Chapter 137: ninjas

Penny would cautiously look left and right before moving forward in the hallway. Because of her action, Ray felt infected and acted like a ninja as well. They would sneak through the hallway, watching out for any traps or enemies.

At least, that was what Ray felt with all of this.

Leaning on the side of the corridor wall, Ray stretched his neck over her head as they peeked at the right turn.

"Penny, it’s empty," he whispered in all seriousness. "I don’t think there’s any booby trap as well."

Penny’s face frowned, looking up at him. "You’re seriously too cool about this, huh?"

"Well, I don’t know what’s going on," he gazed down at her. "What are we hiding from? And where are we going?"

"Goodness. This is silly." Penny sighed and pushed herself away from the wall. She then resumed her steps, but she kept an alert mind.

"Uh, wait." Ray, who had fun playing ninja with her, maintained the same cautiousness. "Penny, you should at least tell me what’s going on, you know? It’s better if I know what I should watch out for so I can protect you."

As if Penny needed his protection.

Another heavy sigh escaped her, continuing with her pace, and said, "My brothers found out that you’ve been bothering me."

"Huh?"

"They got so angry and they might bury you alive." Her face crumpled in dismay, reminding herself not to tell them about something like this again. "My eldest brother might be lenient, but who I’m scared of is my second brother."

"Oh..." Ray nodded. "Are they angry I didn’t ask for their permission first? Tsk. Silly me. Where’s my manners, right?"

This time, Penny stopped and looked back at him. She scoffed in dismay, looking at this unhinged person, who seemed to not understand the situation.

"This is not time for jokes, alright?" her frown deepened. "My second brother is really strong. If you’ve only seen how many deformed dummies we have at home, you’d understand."

"I see. You’re worried about me?"

"I’m worried my brother will be expelled if he beats the headmaster’s grandson. So stop joking."

"But I’m not joking..."

"Tch. Let’s just go."

Ray sulked a little as the little girl started walking again. He only needed to leap once to catch up.

"So, where are you taking me?" he asked. "Aren’t you afraid your brothers might think we’re eloping?"

Penny’s face contorted, but she squashed down the rising irritation in her heart. "I need to hide you. I’m looking for a good hiding spot."

"The star section garden?"

"You think they won’t go there if they didn’t find you in your classroom?"

"Well." Ray pondered about it, glancing at her little back. "I know a good hiding spot."

Penny slowed down and looked back at him. "Where?"

Ray smiled in response.

*

*

*

After just a few minutes of walking, Penny found herself standing at the small building behind building three. It looked old and there were still remnants of undergoing construction in some parts of the building.

"It’s still under renovation, but for some reason, the construction had to stop until some matters were settled," Ray explained, standing a step ahead of her. "It’s safe, though. Don’t worry. The renovation is on the other side. Though, if you don’t like scary stuff, you shouldn’t come inside."

Penny snapped her eyes at him and jerked her chin ahead. "Go."

"Just me?" he pointed at himself. "I thought we needed to hide together?"

"Tch. Just you. Why would I need to hide from my brother? Stay here until everything has calmed down. I also have class, okay?" Penny huffed, turning around to leave this guy alone. She hid him, and that was good enough. What she did was already a good deed.

However, just as Penny turned around, she caught a familiar figure in the window of building three.

It was Atlas.

"Oh, no!" Penny panicked and turned around, making Ray furrow his brows at the look of horror plastered on her face.

Before he could ask, Penny already ran to him and pushed him. "Let’s go, let’s go in! Quick!"

"..."

In the end, Penny still went to the old building with Ray. They hid in the first classroom they reached. Once inside, Penny approached the dusty window and peeked outside.

Ray stayed by the open door, crossing his arms, eyes on her small figure. ’She does seem worried,’ he thought. ’Were her brothers that crude? Well... looking at her, if she’s my sister, I’d also be a little overprotective.’

"Goodness. They did do what they told me they’d do." Another deep sigh escaped her while shaking her head. "I already told them it’s over. But they still wouldn’t let it go."

If only she knew they would be like this, Penny wouldn’t dare tell them anything! She didn’t want to rely on them, let alone make them pick a fight for her. She already settled everything, but it was now being reopened.

As she lamented in her heart, Penny glanced up at the guy by the door. She clicked her tongue faintly. To be fair, she couldn’t completely blame Hugo and Atlas. If not for Ray pulling off such a stunt, there wouldn’t be any endless pranks and no one would be kicked out.

"The school bell rang," she mumbled and dusted off one of the chairs before sitting on it. "I’ll stay here for a moment, then I’ll leave."

Ray smacked his lips and hummed a long tune. "It’s okay! I’ll keep you entertained, so don’t worry!"

"No need."

"Come on, Penny!" he jumped to the desk in the front, not bothered by the dust that ascended from it. "It’s finally time for the two of us to talk."

"Who said I ever wanted to talk to you?"

His smile stiffened. "Penny, you really don’t like me?"

"No."

"But why? You hadn’t even given me a chance."

"Why would I give someone a chance when that someone doesn’t even need it in the first place?"

"Huh?"

"Ray, do you think I’m silly?" Penny blinked, her tone and remarks unstoppable and unchanged. "I might not know your intention, but I know for sure you don’t like me. I’m not curious since you don’t interest me. But frankly, a seventeen-year-old guy pursuing a thirteen-year-old girl is not a funny prank, but a creepy one. It’s like an uncle taking an interest in a little girl; it makes me uncomfortable."

Every big word she spewed was akin to blocks falling on him, one after another. At the end of her sentence, his confidence as a young man fled, and would never be seen again.