My Cruel Bullies Are Now My Loyal Puppies novel Chapter 4

With all three guys firmly on the hook, that night I sent identical messages to each of them:

"Are you free tomorrow?"

After sending the messages, I turned off my phone and went to bed.

The next morning, after lazily getting ready, I went downstairs.

Three remarkably good-looking men were already waiting outside the girls' dorm as expected.

People kept walking past the entrance, some for the third time.

I didn't know what had happened between them, but when I came down, they were all pretending not to know each other.

As soon as they saw me, Declan made the first move.

Leaning against a tree in the shadows, he arrogantly beckoned me over.

But instead of responding as I usually would, I backed away two steps under his angry glare.

Acting afraid of him, I looked nervously at the other two.

That single glance was enough to cloud Blake's usually serene eyes with displeasure.

When it comes to questions of possession, even if a man has no real feelings for you, he won't appreciate others challenging his claim.

Even if you're just his plaything, he expects you to be his plaything alone, regardless of emotions.

It's their inherent flaw. If you believe it, they've achieved their goal.

Though Blake's face remained expressionless, his actions spoke volumes.

He extended one hand toward me.

Long, elegant fingers.

His tone casual yet commanding:

"Tara, come here."

Though younger, Ethan refused to be outdone.

He flashed his dimpled smile at me, his expression half-amused:

"Tara, I didn't realize you were so popular. Seems like I've come at a bad time."

The irritation in his eyes at losing control contradicted his smiling face.

I had to laugh.

The way he phrased that question nearly broke my composure.

Was I popular? Didn't you three know better than anyone?

But I had to stay in character.

I quickly lowered my head to hide the excitement in my eyes. I shook my head and bit my lip, the picture of indecision:

"I'm not like that, Ethan. Don't say such things!"

Silence fell over us.

All three stared at me with dark expressions, full of displeasure, yet none willing to back down.

If their gazes had physical form, I'd have evaporated like dew under the scorching sun.

As I continued hesitating, the four of us standing like statues for all to see, the hot-tempered Declan finally snapped:

"Tara, you better explain yourself!"

He grabbed my arm, trying to drag me away.

Ah, the sky was so blue.

The clouds, so pretty.

And those boys downstairs? Complete IDIOTS.

News of the model student and the bad boy fighting over a girl spread throughout the university like wildfire.

Their behavior and the whole situation had completely derailed from their original bet.

The campus was abuzz with gossip.

I applied a face mask, lay on my bed, and opened my alt account.

The group chat with its 500 members was already in heated discussion.

I skimmed through, finding mostly just reactions and speculations:

"Have Blake and Declan lost control of the game?"

"Good thing I bet on Ethan to win."

"This Tara girl must have skills to make those two fight over her."

"I doubt it. Blake and Declan are probably just putting on a show for her benefit!"

"That makes sense. I agree!"

Seeing the conversation shifting in my planned direction, I smiled, closed my phone, and went to sleep.

The pieces were in place.

NOW IT WAS TIME TO MAKE MY MOVE.