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*****
"Gwen…"
Peter stood frozen, his eyes locked on Gwen as she moved toward him. He felt as though his entire world had come to a standstill.
Her long, platinum-blonde hair flowed elegantly, complemented by a touch of light makeup that enhanced her natural radiance. Dressed in a shimmering white gown, she looked like a beam of moonlight descending from the heavens, piercing straight into Peter's heart and sending it into a frantic, aching flutter.
But the moment he noticed the person walking beside her—holding her hand, laughing and chatting as they approached—Peter felt as if he had been struck by a bolt of lightning. A wave of intense bitterness and regret surged from the depths of his soul, clogging his throat and leaving him with a suffocating sensation.
Gwen, Gwen, Gwen...
He cried her name silently in his mind, filled with a desperate longing. It wasn't until Gwen and the individual beside her were standing directly in front of him that he managed to snap out of his daze. When he spoke, his voice sounded strained, as if his throat had been torn open.
"Gwen…"
"Peter!" Gwen greeted him with a bright, cheerful smile.
Peter forced a bitter, cramped smile onto his face and managed to ask, "And this is…?"
"My dance partner," Gwen replied with a playful grin, gesturing toward Laura.
At that moment, Laura was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, her short hair tied back into a stylish bun. Combined with her sharp, handsome features, she looked for all the world like a dashing young man.
Dance partner...
Peter stared at the two of them, noting how closely they stood and how their arms were linked. He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. This didn't look like "just" a dance partner. Could it be… had Gwen already accepted someone else's confession?
He looked Laura over. The newcomer was undeniably handsome, and the two of them seemed to complement each other well, but…
He couldn't accept it! He hadn't even had the chance to try yet!
No, perhaps it was precisely because he hadn't done anything that Gwen was now someone else's date—someone else's… girlfriend!
The thought of her being someone else's girlfriend made Peter feel as if his heart were being crushed by an invisible hand. He could hardly breathe.
No, he couldn't just give up like this! This truly was his last chance. It was his own cowardice, his fear of declaring his feelings, that had brought him to the brink of losing her forever.
Losing Gwen!
The mere thought caused Peter to snap his head up, a sudden surge of impulse drowning out his doubt. As Gwen and Laura began to walk toward the crowd, still chatting and laughing, Peter found his voice and shouted, "Gwen!"
Gwen turned around, looking confused, but her heart skipped a beat when she saw the desperate, unwavering determination in Peter's eyes. She seemed to realize something in that instant.
"W-What is it?" Gwen asked, her voice tinged with a sudden, uncharacteristic nervousness.
Noticing the subtle shift in Gwen's demeanor, Laura's eyebrows twitched. She narrowed her eyes at Peter, scrutinizing him with newfound interest. It seemed this boy had feelings for Gwen. How interesting...
Under Laura's watchful gaze, Peter took a long stride toward them. This time, there was no shrinking back, no timidity. In his mind, he had no room left to retreat. If he took one more step back, he would lose Gwen for good.
Taking a deep breath, Peter looked Gwen directly in the eye and said, "Gwen, will you be my dance partner?"
The moment the words left his lips, Peter felt as though the entire world had frozen. Time, space, and even the sound of his own heartbeat seemed to stretch into infinity. Tension, fear, and a sliver of hope tangled in his mind, making him feel as though his soul might vibrate right out of his body.
"I—"
"Wait a minute!"
Before Gwen could respond, Laura stepped between them. She sized Peter up with a cold, mocking gaze and let out a sharp snort. "What did you just say? If you've got the guts, why don't you say that one more time?"
As she spoke, a dangerous aura began to emanate from Laura. The corners of her mouth curled into a smirk, making her look like a predator about to unsheathe its claws and tear its prey to pieces. Peter's pupils shrunk. His Spider-Sense was screaming at him—this person was dangerous.
Gwen tugged helplessly at Laura's hand. "Don't start this, Lau—"
"Shh!" Laura cut her off, her expression turning serious. "If someone wants to take you away from me, they have to prove they're stronger than I am. And looking at him now…" She glanced sideways at Peter, her lip curling in disdain. "I don't see anything that makes him better than me."
As she spoke, she caught Gwen's eye and gave her a quick, hidden wink that Peter couldn't see. Gwen was stunned, her brow furrowing. "Don't do anything reckless, I—"
"No, she's right!" Peter interrupted, his voice thick with tension. "I want to prove it too!" He paused, looking at Gwen with a sincere but worried expression. "Gwen, I just want to prove I'm worthy. I'm not treating you like some prize for a winner."
Gwen frowned. "Peter, you don't need to prove anything."
"I do!" Peter insisted, looking toward Laura with a serious expression. "This is my last chance!"
His last chance... did this poor kid misunderstand something? Gwen stared at Peter, momentarily speechless.
Before she could clear the air, Peter followed Laura as she turned and headed away from the school courtyard. Seeing no other choice, Gwen hurried after them. The three of them arrived at the deserted gymnasium in short order.
Peter faced Laura, his voice low and steady. "How do you want me to prove it?"
"About that…" Laura scratched her head, looking a bit embarrassed. "I haven't actually thought of a way yet."
Peter: "..."
Gwen rolled her eyes. Laura was starting to act more and more like Uncle Logan every day.
"Ha!" Laura suddenly laughed. "In that case, let's just keep it simple…"
While Peter was still trying to figure out what she meant by "simple," his Spider-Sense suddenly flared with a warning of imminent danger. Instinctively, he tilted his head to the side.
A split second later, a fist whistled past his ear, the wind from the punch ruffling his hair. Peter instinctively leaped backward to create distance, his eyes locking onto Laura.
Laura was staring back at him, her expression one of genuine surprise. "Whoa! Your reflexes are pretty fast. And…" She licked her lips, a look of excitement crossing her face. "It looks like you aren't exactly an ordinary person, are you?"
Peter reached up and loosened his tie, casting a quick glance at Gwen. "Gwen, do you know who—?"
"Stop talking! Beating me is the only proof you need!"
Without giving Peter a chance to ask anything else, Laura slammed her foot into the ground. Like a wild beast pouncing on its prey, she lunged at him. Peter's eyes narrowed as he watched her approach; it felt as though a roaring predator was charging him. She was fast, fierce, and utterly relentless.
Peter's brow furrowed. He was certain now that Laura wasn't an ordinary human, though he didn't know the extent of her abilities. From the way she moved, it was clear she wanted to engage in close-quarters combat.
As the thought flashed through his mind, his body reacted automatically. Dodge. Dodge again.
Peter moved with fluid grace, evading Laura's punches and sharp kicks, continuously backing away. Laura let out a cold laugh, her speed suddenly exploding as she aimed a heavy blow directly at Peter's face.
Smack!
A crisp sound echoed through the gym as their limbs finally collided. Peter had instinctively reached out and caught Laura's fist in his palm.
Laura swung her arm with incredible force, attempting to flip Peter over her head, but Peter maintained his iron grip. In mid-air, he shifted his weight and applied his own strength, pulling her off the ground along with him.
A flash of genuine astonishment crossed Laura's eyes. As they both landed back on the floor, she looked down at her hand, which Peter was still firmly holding, and a flicker of irritation sparked in her gaze.
(End of Chapter)