20

With numerous directions from our friends and I, Aly made her way here safely.

Tramping towards us, she outright collapsed right onto the bench. Her eyes were deadly pale and brimming with tears, while her expression was as white as paper. Most of us all had our arms crossed as we stared down on her, as if we were some juries on court judging every inch of her actions.

She looked like she wandered through oceans and mountains just to get here—well, she did technically traverse through the mountains. Throwing out a silent breath, I decided to sit next to her and massaging her rather hunched back.

"Rena..." she whined.

"I told you so many times to have Rena pick you up!" Naomi berated. "You know your sense of direction is non-existent, right?!"

"Whoa now, that's cruel..." Mark butted in.

"But it's true! Every time she tries to get out alone, she messes up and is in places she shouldn't be. Geez!" She huffed, ruffling through her hair as Sam and Adelynn—who have already arrived with Seb—could helplessly laugh. "It's been happening millions of times but she never understands!"

Even Aly's smile was distorted as she staggered getting back on her feet. "Let's just go to the arcade and forget everything that happened..." she croaked as she trudged away into the mall lobby.

"Still the same ol' Alyssa I see," Seb jeered and stepped forward, a smirk spreading across his face. "How did you manage to make it to school or home, it's a mystery even the best detectives may never solve."

Aly's cheeks were crimson red. "The real mystery here is how you never shut your annoying ass mouth," she retorted as she shook her fist. "I can solve it for you."

"Empty threats ain't it, my friend."

"Out of all things I despise in this world... it's being called your friend." And not even a second later, Aly had bounced back to herself as she exchanged jabbing remarks with Seb. I guess... that works?

"You're in luck, the feeling's mutual."

"It has been years, and you two never stopped arguing for heaven's sake..." Adelynn groaned and placed her hand on her face as she shook her head, while Mark and the girls flocked together and giggled at their new form of entertainment. Pretty amusing, but all the bickering gets old fast...

Once I invited Edward and the gang to our group, I was already anticipating incessant quarrels, but that was the only downside of this hangout. While the rest were so occupied with each other, Edward and I were left to ourselves—in fact, he had been walking beside me all this time.

This was perfect.

"W-What do you wanna play?" I asked.

"I'm fine with whatever," he answered, "But I'm kinda good with claw games."

Kinda? Did he not remember back then, he nearly wiped out the entire claw machine and brought home a huge bag of plushies? Kinda is really not the word to describe your skills...

"Well, y-you've always been good with them," I sorted up. "Well... l-let's play that as soon as we get there."

"Sure," he agreed.

Unfortunately, the claw machines weren't the others' first choice as we entered the vast arcade. Like every other game centers we have been to, lights from the game machines scintillated all over my vision, accompanied by a succession of bombastic music more upbeat than Jordan's playlists.

In a heartbeat, Naomi and Samantha marched towards the air hockey before anyone else could. Since the last time they played, their points tied, so they planned on settling in their scores once and for all. Last time they had begged Aly for more tokens, but she snatched their arms and dragged them out because somehow, she had been hearing my stomach growl.

Was it that loud? I fidgeted.

"Mark, you're the referee of the game, whether you like it or not," Naomi announced as Samantha shoved him forward before he could protest. Aly sighed loudly, but she didn't dismiss their shenanigans, while Adelynn followed them. Perhaps she's still recovering from the previous fiasco...

Seb and Edward stayed behind, and then there was me, virtually sandwiched between both of them. Even if they kept a distance out of my personal space, if I made a brisk movement, my shoulders would inevitably hit them. Moreover, their heights were not helping at all.

Seb watched the incoming tournament with nothing but sheer amusement and his friend... well, he maintained his stoic face and being the Edward we all knew.

I snapped away the moment he took notice, but well, like that did anything at all. I gulped as my heart scampered at an incredible speed. Not only one, but now both of the men's gazes were rooted on me! God, I never had this many guys stare at me at once... Also, why Seb's on me too?

"You game or not?!" Naomi shouted as she gripped her paddle after stretching both of her arms.

"Bro, I already am! Just waiting for your slow-witted ass," exclaimed Sam back as she adjusted her glasses. While Mark passed the red puck to the center of the table, Aly and Adelynn began clapping their hands, cheering at the girls. Look at them being so fired up... so cute.

"So, who do you think will win?" Seb chuckled as he turned towards us—specifically at me—brushing a few strands of his bangs falling into his brows.

"H-Hard to say!" I replied. "It can be Naomi, but it can also be Sam. There really h-has not been landslide wins with them."

"That's gonna be intense—oh Ed, where you going, man?" When Seb paused and called out on Edward, it immediately piqued my interest away from the battle and upon him. He had apparently strolled towards a lone, tiny-sized claw machine hiding in the corner, patiently waiting for anyone to engage with it.

Wow... I didn't even see that. Guess he really wants to play it. I persuaded myself to go after him, and Seb trailed behind.

The prizes inside the machine were not plushies, but rather simple bracelets of glittering gemstones with varying shades of color. It looked like they were heavy for the crane to carry them, but its claws seemed sizable enough to scoop the bright accessories. So beautiful... I've never seen them anywhere else before.

Edward gently placed his hands on the glass and pulled his head closer. Ogling at all the bracelets inside, his jaw slightly dangled open and his eye lightened up. Even without telling us, a slight change of his straight face already meant a thousand words. When's the last time I saw him being genuinely invested with something...?

"You're interested in those b-bracelets...?" I questioned, and he immediately blinked out of his daze. "I can get one for you."

Genius move. For real this time. It felt like decades since I had given Edward something. Besides, when he spent these types of prizes with his own pocket money, he had given a few of them to me, even insisting when I refused. I could never forget the broad grin and the amount of sunshine radiating out of him.

And now, it's my turn.

"Oh no. It's fine. I don't want it." He expeditiously rejected my offer, then whirled on his heels so that his back was on me, "I'm just... thinking how pretty they are, but, I'm not gonna wear them."

I reverted back to the claw machine, and this time, I inspected the bracelets. Indeed, they were gorgeous, and in fact, some of these bracelets were a perfect match for him; especially the dark sapphire bracelet conveniently placed beside the chute. Hmm, Edward did like bracelets as a child...

Before I could ponder further, someone patted my shoulder.

It was Seb.

"My man right there wants it," he whispered to my ears and beamed. "Don't be deterred by him. Gotta get him one."

Meanwhile, Edward watched the fierce fight between Samantha and Naomi, especially with all the bouncing noises of their puck. Then, I became aware of his... interesting movements: he had been shaking his leg, and his hand had been constantly stroking through his blond hair. It looked as though he wanted to glance over his shoulders but forced himself not to.

I never knew Edward... can be so readable.

With upturned lips, I bent down and slipped two tokens into the coin slot, and the idle machine roared into life. Its neon lights flashed bright and some cheery music blasted out, as if it was thanking me with great honor.

As I moved the joystick to direct the claw towards my targeted bracelet, a sudden presence manifested right beside me, erecting all of my tiny hairs. The warm breaths that I could feel through my skin belonged to none other than Edward.

"You're gonna get it?"

"Y-Yeah! I s-suddenly thought of getting one," I both nodded and blinked excessively. The fact he was standing only a couple of inches away from my face...

Because tufts of his hair hid nearly half of his face, I barely could study his response. However, he did momentarily pause before revolving towards Seb, who just shrugged.

I stopped the crane underneath the sapphire bracelet and smacked on the button, quickly crossing my fingers. The claws descended then shut close, grasping on the wanted bracelet and a cerulean one, but before I could go over the moon, as the crane ascended, the former... fell back into the pile.

My chest sank as the crane fetched on the cerulean bracelet and dropped it down the chute. Whoops, I think I might have aimed for the wrong one... but it wasn't that bad right?

I hunkered down and grabbed the bracelet, listening to the rattling gemstones. I spun around on my heels towards Edward, who was more focused on the prize in my hand.

"Sorry, I-I probably didn't get the color that you wanted, but here... I got you one," I mumbled, bestowing it to him. "I t-think it looks good on you."

"...but I didn't want it though," Edward murmured as he slightly withdrew and creased his brow. "I thought I made that clear. I just thought th—"

"Yeah, yeah, you clearly didn't want it for sure," Seb chimed in, snorting. "Like when I bought you choco bread and you said you don't want it, but gulped it whole. You said the hoodie I gave on your birthday sucks, but there you are, wearing it as though it's the only outfit you have. Do you have any other objections, hmm?"

"I..." He couldn't finish his own sentence, as Seb had him cornered into a dead-end and tight-lipped. Wow, that's expected of his best friend. He knows him best.

"God Ed, I never knew you could be this goofy!"

Edward made sure to give a good glare at his simpering best friend, before his reluctant hand reached out to take the bracelet. He then inspected all parts of his new souvenir, proceeding to wiggle the gems one by one and rolled it into his wrist.

"Thanks, Serena. I just didn't expect this..." he muttered and I smiled weakly.

I seriously couldn't contain all the giddiness fluttering inside my stomach. Seeing him so content surely blesses me.