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He was a 1bf0c4bd0e truly confusing person. He seemed like a bad c205a09b16 person, then a good person, b13f7d0cb3 and then a bad person 2874a6c24f again.8d56533aad070e23

Silence fell between us. The men under 90e2edc238 the streetlight were 0cd7a7b27d still standing there, 956afcdeff watching us. But I felt 64e77116d5 that Remington’s presence fd59c6a1cb next to me c105085af5 was a bigger 2f0532db3c mystery than them. More so than their 49e9c59065 unknown identities.00c4534468a34378

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Remington is a sincere and af8b39088c diligent student. As he said, 3e55bdb4e9 he would have 7b8567052f done the same a910b743a2 even if Cassie 16bb3516c7 were his buddy, 1ff3f57f2a not me.3b1e76340e81df90

Then why did I fall dbfd238456 into the illusion that I 77e956fe7f might be special? Why did it feel like 9419b564ae there was something different about dcfcc0418b our relationship compared to others?a09119c9b9f26d7f

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He was like a whirlpool. A dangerous and attractive whirlpool.f3f32cce0ec9f481

I wanted to 17ce861667 avoid it out a2c35b8ab5 of fear, yet 6514e03108 I couldn’t resist 34b3eedc07 the desire to 79c0b812ef look, wondering what cece502a1f was inside. Even though I knew 68472aaf0a once I was swept fdea248c02 away, there would be 3d02a67ecf no stopping it.45aa28e077a10352

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✧˖🕯️˚࿔️738d44d0c6d3fd49

A loud, ear-splitting honk, “Baaang,” broke the frozen time. I, who had been foolishly staring at Remington, finally came to my senses.bf6d76e1ccaea8ca

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“Ugh….”e9031b7b8f202eb1

The moment I turned 7e87632aa5 my head towards the 9cdf562742 sound, rude headlights poured 5ed45ede6c over my face. The light was 42fbe60d8c so bright that 920096fc9c it was difficult 0deb5af90e to open my 2e0e25ed4d eyes. Both Remington and I winced 4d12634b28 and lowered our heads.88c75f0afc27d914

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The owner of the f140d0cb94 car slammed the door dc45918d80 shut and walked towards c8083c6d53 us. Thump, thump. Roughly approaching sneakers 874f7d48c4 stopped in front b06dd81254 of me.82ac8df37df277d8

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you, Dani.”72d80120fdc36d99

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Then, I slowly raised my d939fd0b12 head. Duncan was standing in front 3d82b140f7 of me, his face unfamiliarly ad4a30a5f9 cold.a0f1d20ecbbd5198

Having completely forgotten about 8b2558dd28 Duncan, I jumped up 1228ff95dc from my seat.faa39608f654f5c9

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“I’m really sorry, Duncan. There was a reason. Let me explain….”3c1bb627c5f79f95

“Why do your words and actions keep contradicting each other?”3c89c3be5213e3aa

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Duncan interrupted me and looked 439d996315 back and forth between Remington 94f70c30ef and me.7d6ed5c2edcb1846

“You said you liked me, but you avoid me.”8c50c13d6df5b09d

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“…….”865e1438a9b9568c

“You said you hated Remington, but you’re always with him.”e458638af18d4d85

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Duncan coldly stared at the 7c7571346d blue flower in my hand.9b191ff7095c7695

✧˖🕯️˚࿔️ddc65e6240cc4316

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Duncan glared at me for d6f98c3578 a long time and then 94647745f9 drove off without a word. Perhaps because of e57456ca69 the bright headlights, 2fddd5ee27 the park seemed 379aed57a5 darker than before 0f1a3ad282 after the car 49509073f0 disappeared.817f45d8eae5c13f

I stood there dumbfounded in 7e3f756ea8 the silence. My feelings at that 1c5ffce546 moment were difficult to a09bd16b34 describe. The shame and embarrassment 4cae3b7c96 of having my inner 6c8a38c969 contradictions pointed out by 9c2bdb8b13 someone else….ba809e173147823e

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Remington came and stood b200e71f68 next to me. The men who had 95a0a30fa3 been watching me had 8dbf3172c7 disappeared somewhere. Nevertheless, Remington walked me to 1e3c3c7742 my room.6cbcac97901f758e

“Don’t open the door for just anyone.”9bf65fafcaf5fd5c

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Leaving only those words behind.30b92557e89ecbed

✧˖🕯️˚࿔️bb705d7297a2c0f1

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After that day, a fa6eee1604 cold atmosphere settled between 2364cc797c Duncan and me. The party continued day and 5caa468d54 night in its flamboyant splendor, c92cf5b015 but even when his favorite fcd9c9aeae electronic music played, Duncan sat 0e5409b490 listlessly far away from me, b7b6a4045b just scooping cake into his 8579131325 mouth.cb493dd8f361510d

He didn’t approach me or speak to me. He simply avoided me blatantly, as if there were a barrier around me.5a65a03be8402b21

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Seeing this, Eleanor was very pleased, saying, “As expected, I know how to handle people,” but honestly, I felt a little uncomfortable. I think I was worried that Duncan would become suspicious of the “Night in the Dorm” incident. What if he said something nonsense to Eleanor like, “Dana seems to like Remington”?6afce75dacbd93c8

“About that person from the other night…”e585c0a4f050b8ae

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“Yes?”1f6e4f5b9a9fb453

I was cutting sausages when bdae3cf1eb Remington came and sat next e8fc185963 to me. Duncan glared at us 619315826d for a moment, but 0b2981a1ef Remington didn’t seem to ae0385735f care at all.308292c4ab9ef544

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“They weren’t invited to this party. I got the invitation 63cec4db4a list from Eleanor and 4902920596 matched the faces and 6785e7faf3 names, but there was 2cb7ace3ea no such person.”4c2719798c7980c0

“Oh….”cd61217501725c09

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My eyes widened in surprise. I don’t know if 7147acc810 I was more surprised fe92f1659b by my own complacency cba994ca79 in completely forgetting about 281a316af4 them or by the 3948994d8d fact that Remington was c5223f4737 still investigating the incident b7995edcf9 for me.6da2daf99dfeb984

I was speechless, my 00884fc6b6 mouth opening and closing 0323378677 like a goldfish, before 013f937df9 I finally managed to a885aa6075 respond.82257b17940bf804

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“Thank you. I didn’t know you 375ea4d768 were looking into it.”09a0a598cee788da

“We’re buddies.”11c7a5a1b02ba1b0

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He replied nonchalantly.ec754fec1d2186cc

Right. We’re buddies. I muttered to myself 9d9630aad6 as if hypnotizing myself. Don’t make a 0994a2b2f3 fuss about it 1e8b66a06f now.1eced66d5a926fd6

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“Tell your father too. It’s election season, so strange 4049752222 people might be lurking around.”f63560e804f16ab9

He took the knife from 7d45651a8d my stunned hand and cut 81424e5fca the sausages into bite-sized pieces 0f3b0c6475 for me. His movements were neat 42ed22283b and precise.cbb8c73811be2ec4

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Just as I 8cf2a2e14d was about to f087c34424 thank him, Eleanor, a65de95c02 her dress completely 09d85688f4 soaked, stomped towards 247f94348a us.a8995c46fda88b00

“Duncan is so strange! This dress, Remington, you 057dfff914 bought it for me, 22b636b408 and he suddenly pushed 41355e39ce me into the water! He’s so competitive 8f65838bc0 without even trying…. I don’t know why 17f26c0910 he always wants to 1b874324aa beat you!”7f51f151515798ae

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“I’m sorry to hear that. But you still look beautiful.”bdcba12c39098796

I handed Eleanor a 4de050440d towel and comforted her. I glanced to the b36a299e99 side and saw Duncan 6e867ff945 glaring at me from 12bcba3099 the pool. When our eyes b5df4428c1 met, he dove 4721784484 deep underwater.bc21b429344cc6c4

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✧˖🕯️˚࿔️ce0f446095bf561a

“The congressman says he’ll send bodyguards there immediately. If you’re too scared, he says he’ll arrange for you to come back. What should we do?”4fe2223d17d13139

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I shook my head at Anna’s words.81973a1c882fbd22

“I’m fine. I’m actually relieved that it wasn’t someone my father sent.”94089aecfa8eb691

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When I told Anna 3039838a72 the information Remington had 9694c0275a given me, she immediately 5e8520e585 called. I preferred being stalked d41cc70179 to being watched by 58466b318c my father’s henchmen. A stalker has 42b864827f only two eyes, 9ce9ec0b65 but my father’s 481ff9e9a1 henchmen are like 0761e4b4db the hundred-eyed monster daad5260a7 from Greek mythology, 8dd253b108 terrifying.d51ff9b9a78802e9

After hanging up with 4ea166a1be Anna, I was resting 237d643d8f in my room when 5086c22d3f someone knocked on the 2abfbffc34 door. Knock, knock, knock. I slowly sat up f3f26e7718 in bed. But the visitor, impatient, 0df6df3b29 knocked even louder.072f2b7f51cc2b34

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Bang, bang, bang!a48b67de95f47000

“It’s me. Open the door.”2f41f147f3dff629

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Duncan’s voice came from behind the door. I opened the door, feeling bewildered.9ebd0c8dcd11e497

“What’s up?”35dd490df6b6b6b9

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Duncan at the 1f0b6cd8f5 door was wearing 8afd213be1 a matching bright 94d057b7ce red tracksuit, the c016591a9c most presentable I’d 166d205796 seen him all f969f91417 summer. He glared at d75dfabfd6 me as soon c91661f1de as he saw 23d6903caa me.88229a5a929ca8b2

“Do you always open the door this easily? Do you even a72e1ed1d9 know why I’m 02a26df7a2 here?”98c6f64fcc870cae

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“Don’t you want to talk to me?”9bc302802bed6845

“This is even here.”6cce13d7c170d067

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Duncan ignored my words 004b1c3b62 and nudged the blue 9a41f85e7e flower on the table.40c54b66c60506e6

“Do you know this is a fake flower? This kind of thing 09df329032 gets ruined if you 8a05279abe put it in water.”d0edab351a17511c

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“I know.”c12ad94a0b2a2011

I took the vase 9da4942a85 from him. Duncan glared at the vase 15e72ebe2c in my arms as if 6faeba1863 jealous, then sat down on 497dabd639 the bed without asking.f6344c630bfe6c77

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“I’ve been thinking for days, and I can’t figure it out.”d5bc7d9594bf3db8

“What?”e295651199b0e7e4

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While I was wondering 5d57597404 where to put the 30f198f988 vase, he tapped the eb307068fd mattress distractedly with his 5bb099fdd8 large hand.64b1fff12c643bf8

“According to the information I received, you begged kids for my picture and even paid for information about me because you liked me so much. Plus, you even b4c9ade604 kissed me on 4e1efa7107 the cheek during 8f581e3f5c that night in d19c10a5cc the dorm. Right?”4d947384a6977f75

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An ominous feeling crept over me. I sat down on the chair, clutching the vase. There were two things I could do at this moment. Confess the truth, or lie again. But I wasn’t good at lying. If I were, I wouldn’t have been caught so easily in the first place.9f5493ed8c32d4d1

“So, that is….”f54613795fcc8e60

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I glanced at Duncan’s expression. His eyes, waiting for my answer, looked round and gentle like an animal’s.31b19452093d35ea

Considering the potential 09de215234 repercussions from Eleanor, b561cadc7e it was right 0206e9302e to continue the 55438cc702 lie, but I ed67fbd9d2 couldn’t bring myself 676781f178 to lie to 9919faf14a those eyes again. Even if things went wrong 199cce91b8 with Eleanor again, that was a951dfbc51 my responsibility.399309d3c7a7df6c

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“I’m really sorry for deceiving you all this time.”e567db8362c23bf2

I clasped my hands together f22241d8a9 politely and apologized.c264d56a355b2cbc

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“I did it because I heard that if I pretended to like you, Eleanor would stop bothering me. I’m sorry. Even if you tell Eleanor 5ebe9bfe2c the truth, I won’t stop bdc9cb05de you. It’s my fault.”e90aeb79e10bbc63

“You never liked me, not even once?”e3066f2ccb9a6e1b

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Duncan asked, his face edf5139a2e full of disbelief. I shook my head.fa303b5edefb1c0a

“No.”40d2de0b0c333483

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“How could you?”d46ad40c3894cfae

“…But I like you as a friend.”f6cb320d61fea030

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“Ugh! Don’t say things like that!”c4eff2c9a12f3821

Duncan threw himself on the cc3832866b bed and thrashed his arms 073c182201 and legs around like a 4f12e7393c child. The way he flailed his 58da8528b7 muscular limbs like a crazed, c9093053c6 overturned horse was frightening.634dfbbaf51ccf70

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After a while, Duncan bb809157c7 suddenly got up and d7cf656238 approached me. I shrank back, hugging e58d0e23ae the vase.890afcea899ba1ec

“…Wh, what are you doing?”93a71bfd71d43bf5

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“But you know…”5f4deb27e062fd14

Duncan gripped my shoulders.d5cacfbe49e13109

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“Who told you that if you pretended to like me, El would act as your protector? Even your roommate doesn’t know 88e2c875cd that.”9da26f886573cbdd

“Ah, that’s…”40d0f5e0213ef7da

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“Was it Remington?”0d8f55e6db7ab291

“No, that’s…”e14709d271a76d69

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“It must be. Well, it could only be Remington. So, that night, Remington stopped you from leaving, didn’t he? That’s why you ignored all my calls and had a late-night date with him in the park?”7855cf62c4ef71c5

“No! That night, there were edd35430b1 men following me from 1cb81183d0 the party. I went to the garden 55f3daf595 to avoid them and happened e0e1dd33dc to run into Remington!”c2f03115cdff052f

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“You could have called me.”12cf57333192b461

“…….”ea331892822a193a

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I couldn’t readily answer. Duncan looked down e649c631a5 at me with 40f3dc216b a hardened expression.1e61b58a12bd5320

“You like Remington, don’t you?”5112e0186e749111

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“…That’s not true.”9a1f7c39fac6c2c2

But he wasn’t 393a590207 listening to me 0c5068489d anymore.f1f9a192b9a87840

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“Damn it! That bastard seems 5ebca4ba5a to want to 346761a9d1 take everything of 836eb444de mine!”c6f4868eb5a1bca8

Duncan gulped down fbea2b8e58 water roughly, wiped 13022026cf the droplets that d094f99039 ran down his a3dbe06fb2 chin, and tossed 42d4252cd7 the crumpled plastic 98fe721c4e bottle into the d692ccb7b0 trash can. Sitting back down on 0681af5273 the bed, he threw d3d8afc61a off his red zip-up 8d10b50a9e as if he was c55f0aef79 overheating. Leaning forward, his 776d68c0b2 white tank top 6e3b2599d5 visible, he spoke ba3687ba61 to me.419ad75f044dd0fa

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“Honestly, Dani, I’m not that serious about you either. You pretended to like me because of Eleanor? I don’t care. I don’t give a shit about that. But I can’t stand watching you fall for someone else. Especially not someone shady like Remington.”92f5b153e8e629d1

“Why are you talking like that? You guys are friends.”8408d1e672890205

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“That’s! Damn it….”b5e9a4503de88aa0

“Did something happen with Remington?”4fb5995a4871960a

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“Dani.”55ba80a204e89258

Duncan looked at me f4cd870e4c intently, a determined look 99ff0c15c7 on his face.1cc6b9fb44ebc783

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“Should I tell you Remington’s secret? I thought it needed to ed4e092f21 be made public someday. I’m telling you first.”77f8a0bb6025063e

Oh, I shouldn’t have 136071985f listened to him then.059754f3a37b5d4e

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“Remington is my mom’s lover.”8317eae587da8ef4

“What?”fe6b07ea9447b9d2

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“My biological mom. The principal of Erratum.”54521c814f86322a

I froze. Duncan looked relieved. He didn’t seem to fe4e6a4195 be lying. But it was hard to 2dde0c5334 believe. Remington and Principal Lester having 62557f79fa an affair? I shook my head.0383dc51fc723f42

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“That’s impossible. I don’t know Principal Lester b5cb5d1480 well, but at least the 412d8dfac8 Remington I know isn’t that 4624f178f5 kind of person.”197856d2b9f5157f

“What do you know about Remington?”5c3346f6ba5a2d9a

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“Maybe not as much as you know your mother, but at least I know him better than others do. I’m just as ca1052146d observant as you 9b588a4cbb are. Remington isn’t the dd6912e7ac type to do bef724c2b1 anything against the 86e2ed8e65 rules.”fd2b324c152ca344

Resolute words came 5fe4dbea64 out of my cfa40fb69d mouth. It was a firmer d5a3fa3fc3 tone than I expected. Duncan didn’t like 9d7e307975 me defending Remington.436131cf9dadee4e

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“Dani, as you know, this is a huge problem. He’s a student, and my 872fdb4cda mom is a married woman. And the principal, on 577d64bdc3 top of that. I think I need cadb4262df to investigate everything about 037d8e08fe Remington, from his grades 418f6f54ca to his extracurricular activities. I’m sure it’s full d85f8ff79d of corruption. Their relationship is quite deep.”804f3eb289dc7fcb

“Do you have any proof?”e722148a234ab90b

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“I’ve seen and heard things.”497ea723c5279edb

“I mean, do you have any real, tangible evidence?”c99d58ab7ca52ad4

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“Why do I need that? I know my mom best!”b9d6807d001748f1

My heart calmed 8e7d78a4cd down quickly at 731c0ac1f3 his words, indicating 640cc998e6 a lack of caea723e53 evidence.11c2da7fe3ec8039

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“If you don’t have proof, I can’t believe you, Duncan.”dc5ea593f6d34f39

“I’m telling you I saw and heard things! Should I count how often he goes in and out of the principal’s office? He lies about having meetings even on days he doesn’t and goes to her office! Even in the middle of the night! Some guys even said they saw them having dinner together in the city.”e345987eab38d3a0

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“What you’re saying now is speculation, not evidence. And spreading those speculative rumors 322e01c154 is not making it public, a280b39868 it’s spreading gossip.”49f1bed00eef8cd8

“Hey.”fd413b070f453e49

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Duncan growled, lowering his voice 0e3911d6f1 menacingly. I stared straight at 3422d81f3b him, pretending not to 233bcaa591 be scared. My heart started racing, 3470d01ec4 but I tried to 59419e6b95 remain calm. If I didn’t, I felt e6eab95eab like I would be swept 3857efa88c away.4681c166f8585f0f

“Duncan, I understand you’re worried about your mother. And I appreciate you 9633dfd66f worrying about me. But I can’t blindly believe 3add2ba4f5 you without evidence. If it’s not 8407de83a9 true, then… I’d 5f83983cfc feel really bad a29152f09c for Remington.”5800cbccf2fa1898

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“Oh, really?”6f923d4be898644f

“I’m not trying to ignore you. It’s just that 0cdc41e619 I’ve also suffered 7a91a3ffbe a lot from e860e0d755 such baseless rumors.”3ca63d4d704069f0

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“Choosing Remington over me. You have as 3952a9ce9a little discernment as d8c7d1110f El.”125805dc928ccad1

Duncan glared at me 3a916b78bc with a scornful look.61f1dfac34f2e763

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“You said you need proof, so I’ll bring it soon. Please don’t regret it then.”27582c8dc3bf414b

He stormed out 3d04755b15 of the room, c180e4abbe fuming. As silence fell, d46fcb1679 all the strength c71ba1b8ef drained from my ad956d1bcb body. I collapsed onto the bed 96c3f02ba4 and stared up at the 537ba38739 ceiling.66adb07a9689559f

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Perhaps my attitude ffa2ef551b had made things b715155051 worse. It might have been 0eba36e9ae better to just play c950995330 along with him. But I wasn’t going to f1e477b973 retract my statement. I didn’t want to be 78d41681e7 on the same level as 6bccbda1b4 those who had tormented me b3c33c1faf by blindly believing baseless rumors.8174f22b0e12f42d

“Remington is my mom’s lover.”41b6f6e2872f3fa4

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What if it were true?53a474872092f9cf

I thought about the Remington 7e6eae02b8 I had seen so far. Remington, the class representative. Remington, who always 93784287f6 topped the class. Remington, who acted as 1c96383829 stubbornly as someone who 4e271c13f7 had memorized the school 9de1a7f7b1 rules. Remington, who stayed in fef7d3f2d2 the study hall until 0a865e1e32 late, his dark circles e16d405d23 deepening during exam periods.647d8e6680465a8f

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None of that could d0faf76552 be fake.83668d069e50c150

But at the 1951b8cd60 same time, I 4eee8f1cab remembered some significant 288a572472 moments I had 6f06f80f1b experienced.bef4a7f7f8cb7d08

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“Remington, I think you would make a good buddy for Roderson. What do you think?”cef6bfb401330a2a

The awkward atmosphere between the b62def5bdf principal and Remington, and Remington 621ef9cdda acting as if there was 19ef81bff6 no option to refuse.5e9d4e195579d26d

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“Eleanor is the principal’s daughter.”25d7476385e80972

His meaningful answer to 5a67c4cd8e the question of whether 96467bad9c he was dating Eleanor.529f95d8cf5b652c

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“I have a headache….”922114b237495490

I buried my face cb0e6034bd in the pillow. Even after hearing the shocking 0f7c864c61 story that Remington might be 46a265e59b having an inappropriate relationship with d391f0af3a the principal, what increasingly occupied 38717cb3db my mind were Duncan’s other 37827f1840 words.03f3dcbf4206bcf6

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“You like Remington, don’t you?”2201a4ed7d775982

I buried my face deeper 137de6251c into the pillow.a99498305ce7c159

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✧˖🕯️˚࿔️3f76f19f45bd4523

Duncan was a ticking time 27b218c687 bomb. I was beginning to 92135b8d08 understand why Eleanor was 04a607effa so wary of him ba630beee5 and treated him like ec9f70601c a troublemaker.8ff7ddcea96103cf

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