72 Pool Day (1/2)
”No, no! Of course, I don't.” The guy was intimidated by Linri. He was handsome and had this dangerous around him so the guy did not want to mess with him for no reason. There was plenty of fish in the sea. There was no need to throw away his life for one girl.
After saying that the guy left there in a hurry.
”I guess that's the end of it.” Linri let go of Jaime.
”Wow! My knight in shining armour! Never knew that you cared.” Jaime was stunned when Linri pulled her closer. She did not know how to react. She was happy that he helped but also a little sad that he let go of her so quickly.
”Well, I actually didn't. It was that little lass over there asking me to help. You said it yourself 'You are not a princess that needs rescuing'.” Jaime was dissatisfied with his answer. Why did he have to be such a jerk every time? One moment he becomes her dream guy and in the next becomes a total asshole.
She was about to speak when something unexpected happened.
*Splash*
”You insensitive jerk! Can't you be a little nicer?” It was Brie, upon hearing Linri's words towards Jaime she could not hold herself back and pushed him to the pool. She was impulsive like that. Seeing Brie stand up for her made Jaime feel warmer in her heart. It was also a bonus to see Linri struggling in the pool.
”No need to waste your words on a block of wood like that little sis. Let's get something to drink and leave him to think about his wrongdoings... alone.” Jaime hugged Brie from her arm and left together, leaving behind a Linri who was gasping for air by the side of the pool.
'Ugh, this is so hard!' Linri was shouting in his head. It was not that swimming was hard. No the hard part was something else. It was the current status quo of his relationship with Jaime. He knew that Jaime was kind of liking him as a member of the opposite sex but he did not want to ruin their friendship so he could not just outright refuse her. He had to tread this fine line where she would eventually stop liking him on her own without breaking their friendship.
He was a social manipulator, meaning it was easy for him to formulate a plan for it; but executing it was not exactly a walk in the park. This situation being the Exhibit A. He was trying to make her feel colder towards him but as a result, he was mercilessly thrown to the pool and left alone. He considered just outright refusing her but he knew that it would not work the way he intended. If he did that their friendship would become awkward and gradually she would either distance herself or give him an ultimatum, being either getting together with her or stop associating all together. He had first-hand experience with that kind of situation so he did not want to lose his only friend here.