PAMPERED

138 You’re not fat, you’re hot!

You don’t interest me.

Creepy guy.

Uncle.

Those were the only examples that hurt Ray the most. Growing up, most people around him doted on him. Even though the students in the star section wouldn’t mind dissing him, they still respected his intellectual perspective on school and even in business. All the star students were actively involved in their family businesses, after all.

So, getting some real, harsh talk with a thirteen–year–old was heart–wrenching. Ray frowned deeply and gazed at Penny.

Despite saying all those things, she kept an upright pose and an honest expression.

“Sorry if that’s what it made you feel,” he said with a deep sigh. “I mean it.”

“You should mean it. Penny nodded. “I hope you stop this madness from now on. I don’t want to deal with this again. Especially, I don’t want my brothers worrying about me.”

Her brothers worries just made her more worried, after all.

Ray rocked his head. “I don’t want to be creepy, alright?” he grumbled and somehow, her lips curled up very subtly and briefly. “You’re not angry at me anymore?”

How could her anger subside so quickly?

“I’m not angry at you. I was irritated, she corrected. “But if you don’t stop, then you’ll see what you’re looking for.”

Ray gulped at the brief stress of her warning. Penny, on the other hand, didn’t dwell on it and placed her bag on her lap. She took out one snack to recharge.

Watching her eat, Ray leaned back and rested his hands on either side of him. “You’re right. I don’t like you.”

“Hmm?” she hummed while chewing.

Ray studied her expression first and almost laughed at himself. Why did he expect that she would show disappointment if he said that?

“I mean, not in that kind of sense,” he continued. “My reason is petty, but I thought if I distracted you for a bit, you wouldn’t get a seat in the star section.”

Her round eyes blinked ever so slowly. “Huh?”

“Come on. I know you’re being recommended to enter the star section, he remarked languidly. “You don’t have to hide it. My grandfather mentioned it in passing

and I got curious. So, I

checked the records I saw yours.” This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

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“..” That was the reason he was pursuing her?

<

138 You’re not fat, you’re hot!

Penny didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She thought he was just targeting her for no reason or that her size bothered him somehow. Who knew? He probably saw her somewhere else and Ray had this twisted disgust for plus sizes. He wouldn’t be the first.

“Who said I’m interested in the star section?” she responded after swallowing down her snack. She added, before taking another bite. “You can have the star section all for yourselves. I’m not interested.”

Ray arched a brow. “What do you mean?”

Her answer took quite some time because she prioritized eating rather than conversing.

“Literally,” was all that she said after a full minute of waiting.

His face twitched. ‘She really has no interest in me and the star section, huh?”

“Don’t worry now. No need to be scared. I’m not entering the star section,” she reassured again. “You got my word.”

“Haha. Penny, I know you mean that, but being a part of the star section isn’t really your choice.” Ray laughed helplessly. “Your grades and academic performance will decide on that. Unless, of course, you deliberately make your grades fall.

He paused at the thought and squinted. “Don’t tell me you’re planning to do that?”

“Nope.” Penny took another bite, so he had to wait for her to finish chewing before getting the clarification. “I plan to graduate early. Maybe next school year.”

“Ah?”

Penny chewed more and this time, Ray pinched the bridge of his nose. “Penny, have you heard of the rich dawdle?”

“Hmm?”

“It’s a rich person’s habit when talking, said Ray along with a deep sigh. “Normally, men or people on the top ladder talk slowly to properly articulate their thoughts. No one hurries them because, well, they’re the richest and most influential.”

Penny tilted her head a little to the side. She didn’t speak, but instead guided the last bite of her snack to her mouth.

“It means it’s annoying, but at the same time, it shows that no one can hurry them,” he clarified. “This conversation is the same. It’s annoying, but at the same time, I can’t hurry you. So I’ll wait for you to finish your snacks.” en

“Okay.” Penny crumpled the packaging with a smile, only to take out another one from her bag. Ray opened and closed his mouth. He said he would wait for her to finish because he thought she was finished!

“I have five of these, she said, showing him her hand. “My aunt made these for me. I’m not sharing.”

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138. You’re not fat, you’re hot!

“Sharing is caring,” he blurted out, watching her happily unwrap the snack. “You’re really happy, huh?”

Penny just giggled, mouth full.

For the next minute, Ray just watched her savor the snack. His stomach grumbled a little. Just watching her made him want to eat something as well. How she ate her snack made it look very tasty he wanted to try it.

‘On the other hand, her anger doesn’t last long,‘ he thought. “That’s a little refreshing.”

Ray was used to people holding grudges, especially in his family on the mother’s side. Even his classmates never forget a grudge. It was refreshing to meet someone who could get angry at the highest of the highs and then move on from it quickly.

‘It must be nice to not hold any grudges,‘ he thought, swallowing his own saliva as his eyes fell on the snacks she was eating. “Penny, you really won’t share? I’m hungry too. I didn’t get to eat since you came during recess.”

Penny glanced back at him and pondered. She didn’t say anything and simply took out another snack. Reluctance flickered across her eyes as she clasped the snack closely. But in the end, she still tossed it in his direction.

“Why do you have to make me feel bad about this?” he murmured. Now, he felt like he had just stolen her precious treasure. Even so, he opened the snacks and looked at it, gulping before taking a bite.

Chewing it, his brows furrowed. “What’s this snack?”

“My aunt made it!

“Your aunt is a chef?”

Penny just glanced at him but didn’t bother answering.

“This is weird: Ray gazed down at the snack and couldn’t help but take another bite. “No wonder you’ve grown so big. Your aunt cooks well.”

Ray almost choked when he realized what he just said. “Ha ha! I mean, Penny, I’m not saying you’re fat! What I meant is you’re hot!”

“Huh?”

“You see, things tend to expand when they’re hot. So, basically, you’re hot!

All Penny could do was pound her fist against her chest, chokin

What kind of excuse was that?! It was so ridiculous it would kill her!

Oh, lord. He would kill her.

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