13 Haggle

"I hate her!" Slater barged into Atlas's room and exclaimed. "That crafty girl! She's purposely making me angry!"

He threw himself on the comfortable lazy couch, fuming.

Atlas, who asked his family not to be disturbed, ignored him. He continued to answer the problem on his study desk.

"Big brother, that crafty piglet did that on purpose!" Slater continued in frustration. "She's trying to take mom and dad away from us!"

"Atlas, I..."

Suddenly, Hugo also came into Atlas's room, only to stop when he saw Slater unloading his anger in this

room.

"What are you doing here, Slater?" asked Hugo with a slight frown. "Atlas is studying for his exam."

о

"I'm frustrated!" Slater grumpily glared at him. "It's that piglet's fault! Not only she is replacing Nina, but she's

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also putting a wedge between us and our parents."

Slater jumped from his chair and encouraged, "We need to come together and stop her madness!"

"If there's madness that needs to be stopped, that's yours," Atlas, who couldn't ignore his little brother anymore, gazed up at Hugo. "What do you need?"

Hugo raised a notebook and approached. "I've been stuck in this problem and I need to understand it for

tomorrow's recitation."

Atlas quietly took the note and opened it to the bookmark.

Seeing his brothers' nonchalance, Slater's lips curved deeply.

"Are you not concerned about this?!" he exclaimed angrily. "Someone is invading our territory and now she's winning!" @

"Slater, I know you're frustrated, but vent it

elsewhere." Hugo's voice was cold and commanding. "If you think she's taking Mom and Dad's attention, then you should disappear for 13 years. Otherwise, leave Atlas alone."

35

13 Hoggle

"Let him be," Atlas said without giving them a look. "Slater is just worried about Nina."

little sorry for his little

you unhappy when you heard that Mom and Dad had another child?" Slater frowned dejectedly at his brothers. "How come you hadn't

sister." Atlas snapped his eyes back to Slater. "Also, I'm about to enter my junior year. This year is about preparing us for

planning to enter the military, so he also needs high grades unless he wants Dad

knew until now. I'd rather

was not appeased, they could only shake their heads and sigh. For them, as long as Penny stayed out of their way and didn't bother them, they wouldn't say

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1969

13 Haggio

out in the cold while ever one else was locking themselves in

Atlas looked up at his brother, and

two elder brothers moved past the talks of Penny, Slater hadn't. He darted his eyes between the two, displeased that they had given in to this invasion so easily. However, he wouldn't

on.

*****

to think of a name for her kitten and her rain frog. She named the kitten, "Chunchun" and her

feet were swaying to and fro behind her, cupping her face,

any companion," she said. excitedly. "It's nice to have some companions after so

Penny always kept to herself.

hor naranta

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13. Hauga

with them. She was too shy to open up and when she finally did, she shortly got

I forgot why was

of the bed, sticking her legs out to prop on the floor. With her weight, sitting

if Haines had already come home. But when she reached the last step of

they fell on the laptop in

him.

Haines!" she called

the plump girl bounce

forgot to tell you why

jumped to his side. Her smile was

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13 Hagge

deep

slightly tilted

always come home late, but

did she

left the house on purpose because she knew

making him rest?

thought. He believed Penny was a genius, and so this wouldn't be a surprise. His smile, however,

you for a

Haines quickly laughed at his silly thoughts. "What

my money

"You have money?"

moment I started working!" Penny grinned proudly, but this only made Haines frown. "I'm scared that my money will disappear or

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