Twenty Four

As Jie turned the corner he heard the smack before he saw it happen. Standing, clutching her face with a hurt expression in her eyes stood Bing while Natzin who had delivered the slap looked like she would like to deliver another slap.

"Natzin!" Jie said sharply as he held Bing's arms and moved her away.

He gently pried her hand away from the cheek on which stood the evidence of the slap, a bright red imprint of a hand starkly prominent on her pale face.

After looking at the tears glinting in her eyes he turned around and glared hotly and Natzin who looked nonchalant and even a little proud.

"Why would you do that? What is wrong with you?" Jie growled and Natzin crossed her arms.

"Have you come to save your lover? You felt her distress and immediately came running, how romantic." She said sarcastically.

"What nonsense is that?" He demanded then he felt a small hand snake around his arm and he turned to see that Bing had started to cry.