Hunter paced restlessly in his room. It's been so long since Eric left to meet Hera, but he didn't want to interfere with their conversation whatever the context of their talk was. So, no matter how impatient he felt, he waited.
Meanwhile, Danny and Michael exchanged looks as they watched him. Michael was glaring at Danny, a silent show of disagreement. They were hiding something from Hunter because Danny didn't want him to know. "It's not our place to tell him," he had said to convince Michael. Though Michael was against it, Danny suggested it's for the best, and reluctantly he agreed. But now Michael was having a hard time keeping it from Hunter. It's against their rule.
Hunter pulled the chair to his desk and sat with one ankle on the other knee. Grabbing his cell phone, he finally shot a message to Eric.
.
"Are you done yet?"
To his relief, Eric replied immediately.
"Done."
Sheathing himself in his black leather jacket, Hunter pocketed his phone. After putting on his sneakers, he covered his hands in black knitted woollen gloves. "I'm out to meet Hera," Hunter yelled over his shoulder before pulling the door shut on his way out. Judging by his appearance, Michael and Danny guessed he wouldn't be back soon.
As soon as Hunter reached the library, his eyes found his Hera and his best friend within no time. But instead of going in to join them, he stood at the entrance silently watching them. Hands in the pockets of his shorts, legs crossed at ankles, shoulder leaning against the opened door, he smiled as he saw Eric bopping the tip of Hera's nose gently with the pencil.
Hera opened her eyes with a jolt and shook her head, trying to keep the sleep away. Eric scowled at her, clearly annoyed.
Hunter's shoulders shook with silent laughter as Hera scowled back at his best friend while rubbing the tip of her nose. "Maths makes me sleepy, it's hardly my fault," Hera said in her defence. Eric glared, pulling at her hair and Hera slapped his hands away. "Pixie, it's not even thirty minutes since we started," he said and sighed irked. Hera giggled, tickling his sides and the laughter immediately replaced the scowl on his face.
Hunter was glad to see her smiling. Whatever conversation Eric had earlier with her, it worked. Hera no longer looked hurt or upset, all thanks to Eric. Hunter knew she lied to him about crying over her poor performance in the test.
It hurt that she lied to him, but Hunter respected her choice and gave her the space she needed. Her red-rimmed swollen eyes worried him to his limits, and he knew there had to be a solid reason behind it. Hunter couldn't wait to discover who made her cry. The way she winced when he caught her wrist confirmed it, whoever hurt her wasn't a girl, and the possibility of a boy hurting her scared him more. He was desperate to smash their face, to transform it into a ball of meat.
When Eric offered to walk her to her room, it was a silent understanding between two best friends and Hunter knew Eric would manage to convince her to open up to him.
Hera's eyes accidentally found Hunter and widened in surprise. Hera smiled, pleased to see him. Hunter returned her smile but didn't budge from his place. He kept staring at her.
"So, here's your answer, the smallest value of X, when X is a real number, is 2.25," Eric said. He was teaching her 'Linear Inequations' from Algebra, but Hera wasn't paying attention. She was too busy trying hard not to blush under Hunter's intense stare. Eric slammed his fist on the desk, and Hera jumped, tearing her eyes off Hunter. "You're not concentrating," he said, and leaned back, throwing the pencil on her lap. He looked pissed, and Hera smiled sheepishly.
"He's making me nervous with that stare. How can I concentrate when he's looking at me like he wants to eat me?" Hera whispered, gesturing him to look at the doorway. Eric raised a brow and shook his head, grimacing at his friend. He sure was looking like he wants to eat her.
"You're interrupting our study session," Eric said, mocking anger. Hunter picked up two small paper bags from the floor and walked inside, giving one to Eric. He opened it to reveal the 'London Dairy Tiramisu' ice cream jar. "You're no longer considered an intruder," Eric said, grinning. Hera immediately leapt to her feet to grab the other paper bag from Hunter's hand, but he held it high over his head.
Hera pouted, scowling at him, but Hunter ignored her. "I can teach her the rest. You can leave if you want, Eric. I can see how annoyed you seem and she's not paying attention anyway," Hunter said to Eric.
Eric clutched his chest with both of his palms as if he's in pain. "Ah, you're such an angel, dear friend. I don't know how to thank you. You're a life saviour," he said, pulling Hunter into his chest in a dramatic embrace. "She is killing me," he accused in mock horror. Hunter laughed while Hera slapped Eric's back, offended by his words.
Eric decided to leave them alone and pulled Hera into a hug. Standing on her toes, Hera kissed him on the cheek, a gesture to show her gratitude for all the help, concern and comfort he offered. Kissing the crown of her head, Eric pulled away from the hug. Hunter had his eyes fixed on the smiling blue-eyed boy.
As soon as their eyes met, Eric read the unasked question and inclined his head once, a barely-there movement as his answer. Hunter stiffened because his best friend just confirmed his suspicions right. Gritting his teeth, he exhaled as his nostrils flared in anger. Eric shook his head in warning, signalling him to control himself. Meanwhile, Hera eyed the paper bag, ignorant to their silent communication.
"Be good, and don't do anything you're not allowed to," Eric said to Hera before playfully pulling her hair. Masking his anger, Hunter smiled at Hera when Eric left them alone.
Someone behind them demanded attention by clearing their throat, and they turned around to face Mr Jacob Rogers, in charge of the Dormitory. He didn't look pleased to find them together at this hour though, disapproval clearly written all over his face. Before he could ask what they were doing, Hunter offered his answer ready.
"I'm tutoring her," Hunter said. "At this hour, my boy?" Jacob asked him, unimpressed. Meanwhile, Hera hid behind Hunter, afraid of the interrogation. "I had to make preparations for my tests as well. I didn't have the time, Jacob," Hunter answered shrugging.
'Oh, why am I surprised? Of course, he'll be on a first-name basis with everyone. Did you forget, Hera, he's everybody's favourite?'
Jacob sighed as if he's helpless when Hunter smiled innocently, silently asking for his permission to stay longer.
"Don't linger for too long," with that said the man left.
Hera gasped, and her eyes went wide in surprise when Hunter locked the door to the library from inside as soon as Jacob left. "What are you doing?" She yelled at him in whispers. "Grab your books," he said, and Hera packed her bag. He took out a flashlight from his jacket, and Hera's jaw dropped, wondering what he's planning to do. After switching it on, he asked Hera to hold it.
Hera watched in bewilderment while Hunter switched off all the lights in the library. He grabbed the paper bag containing the ice cream jar and exchanged it with the flashlight in her hand. Hera held her breath in surprise when his hand reached out, interlacing fingers with hers. She bit her lip to hide her smile and followed him as he led the way.
He brought her to the middle of the library, surrounded by rows of bookcases all around them. Keeping the flashlight in the middle in a standing position, he let the light rays illuminate the ceiling. Choosing a comfortable place for them to sit on the floor, he unzipped the zipper of his jacket. Hera stood in front of him, silently watching until Hunter gestured her to sit between his legs. He held his jacket wide open for her to fit in.
As soon as Hera made herself comfortable, leaning her back against his chest, Hunter wrapped the jacket around her. Hera felt warm and safe. When he opened the ice cream jar, Hera giggled and ate it, humming her approval with every bite. Hunter removed his gloves and wrapped his arms around her middle. No one spoke, and Hera welcomed the feeling of protection his arms brought. All her fears and worries automatically vanished from her thoughts.
When Hunter moved her hair to one side of her shoulder, his fingertips brushed over the exposed skin of her neck. Hera forgot to swallow the ice cream numbing her tongue when she felt his warm lips touching her cheek, the tip of his nose cold against her skin as he breathed her scent in.
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