Chapter 34

For a moment, Hunter didn't know what to say. 

He just stared at Aiden's pale bruises. But it wasn't just the injuries that caught his attention, it was also the way Aiden was trying to hold himself together by acting tough as if daring Hunter to say anything. 

The idiot was trying to look strong but he wasn't.

Hunter blew out snappily and ran a hand down his face. "You've completely lost your mind."

"What?" Aiden scowled while shifting his weight onto his uninjured leg.

Hunter gestured at him with an exaggerated wave of his hand. "Look at you. You're a mess. Did they hit you so hard you started believing you're a badass now?"

Aiden was pretty offended and crossed his arms, ignoring the way it made his ribs ache. "I am a badass."

Hunter raised an eyebrow, slowly looking him up and down. "Yeah, sure. A badass who gets his ass kicked and then limps away like a beaten-up chihuahua. Aiden, please have some sense and–"

"How dare you?!" Aiden gasped dramatically. "You did not just compare me to a chihuahua!"

Hunter folded his arms. "I did. What are you gonna do about it? Limp at me aggressively?"

Aiden narrowed his eyes. "I swear to god, if I didn't feel like my ribs were shifting every time I breathed, I'd deck you right now."

Hunter let out a small snort before his amusement faded, his eyes darkening slightly. "Stop lying to yourself. And just tell me if it's the bullies who hurt you?" 

Aiden hesitated for a moment before rolling his eyes. "You don't have to worry about that. My mom already took care of them. They're in jail now. Those dumbasses aren't getting out for at least six months."

Relief hit Hunter first. They deserved worse but the relief quickly turned into something heavier, something he didn't want to name. He felt worse knowing Aiden was hurt and he wasn't there to save him. 

Aiden caught his expression and quickly looked away because he knew that look. Hunter's face always tensed like that whenever he blames himself for something he had no control over. Aiden could already tell what he was thinking. If Hunter found out the fight happened on the same day Aiden ran away from him, he'd never forgive himself.

So Aiden didn't say anything. Hunter already looked close to snapping, fists clenching and unclenching at his sides, like he was trying to hold himself back from ripping those bullies apart. 

After Aiden calmed down a few days later after the incident, he wanted to go back and punch Hunter for scaring him like that. He wanted to demand an apology and tell him he wasn't allowed to push Aiden away like that. But then, his mother got involved and he got caught up in making sure those bullies paid for what they did.

And now, looking at Hunter, he was glad he hadn't come back earlier because Hunter looked like he'd barely been holding it together as it was.

Still, Aiden didn't regret what he said that day. Hunter really scared him. Hunter knew exactly what would make Aiden run, and he used it against him without any mercy. It wasn't fair and it was really a shitty move. 

So now that Hunter was actually in front he can do exactly what he had wanted, right? Hunter barely had time to register the change in Aiden's expression before his little fist connected with his face which left a big blow. 

"Ow!" Hunter stumbled back with his head snapping to the side. A sharp sting spread across his cheek and as he brought a hand up to his nose, he felt the unmistakable warmth of blood.

Blinking in surprise, he looked back at Aiden, who stood there with his arms crossed, looking ridiculously proud of himself. His lip curled in a small huff, his cheeks puffed out like a pissed-off hamster.

"Are you mad?" Hunter yelled furiously. 

"Damn right I was mad that day. Now we're even."

Hunter just stared at him. He swiped the back of his hand under his nose, wiping away the blood. "Even for what? You idiot!"

Aiden scoffed like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "For scaring me, obviously." Then, with an exaggerated wave of his hand, he added, "And I forgive you, by the way."

Hunter blinked in obvious confusion. "Forgive me?"

Aiden nodded.

Hunter put up a strong nonchalant face. "I never apologized."

"Well, duh," Aiden rolled his eyes. "Because you're stubborn as hell."

"Aiden, I meant what I said. I don't want to see you. We're not friends anymore. How long will you take to get this in your little brain?" 

Aiden's smirk faded slightly. He studied Hunter's face before tightened his arms around himself. "You're just saying that to push me away."

"I'm not," Hunter replied, sighing in annoyance. "I don't want to do anything with you. Now, leave me the fuck alone." 

And with that, he turned on his heel, ready to walk away. But Aiden being Aiden wasn't about to let that happen.

Before Hunter could take another step, Aiden grabbed his wrist and yanked him back. With all the force his smaller frame could muster, he shoved Hunter against the nearest wall, slamming both palms against the surface beside Hunter's shoulders.

Hunter barely had the time to react when Aiden stood chest-to-chest with him, practically vibrating with anger.

Hunter, meanwhile, just looked down at him. Aiden was small. His arms were tense, his fists clenched, his brows furrowed in the cutest little glare. His cheeks were slightly flushed and his breathing was uneven from all the dramatic effort he was putting into trapping a big guy like Hunter.

Hunter's lips twitched. "Are you trying to intimidate me?"

"Shut up," Aiden snapped but his cheeks turned red. 

Hunter tilted his head a bit, genuinely intrigued. "Are you maybe…imitating me?"

Aiden's eyes widened and his face heated up. "I said shut your damn mouth!" 

Hunter almost laughed. Aiden, growing increasingly frustrated, grabbed the front of Hunter's shirt and shook him, not that it did much, considering the size difference. "Why are you so stubborn?! Why do you always do this?!"

"Do what?"

"This!" Aiden gestured wildly. "Being all distant when we both know you don't actually mean it!"

Being so close Hunter felt unease and looked away. "Aiden—"

"No!" Aiden yanked him back, making Hunter look directly at him. Aiden's little heart picked up speed. "Look at me."

Aiden's glare softened. "Never look away from me like that ever," he declared. "And I like you. So why the hell are we having stupid, petty fights instead of going on dates like normal people?!"

Hunter had never regretted anything more in his life than opening his stupid mouth just now. His ears were burning, his pulse was racing, and most of all, he was staring at the walking nightmare in front of him, who had just frozen mid-breath, staring at Hunter like he'd just committed a war crime.

"Who—who said I like you?" Hunter stammered, trying to backpedal from whatever hell he had just unleashed.

Aiden, eyes wide with a look of pure offended betrayal, pointed an accusing finger straight at his chest. "YOU DID!" 

Oh yeah I did. Hunter's soul left his body. "Well, I don't like you anymore," he rushed out, hoping that would somehow stop Aiden from looking at him like a hunter who had just spotted his prey.

Aiden gasped. Not a normal gasp. A loud and dramatic gasp that made a few birds outside scatter. He clutched his chest as if he'd been personally stabbed. 

"You—" His breath hitched. "You don't?" His voice trembled like he was in some tragic romance drama.

Hunter felt useless when he couldn't deny it. "I—"

"NO." Aiden suddenly lunged, gripping Hunter's large arms with his tiny hands like a deranged koala, forcing him down so they were eye to eye. His strength was ridiculous for someone so small.

"That's not how this works, Hunter Gray. There are no take backs in this game."

Hunter's breath suddenly became irregular and he blinked rapidly. "Let go of me–" 

"I'll not," Aiden's eyes burned with a wild determination, and his smirk turned downright feral. "Because I like you."

Hunter's heart flipped and a lump of butterflies erupted in his stomach at the sudden confession. Though he tried to play it cool. "You crazy-" 

"And," Aiden cut him off, voice dripping with self-satisfaction. "You called me spoiled, remember?" He tilted his head, watching Hunter with amusement that made him very nervous. "And what do spoiled brats always do, Hunter?"

Hunter couldn't fathom this dangerous creature in front of him. "They throw tantrums?"

"No, idiot," Aiden's grin widened dangerously. He yanked Hunter's chin up, forcing him to look at him. "We get what we want. And right now…" Aiden inched closer, his voice dropping into a tone that sent alarms blaring in Hunter's head. "I want you."

Hunter had never felt fear before until this exact moment. For the first time in his entire life, he—the terrifying, brooding, and supposedly intimidating Hunter Gray was scared.

Aiden's face was so close that Hunter could clearly see his eyes burning with pure unhinged confidence, his smirk all teeth like he was about to devour him.

Hunter could barely breathe from this menacing energy Aiden was emitting directly at him. 

"Get ready to be persuaded, babe," Aiden smirked and patted his cheek twice. His voice turned sing-songy as if this was some fun little game instead of a psychological ambush. He leaned toward Hunter's lips and whispered the last part. "Because Aiden Harvey never gives up." 

Hunter's brain was practically dead by now. 

Suddenly, as if he hadn't just ruined Hunter's life, Aiden let go of his poor friend and pulled back. He beamed and spun on his heel, he picked up his things that fell on the ground. 

Before walking away, he turned over his shoulder and called out, "See you sooooon, baby~."

He happily skipped away like the little menace and chaotic demon who had just claimed his next victim.

Hunter stood there for a long while unable to comprehend what just happened. After some time, the horrific realization dawned upon him.

That thing—that dangerous, unhinged, feral little goblin—was coming for him.

And Hunter?

Hunter was so utterly doomed.

😄😾🥰

Aiden was buzzing with energy as he flopped onto his bed while grinning like an idiot. He kicked his feet like a lovesick teen girl in a rom-com, giggling to himself.

"Hunter is so cute," he rolled onto his stomach. "I can't believe I made him blush. That was so easy."

He had officially declared war on Hunter's stubbornness and he never lost. But now the real question was, how should he persuade him?

He dramatically threw an arm over his face. "I need a strategy! Ahhh!!!"

A genius-level seduction technique to break through Hunter's grumpy, emotionally constipated exterior.

"Shut up, Aiden!" his mother's voice echoed from downstairs. "It's midnight! Go to sleep or I'm throwing your phone out the window!"

Aiden was on top of the world to care about her yelling. 

He wriggled happily like a worm on caffeine. "Hunter, you stubborn idiot, I'll make you mine if it's the last thing I do!" 

He grabbed his phone and went straight to Google to do some research. 

How to make a guy fall in love with you?