It Will Always Be A Game

15: Ioche

Your mind is a cage,
and I hold the key.

My feet grip hard to the floor as I feel my heart constrict and thud. I clutch onto Josh's sleeve, causing him to glance at me. A laugh gradually fades from the prince's face as his gaze shifts and locks onto me from a distance. I start to turn away, but Josh's hand grabs my arm, stopping me.

"What are you doing?!" He whispers.

"I'm leaving," I tell him but he yanks me back by my ponytail. I forcefully shove him with the helmet in the chest. "Don't you ever do that again."

"What's wrong with you?" He regards me with a glance that implies I'm deranged.

"How dare you touch my hair?" I shoot him with a glare.

"I was just—"

"Don't do that again." I feel enveloped by a heavy cloak of suppressed fury. Josh's silent, bewildered stare meets mine, his speechless reaction echoing the moment. My eyes shift away as I draw in a deep breath to compose myself. I must control my suppressed rage.

I could sense the prince eyeing us.

"Look, I think I—" Disregarding my words, Josh shakes his head and strides off.

"Where are you going?" I follow him into the restaurant. He keeps walking, showing no intention of stopping. I call him out again, feeling a pang of resentment at myself as I hope for him to stop.

"Stop acting like a child."

"Oh, so I'm at fault now?" He stops and turns around.

"I didn't say that," my eyebrows furrowed.

"Then what," he raises his tone, "what Alyssa?" Frustration flashes in his eyes as he stares down at me, "Why are you so worked up all the time?"

"What do you mean?! You brought me here even after I told you I didn't want to!"

"Because I'm trying to save you from sabotaging your life!" He speaks with exasperation. A scowl deepens on my face as I squint and glare at him.

"Don't say that."

"Why not?" He stands taller.

"Don't say things like that," I say, shaking my head slightly.

"Why not?"

"'Cause it's stupid."

He turns away with a disappointed look and walks away.
Why's he acting this way?

"I'm kidding," I call out and come to a stop in front of him. We stood parallel to their table. From the corner of my eye, I notice him talking to Gabriel, and their heads turn toward us.

"Why can't you take me seriously?"

"It's not tha—" A sneeze escapes my lips, making my damp hair hit my face.
I set the helmet down on a surface and redo my air-dried hair, gathering it in my hands to fashion it into a ponytail.
I can sense their gaze lingering at us. But it was hard to tell since his eyes were hidden behind glasses.