Leaving the bar, our heads a little light from the alcohol and conversation, Sonya held my hand.
"I have an idea," she said, her eyes shining under the streetlights. "Before we head to the motel, let’s go to Skyview Overlook. The view of Gatehaven from up there is breathtaking at night like this."
"I think it’s better if we go to the motel now and have sex," I replied, glancing at the ti nearing midnight. "You’re tired, and you have work tomorrow."
"Ah, you pervert! Don’t be like that!" she protested, swinging our joined hands. "I treated you to dinner, a movie, drinks. Now it’s your turn to indulge my wish. Co on, just for a bit! It won’t take long!"
I sighed. "The place is far. And uphill."
"That’s the point! A little walk uphill is refreshing!" she insisted, and her slightly pouting expression with cheeks flushed from alcohol made it hard to refuse.
I finally nodded, resigned. Alright, one more for you.
We started walking towards the hills on the city’s edge, where Skyview Overlook was located. The path there was a winding, uphill trail, only sporadically lit by streetlamps.
As we began our climb, I imdiately felt the benefit of my stat increase. My breathing stayed even, my legs felt light, and the incline felt like a regular walk.
But not for Sonya. After a few minutes of climbing, her breath was already coming in gasps.
"Hey... wait... up," she hissed from behind. I stopped and looked back. She was standing a few steps behind, hands on her hips, face red and sweaty. As I looked at her, she glared.
"You... you’re so inconsiderate! Walking so fast, not even waiting!"
I grinned. "Who insisted on coming up here again?"
"I did, but you’re the guy! You should... be more considerate!" she argued, still panting. "If you know the girl can’t keep up, then... take it slow! Or... offer so help!"
"Remind , who was it that kept saying ’I’m strong, okay’ and ’don’t pity ’ earlier?" I teased, enjoying her tipsy petulance.
Sonya huffed, but couldn’t argue because she had indeed said those things earlier. She just looked at with a half-angry, half-exhausted expression. But then...
"I can’t go on," she said suddenly, her voice turning into a child-like whine. "Carry ."
I stared at her. "What?"
"Carry. . To the top," she said slowly, as if speaking to soone slow to understand. "My legs hurt."
I shook my head, but a smile touched my lips. "Now I know why your ex-boyfriend left you. Because you’re very childish and demanding."
Sonya just gave a wide, beautiful smile, as if that were a complint.
"Maybe! But that’s my problem. Now, carry . Or I’ll sit right here and cry."
I looked at her for a few monts. Then, in a quick motion before she could react, I bent down and abruptly lifted her up in a princess carry, one arm under her knees, the other supporting her back.
"Whoa—! HEY!" Sonya yelped in surprise, her hands reflexively grabbing my shoulders. Her already red face turned beet red. "I ant a piggyback! Not like this! Put down!"
"But this is more comfortable, right?" I teased, starting to walk uphill again. "You can see the view, and I can see your embarrassed face."
"Jerk! Put down!" she protested, hitting my shoulder with her small, ineffective fists. But slowly, her resistance weakened.
Maybe because her legs were genuinely tired, or because this position was actually quite comfortable. Finally, with a groan of resignation, she buried her face into my shoulder, hiding from my gaze—and from anyone who might pass by.
"I hate you," she mumbled, her voice muffled by my jacket.
I smiled, a smile that ca unbidden, and kept walking. I looked down at Gatehaven spread out below us like a tapestry of shimring jewels. Streetlights, building lights, the slow-moving lights of cars—it all created a living painting against the darkness.
"Sonya?" I called softly.
No answer.
I looked down. In my arms, Sonya had fallen asleep. Her usually expressive face looked peaceful and weary. Her long eyelashes were visible in the moonlight, her cheeks still slightly flushed, her lips parted just a little. She looked so... innocent.
I sighed, half-annoyed, half-fond.
’Typical woman,’ I thought. She was the one who dragged up here, demanded to be carried, and then fell asleep. We hadn’t even had sex yet, which was the whole reason for eting. But seeing her this tired, the urge subsided.
Should I wake her up?
I suppose not.
At ho, there are three trained onaholes, always ready to serve anyti. Delilah, Angeline, Gwenneth. They would do anything I asked, obediently and with full passion. But for Sonya, since she’s an ordinary person, I shouldn’t push her body too far or she’d break.
I stood at the summit, looking over the city with Sonya fast asleep in my arms. I planned to take her back to her ho. But suddenly, before I could turn around, a cluster of quick, heavy footsteps approached from behind, followed by a shout that shattered the night’s silence.
"ADAM! YOU SON OF A BITCH, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY SISTER?!"
The voice pierced my ears. I knew exactly who it was. Maximus.
Quickly and silently, I summoned the [Faceless Mask] directly onto my face. My face felt a montary shift, transforming into that of an ordinary-looking stranger.
This wasn’t the right ti to reveal that I was dating his sister.
Just as the transformation finished, a rough grab pulled at my shoulder from behind. I turned slowly.
There stood Maximus Treybern, his face a mask of wild anger and panicked worry. His brown hair was disheveled, his sharp eyes wide, his body in a fighting stance, his Rank A- Awakener energy pulsing uncontrollably.
But the mont he saw my face—or rather, the face of the stranger I wore—his expression shifted to one of confusion mixed with bewildernt. He had clearly expected to see Adam Socheron.
Yeah, I thought coldly. Surprised?
But I showed no recognition. I looked at him with a confused and slightly annoyed expression, like a stranger being harassed.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice also altered to be deeper and rougher than my own. "What’s your problem?"
Maximus looked even more confused, but his anger didn’t abate.
"I’m the one who should be asking who you are!" he snarled, his finger pointing at Sonya, still asleep in my arms. "Why are you carrying my sister? What did you do to her?!"
I pretended to think for a mont, then my eyes moved to Maximus’s face as if matching a mory.
"Your sister?" Then, as if rembering, I nodded. "Ah, right. Sonya showed your photo."
"Well then, nice to et you, I’m her boyfriend," I said, now in a friendlier tone.
Maximus froze.
"What?" his voice sounded disbelieving.
I raised an eyebrow.
"No way," Maximus denied, his voice rising again. "You bastard. You must’ve... You must’ve kidnapped my sister sohow! My sister never cos ho this late without telling . Hand her over now, or—!"
I cut him off, annoyed.
"Or what? You want to get rough? Your sister said you were a polite and understanding kid. Turns out you’re just a little brat who throws tantrums and makes wild accusations."
That sentence was like pouring oil on a fire. His eyes blazed with pure hatred—hatred for the stranger holding his sister, claiming to be her boyfriend, and now challenging him. His latent siscon nature, combined with the possessive rage that had been simring since he tracked Sonya here, exploded.
"You... HOW DARE YOU...!" he roared, and the energy around him detonated.
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