As Hera arrived where Zhane was, Dave, who was just a few feet behind her, began sobbing even before his horse ca to a halt.
"Wuwuwu! Baby! I just want a date! A date! Why are you so cruel?!" Dave cried out in frustration. He had hoped to pull off a win under Hera’s nose, knowing she was new to the horse and hadn’t had a chance to familiarize herself with it. Unlike the ti she won with Diamond against Xavier, where she had already done a lap before the bet started, this ti Dave believed his chances were better since Hera had not yet had a lap or bonded with the horse.
But reality hit him hard, making it clear that escaping his predicant was a distant hope. "Just a date!" Dave’s tearful eyes pleaded with Hera, his frustration was evident. He wanted to throw a tantrum for not getting what he wanted, but his pride prevented him from begging. All he could manage was to let his bitter tears fall.
Zhane, feeling a mix of embarrassnt and amusent at Dave’s childish display, approached Hera on horseback. "You really shouldn’t have pulled your punches against this manchild," he teased gently, offering her a handkerchief to wipe the beads of sweat from her forehead.
Dave shot Zhane a wide-eyed, accusing glare. Hera had already wiped the floor with him, and now Zhane was suggesting she hadn’t even tried her hardest. What did that make Dave look like? It only highlighted his weakness and made him seem even more feeble in comparison to Hera’s impressive and strong horsemanship.
Dave wanted to cry, but no tears ca as he approached the two. Hera chuckled in response to Zhane’s teasing. "Damn you, Zhane!" Dave exclaid, before turning to Hera with a pleading expression. "Huhuh, sweetheart, don’t let him mislead you. He may look young, but he’s got an old man’s heart and doesn’t understand. Please, just one date?" He continued to plead, fawning over Hera with earnest desperation.
Hearing Dave call him old in front of Hera struck a nerve with Zhane. Unlike his other friends, Zhane often played the role of the responsible older sibling, and his reserved, old-fashioned deanor combined with his workaholic tendencies made him feel self-conscious. He worried that Hera might find him boring and co to dislike him because of these traits.
As the most well-behaved and polite among the five, Zhane now felt a surge of anger. He was tempted to throw Dave off his horse, hoping a few broken bones might knock so sense into him. Zhane also considered making Dave’s stay in the hospital longer than necessary, ensuring he wouldn’t be able to pester Hera for a while.
Zhane’s anger only grew as he entertained the idea, making him seriously tempted to follow through. Dave felt a shiver run down his spine and instinctively looked up at Zhane. The mischievous glint in Zhane’s eyes made Dave realize he had definitely poked the wrong bear this ti.
Dave began to shiver at the thought of what Zhane might do. There’s an old saying: ss with a businessman or a politician, but never with a doctor because your life is literally in their hands. He knew Zhane had the ans to make him suffer far more than his other friends could. Zhane’s ability to manage his emotions was legendary; he rarely showed irritation, and no one had ever truly felt his retaliation. But now, Dave feared he might be the first to experience it.
Dave imdiately clamped his mouth shut, pouting as he cast a pitiful glance at Hera. Hera, accustod to Dave’s childish antics and his inability to hold back, could only chuckle at their bickering. To bring an end to their verbal sparring, Hera playfully intervened. "Alright, you two, no more of this early morning bickering. And Dave, stop provoking Zhane." Her mock reprimand only added to the playful atmosphere, making it clear to anyone watching that it was all in good fun.
Zhane flashed Dave a triumphant smirk, raising an eyebrow in a way he had never done before. Despite its novelty, the expression was undeniably infuriating to Dave, who had to concede that he had lost this round to Zhane.
Dave wanted to voice his frustrations but found no one willing to listen, so he grudgingly swallowed his indignation. Zhane dismounted and handed the reins to the stable master, who guided his horse back to the stable. Zhane then approached Hera, standing just beside her horse. Dave, not wanting to be left behind, hurried to follow Zhane closely.
Zhane and Dave stood beside Hera’s horse, which was so tall that its back nearly reached their necks, despite their own considerable height. It was only then that they realized the horse Hera was riding belonged to the racecourse’s manager—a prized steed that was never lent out or sold under any circumstances.
Both Zhane and Dave exchanged surprised glances, their heads swiveling instinctively to scan the deck. They soon locked eyes with the manager, who was also observing them. Zhane’s gaze then fell upon Bry and his father standing beside the manager. His eyes widened in realization as he turned back to Hera, his expression clearly questioning the unexpected situation.
The two were eager to ask questions but hesitated to pressure Hera. Dave’s curiosity was evident, but a sharp look from Zhane silenced him. Zhane then approached Hera, placing his hands on either side of her waist. With a gentle lift, he effortlessly raised her as if she weighed nothing, then carefully set her back on her feet.
Hera was surprised by Zhane’s strength, as she had always assud doctors relied solely on endurance. She realized now that, in addition to their stamina for long surgeries, doctors must also train their muscles. This strength likely helps them assist patients in ergencies when no one else is available to help.
As if reading Hera’s thoughts, Zhane’s eyes crinkled into a crescent as he flashed a rare, proud smile, revealing his white teeth. This rare display of warmth was a stark contrast to his usual stern and stoic deanor.
Though surprised, Dave chose not to fight back, unwilling to face another humiliating defeat at Zhane’s hands. He felt that no matter who he challenged within his friend group, he always ended up losing, which only further tarnished his image in front of Hera. Instead, he silently nursed his wounded pride and sobbed with invisible tears.
Determined not to be just a passive observer, Dave grabbed Hera’s right hand and, with his own handkerchief, gently wiped the imaginary sweat from her forehead. "Sweetheart, are you tired? Do you need water, juice, or perhaps ?" he asked with earnest enthusiasm.
Zhane couldn’t help but acknowledge that when it ca to shalessness, Dave was in a league of his own. Realizing he couldn’t match Dave’s audacity, Zhane decided to let it be. Hera, too, chuckled at Dave’s antics as they all headed back to the deck where Bry and the others awaited.
When Bry spotted Zhane, he eagerly dashed over. "Doctor! You’re here too!!!" He skidded to a halt in front of Hera. Hera, wanting to ruffle Bry’s hair, found her hands occupied—one held by Zhane and the other by Dave. With a helpless smile, she nodded at Bry, signaling him to lead the way. Bry, quick on the uptake, noticed Hera’s predicant, and without making a fuss, he gracefully retreated to rejoin his father, avoiding any awkwardness.
"Such a smart kid!" Dave exclaid, though his voice reached only Hera and Zhane.
"You’re the only one who looks foolish," Zhane replied with a stoic expression, deliberately ignoring Dave’s challenging glare.
Before the argunt could escalate, Hera guided them to sit at the sa table as Bry and the others. "Manager, the horse was incredible, and it was such a fantastic experience. Thank you for letting borrow it," she said, effectively breaking the tension between Zhane and Dave. Their curiosity about Hera’s connection with the manager was rekindled as they shifted their focus back to the conversation.
"Hahaha! No, no, I’m delighted you enjoyed the horse. Consider it a gift," the manager said, glancing subtly at Zhane and Dave before continuing, "And thank you for introducing to such an excellent horse breeder and trainer. I can now rest easy knowing my stable will be well-stocked with fresh horses and that even the wildest ones will be well-handled." He chuckled and glanced back at Bry’s father, indicating their positive discussion about the collaboration, while Hera and Dave took a lap around the track.
"Oh? Manager, have you finally decided to hire an external breeder and trainer?" Dave teased, knowing that the manager was notoriously difficult to impress. The regulars at the racetrack were well aware of the manager’s stubbornness when it ca to trusting just anyone with his horses. He had always been wary of jeopardizing their well-being and preferred to only buy champions from major equestrian events.
Reviews
All reviews (0)