I’m motivated now!
Yosh!
***
The next day, Jack arrived at the downtown mall wearing a casual blue t-shirt with black trousers.
Scanning the crowd, he spotted Eve in the distance waving to catch his attention; beside her stood Gwen.
“Good morning,” Jack greeted with a smile as he approached them.
“Morning,” Gwen returned the greeting.
“Hey. Glad you made it,” Eve said with a smile.
Jack smiled.
“Come on,” Eve said as she casually hooked an arm through Gwen’s, pulling her along, Jack lagging behind.
“I looked it up online yesterday—trust me, you guys are gonna love it!”
***
What does it feel like when men wish to kill you and trample on your body?
Jack honestly knew—it felt nerve-wracking.
Walking beside the enthusiastically chatting Gwen and Eve, holding their shopping bags, Jack felt the sheer, conspicuous gaze at his back.
He was sure if gazes could kill, he would have been pierced with hundreds of holes by now.
Yet he didn’t cower under their gaze; instead, his back became straighter.
What?
He was once among the group of envious men; now he was the one who drew envious gazes.
Eve and Gwen were beautiful girls—Eve wore an off-shoulder white shirt with gray trousers, while Gwen wore a blue shirt with white trousers.
“Hey, look at that!” Gwen pointed to a massive, multi-level bookstore at the edge of the atrium before she turned to Eve and Jack.
“I’ve been looking for a specific history textbook all week. Let’s check if they have it.”
“Leave it to you to find a bookstore in a five-mile radius,” Eve said with a roll of her eyes, smiling gently.
“Fine, let’s go, but I’m looking at the comics section.”
As they walked, Eve turned back to look at Jack.
“Come on, Jack, put some legs into it—you’re lagging behind!” she shouted.
“I’m coming, I’m coming!” Jack said as he walked faster, joining the group.
The day went by in a blur as the trio explored the newly opened mall.
From Eve dragging Gwen to an arcade, giving a deaf ear to her complaints, to Jack being an errand boy who bought the wrong juice just to get back at them.
The three found themselves having a blast, and when afternoon arrived, they entered a restaurant in the mall, ordering lunch. This story is hosted at g.com.
“Okay, that was a blast,” Eve said with a grin.
“We need to do this more often.”
“Definitely,” Gwen said, sipping water from her glass cup as she glanced at Jack.
“Though I’m not sure Jack’s hand can handle another round.”
“I definitely can’t,” Jack said as he raised his hand, wobbling it up and down with a smile.
“I honestly can’t feel my arms anymore.”
“Hahaha!”
The girls burst into laughter.
The food was finally brought over, and the trio dug in.
Gwen finished her food and turned to the still-eating Eve.
“By the way, Eve.”
“Mhm?” Eve raised her head and looked at her.
“Which university will you be attending?” Gwen asked.
Eve swallowed her spaghetti and leaned back in her chair.
“To be honest, I don’t think I’ll be going to a university.
I’ve learned everything they can throw at me.
But if I do…” Eve tapped her chin, then continued, “I’m thinking Upstate.”
“Upstate is a good university,” Gwen said with a nod.
“Their equipment is top-notch, just like their facilities.”
Eve smiled.
“So what about you? Which university are you going to?” she asked.
“Friedkin,” Gwen replied.
“Friedkin?” Eve raised an eyebrow and whistled.
“Amazing. I heard they have a low admission rate, though.”
“Do you think we won’t be admitted?” Gwen asked with a smile.
“That’s true,” Eve nodded, then her eyes widened as she stared at Gwen.
“Yeah,” Gwen nodded.
“Jack and I decided to attend the same school.”
Eve stared at the two for a few seconds, and another whistle escaped her mouth.
“That’s… actually massive news. Are you guys dating by any chance?”
Jack and Gwen rolled their eyes as they answered together, a little too quickly, “No.”
“Okay,” Eve shrugged, then she pointed her fork at them.
“But I think you guys would make a perfect fit. I mean, both of you are nerds.”
The two turned and stared at each other for a couple of seconds before turning back to Eve.
“I don’t think that’s possible,” said Gwen.
“Yeah, I agree with her,” said Jack.
Eve just shrugged as she continued eating her spaghetti, though she subtly stared at the two.
‘I mean, you guys are going to the same university, so I’ll just let fate take its course.’
***
The shopping day finally came to an end.
The group left the mall; the sun cast its last rays on Earth.
“Seriously, we should do this more often,” Eve said as they stepped out.
“Yeah, I also think so. But next time, I’m not being the errand boy, nor am I holding you guys’ bags,” Jack said as he handed the two their respective bags.
“Come on. You’re a boy. What? You expect two beautiful girls to carry their bags while you’re here?” Eve teased him.
Jack seriously looked at the two and shook his head.
“I don’t see you guys as girls, only boys,” he said seriously and received a punch to the chest from the two girls.
“Come on,” Eve said to Gwen, “let’s leave this little boy behind.”
“Mhm,” Gwen nodded, and the two walked away, leaving behind a groaning Jack.
Sensing that they had walked far away, the groaning Jack recovered and stood up, patting his chest—he really didn’t feel any pain.
Turning to look at the night sky, he smiled.
“This kind of day—away from fighting crime—isn’t actually bad,” he muttered and walked back home.
***
A/N: finally freeee!!!!!