Cutie, still misty-eyed, took a deep breath and spoke with the kind of admiration that made Kaya's skin crawl.
"Yes... now I understand."
Kaya narrowed her eyes. "…Understand what?"
He looked at her with an awed expression, as if the heavens had parted and divine knowledge had descended.
"I was confused before," he said seriously. "But now I know. You definitely belong to the chimpanzee tribe."
He nodded solemnly. "The way you climbed that tree—graceful, powerful. Only a chimp could do that."
And with that, he turned around and walked a few steps away, as if he had just delivered the most heartfelt compliment of his life.
Kaya stood there, absolutely frozen.
Wait.
Was that a… compliment?
Or an insult?
She looked down at her hands. She wasn't even sure anymore.
"…Chimpanzee tribe?"
A mosquito bit her forehead again.
Yep.
Life was out to get her.
As kaya walked forward after a few minutes
