Pitbabes2, Chapter 3 pg6

   pg6

   “Huh? Then, Phi…”

   “Babe, you come here.” Cutting Charlie off, Phii Alan called the troublemaker over with a beckoning gesture, looking like a strict teacher ready to discipline the class’s resident troublemaker.

   “What! Why? If Charlie wants to help, let him!” Phii Babe protested loudly.

   “No. You do it. It’s all your friend’s stuff, so deal with it yourself. Don’t drag your junior into it,” Phii Alan said firmly.

   I found it amusing that Phii Babe still got scolded daily despite being this old and a celebrity. Outsiders could never imagine how much the great Babe is kept in check behind the scenes. His older brother and boyfriend team up with impressive diligence. “And don’t help him, Charlie. Let him do it himself. He’s spoiled enough as it is.”

   “Hey! Why’d you say that?!”

   Phii Babe kept complaining as Phii Alan grabbed some items and led the way to the riverside.

   “Babe… just go carry it,” Charlie whispered to Phii Babe. “I’ll help, but once we get there, you carry it yourself.”

   “Hmph! I can carry it myself.”

   In the end, the loudmouth grabbed all the stuff and trudged after Phii Alan. I exchanged a glance with Charlie, feeling a bit of sympathy. Dealing with someone as stubborn and annoying as Phii Babe couldn’t be easy. But Charlie’s expression made me think I might’ve been wrong.

   Charlie watched Phii Babe’s back with a smile unlike any I [Ideal Response] I’d never seen before. It wasn’t a casual, instinctive smile, but one born from genuine emotion—a smile with a real reason behind it. And that reason was the stubborn guy who, no matter what anyone said, was the most wonderful person in Charlie’s eyes.

   I sincerely hoped that smile would stay with Charlie forever.

   

   BABE:

   Today marked two years since Way’s passing. Last year, the team agreed to visit that traitor together, clean the gravesite, polish the headstone, and decorate the area to keep it looking nice and not too old or creepy. It’s a great activity—not only does it let us do something for the one who’s gone, but it’s also a perfect chance for everyone to gather and do something besides racing. We clean, chat, take breaks to eat snacks, sip sweet drinks. North and Sonic got into a fight and were scolded by Phii Alan, separated to opposite corners. I got to talk more with Kim, sharing stories about X-Hunter’s past while he told me about racing in Korea. Way’s death anniversary turned into a small team bonding event by default, prompting Phii Alan to suggest we do this every year. Today was the second time we’ve gathered here.

   “It doesn’t look that messy,” Kim said, arms crossed, surveying the gravesite thoughtfully. The grass wasn’t overgrown enough to cover the headstone, and the pile of dead leaves wasn’t high enough to suggest the place had been neglected for a year.

   “How could it be messy? Someone’s been sneaking in to clean it regularly,” North remarked, diligently pulling weeds around the grave. No camera in hand today, unlike usual, because this was a special day not meant to be shared with anyone else.

   “I don’t come that often.”

   “I didn’t even say your name yet.”

   Phii Alan fell right into the young YouTuber’s trap. Unable to argue back, he muttered under his breath and turned to complain to Jeff, who was sweeping leaves nearby but didn’t seem to care much.

   “Phii Alan,” Kim piped up again, holding an empty thermos with a frustrated expression, like a kid who’d been denied something. “No ice?”

   “You see any?” Phii Alan replied lazily, carefully polishing the stone engraved with Way’s name, as if Kim’s whining was just a breeze passing by.

   “Nope,” Kim said, peering into the empty thermos again, tipping it upside down as if expecting ice to magically fall through from another dimension. “How am I supposed to drink water then?”

   “There’s plain water. Drink that. No need for ice.”

   “But I want it cold.”

   “Go drink from the river then.”

   “Don’t love me anymore, huh?” The Korean guy pouted, clearly unhappy, before stomping off to plop down under a tree, swinging the empty thermos in protest of his big brother’s lack of indulgence. Seeing this, Phii Alan sighed in resignation. I think, deep down, he often blames himself for being too kind to us, spoiling the team into acting like overgrown kids despite our ages.

   “Alright… ice is on the way. I had someone buy it,” Phii Alan said.

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