Chapter 53 - Rabies Shot
His tone was light. The faint fresh laundry scent on him drifted into Luna's breathing like an elusive breeze.
From Luna's angle, she could see the boy's lashes trembling nonstop. He pressed his lips together, his upper lip slightly full, looking like he'd suffered the greatest injustice in the world.
Luna stumbled over her words. "Does it really hurt that much?"
Jax lifted his eyes to her, then quickly dropped them again. "Mm."
"..."
Luna rarely comforted people. She was better at sarcasm.
She went quiet for a moment, racking her brain for how to console him.
Jax said in a low voice, "Am I really that awful?"
"Huh..."
Luna's face went blank. "W-why would you suddenly ask that?"
"I just feel like a lot of people hate me. Hayes didn't bump into anyone else, only me..." He paused. "Even you used to hate me."
Luna: "......"
If anyone else had said this to Luna, she'd have rolled her eyes and called them a fake innocent girl on the spot.
But...
This guy was genuinely sincere. And she really had given him a hard time plenty of times before.
A delayed guilt welled up.
"It's not your problem." Luna looked into his eyes, utterly sincere. "I was out of my mind back then, that's why I hated you. As for Hayes, he's just a bad person."
Jax's dark eyes fixed on her without blinking. "Really?"
Luna nodded. "Really."
Jax asked again, "So will you hate me in the future?"
"If you don't provoke me, then no." Luna said.
The boy paused. "I won't provoke you."
Luna's sharp eyes caught Hayes finishing a lap.
She called out to him. "Hayes!"
Hayes's movement halted. His breathing was a bit ragged. He glanced at her, then quickly at Jax. He stopped and walked toward them.
"What is it?"
His voice was cold, like he was doing them a favor by gracing them with his presence.
The three of them standing together was quite a sight, almost theatrical. People around them stole glances openly and covertly.
"Rory! Look, quick."
At the high jump area nearby, Lia grabbed Rory's hand tightly, gesturing toward the track.
Rory looked over blankly. When she saw, she bit her lip.
Why? Why were both of them going to Luna?
A wave of loss washed over her.
She pulled her gaze back, lowered her lashes, and tugged her friend's hand. "Lia, let's go back to the classroom."
"Don't." Lia said. "I'm dying to know what those three are talking about. Let's go listen."
"I don't want to." Rory said stubbornly.
She said she didn't want to, but in the end she let Lia drag her toward them.
-
"Hayes." Luna crossed her arms. "Did you just bump into him on purpose?"
Hayes froze. He doubted his own ears. He stared at Luna in disbelief. "What did you say?"
"I asked if you bumped into Jax on purpose." Luna said.
Hayes's eyes widened slightly. He stared at Luna for a moment, then his thin lips curved into a mocking smile. "I bumped into him on purpose?"
"A guy so poor he needs a part-time job doesn't even qualify for me to go out of my way to mess with him."
The words were calm, cold, carrying the innate cruelty and contempt of old money.
They landed squarely in Rory's ears.
Her heart went hollow. She was dazed, and her hand, still linked with Lia's, loosened without her realizing.
Luna was facing Rory directly, taking in her pale face. In that instant, she didn't dare look at Jax's expression.
She just stared at Hayes in disbelief, never imagining he could come up with a line like that. "Why don't you change your name to Plastic Bag."
Hayes pressed his lips together. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Luna said, "You're so fake."
Hayes: "......"
"The track is huge. You managed to hit Jax with pinpoint accuracy. If it wasn't on purpose, then you must have a secret crush on him."
With one sentence, Luna successfully drove everyone present insane.
Jax looked over in shock.
Rory forgot to even wipe the tears at the corners of her eyes. She stared blankly.
Hayes's brow furrowed deeply. "Luna, what is wrong with you?"
"You're the one with the problem." Luna said. "Bumping into someone on purpose to get attention. That kind of cliché trick, even a three-year-old wouldn't use it."
"You..." Hayes took a deep breath. He stared at Luna, feeling like she'd taken crazy pills.
He was used to seeing Luna's smiling face. Used to her always fussing over him, caring about him, paying attention to him.
Luna knew what he was thinking.
She said bluntly, "Whether you did it on purpose, you know in your heart. I don't want to keep arguing with you. I'll say one thing. Don't bully him anymore. He's mine."
Hayes's face went dark as he looked at Luna. He said in a low voice, "Do you know what you're saying right now?"
"Yeah." Luna said casually. "If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."
She looked at Jax. The boy caught her gaze and looked over. His eyes were a bit wet, like the puppy Luna had raised as a child. Dark and pure.
She licked her lips. "Does your arm still hurt?"
Jax: "A little better."
Luna grabbed his other arm. "Come on. I'm taking you to get a rabies shot."
"...Mm."
Jax was very obedient, following her along like a good boy.
Hayes belatedly realized he'd just been insulted. He clenched his fist and snapped, "Luna!"
The girl didn't even turn her head. She lazily raised a hand and flipped him off.
Maximum mockery.
Hayes: "......"
Lia's eyes went wide. She whispered to Rory, "Has Luna lost her mind?"
Rory said nothing.
Her mind was full of Hayes's words from just now.
A guy so poor he needs a part-time job doesn't even qualify for me to go out of my way to mess with him.
"Hayes."
Rory took a deep breath, summoned her courage, and called out to the person about to leave.
Hayes heard her voice, paused, and turned back. He was a bit surprised to see Rory.
"Why are you here?"
Rory looked at him, hurt. "Have you never once thought highly of me?"
Hayes's brow furrowed. "What nonsense is this?"
Rory bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes.
She stubbornly lifted her small face and said in disappointment, "Hayes, I thought you were different from those rich people who look down on everyone. Turns out I was wrong."
"Rory." Lia tugged carefully at her clothes.
She didn't understand why her friend had suddenly gone crazy.
Could they afford to offend Hayes?