'Didn't I tell you he is not a bad guy?'

'Yeah. Yeah!' he replied a bit irritated because of dad.

I placed my arm over Ash's shoulder, "Why didn't you tell us all this before?"

"I didn't know myself," he answered shrugging.

"What! Really!" I asked totally shocked by his answer.

"You have got some nerve to talk to dad like that," Sammy hissed with a glare, crossing her arms.

"And you walked casually like, nothing happened, while we were groaning in pain," Ren argued.

"When?" Ash inquired knitting his brows in confusion.

"When you commented you are tired of standing and we have to suffer because of you," Sammy asserted making air quotes.

"Pardon me but I don't comprehend a thing you are saying."

"Are you kidding?" Sammy growled infuriated and grabbed him by his tee.

"To recall, he didn't seem affected at all. Didn't you feel anything back there!" Ren started, pushing his glasses, a frown creasing his forehead.

Hmm, I tapped my cheek.

He acted normally like nothing's wrong.

"Then why did you sit on the floor?" I asked frowning.

"Because you all were, duh!" He said it like it's an obvious thing.

"And I was kinda tired," he added scratching the back of his head, embarrassed.

"You are messing with us, right?!" I looked at him, feeling that he might burst out laughing and admit he is messing with me but he shook his head in denial and heaved a sigh.

"I was low on energy and I wasn't thinking much. Pardon me if I caused you trouble." His gaze fell and a glum expression took over his features.

"It's alright! It's not a big deal." I squeezed his shoulder and he looked up. Smiling, I said, "Feel free to have a look around." I winked at him.

He smiled back but his small smile was instantly replaced by a big one.

"Wow!" he gushed, his eyes were sparkling with joy. I followed the direction of his eyes and found him looking at the octopus fountain. 

He does like them.

He spared me a glance, I gave him a short nod and he strode towards it.

'Remember our powers didn't work on him so I guess dad's powers too.' I turned towards Ren.

'Yeah. Maybe he's a shield!'

'That might be the case.'

"You jerks, tell me what's going on!" Samantha grabbed Ren and me by our tees, snarling at us.

'Your sister is more violent than your father. I sometimes doubt you both are siblings.'

'We are twins. Our personalities are like two sides of a coin. She is more aggressive while I'm cool,' I grinned shrugging.

'Yeah, you are right! You are a dumbass and who's cool?!' He raised his eyebrow in challenge.

'You redhead,' he mocked smirking.

'You-' I was cut off by Sammy as she tightened her grip.

"You both have got some nerve to ignore me," she growled raising her brow, clenching her jaw.

"Umm…" Ren cleared his throat; pushing his glasses upwards as he rubbed his temples.

"My hands are itching, you know!" She terrorized us, cockily looking at me. Ren gulped visibly, beads of sweat are evident on his forehead.

"Is that so, go hit your hands on a wall!" I retorted grinning. She glared at me and leave Ren to punch me but I turned 180° and twisted her arm. She kicked my back with a thrust and I was about to kiss the ground when Ren grabbed me.

She is two minutes older than me, that doesn't mean she has the right to bully me.

'You blockhead.' Ren kicked my leg as he groaned.

"What the hell, dude?" I grumbled glaring at him. He glared back, his jaw clenched and his lips drawn in a thin line and I realized he has taken the blow on my behalf.

"Who told you to do so? I don't ask for your help!" I argued, mostly annoyed at myself. Knowing very well, I would have done the same for him.

He punched my face, I felt something wet on my lips.

Blood!

He is mad for real.

I instantly wiped the blood, not wanting him to find out, and glared at him.

"Stop being a jerk, will you?!" He snapped at me. We both glared at each other but I backed down.

I huffed, rolling my eyes in frustration, and begin, "We think he is a shield. That's why Nate's powers didn't work on him."

"Explain!" She demanded tapping her foot impatiently. 

I bit my lower lip in fury but goes on because of Ren. I told her everything from the beginning. 

Ren let out a weary sigh and smoothened his tee. I passed my hand through my hair in annoyance. 

Calm down. No need to ruin your mood. I sucked in a few deep breaths; removing creases from my tee, I followed them towards Ash.

As we reached him, he was talking to someone on his mobile.

"I am at a friend's place. I'll be back in a while." 

"Okay, have fun," a woman chirped and hang up.

"You don't look like much but I gotta admit you have got guts," Sammy said, apparently impressed by him.

"I did nothing gutty. I was just honest back there."

"And at school, I did what I thought need to be done. I can do it for anyone without a thought. I can't just back down; I don't care about the outcomes if doing it satisfies my soul.

Regrets are something that will haunt you for the rest of your life and in the end, you will only curse yourself. I don't want to have any regrets." He beamed at us.

"Even if the whole world is against something, I won't wave and stand straight if I feel it's the right thing to do." That last line from him earned my respect.

"Hey, I forget to introduce myself. I am Samantha. I think I like you. You are cute!" She exclaimed with a wink. I gasped and Ren gawked at the same time.

"You want something!" She arched her brow at us intimidating us with her eyes. 

'She is scary.' Ren said in a timid voice.

'I know already, duh! She is a bully.'

'I can't agree less.'

"Are you alright? Sorry for before.' he said glumly.

'Just chill up. It's not a big deal. Thanks for before.' I winked at him.

"Will ya stop talking in your minds?! It's annoying," she snapped infuriated.

Ren backed a step in fear while Ash chuckled softly.

"I appreciate you liking me but pardon me I can't accept it."

'Ahh…he put her down. Now let's see how she is gonna react. Let's hope she doesn't blow up anything,' Dad said in my mind. I glanced at my left and right and found him darting from behind a tree.

'This is bad, Ren. We gotta run!'

'You said something smart for the first time, you idiot!'

'Thanks.'

Samantha smiled while Ren and I shared a look.

'Bomb is gonna explode!'

'The Earth's gonna crack!'

But what she said was beyond our imagination.

"It's alright. I won't give up this early." She gave him a tight-lipped smile while our jaws hit the ground.

'That's my girl!' Dad yelled gaily.

"Ash, I think we need to go." I eyed Ren. He nodded in agreement.

"Alright! Bye!" 

"Where the hell do you think you are going?" Sammy asked leaning towards me, with her hands on her hips.

"I have some business with Ren," I gushed and dashed from there.

'Now!'

I hooked my arm around him from one side while Ren from the other side and we sprinted away.

"Bye, mom!" I yelled as we ran past her.

"Bye! Ash and Ren come again!" She waved at us.

"We will," Ash replied running, and like this, I saved my ass from Sammy.

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