Chapter 7: Bad Thing

Tara glanced at Killian cautiously and swallowed hard, her heart pounding.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, she finally mustered the courage to stand up and walk over to him.

"Killian, can I kiss you?"

Her blunt request set the room ablaze once again.

Killian lifted his gaze to look at her, his magnetic voice uttering three ruthless words: "No, you can't."

But as soon as the words left his mouth, Tara had already taken his hand. Using the candy wrapper as a barrier, she pressed a kiss onto the back of his hand.

The movement was so swift that no one had time to react.

Killian froze almost imperceptibly.

Before he could process the faint, ticklish sensation on his skin, she had already retreated. Like a cat that had successfully stolen a treat, she scurried far away, staying cautious.

The girl's flushed cheeks were awkward yet sweet and pure; but because of that rosy tint, she exuded a natural, inadvertent charm.

She truly embodied the peak of "pure yet seductive."

Killian's eyes darkened, his gaze clouded by a dangerous, shadowy intensity.

"Holy crap! A direct forced kiss—Tara, you're a legend!"

"Killian looks stunned! You actually have a day like this, haha!"

As the jeers erupted, Cassie hooked her arm tightly around Tara’s neck, grumbling in frustration.

"Are you serious, sister? Such a golden opportunity, and you damn well only kissed his hand?"

Tara's face felt like it was boiling. She didn't dare look up, whispering, "I was afraid he’d hit me."

"How is that possible?"

"The Campus King just looks cold; he wouldn't actually hit a woman. What are you afraid of?"

Cassie, acting like a worried mother, whispered emphatically, "If there’s another chance later, be bolder and have a thicker skin. Do you hear me?"

Tara nodded obediently, but in her heart, she thought that if there were a next time, she would rather drink than be so bold again. If she truly angered him, she might become the first woman Killian ever laid a hand on!

The whole room was laughing and cheering.

The scene of Killian exploding with rage didn't happen. Unable to take it anymore, Josie grabbed her bag in annoyance and stormed out of the KTV room.

Stacy shot Tara a fierce glare and quickly chased after her. "Josie, wait for me!"

Confused by the sudden glare, Tara didn't quite react.

Just as she was wondering how she had offended those two girls, the music resumed, and the "ball" began to circulate again.

Tara immediately snapped back to reality, not daring to let her guard down, fearing that she’d be the one stuck with the "prize" again if she was too slow.

Fortunately, luck was on Tara's side; she wasn't picked again for the rest of the game.

However, luck was not on Killian's side. With his unlucky streak, he was chosen several times in a row.

And every single time, he chose drinking over the Dare.

This time was no different.

Watching as he picked up a large glass of bubbling beer, preparing to down it...

Tara's stomach had already begun to ache.

Her body started to heat up, a slight dizziness set in, and a wave of discomfort spread through her entire being.

Tara couldn't take it anymore. Just as the glass was about to touch his lips, she suddenly lunged forward, snatched the drink from his hand, and tilted her head back to drain it in one go.

The sharp, stinging sensation pierced through her throat and stomach.

Tara endured it until the glass was empty, then slammed it down on the table with a heavy "thud."

This time, a flash of visible shock crossed Killian's eyes.

Everyone around them stared blankly at the scene.

A few seconds later, Killian finally snapped out of it, his brow furrowing. "Tara!"

So, he already knew her name.

Was that a sign of progress?

Normally, Tara would have been thrilled—it would mean her strategy had advanced another step.

But now, she couldn't feel happy at all.

The whole point of her "pursuit" was to restrain him, yet she could only watch helplessly as he indulged himself without limit.

"I told you, your stomach is bad!"

With the heat rising and the intoxication spreading rapidly, Tara’s face turned bright red as she spoke with a mix of grievance and anger: "Alcohol ruins your stomach. Can't you take better care of your own body?"

The world began to spin. Tara's eyelashes fluttered and trembled. Finally, unable to withstand the alcohol, she pitched forward.

The world suddenly plunged into darkness, save for a pleasant scent reaching her nose—gentle, elegant, and serene.

He’s nothing like that cold, annoying jerk Killian,

Tara thought silently.

"Get up."

The low, cold voice sounded dangerously in her ear, sharp as an ice blade.

Tara’s muddled consciousness cleared for a brief second.

Her vision was blurry. She instinctively widened her eyes and saw the handsome man she was pinning down, his face full of suppressed anger.

Oh, it was Killian.

With her awareness briefly returned, Tara pouted and muttered based on pure instinct: "Bad thing."

...

The city’s night lights were bright, swaying into kaleidoscopic patterns in her hazy vision.

As that pleasant scent reached her again, Tara couldn't bear to let go, clutching the source of the smell tightly.

Cassie watched Killian, whose face was as dark as a coal pot, and then looked at Tara, who was clinging to him like a koala. Her eyelid twitched.

She was wrong. How could she have ever thought Tara was timid?

A drunk Tara could easily be renamed "Tara the Brave"!

"Tara, let go!"

If she didn't let go, Cassie felt like Killian would finish them both off in the next second!

"No!" Tara gripped Killian’s neck tightly, her strength surprisingly immense.

Cassie was mortified and was about to try and "pry" her off again.

But just as she was about to move, Killian stopped her.

"Go hail a cab," he said coldly.

Looking into his dark, somber eyes, Cassie didn't dare argue. "O-Okay."

It was late, and getting a taxi wasn't that fast.

Killian looked down at the girl clinging to him with naive charm. He suddenly raised his hand to pinch her cheeks, applying a bit of pressure to force her to look at him.

"Tara."

Even though it was midsummer, Tara felt the fingers pinching her cheeks were as cold as ice.

It hurt a little. She widened her eyes to look at him, her speech slurred.

"Wha' is it?"

Killian leaned in slightly, his lips curving into a cool smirk that didn't reach his eyes.

"The first offense, I let you go."

His cold fingertips seemed affectionate but showed no mercy as they rubbed against the soft, slightly chubby flesh of her cheek.

"Sean isn't a get-out-of-jail-free card, and I have no interest in my friend’s sister. Stop playing these clumsy tricks in front of me over and over again, or else..."

"Ow!"

His unfinished words were entirely scattered by Tara biting down on his hand.

After a moment, Tara let go and puffed out her cheeks, looking at him fiercely. "Why are you being so mean?"

She said drunkenly, "I... I wasn't playing tricks."

"I'm pursuing you, very seriously. I want to be your girlfriend. Can't you tell?"

It was an unexpectedly blunt and bold confession.

Killian looked into her eyes, which were as shimmering and radiant as spring water.

They were clear, clean, and showed no trace of a lie.

His cold, harsh words were thrown into disarray, stuck in his throat.

Killian looked down at her in silence for a moment before speaking directly: "Tara, I have no intention of dating."

"I'm not listening, I'm not listening!"

Tara shook her head wildly like a brat, then raised her "paws" and pathetically grabbed the hem of his shirt.

"Killian, just agree to let me be your girlfriend, okay?"

Only then would she have the standing and confidence to openly restrain him, change him, and return to a quiet, normal life.

She looked up at him, her voice both aggrieved and bossy as she made her accusation: "You bad thing, why can't you just listen to me for once?"