Chapter 116 - Safe And Sound In HIs Arms
The oversized jacket swallowed half of her form. Hera looked like a big fluffy teddy bear, and Hunter cooed, pinching the tip of her nose. Scrunching her nose, she swatted his hand away, her palms hidden inside those ridiculously long sleeves of the jacket, and Hunter laughed, looking fondly at her.Â
He pointed his finger to her right, and Hera turned to find a paper bag on the wooden bench. She opened it and couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear. Inside the bag was a yellow lunch box with a tiger face picture on it.Â
It was his old lunch box that he used to carry in his bag when they were kids. And he’d shared food with her countless times from this very same box. She smiled at the memory when his friends used to spoil her lunch with disgusting bugs. It no longer felt bitter, guess she’d grown up and moved past it.Â
‘I’m your tiger, and I’ll always fight for you and protect you from everyone.’
Hera remembered how Hunter used to say those comforting words before presenting her his lunchbox, and he’d promised to keep safe forever.Â
He opened the lid, and Hera smiled as her gaze fell on the green sticky note laying flat on the silver foil wrap. That’s how Hera knew, the food inside the foil wrap would be a dessert because she found the Sweet Messenger. Hunter shook his head when she tried to pick it, and Hera obediently retracted her hand.Â
“That’s right. You get to read it only after you finish eating,” Hunter said before placing the messenger note inside the pocket of her jacket.Â
Hera hummed in appreciation as she eyed the food inside, her favourite pudding, a rich, moist sponge cake covered in a sticky toffee sauce. The dessert would’ve been perfect if there was a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. Her sweet tooth could get greedy when it came to desserts, but it would do for now. The appreciation shone brightly in her big forest green eyes.Â
“The ice cream would have melted by now,” he said as though he read her mind. He took the spoon from her hand and fed her by his own hand until the last bite. Hera gladly enjoyed the attention and affection he’s showering on her.Â
After she drank the water to her heart’s content, Hera thanked him for the food. “I’m full. My stomach and my heart both are content. Thank you, Mr Hunter,” she expressed her gratitude. Placing the box, spoon and the water bottle back into the paper bag, Hunter sat on the floor, arms folded, resting on Hera’s lap. Propping up his chin, he looked at her.Â
He looked so handsome, Hera couldn’t resist kissing his cheek, and those purple orbs shone beautifully in the dim light. She kissed his eyelids one after the other. After a beat, Hunter asked, “Now tell me, what are you hiding from me? What’s bothering you, Love?” His tone wasn’t demanding, but instead, he sounded hurt.Â
His forehead furrowed as worry formed vertical lines on it, concern filled eyes boring into hers expecting answers. Leaning forward, Hera placed her mouth on his and felt his lips stretching into a smile, but he didn’t kiss her back. Sighing, Hera pulled away. “Are we playing twenty questions now?” She asked, teasing him.Â
He didn’t return the smile either.Â
“Can it pass?” She asked. “It’s nothing that you should worry about, just a silly fight with my friend and I was upset. I’m fine now,” she confessed, revealing the half-truth. Not that she could lie to him, right?Â
“You weren’t upset, Hera. You looked shattered,” he stated the obvious. Hera bit her lip and took a deep breath. He called her by her name. Without warning, she kissed him again. She covered his lips with her open mouth, tongue smearing her saliva around and she didn’t hesitate when she bit them as if biting and tasting her favourite flavour of the soft melting ice cream.Â
She wasn’t trying to distract him. She was confessing through her lips what she couldn’t do with words. He’s worried, and Hera wanted to comfort him. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀꪶ
“I’m sorry I’m hiding it from you. But please let it go, Hunter. I promise I’m over it. I’m safe and sound, unharmed in your arms, aren’t I?” She whispered against his lips as tears rolled down her cheeks. Hunter wrapped his arms around her middle and brought her to his chest in a tight embrace. And he kissed her back, pouring his heart into it.Â
A few minutes later, everything seemed alright.Â
They were gazing out the window, not looking at anything, in particular, their only view being the empty playground. Hunter stood leaning his hip against the bench, and Hera stood between his legs, resting her back comfortably on his torso, his arms wrapped around her chest, hugging from behind.
“Why was Samantha clinging to you so desperately?” Hera asked, diverting his attention. “Because she was desperate?” He jokingly offered and grinned wide when Hera glared at him unimpressed. “She was clingier than usual,” she shared her observation. “I wonder why, though?” Hera turned her head over her shoulder to look at him properly.Â
“You know, she was trying to send a message through her glare,” Hera said, but Hunter kept his mouth shut. “I know you two weren’t official, but it would still please me if you break up with her even if it’s for namesake. I’m not comfortable with the way she started behaving these days around you. It’s kind of creepy,” she said bluntly.Â
Hunter knew what exactly Samantha was trying to imply. He was glad that his Hera was quick to discover her motive.Â
Deciding to be honest with her, Hunter revealed the truth. “I need to confess something,” he said, kissing her cheek softly. Hera nodded, indicating that she’s listening. “The said breakup has to wait for a bit longer,” he started with his confession but stopped when Hera removed his arms off her abruptly. He let out a soundless laugh at her reaction but immediately held up his hands in surrender when she turned around to glare at him.Â
“Hear me out?” He asked cautiously. Huffing out in anger, Hera moved away from him and took a seat on the bench. Arms crossed around her middle, lips jutting out in a pout, Hera kept glaring at him. He explained every bit of his conversation with Bianca about not breaking up with Samantha. “And you agreed?” Hera asked indignantly, eyes wide with disbelief.Â
“Let her keep the title, Goddess. What difference would it make? Bianca said she’s afraid that Samantha would do something dangerous like maybe harming herself. I don’t want that,” Hunter admitted and Hera scoffed. She understood what they were trying to do.
‘Guilt-tripping my Mr Hunter.’
Sighing, Hera moved back into his arms. Her forearms glued to his chest as he pulled her more into him, tightening his hold. “You know right, they both are trying to manipulate you? Plotting against us to rip us apart and you blindly agree and for what? Because you can’t say no to your Sunshine?” Hera asked, shaking her head, unimpressed, the resentment clear in her tone.Â
“Yes, the way Bianca asked me, I couldn’t say no,” he agreed without any regret and Hera glared at him, disappointed. “I’m honest, and as long as we trust each other, nothing else matters,” Hunter stated. “Samantha can enjoy her so-called title, and Bianca can believe I’m fine with that,” he said, kissing her forehead.Â
Hera peered at him, lips pressed, eyebrows arched up. “You’re ruining their plans by being honest with me and telling me the truth. I guess, they intend to create misunderstandings between us,” she said, and her boyfriend just shrugged in a ‘What can I do?’ manner.Â
“My my! I thought you used your manipulating skills only with us lowly peasants. I never thought you’d use it against your Sunshine too. Captain Bianca thinks she’s brainwashing you to do her bidding when in actuality it’s the other way around,” Hera smirked, her eyes widened pushing her brows up as she nodded in appreciation. “Poor Bianca, her smart-ass doesn’t know what a motherfucker her best friend is,” she stated, shaking her head in mock pity.Â
“You know me so well, Goddess and I love your smart brain. But I don’t think I appreciate that title. Just for the record, the only mother I’ll be fucking would be my children’s mummy,” he said with a straight face and Hera bit the inside her cheek blushing hard. She playfully slapped him on the cheek and laughed along with him.Â
After spending a few more minutes in the pleasantly quiet atmosphere, Hunter suggested they should head back to their rooms now as the breeze started to get chillier. Hera hummed her agreement. His hand came down to hold her wrist, and she immediately swatted it away. “If you want to hold my hand, let’s intertwine our fingers together. I’m not letting you drag me with my wrist,” she said, trying hard to hide the evidence of her distress.Â