Twilight of Shadows | LingOrm (GxG)

THIRTY NINE

Earn bumped into Lada as she was about to leave the room, her eyes immediately lighting up with mischief. "Whoa! Where are you sneaking off to?" she asked, blocking Lada's path with a playful smirk.

Lada avoided eye contact, clearly trying to move past her. "I need to get Narin ready for dinner," she muttered, her voice clipped, as she tried to step around Earn.

Earn wasn't having it. "Wait," she said, grabbing Lada's arm gently but firmly. "I miss you. How long are you planning to keep up this cold treatment?"

Lada sighed, clearly irritated but keeping her composure. "Let go, Earn. I don't have time for this right now. Narin's waiting."

"Yeah, nope." Earn planted herself in front of Lada again, grinning like a cat that just caught a mouse. "What are you gonna do about it, huh, baby?"

Lada's eyes flicked towards the hallway, her tone becoming more serious. "Narin's going to see this, and it won't look good. Move, Earn."

Earn's grin only widened. "Ohhh, you're pulling out my lame excuse now? Really? You think that's gonna work on me?" She tilted her head playfully, stepping even closer. "Come on, Lada..."

Lada finally looked at her, exasperated. "Earn, I'm not playing. We have things to do."

"Things to do? Oh, sure. Like avoiding me?" Earn teased, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. "How long are you going to resist me, hmm? I'm not letting you off the hook that easily."

Earn stood firmly in Lada's path, her arms crossed with a teasing smirk on her lips. "You know that hot guy from the pool earlier? The one who asked for my number?"

Lada kept her expression blank, but her eyes flickered with something — jealousy, maybe. "What about him?"

Earn leaned in, her voice dropping to a mischievous whisper. "He texted me five minutes ago... asking if I'm free tonight."

She paused for effect, enjoying the way Lada's jaw clenched ever so slightly. "If you keep up this cold treatment, I might just end up in his bed, baby."

Lada's eyes narrowed, but she refused to bite, though Earn could feel the tension rise between them. "Do whatever you want, Earn," Lada replied coolly, her tone tight but controlled as she tried to walk past.

Earn laughed, moving to block her again. "Ooooh, someone's jealous," she teased, wiggling her eyebrows. "Admit it."

"Jealous?" Lada scoffed, keeping her distance though Earn could see the hint of irritation. "I'm not worried about some random guy. Go ahead, see if he can handle you."

Earn grinned, stepping closer, clearly enjoying the game. "Handle me? Oh, please. He wouldn't last two minutes." She paused, her voice turning softer. "But you know, if you keep this up, you might just push me into his arms. What then?"

Lada's eyes met Earn's, her gaze intense, but she still refused to give in. "Then I guess that's your choice, isn't it?"

Earn chuckled softly, stepping back just enough to let Lada pass. "Alright, keep playing it cool. But we both know you're not fooling anyone."

She leaned in closer, her voice dripping with playful challenge. "Are you sure, Lada?" she asked, eyes gleaming with mischief.

Lada kept her face neutral, though Earn could see her jaw tighten. "Move, Earn," Lada said, her voice steady but betraying the flicker of frustration beneath the surface.

Earn raised her hands in surrender, grinning. "Very well..." she stepped aside slowly, letting Lada pass.

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