Pitbabe S2, Chapter 21 pg 1

 Pitbabe S2, Chapter 21 pg 1

   CHARLIE:

   The first off-site event went surprisingly well. At first, I was convinced it’d be a total flop, especially with that “troublemaker” showing up to stir things up.

   I admit I wasn’t too shocked that Babe showed up on a day that’s important for my work. I know he watches my livestreams and follows my every move across all platforms. I’ve seen his comments, and it’s not hard to guess that Babe has no plans to live separately anytime soon. This is different from the first time we broke up. Back then, we were both deeply hurt, and grief took center stage, leaving us too weak to care about each other’s lives. So, interacting or acting like we felt nothing wasn’t easy.

   But the last time we seriously talked about “us,” I immediately felt anger surging to the forefront. Babe must’ve been both angry and humiliated that he lowered his pride to the point of driving to my house. We slept together, and he even begged me to reconsider our relationship and start over. I acted like I might agree, but in the end, I rejected him again.

   I know pride is a big deal for Babe. He’s the kind of person who’d rather die than lose his dignity, yet he’s broken his own rules and beliefs for me countless times. Nothing proves his love for me more clearly than that. That’s why I feel regret every time I’m the one to cruelly trample on his sacrifices. So, it’s no surprise if Babe is angry enough to want revenge like this.

   Still, the latest incident wasn’t too bad, because I managed to handle him before he caused a bigger mess. I was so angry I couldn’t speak when I saw he deliberately came to disrupt my event. If there were a ranking of people who know how much these activities mean to me (not counting understanding or agreeing with them), Babe would definitely be number one. He’s said multiple times that what I do matters to me more than he does. That’s why it’s infuriating that he tried to sabotage my greatest efforts without a shred of empathy. And the angrier I got, the more he enjoyed it, provoking me with glee and rejecting my most conciliatory offer without a second’s thought.

   But the behavior that nearly made me lose it was when Babe playfully pressed a kiss onto my lips with his hand. It’s a ridiculous way to get under my skin, but it’s the most effective. Babe knows full well this would rile me up. I made it clear from the start that I don’t like our personal matters becoming big news for strangers to gossip about. I don’t care what they say about me, but that doesn’t mean I can stand them badmouthing Babe. He’s never gotten positive comments when it comes to romance. Everyone’s quick to judge him as the bad guy and me as the pitiful one, even though they don’t see the real Babe the way I do. Even now, I don’t understand where these strangers get their confidence to judge others so recklessly with their pea-sized brains.

   I think this time Babe backed off out of shock, and honestly, I was shocked too. That time-stopping thing—I didn’t even know I could do that. I acted on instinct, something almost mystical that I’ve had as long as I can remember. Every sense, every ability, has its uses and limits. As a sense thief from the start, I never knew about these things. The original owner never taught me how to use it—obviously, no one’s crazy enough to do that. But I can wield it like it’s always been mine. It might take time, but I eventually find ways to stabilize the energy, understand its nature, and grasp its limitations on my own. It all comes from instinct.

   Every time I take in a new sense, it feels like my body splits in two. One part is crystal clear, vivid in every inch of space, while the other is a dark shadow. I know something’s moving beneath that shadow, but I can’t make out its shape, what it’s doing, or how to handle it. But as time passes, the bright space slowly swallows the dark shadow, blending together seamlessly, and in the end, I come to understand myself clearly again.

   The ability to stop time belongs to that boy, Jinny’s older brother. At first, I didn’t suspect anything about him, but Jinny’s behavior made me curious. She kept glancing at her brother, as if keeping an eye on him. When I asked why she wanted to meet me, she paused, looked at her brother again, and gave an answer that didn’t quite add up in my mind. That’s when I became certain Jinny wasn’t interested in breaking senses just to outdo her friends—she wanted to help her brother.

   The way Jinny looked at her brother felt so familiar. It was like the way Jeff looks at me, often without realizing how obvious his concern is. He’s younger, technically my junior, but he worries about me like an adult. Especially when he realizes he can’t help, the pain in his eyes is unmistakable. I don’t know if Jeff notices, but seeing that look hurts me twice as much.

   That’s why I can’t mess this up.

   There’s only one way this can end.

   “Jeff, what’s the promo plan for next week? Have you sent it to me yet?”

   The silence that answered made me look up from my laptop screen. Jeff was sitting on the couch, no more than three meters away, and I’d spoken loudly enough. There’s no way he didn’t hear me, but my stoic little brother acted like my voice was just a breeze passing by.

   “Jeff.”

   I called again, but he stayed silent, which was a clear sign of deliberate ignoring. And I think I knew what was bothering him.

   “Jeff,” I called once more, softening my tone, before swiveling my chair to face him fully, at least to show I genuinely wanted to talk. “When are you gonna stop being mad?”

   “Probably a while,” Jeff didn’t answer, but the doctor who happened to pass by responded instead, his mocking tone making me roll my eyes at him. Of course, someone of Dr. Chris’s caliber wasn’t fazed. He grinned widely, plopped down on the couch across from Jeff, and opened a comic book he’d brought from upstairs, completely ignoring the tense atmosphere between me and my Phii.

   “I’m sorry,” I said to Jeff as sincerely as I could, pulling a slightly pitiful face to earn some sympathy points, though I wasn’t sure how many the judge would grant. “Really, I won’t do it again. Stop sulking, please.”

   “I’m not sulking,” Jeff finally responded, but his words and tone weren’t exactly heartwarming. “I’m mad.”

   “I know you’re mad, that’s why I’m apologizing.”

   “Hmm.”

   “Hmm, meaning?”

   “Noted.”

   “Jeff…” I dragged out my voice, slinking over to sit next to my little brother, gently shaking his arm with what I thought was my most adorable act. A snicker came from across the room. I shot a glance and caught Dr. Chris looking at me with pity, but when he saw I noticed, he buried his face in a comic book instead. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t think it through back then. I just felt bad for the kid…”

   “Hmm, maybe we should just quit researching and have you sit there collecting sense donations instead.”

   “Don’t say that.”

   “Why not? Everyone’s pitiful, so why don’t you just take them all in? Then Chris and the rest of us wouldn’t have to waste time researching. Saves money and time.”

   His long-winded comeback left me speechless. I glanced at the doctor reading his comic, hoping for backup, and he sensed I was pleading for help.

   “Don’t look at me. This time, we’re on Jeff’s side.”

   But he had no intention of helping.

   So reliable.

   “Of course, the only one on Charlie’s side is Charlie,” Jeff said flatly. He seemed to grow bigger while I shrank down to the size of a worker ant. Honestly, I didn’t think it was a big deal at first—not until Jeff got mad, and everyone else sided with him. Now I’m out here alone, as you can see. “Charlie felt sorry for someone, so he took their senses, even though he promised he’d stop. Nobody likes a promise-breaker, but Charlie seems to enjoy it, since he never keeps his word.”

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