Chapter 90: Don’t Trust Mr. Aditya

"Stretching your legs after exercising helps improve blood circulation, especially in the calves, and can reduce soreness,” Kevan said with a gentle smile. “So it won’t hurt too much later, dear.”

I only murmured softly in acknowledgment while nodding my head. My eyes closed for a moment, enjoying the breeze brushing against my face, which still felt warm after running.

Not long after, Mr. Aditya and Mrs. Viona ran over to us.

Mr. Aditya looked worried, even a little panicked. “What’s wrong with Frel, Kevan? Is she injured?”

“It’s nothing, Sir. I’m just tired,” I replied while intending to lower my legs.

I felt a little uncomfortable being the center of attention in the middle of this park.

However, swiftly, Mr. Aditya stopped me and placed my legs back on the bench. “Stay there. Don’t move yet,” he ordered firmly, though his tone began to soften.

“Don’t lower them yet, Frel. It seems you were very enthusiastic about exercising, to the point that even the second lap still wasn’t finished,” Mr. Aditya said again. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, then glanced at his wristwatch with a playful look.

I pursed my lips and snorted softly. “It sounds like you’re mocking me. Just wait until I grow taller, my steps will definitely be wider. When that time comes, I’m sure I can beat you. Right?” I said while turning toward Mrs. Viona and Kevan, looking for support.

Mr. Aditya and Mrs. Viona immediately laughed together, while Kevan smiled faintly at me. His eyes shone with restrained amusement.

“Alright, I’ll wait,” Mr. Aditya said with a chuckle. He looked me up and down, as if measuring my potential. “If I may ask, I hope your height can increase another ten to twenty centimeters later so our bet will be fairer.”

This time, it wasn’t only Mr. Aditya and Mrs. Viona who laughed, Kevan laughed freely as well.

“Why are you all laughing at me instead? I’m serious,” I protested with my eyes wide.

I felt my cheeks heat up, not because of the exercise, but because of embarrassment.

I vented my annoyance by pounding the back of the bench with my clenched fists. “You’re all so mean! Just wait and see!”

“That’s enough. Stop teasing Frel constantly,” Mrs. Viona interjected, mediating as she patted her husband’s arm. Instantly, their laughter subsided, though traces of smiles still lingered. “Kevan, hurry and cheer up your girlfriend. Mother wants to buy drinks first. It seems all our throats are dry from laughing too much.”

“Yes, Mom,” Kevan replied obediently.

Kevan stepped closer, smiling warmly as he fondly ruffled my hair. He then took my hand, gently rubbing the fist I had just slammed against the back of the bench—making sure there were no scrapes there—then kissed it repeatedly with affection.

“That’s enough, don’t sulk anymore. We were just joking earlier,” he coaxed.

His voice was low and soothing, the kind of voice that always managed to melt my defenses.

“It seems like you all really enjoyed teasing me,” I replied while turning my face away, pretending to be angry.

I stared straight at the large banyan tree across from us.

“Oh, so my girlfriend is really sulking now?” he said with a small laugh.

“No, who said that?” I snapped, even though I knew my voice sounded far from convincing.

“Really?”

I fell silent, trying to force my mind to ignore every word that came out of Kevan’s lips. Just this once, I wanted to test how long I could last without acknowledging his presence.

“Why are you staying quiet? Look at me,” Kevan asked gently.

He touched my chin, trying to guide my face back toward him.

I turned my body to face him with as blank an expression as possible, gently brushing his hand away. “I’m already looking at you. Now what?”

“There it is, you’re still pouting,” he said with a smile. “If that’s not sulking, then what do you call it?”

Actually, I really wanted to give in, smile, and hug Kevan right then and there. The scent of his perfume mixed with a fresh masculine aroma truly disrupted my concentration on staying mad. But I held back that urge. Instead, I chose to continue my act by folding my arms across my chest and turning my face away again.

From a distance, Mr. Aditya seemed to chuckle at my behavior. He was accompanying his wife toward the drinks cart, yet his eyes were still directed at us.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mr. Aditya approach Kevan and whisper something into his ear. My feelings suddenly became uneasy when Kevan nodded while holding back laughter, covering his lips with his clenched hand.

My body tensed. I felt that I needed to be more alert. My instinct told me that a storm was coming.

Lately, Mr. Aditya really has enjoyed messing with me. There was a time when he hid my bag and shoes in the kitchen drawer just because I insisted on going home when heavy rain poured in the afternoon. He also once complained to his wife that I had finished the chocolate cake in the fridge, even though I hadn’t touched it at all.

And now, I was sure there was another plan they were putting together. Even so, I still believed that the main mastermind was Mr. Aditya, the ultimate provocateur.

My suspicion proved correct. A few minutes later, the two of them suddenly approached me and started tickling my sides and stomach. I immediately burst into laughter because I couldn’t hold back the overwhelming ticklish sensation.

I screamed for them to stop, writhing back and forth on the park bench, but neither of them paid any attention and kept tickling me as if I were a toy doll.

“Oh my God, that tickles! Kevan! Mr. Aditya! Please stop!” I cried out between bouts of laughter that made my stomach stiff.

“We won’t, not until you promise you won’t sulk anymore,” Kevan replied while continuing to laugh.

“Say mercy first, Frel!” Mr. Aditya chimed in enthusiastically.

“Aaaaah, stop! Yes, I promise. Mercy!” I finally shouted, my breath coming in gasps, letting my laughter end my short act.

I was truly helpless against their double attack.

Kevan and Mr. Aditya only stopped their actions right when Mrs. Viona arrived carrying several bottles of isotonic drinks for all of us.

She shook her head at the sight before her. Me, slumped weakly from laughing, and the two men who looked very proud of the results of their hard work.

“You’re all like little children,” Mrs. Viona said while handing out the drinks. “Frel, drink this first so you can regain your strength.”

I accepted the bottle with hands still trembling from laughter. I glanced at Kevan and Mr. Aditya, who were now sitting on my left and right sides, looking very satisfied.

“Just wait, I’ll get my revenge later,” I muttered softly before taking a sip of the cold drink, which was met with small laughs from the two of them.

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