The Three H's Childhood Mischief
The Hamilton and Lafayette families had shared a bond forged in the fire of the American Revolutionary War, a friendship born on the battlefield that had endured through generations. Hunter's father Jared and Rex's father Andre had been inseparable companions back then.
“Our Rex is usually such a good kid, always wanting to play, just like his grandpa,” Lauren said with a warm laugh. “But when he gets upset, my dad's temperament suddenly flares up, and I worry. He's so stubborn and full of rebellious energy. How am I supposed to get through puberty? I'm worried about it already.”
“Really? Rex takes after Mom in being bright and kind. But you, Hunter, would have been so much easier to raise if you'd had my dad's easygoing personality. You seem so much like your maternal grandfather. Cold, prickly, and with a temper that won't tolerate losing.”
At that, Miriam burst into laughter.
“Oh my, Hunter's personality is just like my husband's. I was genuinely worried Rex might take after his dad. The one saving grace? He inherited my brains. If he had gotten them, it would have been a disaster. Whew, but what does a good brain amount to anyway? He just uses it to smash and crash things.”
“I suppose I can't blame innocent maternal grandfather either. The Hamilton ancestors weren't exactly easy to live with either. People with tempers that exploded like gunpowder, duels, bullets, death. There are quite a few stories.”
“The Lafayettes aren't exactly tame either. That's why the two families are close, ho ho!”
But unlike their fathers' generation, Hunter and Rex were no friends at all. Both had too strong personalities. Since neither could stand losing, even the smallest things escalated into competitions, and they fought the moment they met. Yet when trouble arose, they knew how to throw punches.
As if on cue, while they gossiped and laughed with ho ho, Nanny burst into the living room in a flurry and cried that Hunter and Rex were fighting. Lauren and Miriam jumped up and ran to the playroom.
In those childhood days, playdates were usually Rex getting yanked by the ear from the penthouse, and Hunter's three-day playground ban as punishment.
Rex stood beside Hunter, yelling loudly toward Jiyu as if wanting her to hear.
“Because you came late, I almost got paired with that creepy Triple for the dance partner. Thank goodness you showed up.”
Triple was Rex's old nickname for Hunter, the H-H-H in Hunter Han Hamilton that had shortened over time. Even at Alton School, he was called Triple more often than by his full name.
“Who asked you? Unlucky little Lafayette brat.”
Hunter answered without hesitation.
“Leave it. Even you have to admit, that brat's personality is insane. Why is Triple so like Andre de Lafayette? Is there some cross-contamination with his weird habits? I guess the two families have had enough of each other. We've been stuck together for over two hundred years. We're sick of it.”
Rex grinned wickedly and teased.
“Just as I expected, you greedy little leech. Get lost already. Oh, by the way, why not let Maxmilian inherit the Lafayette dukedom instead of a screw-up like you? You're clearly not up to it. Name's fitting, too. Maxmilian de Lafayette.”
Hunter shot back with a sneer. Maxmilian was the name of the giant Samoyed they raised in the Lafayette family.
“And this...”
Hunter poked Jiyu's shoulder with his index finger.
“Why is this your partner? You should be with the kid next to you.”
Rex's odd-eyed gaze flashed with something mischievous.
Jiyu slumped her shoulders and sighed.
“Here we go again...”
It had always been like this in childhood. No matter what the adults said, she was pulled this way and tugged that way between the two boys like a rag doll until her sides hurt.
Hunter normally ignored her whether she was there or not. But whenever Rex was around, his eyes lit up and he snatched her away like a mouse. He wouldn't let her sit next to Rex, and if they played together in the playroom, he shoved her to the library to read books while he did something else. The more she was pushed away, the more Rex would cling to her side, sneering with a smug grin.
Rex stared at Hunter, then suddenly leaned close to her ear and whispered.
“Liv, I've told you before. That rude brat likes you.”
Taken aback, Jiyu frowned and replied flatly.
“Again with that nonsense? Stop saying stupid things.”
Rex had said some weird things before, and this was one of them.
She felt a little uneasy. Rex's eyes were different, filled with mischievous anticipation, the look he got right before he pulled a stunt.
Rex glanced at Hunter, then grinned and pulled her closer. He narrowed his eyes as if ready to cause trouble, then put one hand over his mouth and leaned in to whisper again.
“Believe me. Hunter Hamilton likes you, it's true.”
“What do you mean...”
Before she could protest, Rex shushed her with a finger to her lips, then whispered in her ear once more.
“Look, whenever that guy goes crazy, you're always involved. He can't stand seeing you with someone else. If he didn't like you, there would be no reason.”
“...What?”
Jiyu shook her head vigorously.
‘Impossible. He couldn't possibly feel that way.’
Rex was clearly mistaken.
To Hunter, she was just a hated toy. Something he received and kept, but never truly enjoyed, a useless plaything with no taste.
He would stash her in a corner of the playroom and forget her until a friend came over to play. If it was fun, he'd take it away like a jealous kid. Since he had never shared or given up anything he owned, that was just how he thought.
When they started fighting over her—“Come here,” “Go away”—Jiyu would naturally step aside. Even if she left, the boys didn't suddenly become friends and play nicely.
Since there was no audience to watch their fights, they deflated like punctured balloons and wandered around dejectedly before eventually ending the playdate with boredom.
But if this was because Hunter liked her...
Jiyu shook her head once more.
‘I need to hear something that makes sense.’
She tugged at her jacket sleeve. Rex lowered one shoulder and leaned toward her.
“You're wrong, Rex. Hunter hates me.”
He let out a short laugh, then tilted his head and brought his lips close to her ear.
“If you don't believe me, let's test it.”
She looked at him with suspicion.
‘Why are you so sure? What are you seeing?’
Jiyu turned her head and glanced at Hunter. He looked displeased, brows furrowed, giving them a sideways glare. Her shoulders twitched, and to avoid his piercing blue eyes, she lowered hers like a guilty child.
As expected from Hunter's personality, he wouldn't have come to the costume class on his own. He had probably been dragged here by Lauren with some kind of leash. So his mood now was obvious.
Jiyu lowered her gaze to the floor. The heavy shadow of Hunter above her made her uncomfortable.
At that moment, the assistant director brought an empty chair and placed it beside her. She let out a relieved sigh and leaned back against the chair that felt like a bed of nails. The moment Hunter sat down next to her with a thud, Rex pulled her close again.
“Liv, do exactly what I say. Ignore Hunter as much as possible and do everything with me first. Got it?”
She gave no answer, simply glancing sideways at Hunter.
A long leg stretched out, and above it, a huge hand rested. The long fingers tapped rhythmically against her thigh.
She knew that tapping from having studied Hunter's moods for years. He was irritated. When he was in a bad mood but couldn't quite explode, he unconsciously tapped his fingers.
‘What on earth did he see to think he likes me?’
Rex was obviously a little crazy.