Chapter 41: Chapter 41

JONEA

"How about this? What should I do? I don't want to meet Hunter, but I also need a solution to solve this broken cup handle."

I checked the time on my phone, and it was ticking. I can't think much right now. I immediately replied to Hunter's message and asked him to come to the residential area where I currently live. But I didn't ask him to go to the house. We promised to meet in a park not far from Daran's house.

I grabbed a coat and a scarf. After putting on my boots and wrapping the scarf around my neck to cover part of my face, I ran out of the house while putting the broken cup in my coat pocket.

I ran through the cold weather tonight. Only five minutes to get to the park. The park area is entirely deserted. I'm surprised; maybe this packed area is actually uninhabited.

When I arrived at the park, I didn't expect Hunter to be there waiting for me. He came out of his Porche and came over to me.

"I hope you really have the right solution. "If not, I'll make you regret it this time," I threatened with both clenched fists and looked at Hunter's flat face.

"I don't care even if you pretend not to know me in front of my friends. But, I know you are the Jonea I know only from your fists."

I was shocked and hurriedly crossed my arms behind my back and lowered my head.

"Give me the cup that was broken earlier. Let me fix it." Hunter held out his hand to me.

"What are you going to do with this cup? How are you going to fix it? I thought you came with a similar new cup? I'll buy it at any price if you have it."

Hunter seemed to frown. "Is this cup that special to you? I don't have the same cup and of course there's no time to buy a new one."

"Then how are you going to fix this broken cup?" I'm amazed.

"I'll tell you the secret as long as you accept my invitation to go out and have dinner."

I barely heard Hunter's request. I just agreed to his request while focusing on checking the time on my cellphone.

"Yes, no problem. Hurry up and fix this cup. I'm really in a rush and there's no time to chat."

I took a cup from my coat pocket, which I had wrapped in a kitchen tissue. Then, I carefully handed it over to Hunter. He accepted it and unwrapped the tissue.

"This shouldn't be tricky because only the handle was broken. If this cup breaks into small pieces, it might take a long time."

It was my turn to frown. I am still determining what Hunter plans to do with that cup. But he asked me to wait there and went to his car.

"Wait, Hunter! What would you do?"

He ignored me and continued carrying the broken cup to his car. After some time, Hunter returned and handed me the cup in its original condition. Absolutely no gaps or defects at all.

"Wow! How could that be? Did you use special glue?" I looked behind Hunter's back to find out what he was hiding in the car. "You used a special tool to reconnect this cup handle?"

"It's a secret, Jonea," Hunter said calmly. He kept looking at me with eyes that I couldn't translate. "But, you promised—"

"Yeah... Yeah... I know. Thank You. I don't have time right now and need to leave immediately." I waved and ran, leaving Hunter still frozen in the park.

I need to find out what method he uses to repair this cup. The most important thing now is that the cup is intact again. Either Hunter used special glue or something else. Maybe he secretly replaced it with a new cup. I only have one hope, I hope Daran doesn't realize there is something strange about his cup.

I actually ran all the way home. After closing the door, I jumped in surprise because suddenly, the door handle moved behind me. When I turned around, apparently Daran had gone home.

Daran was carrying shopping bags and looked at me in confusion. "What are you doing here, Jonea? Did you just come out?"

I quickly shook my head. I was even more shocked when I looked at Daran. It wasn't because his return was sudden, but because he didn't wear a mask on his face. And, gosh, Daran is really handsome without a mask. Even though his face looked cold with no expression at all.

"You... Where's your mask?"

"Oh, that," answered Daran casually.

He raised his palm and snapped his fingers. Then, a mask with the face of a devil appeared in his palm. Daran prepared to put the mask back on his face.

"Wait!" I snapped, grabbing Daran's right hand and preventing him from wearing the mask.

"What?" Daran asked. "This is the mask I usually wear. Not harmful."

"That's not what I meant... Didn't you say you were going to the minimarket to buy coffee? Now you go home without wearing a mask. Are you walking around outside without wearing a mask?"

"Yes, of course," answered Daran nonchalantly. "Wouldn't it be strange if I walked around out there wearing a mask?"

I really want to curse as hard as I can this time. How could that be? How heartless he was. All this time, he deliberately wore a mask in front of me and always hid his face. However, he casually shows off his handsome face when he leaves the house and meets strangers.

"What's wrong Jonea?"

"Daran... Is this really your true face?" I started to get curious. Because this is the second time he has shown his face without a mask in front of me.

"Not really," answered Daran casually. "I can change the shape of my face to anything and anyone. Coincidentally, you keep looking at me with this face when I take off the mask."

"Is it true?" I narrowed my eyes in disbelief. So, is Daran's natural face hideous?

Without realizing it, I was still gripping Daran's hand and restraining him from wearing a mask. In seconds, Daran's face suddenly changed into that of an old man with a long white beard on his chin.

I jumped back and let go of Daran's hand.

"See, right? I can change the shape of my face to anything. Would you rather see me looking like an old man like this?"

I'm distraught. I snatched the mask from Daran's hand and pressed it to his face.

"No!" I answered curtly. "I would prefer if you wore a mask in front of me."

I turned around and left Daran at the door. I walked while holding the cup that Hunter had fixed. I quietly returned to the kitchen and put the cup in its original place.

***

DARAN

Jonea gets angry very quickly. I could only shake my head at Jonea's behavior, which looked cheerful for a moment, then a moment later became angry.

"What's wrong with teenage girls these days? Is it due to the influence of growth hormone?"

I took my shopping in the kitchen. As soon as I set foot in the kitchen, suddenly, Jonea appeared in front of me and snatched the shopping bag from my hand.

"Did you bring the chocolate candy I ordered?"

"Well, of course."

Jonea is now smiling broadly as she lifts the shopping bag. She looked around for her chocolate candy and showed it off to me.

"Thank you, Daran. I'll take it to my room as a study companion."

As soon as Jonea left, I wanted to take a cup to drink. But my hand stopped before it touched the cup. At that moment, I turned in the direction Jonea had left.

"What has happened here? Why is this cup emitting magic power that I have never seen before? Jonea also lied to me. She said she didn't leave the house, but I saw that the edge of her coat was wet."