“What is it that you understand?” Anthony asked facetiously, staring him in the eye boldly.
“What do you think?” Kyle asked in return, deeply stirred despite his calm demeanor.
There was no way he would embarrass himself in front of a boy.
“How would I know what is on your mind?” Anthony replied.
Looking at the proud boy acting maturely, Kyle suddenly thought of something which could completely throw Anthony off guard.
True enough, Anthony was taken aback when Kyle suddenly crouched and pinched him on the cheek. “What are you doing? Let me go!” the boy cried out with his eyes wide like saucers, finally putting down the little adult act, yet his demand was not heeded as Kyle pinched him even harder.
“Wow, you truly have such soft cheeks!”
“You!” There was nothing the helpless boy could do but glare at Kyle.
“Me? Do you have a problem with me? What's wrong with me pinching you? This is what all adults do. Besides, you're the one who tricked me.”
While he spoke, he squeezed Anthony's cheeks more forcefully as if he was enjoying himself.
“Hm! As expected of Anonymous; even your cheeks feel different from others!” Kyle exclaimed.
Everyone broke out laughing when they saw Kyle teasing the boy, for no one had ever dared poke fun at Anthony because of his fierce attitude.
At the sight, Benjamin and Denise were worried that Anthony might lash out at Kyle, but the truth was there was nothing much Anthony could do.
On the other hand, Thalia could not believe that the thought of pinching the boy's cheeks had never once crossed her mind.
Feeling everyone's burning gazes, Anthony blushed at the embarrassment and finally pushed Kyle's hands away. “Don't be rude. This is not something you do to random strangers.”
“Random strangers? You're Anonymous, the all-powerful hacker,” Kyle replied mockingly.
Anthony was almost lost for words, but in the nick of time, he replied wittily, “You sure are good at sucking up to people.”
“Well, it's not like you don't know me. That's how I got you to join Darknetz, isn't it?” Kyle replied, completely unfazed, although he knew Anthony was trying to be sarcastic.
“That's true.” Anthony nodded with his lips pursed.
“You just have to get used to it,” Kyle added.
“You speak exactly the same when you're online,” Anthony commented as the two looked at each other.
“I can't say the same for you.”
“Are you surprised?”
“Oh, yes! I'm so surprised!” Kyle assured with a perfunctory smile.
“Any comments about that?” Anthony asked provocatively with his brows arched.
Here, Kyle stood up and glanced at Thalia, who was behind him. “Bind him up and send him back to Darknetz. We're dissecting this boy to see what he's made of.”
“Just him or all three of them?” Thalia asked, taking a step forward.
Kyle looked back at the three children and pondered before pointing at Anthony and Benjamin. “Just these two. Spare the girl. She's too cute for that.”
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