𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄 - lookism

038

———————————————————————————

As Jiho rounds the tree, his eyes lock onto you, and a triumphant grin spreads across his face. "Gotcha!" he exclaims, reaching out to tag you.

You squeal and jump out from your hiding spot, sprinting in the opposite direction, but he's quick on his feet. He lunges forward, and before you know it, his hand lands firmly on your shoulder.

"Tag! You're it!" he shouts, laughing as you whirl around to face him, feigning annoyance.

"Ugh, I can't believe you found me so fast!" you groan, but a smile betrays your frustration. "Fine, I'll get you back!"

Jay takes off running, and you chase after him, heart racing. The thrill of the game fills you with energy, and as you run, you can hear the cheers and laughter from the rest of the group in the background.

You dodge around trees and leap over small bushes, determined to catch up to Jiho. Just when you think you might close the gap, he glances back at you with a mischievous smirk and picks up speed.

"You're going to have to try harder than that!" he calls over his shoulder, and you push yourself to run even faster, grinning with excitement. The moment feels liberating, a stark contrast to everything that has happened recently.

With a burst of adrenaline, you reach out, fingers just grazing his shirt, but it's enough to count. "Got you!" you shout, laughing breathlessly.

Jiho spins around, pretending to be dramatically offended. "No way! That was a lucky shot!"

"Luck or skill, you're it now!" you reply, panting slightly but filled with exhilaration.

As Jiho begins to count, you glance around, watching your friends scatter again, and for a brief moment, everything feels normal.

You land behind the tree, and to your surprise, Vasco is already crouched down, peering around the trunk. His eyes widen as he sees you. "Whoa Didn't expect to find you here," he whispers with a grin.

You both stifle your laughter, trying to remain quiet as Jiho finishes counting. "I guess we're in the same boat," you say, glancing around the tree to see where Jiho is. "He's going to find us any second."

"Let's make a plan," Vasco suggests, his eyes darting around as if he's plotting a daring escape. "If we both bolt in opposite directions, he won't know who to chase first!"

"Good idea!" you nod, your heart racing with excitement. "On the count of three?"

"Three... two... one... go!"

You both spring from behind the tree at the same time, darting in different directions. As you sprint away, you hear Jiho call out, "Hey! You can't do that!"

You weave through the trees, glancing back to see if Jiho is following you or Vasco. The rush of adrenaline makes you feel invincible, and for a moment, the world outside this game fades away.

You find a bush and duck behind it, holding your breath to listen for footsteps. Peeking out, you can see Jiho running past, still searching for Vasco. You stifle a giggle, knowing he has no idea you're right here.

After a few moments, you see Vasco break cover from another direction, and you wave him over silently. He grins and ducks back down next to you. "That was close!" he whispers.

"Do you think we should just stay here until he gives up?" you suggest, laughing softly.

"Or we could try to sneak up on him while he's distracted," Vasco replies, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "What do you think?"

You think for a moment, weighing your options, but the idea of surprising Jiho sounds too tempting to resist. "Let's do it!" you whisper, adrenaline pumping.

With a nod, you both prepare to execute your stealthy plan.

You watch the chaos unfold as Jiho speeds after Jay, who's doing his best to evade him. Jay glances back, his eyes wide smiling as he sprints, clearly enjoying the thrill of the chase. Meanwhile, Mira and Zoe are sprinting in the opposite direction, giggling as they weave between trees, trying to outsmart Jay.

"Look at them go" you whisper to Vasco, who's peeking out from the bush, a grin plastered on his face. "I think Jay's got his work cut out for him!"

"Definitely!" Vasco replies, trying to stifle his laughter. "It's like a game of cat and mouse!"

As you watch the scene, you can't help but feel a rush of joy. It's nice to see everyone so carefree, especially after everything that's happened recently. You decide to make your move. "What if we try to help Jay?" you suggest. "We could create a distraction!"

Vasco raises an eyebrow. "How do you propose we do that?"

You think for a moment, then spot a handful of leaves nearby. "We could throw some leaves to make it look like someone's coming from that direction. It might buy Jay some time!"

"Great idea! Let's do it!" Vasco whispers, excitement bubbling in his voice.

You both gather a handful of leaves and, on the count of three, toss them into the air, sending them fluttering down towards zoe. The rustling noise catches Jay's attention, and he looks in your direction, momentarily distracted from Jiho.

"Now's our chance!" Vasco says, and you both quickly make a dash towards the tree line, giggling as you run.

You hear Jay shout start to run after you guys but you and Vasco are already too far away, joining Mira in the laughter as you evade being caught.

"Nice work!" Mira grins at you both. "That was awesome!"

"Thanks!" you say, breathless from running and laughter. "What's the plan now? Should we regroup with zach and Zoe?"

"Definitely! Let's find them before Jay does," says, leading the way as you all navigate through the trees, eager to continue the game together.

———————————————————————————