Chương 23: "You're using me"
My new routine continued on Wednesday. Going to school, having lunch with the 3 people, basketball practice, going to Adrian's house with Leo, coming back late at night.
Thursday, I promised Leo to go to the BL Club with him to make a campaign strategy. However...
"Why are we doing this?"
"Kyahhh!" The girls in the BL Club screamed as I was forced to kabedon Leo, while Rebecca took pictures.
"Right. That's good! Now move your lips close to Leo's until they're almost touching! Yes! Right there!"
A strategy meeting turned into a photoshoot.
It started right after school when Rebecca suggested that to increase our popularity, we should post pictures of ourselves on the online school forum to make us more relatable to the masses.
"How does this have anything to do with being relatable?" I scowled.
"Don't worry," Leo smirked. "If we post these online, all of the girls will eat them all up. Right girls?"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Good things need to be said three times, thought the girls.
"Then let's make more different poses, Hunter."
I reluctantly agreed. After all, this was what I promised Leo two days ago.
"Hunter, wrap your hands around Leo's neck and look into Leo's eyes. Leo, tilt your head up to face Hunter."
I obliged, holding onto Leo. Inwardly, I felt slightly uncomfortable.
"Hunter, your gaze need to be gentle and filled with love. Leo, you need to be slightly shy but assertive at the same time."
"HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DO THAT?" I thought to myself.
Leo suddenly whispered in my ears, "Do you still remember that day a few years ago when you brought me to see the fireworks?"
I stared deeply into Leo's eyes.
"That's it!" Rebecca exclaimed. "That's what I want right there!"
After hearing Rebecca's exclamations and the fujoshis' screams, I immediately backed away from Leo.
"Are we done now?" I grumbled.
"Almost!" Rebecca said. "Now we just need to take some solo shots. Hunter, take off your clothes."
"Why?!" I jumped.
"Just your top. We need all the girls to see your male charm."
I rolled my eyes. "No. I'm not doing it."
Leo nudged at me. I tilted my head and saw him trying to entice me with his pitiful look again. "That's not going to work." I said.
"Please, Hunter!" Leo begged. "You allowed me to take pictures of you swimming anyways, what's so different now?"
"That's completely different!" I immediately realized I said something wrong and corrected myself, "I'm being stared at by a bunch of girls, whereas it was only you last time! Besides, can't you just use the photos of me swimming?"
"Mhm!" Leo nodded. "I plan on posting those pictures as well. However, we need you to do other poses as well."
I did not know whether to laugh or to cry.
After being badgered by Leo for a while, I reluctantly acquiesced. I removed my school shirt, revealing my upper body for everyone to see.
All the girls screamed at the top of their lungs. I furrowed my brows. "Can we get this over with!" I demanded.
"Right." Rebecca replied. Suddenly, Rebecca took out a large water bottle and sprayed me with the water inside.
"Wha-"
"Hunter, I need you to flick your hair and stare at the camera sensually, like you're trying to seduce someone."
I gritted my teeth. I tried my best and did as Rebecca commanded. After a few tries, we finally succeeded.
"Alright, there's a towel at the back, go dry yourself." Rebecca shooed me away.
I turned around and looked around to find the towels.
It was at that time that some of the girls gasped. I suddenly realized that I have accidentaly revealed my scars to the girls.
On my upper back, there were three deep diagonal scars. I furrowed my brows. "This is going to be troublesome."
I was about to turn around, but I heard Leo say in a soft voice, "Don't worry, I'll take care of this."
I nodded, grabbing the towel and wiping myself while hearing the soft sobs of the girls.
**************
After our so-called 'strategy meeting', Leo and I headed to Adrian's house. As usual, we did our homework, then force Adrian to exercise, then return home.
"Hunter?" Leo said softly.
"What is it, Leo."
"Thank you." Leo stared down at the ground, unwilling to see me.
"It's fine. It's all in the past anyways." I coaxed.
Leo mumbled, "Yes," and hugged me. Unlike the previous times, I allowed Leo to stay on me.
***************
Friday was the day that Father was supposed to come back, but he still haven't arrived home by the time I returned from Adrian's house. Leo decided to stay up late since there was no school tomorrow. He played on the Portable Station 4 while I slept in the master bedroom.
The next morning, I tiptoed down to the kitchen, as Leo was still sleeping, ate breakfast, and waited for the secretary-like lady to come pick me up again. I wasn't really worried for Father, since he sometimes return home later than the planned date. Also, I would never be able to contact him whenever he was on a work trip, so there was no point worrying anyways.
The lady arrived at my house half an hour after I finished breakfast.
Today, I had hand-to-hand combat training, scouting training and close-quarters combat training. I also decided to head to the long-ranged gun range to practice my skills with the sniper rifle. After spending almost an entire day at the training center, I returned home to find Leo playing on the Portable Station 4 again. When he saw me enter the house, he ran to me and exclaimed, "Hunter! Our photos are popular! Look!"
He showed me our pictures that he posted on the online school forum, T*itt*r and I*stag*am. With the latter 2 having the most likes, with over 10,000. The online school forum was only available to current students and past alumni, so there were less traffic. Therefore, there were only around 2,000 likes for the photos, which was still a lot.
There were 120 students in each year. Therefore, one can imagine how much hype is needed for a photo to garner 2,000 likes on the school online forum.
"Hunter." Leo said. "Now that we have gained popularity with the students, we now need to convince the teachers to vote for us."
Not only can each class in high school nominate a delegate to select a candidate, the teacher caucus have 6 delegates as well. The teachers were divided into 6 groups: the Language and Literature group, the Natural Sciences group, the Life Sciences group, the Arts group, other staffs that are not teachers and the principal. Each group can choose 1 delegate to vote for a candidate.
"Why me?" I asked. "Wouldn't it be better if you go and convince the teachers?"
Leo shook his head. "Hunter, last year, your grades were ranked first in the whole grade. You brought the basketball team to nationals and won. Compared to you, do you think that I would be a better choice to talk to the teachers?"
Hunter thought for a while, before asking, "Is this why you're adamant in forcing me to be your running mate?"
"Yes." Leo nodded.
"You're using me." I narrowed my eyes.
Leo smiled innocently and hugged me. He looked up and stared into my eyes. "Do you not like it when I use you?"
I furrowed my brows. "Just don't pull me into your mess in the future. I don't want to have to always take care of you whenever you make trouble."
"You were the one who always walk in and help me whenever I'm in trouble, not me." Leo replied cheerfully, "So it doesn't make sense to put all the blame on me now, is there?"
I rolled my eyes.
"I'll find a time to talk to the teachers in the future."
"Do it on Wednesday. The teachers have a faculty meeting on that day. If you seek their audience, with your reputation, you will be easily allowed in." Leo said.
"Do I have to be so blatantly biased while campaigning with you? You're suggesting that I disturb an important meeting just so you can get some more delegates to vote for you?"
"Yes." Leo said.
I sighed. "Fine, I'll see what I can do. But if I fail to enter the meeting, don't blame me, okay?"
Leo nodded. "Don't worry, I'm 70% sure they will accept you."
After our talk, we headed off to sleep. Leo forced me to sleep with him again. I sighed. "Why am I always being dragged along by Leo?" I thought to myself in silence.
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