“It’s not that long. About half an hour,” Charles answered, taking out his handkerchief and wiping away her sweat in concern.

Blinking in surprise, she asked, “Half an hour? I thought you guys reached way earlier than that.”

 

“Uh…” he uttered and chuckled awkwardly. “Well, we could have reached the top very early at first, but it’s all Tyler’s fault. He went on the wrong path. So—”

“What do you mean it’s my fault?” Tyler argued in a huff. He had just walked over and overheard Charles speaking badly about himself. “You’re the one who resorted to dirty tricks and pointed out the wrong way to me because you couldn’t beat me in speed.”

Snorting smugly, Charles said, “Even if I tricked you and pointed out the wrong path to you, you still went on it anyway. Just how dumb are you?”

“You!” Tyler hissed, holding his fist angrily.

 

Holding her forehead, Sonia interrupted, “That’s enough, both of you. Stop arguing. You’re giving me a headache.”

“I’ll massage you, darling. You’ll feel better after that.” Charles paced behind her and rubbed her temples as he spoke.

 

Seeing the situation, Tyler mumbled, “Bootlicker.”

Hearing him, Charles replied in an equally hushed voice, “Some people aren’t even fit to be a bootlicker.”

The edge of Sonia’s lips twitched, and she was speechless at the sight of an adult and a teenager arguing like children. “If both of you are going to continue fighting, then get away from me and let me have some silence by myself.”

“No more fighting. We’re not fighting anymore, darling,” Charles assured hurriedly.

Tyler nodded as well, indicating that he wouldn’t argue anymore. Indeed, both of them held on to their words and quieted down, and Sonia was finally able to have some peace.

hit Tyler a few minutes later. Looking down the mountain, he

us,” she answered

can’t even beat two ladies in a hike and is taking so long to reach the top. He’s really

that’s the problem, but Tina, for sure. She must be the one who’s slowing him down,” Tyler explained on behalf of Toby

admit that, in a sense,

Toby still hadn’t made it to the top was really because of Tina dragging

to be true when Toby arrived at

to the fatigue. After all, it was a physically demanding task to carry a person weighing around a hundred pounds up the mountain. Even if he worked out all year round, he was still deadbeat

to him, fanning his sweat and passing water

asked in concern as

answer when Tyler stood between them and

eyes, she staggered backward and

you? Why do you need him to carry you?

as though she

more, and he wanted to continue when Toby broke him off, saying, “That’s enough now. Stop lecturing her. I was the one who wanted to carry her. It has nothing to do with Tina. Get out

looking at him in disgruntlement. “I’m speaking up for you and you want

to do it?” Toby asked instead

his lips, but still moved out of the way after throwing a death

Tina cried, finally

tissue to her, he cooed,

she answered, nodding

others, who were away

small rocks in his hands and said in amusement, “Hey Toby, you finally made your way up here. It must have been

he retracted his gaze, but before that, he pretended

up the lunch which they had brought to the top. It was getting late and everyone had completed a hike, so

looking at Zane and Charles while brushing her hands off after she was

head. “I don’t have one because I don’t smoke.

pockets and smiled awkwardly. “Sorry, I

one, either,”

the skies helplessly, Sonia lamented, “So nobody has a lighter.

was quiet, and while Sonia was contemplating to send someone down the mountain with

expensive, he got up,

merely looked at it, hesitant

he stood up, speaking to Toby with a stiff smile on his face. “President Fuller, you better keep your lighter away. We don’t dare to accept anything from you. If your

knitted his brows and turned

said, “You think of me as such a narrow-minded person, Mr. Lane. It’s just a lighter, and I’m not so petty as to be jealous over something like this.” Turning to Sonia with the same smile, she continued, “Miss Reed, please

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