"Ahem!" Benjamin cleared his throat as he sat beside Penny.
Penny was with Zoren and Atlas on the sa log, but sohow Atlas found himself between them. Hence, there was enough space for Benjamin to sit.
"Hey," she greeted him with a smile. "Everything okay with you?"
"Oh, yes, Miss Penny!" Benjamin bead. "It’s just that... Mint dragged Ray away. I think she’s going to bury him sowhere."
With this remark, Atlas and Zoren stopped talking and set their eyes on Benjamin. The latter glanced at the two, only to see Zoren and Atlas resu their discussion. It was about Old Mrs. Pierson because it seed Atlas was very interested in her.
"Don’t worry about Ray." Penny nodded at him reassuringly. "At this point, Ray is the luckiest guy I’ve known. Considering he survived school with my brothers around, and until now, he shows up unannounced—he persists."
"Well, I don’t think Mint will kill him. She’s probably going to hurt him a bit," Benjamin shrugged. "I’m losing a bit of faith in Sir Ray."
At this point, Benjamin was losing his codic relief role with Ray in the picture. "I still can’t believe the headmaster of one of the most prestigious schools in Anteca is like that."
"Tell about it." Penny shook her head and chugged her juice. She and Zoren weren’t allowed to drink anything alcoholic, so Atlas was watching them very carefully.
As Penny was drinking, Benjamin studied her side profile. "Miss Penny, don’t you know Mint?"
"Hmm?"
"I an, I’m pretty sure you didn’t know that she’s my cousin. We have a different surna..." Benjamin scratched his cheek as he thought about it. "If you don’t want to know that you and Mint knew each other, you don’t have to."
That was the only reason Penny and Mint would act like they didn’t know each other. It was probably like Penny and Zoren’s relationship once again. After all, everyone else knew about Penny and Zoren’s relationship except Benjamin. And for so reason, Penny and Zoren were keeping this tradition for the heck of it.
"I already know that you guys know each other," he added with a frown. "So, stop pranking ."
Deep lines appeared between her brows. "What are you talking about, Ben?"
"Miss Penny, isn’t Pri Group recently acquainted with Holand Security?"
"No?"
"No?" Benjamin’s frown deepened. "But didn’t you ask..."
Trailing off, his brows rose as he studied the genuine wonder in Penny’s eyes. Benjamin observed the look on Penny’s face, and now, he could tell she wasn’t joking.
"Didn’t I ask what, Ben?" Penny asked, tilting her head to the side. "I don’t know why you’re saying this, but it’s my first ti eting Mint. And today is the first ti I’ve heard that she’s from Holand Security. Though, you can say that we’re now acquaintances because for sure, I’d be asking her out for lunch once we get back to Anteca."
Penny smiled at him, which didn’t last long because of the look on Benjamin’s face. "Ben, are you okay? I swear I’m not pulling a prank on you again. If you want, I’ll kick Mylo out of your team...?" — because Mylo was a prank.
"Benjamin?" she called again when Benjamin only stared at her. "Ben?"
"Uh." After a few calls, Benjamin finally ca around and blinked. He forced a smile at her. "Uh, it’s nothing, Miss Penny."
"Huh?"
"I’m just a little... probably confused. It’s been a long day, and I had to watch Mint so she wouldn’t cause anyone trouble." Benjamin cleared his throat and jumped from his seat. "Anyway, I’m just going sowhere. If Mint cos back, tell her that I went to the loo."
Having said that, Benjamin strode off—almost like he was in a hurry. Penny tilted her head to the side, her eyes on Benjamin’s retreating figure.
"What’s wrong with him?" Suddenly, Zoren’s voice caressed her ears.
Shrugging, Penny glanced at her husband, only to see that Atlas was also looking at her. "I don’t know. He just started accusing of knowing Mint and pretending not to. It’s kinda weird since I’m not lying. And then, he just left, telling that he needs to go to the loo."
"That’s strange," Zoren comnted, but then Atlas adjusted his position to face his sister. "He thinks you’re pulling a prank on him?"
"Why would I pull a prank on him? I said I didn’t."
"Penny, have you read the book [The Boy Who Cried Wolf]?" Atlas inquired. "You’re that boy. If I were you, I’d correct my ways before you head down a very dark path."
******
anwhile, when Benjamin left, he just had to take a short walk to think about sothing very strange. If there’s anything Mint and Benjamin had in common, it was puzzles. And this puzzled him.
"That’s strange," he murmured as he was walking by the shore. "I don’t think Miss Penny was lying to . After knowing her for so ti now, I’m starting to get a grasp of her antics. So, I think I’d catch on if she was lying to earlier."
Still, the question remained.
Why was Slater in Holand Security? And why did he have to lie?
As Benjamin was deep in thought, his steps slowed down. Lifting his eyes, he caught a figure standing several ters from him.
"Third Brother?" he murmured as he approached Slater. "Third Brother, what are you doing here?"
Slowly, Slater looked back at the person approaching before he looked away. "I’m trying to get so fresh air and so ti alone."
"Oh..." Benjamin’s mouth ford into an "O" shape, tilting a bit as he stared at Slater’s side profile.
"Now, it’s not a ti alone anymore." Slater clicked his tongue and shot Benjamin a glance. "I’m going back. Enjoy your walk alone."
Having said that, Slater waved dismissively as he turned to walk away. He wanted so ti alone to think. He knew as long as Mint was around, she would keep poking his nerves by slightly giving details about Slater’s secret. However, he also knew that Mint wouldn’t disclose that. Therefore, he just decided to keep his distance to avoid getting stressed.
As Slater walked away, Benjamin kept his eyes on him, his questions still in his mind. But no matter how much Benjamin loved puzzles, this puzzle was sothing he shouldn’t dwell on for long. It wasn’t about Zoren or the Pierson Corporation.
"Third Brother, why did you lie?"
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