Chapter Sixty-Three

(SSS SANTANA - Mediterranean)

Lively music filled the air as passengers aboard the cruise ship enjoyed the festive atmosphere.

Laughter and excitement echoed through the corridors as people engaged in various activities and entertainment.

Amidst the joyful ambience, a figure in a cute Red panda costume named Claudia made her way through the ship, spreading cheer and delight.

With a skip in her step and a wave of her furry paw, Claudia captivated the attention of both children and adults.

Her adorable antics and warm gestures brought smiles to the faces of many. She embraced children with gentle hugs and posed for pictures, creating lasting memories for the young ones.

However, as Claudia continued her cheerful journey, a group of unruly children carelessly ran past her, inadvertently pushing her off balance.

The world seemed to spin for a brief moment as she lost her footing and teetered on the edge of a ledge.

Fear flashed through her eyes, but before she could plummet, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her, halting her descent.

Claudia's heart raced as she gazed up, her big panda eyes meeting the concerned face of Jayden.

In that split second, a rush of emotions washed over her, and her face flushed with a mix of gratitude and embarrassment.

Though her voice modulator could only produce random cute red panda noises, she hoped that her eyes conveyed her appreciation.

Jayden, holding Claudia in his arms, couldn't help but smile at the adorable red panda costume.

With a gentle and steady movement, he ensured her safety and lowered her back to solid ground.

"Hey, that was a close one wasn't it." His voice was filled with genuine concern as he asked if she was okay, even though he couldn't understand her responses.

Claudia nodded fervently, her big panda head bobbing up and down in affirmation.

She reached up and patted Jayden's arm, a gesture of appreciation for his timely intervention.

Jayden, holding Claudia in his arms, couldn't help but chuckle at the adorable sight. "Well, looks like I've got you...Claudia, so thats your name. No need to worry," he reassured her, his voice filled with warmth as he read the name tag on the costume.

She nodded fervently, her eyes expressing her relief and maybe a bit of shyness.

"Now as for you troublemakers, I think you own this person an apology...."

*Splash*

Jayden was frozen, as a bunch of slushy mix was thrown all over his face and on Claudia's. Jayden glared at the kids, but all he got in return was a middle finger.

"Up yours you butt..." He said in a rude tone, and his friend...brother? Joined along.

"Yeah up yours ya but, Haha...butt, good one."

"I know right."

*Clap*

The boys proceeded to high-five each other before one of them suddenly tagged the other and ran away.

Jayden was just about to grab them when Claudia stopped him and shook her head..." Sigh, God I hate children like this. 'I just hope none of my children are like that.'

The onlookers around them erupted into applause and relieved sighs, acknowledging Jayden's quick Reaction time.

However, Harley, ever the opportunist, whipped out her phone and captured the hilarious scene. "Oh, this is priceless!" she exclaimed, her mischievous grin widening.

Jayden, still covered in slushy and holding the red panda in a fairly intimate embrace froze again." Delete that right now Harley." Jayden asked but it was more of a delete that now or else...

"Jayden, don't worry, I promise to delete it...if you can catch me!" she teased, already darting away.

Jayden's face turned slightly crimson, a mix of embarrassment and amusement. "Harley, you can't just take pictures like that!" he protested, but deep down, he knew that if he didn't catch her it would be too late.

He's known Harley for a while now and knew that if he doesn't catch her she will most likely show the other girls.

"*Sigh* Sorry for having to leave early but my ( Social) life is in danger, and so I must leave, you be careful now Claudia."

With a determined glint in his eyes, Jayden took off after Harley, the ship's corridors becoming their little playground.

Claudia who was left behind watched Jayden disappear into the ship, her heart was beating at a mile a minute.

'C-could this be love at first sight?'

...

Jayden's heart raced as he sprinted through the twisting corridors of the cruise ship, his eyes fixed on Harley, who had the upper hand with her swift manoeuvres.

He couldn't really use all his ability because one, he was in a public space, and two Harley still didn't know he was superhuman.

Though he did make sure to cover both Harley and himself in his illusionary powers so that if the crew were looking for them, they wouldn't find both him or Harley on the cameras.

Laughter filled the air as passengers watched the amusing chase unfold, unaware of the real reason behind Jayden's pursuit.

"Harley, wait up!" Jayden called out between breaths(pretending), his voice a mix of amusement and urgency. "You've got to delete those pictures!"

Harley glanced back, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh, come on, Jayden! What's the fun in that? These photos are gold!"

Jayden's face flushed with embarrassment. "Harley, you know I don't want those pictures circulating! They're... compromising!"

She grinned, her ponytail bouncing with each step. "Compromising? That's the best kind of photo! But, if you want me to delete them, you'll have to catch me first!"

Their chase weaved through different areas of the ship, from the grand atrium to the spacious promenade.

Jayden dodged around passengers, narrowly avoiding collisions, while Harley danced ahead with agility and a gleeful disregard for their surroundings.

As they neared the ship's main entertainment area, Jayden spotted a crowd gathering for a live music performance.

A mischievous idea sparked in his mind. "Harley, you're not getting away that easily!" he shouted, a determined smile on his face.

With a burst of energy, Jayden veered towards the crowd, expertly navigating through the sea of people. The band onstage played a catchy tune, providing the perfect soundtrack to the chase.

Harley, sensing his change in direction, glanced over her shoulder and let out a delighted laugh. " Haha, Jayden, you've got some tricks up your sleeve! I like it!"

As they weaved between dancing guests and enthusiastic onlookers, Jayden closed the gap, getting closer to Harley with each stride.

The music added to the exhilaration of the moment, amplifying the energy that surged between them.

With a final burst of speed, Jayden lunged forward, his hand inches away from Harley's arm. She let out a playful squeal, dancing out of his reach just in time. But Jayden had a trick of his own up his sleeve.

As he reached the ship's deck, Jayden caught sight of a nearby photo booth, complete with props and accessories.

An idea sparked in his mind. He gestured towards the booth, a mischievous smile on his face. "Harley, how about we strike a deal? If you delete those photos, I'll join you in the photo booth for some memorable shots."

Harley's eyes sparkled with excitement, her laughter blending with the music. "Deal! But remember, you have to keep your end of the bargain!"

With an agreement in place, Jayden and Harley made their way to the photo booth,

They donned oversized sunglasses, funny hats, and playful expressions, capturing some really funny photos.

Now it was time for the Last photo, Jayden turned to Harley and asked." The last photos in 15 seconds what do you want to do for it..." Harley pondered the question as if wanting to delay time as much as possible.

But when it hit the three seconds mark she did something completely unexpected." Ha-ha, I wanna do this.

Before Jayden could even react Harley grabbed her crop top and lifted it completely flashing Jayden her breasts.

*Click*

She wasn't even wearing a bra so he saw everything.

*Click*

The last photo that was taken was of Harley flashing Jayden, his eyes wide and dumbfounded in the picture, while Harley had a massive grin on her face while giving the camera a peace sign and a wink.

Jayden was still sitting there in shock before remembering the curtain was still a bit open and immediately hid Harley behind him while closing it so no one could see her.

"Would you bring your top back down already?" Jayden chastised her, but his eyes kept betraying what he wanted.

Harley giggled and grabbed her breasts." There, all covered up." Jayden looked at her and Harley shrugged." What? You said you wanted me to cover them, so now they are."

*Sigh*

"I meant cover yourself back up with your top. You knew what I meant the first time"

Harley giggled and agreed but not before teasing him one last time by slowly lifting her hands off her breast exposing them once again.

Jayden looked up out of respect but then Harley also stood up giving him a very sexy and very clear view of her chest.

But finally, she covered herself up and Jayden could finally sigh in relief.

"Jeez! Lighten up would ya, it's not like it's the first time you've seen my body."

That wasn't a false statement, there had been a few..." accidents" where Jayden had seen Harley walk completely naked through his apartment after a shower. The only thing covering her most of the time was a short towel over her shoulders.

'This woman really has no sense of shame.' Jayden thought.

.....

As the booth printed out the photos, Harley handed Jayden her phone, a satisfied grin on her face. "Consider those photos gone, Jayden. But these pictures? Priceless!"

Harley looped her arm through Jayden's, her infectious laughter filling the air. "Come on, Jayden, let's continue our little adventure! We make a great team, don't we?"

Jayden chuckled, enjoying the playful energy radiating from Harley. "You're right, Harley. This was fun."

She grinned mischievously. "Who knows, Jayden? Maybe this cruise will be the start of a beautiful partnership, *Wink, wink*."

Jayden raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Harley, let's not get carried away. I'm in a committed relationship, and you know that."

Harley pouted playfully, giving him a light chop to the head. "Aw, come on, Jayden! Can't a girl have a little fun and harmless flirtation? You're such a buzzkill!"

"Plus you weren't mentioning your girlfriend when you had a full view of my breasts."

Jayden laughed, rubbing the spot where she had lightly hit him. "Harley, you're incorrigible. I appreciate the attention, but my heart belongs to another. Let's keep it friendly, okay?"

Harley's pout turned into a mischievous grin. "Okay, okay, Mr Committed! I'll play nice, but you better be ready for some more wild walks like this one, my friend."

He smiled, shaking his head. "I do not doubt that, Harley."

As they continued their walk, their conversation shifted to lighter topics.

They shared jokes, some funny cat videos, and engaged in playful banter, enjoying each other's company and the carefree atmosphere of the cruise.

Suddenly, Harley's phone buzzed, indicating a new message.

She pulled it out, her eyes lighting up as she read the text. "Oh, it's from my friends! They're already on the sun deck. Looks like they can't wait to catch up with me."

Jayden's phone also chimed with a new message. He glanced at it, a smile forming on his lips. "And Looks like mine just texted me too."

Harley giggled, slipping her phone back into her pocket. "Well, Jayden, duty calls. I'll catch up with you later. Don't miss me too much!"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll try my best, Harley. Have a fantastic time with your friends. We'll rendezvous soon enough."

'Sooner than you think Harley.'

With a playful wink, Harley spun on her heel and made her way towards the sun deck, eager to reunite with Selina, Lola, and Ivy.

Jayden watched her go, a mixture of fondness and anticipation in his gaze. It was always fun interacting with Harley, she was definitely a fun character to be around.

Jayden, on the other hand, headed in a different direction, his steps filled with purpose as he navigated the ship on his own.

What he hadn't noticed as he was walking away, was Claudia in the background hiding behind a pillar while watching Jayden.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

(Huh, why did I get Yandere vibes all of a sudden? Meh, it's probably nothing.)