Day Seventy…
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Jane and Stephen remained skeptical of Nathan's excuse. However, another person joined the group, wrapping his arms around Nathan's shoulders.
"Time to begin our practice! Nathan will teach me how to improve my shooting skills." Aiden cheerfully interjected, drawing everyone's attention. Aiden had recently approached Ethan, requesting the young genius to help him find Cherry's whereabouts. He was determined to make another attempt at winning her heart.
Nathan simply nodded, going along with his best friend's cover story. It appeared that Aiden had once again come to his aid with this alibi.
"Hi Miss Jane, it's good to see you back!" Aiden greeted her with enthusiasm. He had come to the realization that in his pursuit of winning Cherry's heart, he needed to earn the approval of her best friend, Phantomflake!
Jane smiled back at Aiden, and Nathan couldn't help but notice the friendliness in her expression. It stirred a feeling of envy in his heart as he couldn't help but sense her distant demeanor toward him, contrasting with the warm smile she shared with Aiden.
'She even smiles at Aiden. But she appears to be unhappy after seeing me here.' Nathan lamented to himself.
Aiden grabbed his gun and assumed his shooting stance, with Nathan doing the same. Jane and Stephen watched as they began firing. Memories of the night when Nathan had saved her life flooded Jane's mind, reminding her of his exceptional marksmanship.
After the first round of their practice shooting, Aiden finally gave up. He never hit the bullseye, while Nathan consistently shot his target with precision. Aiden was relieved that Cherry wasn't present; otherwise, he would have felt embarrassed by his shooting performance.
"How about you, Steph? Would you like to give it a try?" Jane asked, gesturing toward the gun and the shooting target.
Stephen smiled sheepishly and replied, "I'm a doctor. I'm more skilled with a scalpel than with guns."
"It's okay. I can teach you," Jane suggested, grabbing his hands and pulling him up.
ραndαsΝοvεl ƈοm Stephen grinned and allowed himself to be guided to the shooting spot by Jane. He couldn't resist her persuasive charm, and besides, he was always up for learning something new as long as Jane would be his trainer.
With her guidance, he took his stance, feeling her hands gently adjust his grip on the gun. He could sense her patient encouragement as she helped him aim at the target downrange. Despite his initial hesitation, her confidence in him was infectious.
As they squeezed the trigger together, Stephen felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness. The gunshot rang out, and he watched as the bullet hit the target, not quite at the bullseye, but close enough to bring a proud smile to his face. Jane's presence made the experience far more enjoyable than he had expected.
"You almost hit the target. See, you can do it." Jane patted his back, commending him.
"Sigh. How I wish Cherry would teach me how to shoot as well," Aiden chimed in, putting on a pitiful face.
Jane and Stephen erupted into a peal of laughter. They resumed the shooting practice as Jane continued to guide him.
However, unknown to them, there was someone who was no longer enjoying this scene. Nathan couldn't help but feel a surge of jealousy coursing through him as he watched Jane patiently instructing Stephen on how to shoot.
His brows furrowed, and his jaw clenched slightly as he observed their interaction before his eyes. The way Jane stood behind Stephen, guiding his hands and helping him aim, made Nathan's chest tighten with an unfamiliar mix of emotions.
The tightness in his chest intensified as he saw Stephen's sheepish smile and the way Jane's laughter filled the air. He felt a pang of envy, wishing that he was the one sharing this moment with her, the one receiving her attention and guidance.
Nathan's clenched fists relaxed as he reminded himself he shouldn't feel this way. Stephen already talked to him and informed him that he would pursue Jane and would confess his feelings for her. But for that moment, his expression couldn't hide the undeniable traces of jealousy that flickered across his face. His eyes now betrayed a hint of frustration and insecurity.
Nathan made a deliberate effort to shift his focus away from the sight of Jane teaching Stephen how to shoot. He decided to channel his emotions into shooting at his target, using it as an outlet to release his negative emotions.
With determination, he gripped his firearm and aimed it at the target downrange. The rhythmic thud of gunfire echoed through the shooting range as he fired round after round, each shot serving as a release for the jealousy and frustration that had momentarily consumed him. As he concentrated on his shooting, the tension in his body slowly began to ease, and he regained a sense of control over his emotions.
"Eh? What's going on with Nathan? Is he in a bad mood again?" Aiden discreetly sized up Nathan from behind, his curiosity piqued. "I'm wondering if he's already aware of the news."
Aiden decided to draw their attention, clapping his hands to break the shooting rhythm. Stephen, Jane, and Nathan halted their shooting and turned to face him. Cherry had also joined the group, completing their little gathering. She was even surprised to see Nathan and Aiden there.
"I don't know if everyone already heard the news," Aiden spoke up.
"News about what?" Jane asked. She was the one who wasn't around for seven days. What did she miss?
Aiden scratched his head, glancing at Nathan with hesitation. It appeared that everyone in the group was clueless about the recent news.
"I read a news article about Abigail's engagement. She's planning to retire from the entertainment industry," Aiden announced, making the revelation.
A hush fell over the group at this unexpected news. Jane couldn't help but cast a worried glance in Nathan's direction, wondering about his reaction. Stephen and Cherry also turned to Nathan then shifted their gaze back to Aiden, giving him a warning look. Aiden's blabbering mouth dropped a bomb and ruined the mood once more.
Concern filled the hearts of everyone in the group, but surprisingly Nathan simply stood there, his eyes blinking as he wrestled with his emotions. It was an unexpected turn of events, leaving him deep in thought.
'Why? Why can't I feel any trace of jealousy after hearing about Abigail's engagement? Why does it bother me more to see Jane and Stephen interacting?' Nathan contemplated, his internal turmoil growing.
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