Villa Nettiea

Chapter 27

As Mew, Gulf, and Mae settled down at a table, Edgar joined them with a smug grin on his face. His voice was a little too loud as he greeted them, and it immediately started to irritate Gulf.

"So, Mew," Edgar began, his eyes darting between the two, "I've heard so much about your family. Your parents are so well-known in the business world, right? You must have some pretty big shoes to fill, huh?" His tone was too friendly, but there was a hint of judgment in it, like he was trying to size up Mew, almost as if he were competing for something.

Gulf didn't even look up from his noodles, but his mood had shifted. His hands gripped the chopsticks tighter, and his jaw clenched. He wasn't in the mood for small talk, especially not with someone like Edgar.

"Can you eat quietly?" Gulf snapped, his tone sharp. "Some of us are trying to enjoy our meal." His voice was low but laced with anger, making Mew glance at him nervously. He could tell that Gulf's patience was wearing thin.

Edgar, unfazed by the outburst, continued talking with a loud, almost obnoxious tone. "Yeah, I've met your parents before, Gulf. They seem like such an amazing family. Too bad you don't talk about them much, huh? They must be proud of you, especially with everything you've been through." Edgar leaned back in his chair, smirking, clearly trying to provoke Gulf.

Gulf's eyes narrowed, and his grip on his chopsticks tightened until his knuckles turned white. The more Edgar talked, the angrier Gulf became. "Shut up, Edgar," Gulf growled, his voice rising. "You don't know anything about me or my family. So just keep your mouth shut before you make me lose my appetite." His mood swings were evident now, his anger bubbling to the surface.

Edgar raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the reaction he was getting from Gulf. "Oh, come on, Gulf. You know I'm just trying to be friendly. I've known your family for years, remember? And you know... I've always admired you." Edgar's voice dropped, almost mockingly, as he leaned forward.

Gulf's temper flared at the mention of Edgar's admiration, and he couldn't keep it in anymore. "Admired me? Are you serious? You've been pretending to be my friend, all while acting like you're better than me." His voice was full of bitterness, and he stood up abruptly, pushing his chair back with force. "You've been trying to get into my head ever since I met you, haven't you?"

Mae, who had been sitting silently, looked between them with a worried expression. "I'm sorry, I really am," she said, her voice apologetic. "Edgar, please, just give Gulf a break. You're making him upset."

But Edgar just grinned, not seeming to care about the tension he was causing. "Relax, Mae. I'm just having a bit of fun. I didn't mean anything by it," he said, though it was clear from his smirk that he was enjoying getting under Gulf's skin.

Mew stood up and placed a hand on Gulf's arm, trying to calm him down. "Gulf, take a deep breath. Let's just eat, okay?" His voice was gentle, trying to ease the situation, but he knew this wasn't just about the meal.

Gulf shook his head, his eyes burning with anger. "No. He's been pushing my buttons for far too long. And I'm done with it." He turned to Edgar one last time, his voice sharp. "You can keep your 'admiration' to yourself. I'm not interested."

Edgar finally seemed to realize that Gulf wasn't going to back down. "Alright, alright. I'll drop it for now," he said with a fake smile, but the tension in his eyes remained. "But just so you know, Gulf, you'll never be able to shake me off. Not when I've got so many connections with your family."

Mew could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "Gulf, calm down. Let's just go," Mew suggested, pulling Gulf back down into his chair.

Gulf shot one last glare at Edgar before sitting down, his mood still tense but slightly more under control. Mae sighed and gave a small, apologetic smile to Mew and Gulf.