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Part- 345:
One of the girls sitting near him leaowards her friend, whispering, “I mean, just look at those arms! He’s so tall now—*how did he glow up ht like that?*”
Anirl swooned dramatically. “If he hugs me even once, I’m done. Finished. My soul will leave my body.”
Anirl shouted, "I also smell the Boys Love vibes from James and Ryan! Ahhhh! Two handsome guys together!"
Emdad snorted, uo tain himself. He leaned over to Mili and whispered, loud enough for her and Toya to hear, “They’re not here for judo—they’re here for *James' or *Ryan* Fan Club Live Premiere.*”
Mili shot him a gre sharp enough to make a cactus flinch. “Shut up.”
Emdad grinned, uerred. "I'm telling you, they’re ag like he’s the male lead of a high school romanime. If this keeps up, one of them’s gonna throw a bouquet onto the mat after his match.”
Just as he finished, anirl csped her hands dreamily, sighing, “I’d pay to watch him practice judo every day. How do I sneak into their training sessions?”
Emdad threw his hands up in mock defeat, muttering, “It’s official. I chose the *wrong* martial art. Muay Thai might make me tough, but *judo apparently gets you a harem.*”
Toya, who was already teetering on the edge, muttered under her breath, “If one mirl calls him 'dreamy,’ I swear…”
Emdad gri her frustration. “Should’ve known, Toya. You’re stuck pying defense against *half the female popution* now.”
Toya shot him a look that said *one more word and you’re dead*, and Emdad wisely decided to zip his mouth—though not without a dramatiowing goward the still-giggling girls.
“See?” he whispered to Mili with mock seriousness. “This is why I avoid handsome friends. They make life *way* too plicated.”
Mili let out a deep sigh. *Why is everyone so annoying today?* And just as she thought things couldn’t get worse, one of the girls gasped loudly, “Omg, what if James is single?!”
Both Toya and Mili’s heads whipped toward the group at the same time, like wolves catg the st of intruders. Emdad barely tained his ugh, whispering to himself, “This is better thaclix.”
Meanwhile, in another er of the audie Lily and their mother, Farzana, watg the bizarre spectacle unfold from the sidelines.
Lily had her arms crossed, eyebrows furrowed in deep ption. *What oh is going on?* She stole a g the group of girls giggling and swooning over James a something close to betrayal.
“This ’t be real,” she muttered, rubbiemple in disbelief. “My *weird, ugly brother* is getting fangirls now? The same guy who used to eat instant noodles with chopsticks just to feel ‘cultured’? *That* James?”
Their mother, however, wore a small, knowing smile, her hands ly folded on her p. “I always told you he had potential.” She watched with pride as James casually tossed his sweat-dreowel over his shoulder, looking like a natural-born star.
“Potential?” Lily scoffed, shooting her mother an incredulous look. “Mom, it’s James. *JAMES.* The guy who wore socks with sandals until, like, st year. He’s the same person who used to burp the alphabet just for fun.”
