Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 169305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 847(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 169305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 847(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
But I considered my sword an extension of my arm, and its point caressed the tip of his forehead, right where his widow’s peak led to a perfect lock of coal hair draping over his right eye.
He stayed perfectly still as I brushed it aside with my épée. “Interesting.”
“How so?”
“You’re an octopus, not a bull.”
My heart stopped in my chest.
I’d done it now.
I’d revealed myself to him.
With my stupid mouth and smartass attitude.
You wanted this, I reminded myself.
Somehow, it felt more like an accident than a goal.
I said nothing, fortunate enough to remember to breathe.
“Did you know…” His husky tenor pierced all the protective layers of my uniform, gliding down my skin like black velvet. “…Aristotle thought octopuses were dumb? Do you take it as a personal offense?”
Silence.
I’d frozen in place, replaying the past two periods, wondering what had given my identity away.
Zachary Sun being Zachary Sun, he didn’t let me bask in the unknown for long.
“Even behind a mask, your poker face is as mediocre as your Go skills.” His gaze tangled with mine so easily, I almost forgot that I still wore a mask. “You looked like you were sitting on a carpet of needles. Out of place and out of sorts. Quite different from my usual teacher.”
I peeled my mask back, staring down at him with a sneer.
Unruly blonde locks cascaded past my waist, bracketing my entire body. Sweat glistened on my skin.
Our eyes locked. I couldn’t stare this man down without my body humming the angry beat of a heavy metal song.
Being in constant forced proximity to him would be a problem. My body ran too hot near this man.
“So, this is how you found out about the soirée.” He tipped his head back, allowing my blade to run over the curve of his forehead and nose with the faintest touch. Adrenaline stormed through my veins. He was playing with fire. “I mentioned it in passing to you during one of our sessions.”
I didn’t respond.
Per usual, he already had it all figured out.
He assessed me with critical eyes. “You really aren’t one of them, are you?”
“One of whom?”
“Them. People. Average. Simple. Dumb.”
I said nothing.
“My, my. I’m going to have so much fun with you.” A slow smile spread across his lips. So faint. He was incredibly stingy with his happiness. “My own shiny toy. To enjoy. To abuse. To break.”
The gravity of my mistake rolled through me.
I’d miscalculated.
Made a wrong turn somewhere.
I shouldn’t have agreed to work for him. To put myself in his vicinity on purpose.
To my horror, I did the very thing I’d once accused him of doing. I abandoned a game. Retreated to the lockers to lick my wounds and regroup.
His dark chuckle followed me as I vanished, slinking into the shadows of the hallway, leaving him on the piste to soak in his victory.
Zachary Sun didn’t bother to get up.
He knew he was already at the top.
Ollie vB:
Saw Zach’s parents bride shopping for him after brunch today.
Zach Sun:
For the last time, my aunt is not my parent.
Ollie vB:
She raised you, you are eternally embarrassed of her, and she says the cringiest shit.
For all intents and purposes, this woman is your parent.
Romeo Costa:
I cannot believe I’m saying this, but I agree with Oliver.
Romeo Costa:
Anyone who fucks you up to this extent is a parent.
Romeo Costa:
Now define bride shopping.
Ollie vB:
Glad you asked.
Ollie vB:
They literally approached innocent women, asking them for their birthdates and list of hereditary illnesses.
Ollie vB:
Your Ayi even pointed to one and said aloud, “This one’s too small to carry Sun-sized babies.”
Zach Sun:
[Retreating into a Bush GIF]
Romeo Costa:
ON THE STREET?
Ollie vB:
No, you uncultured swine.
In Hermès.
Romeo Costa:
And they say love doesn’t have a price.
Ollie vB:
Whatever the price may be, Zach would say it’s inflated and refuse to pay.
Zach Sun:
This is embarrassing.
Romeo Costa:
Not as embarrassing as having your dick pic enlarged in a court of law as part of a bitter custody trial between your former lover and the vice president.
Ollie vB:
I wouldn’t go as far as calling that an embarrassment.
Ollie vB:
Perhaps a mild inconvenience?
Romeo Costa:
Jesus, Ollie.
Romeo Costa:
People made shirts with the imprint of your cock on them and the slogan HE HAS MY VOTE.
Ollie vB:
I found it rather flattering.
Ollie vB:
And I’ll have you know my dick pic was the least offensive thing to cum out of politics in the last decade.
Ollie vB:
The only downside about it is—now people want to take a picture with it because it’s famous.
Romeo Costa:
How is that a downside?
Romeo Costa:
You’ve made enough sex tapes to open your own Pornhub.
Ollie vB:
It’s not hookups asking for pictures. Just randos on the street.
Ollie vB:
And apparently, graciously obliging them is considered ‘indecent exposure.’
Zach Sun:
That explains it.
Ollie vB:
Explains what?
Zach Sun:
“No one gives a hummer like a gummer.”
Ollie vB:
Ah. Boomers. The last great generation. Horny, experienced, and incapable of working an iPhone camera.
Ollie vB:
Anyway, back to Zach’s misery.