IPUAVNP Chapter 123

Episode 123

 

Brody instinctively stepped back.

As her tense hands curled into fists, a sudden thought struck her—Kyle’s behavior toward her was strange.

She couldn’t understand why he was so angry with her.

Was her lie really something to warrant such fury?

She couldn’t comprehend why she was being blamed.

‘Wouldn’t it be better for him if I just left now?’

Kyle didn’t love her. Yet, here he was, furious at her for trying to leave, even going so far as to trap her in this wretched cabin.

If he didn’t love her, there could only be one reason he was holding onto her so tightly.

‘Because he needs me. Because I’m too valuable as a Clock Rabbit to simply let go.’

Reaching the conclusion she had desperately avoided, Brody felt all strength leave her body.

“…”

The opportunity to explain herself had long since passed, lost to her hesitation. But even if there was still a chance, she no longer wanted to take it.

She was tired—tired of pretending nothing was wrong, tired of trying for his sake. She had no will left to endure.

“I did.”

She admitted with a face of utter resignation.

“I was going to leave. I wanted to stop liking you. I wanted to stop everything and just go.”

She watched Kyle’s eyes waver at her confession, and part of her hoped it hurt him.

She wanted him to feel the pain she had endured, for his heart to bear the same wounds as hers.

“…Stop everything?”

Kyle took a step toward her, his icy eyes gleaming with an ominous intensity.

“Why? Did you find someone else? Some pathetic loser whose life needs saving, like I did? Is that why you’re leaving me to run off with him?”

Brody glared at him with all the strength she could muster, unsure whether his words were sincere or sarcastic.

Before she could respond, Kyle grabbed her wrist with a tight grip, his teeth clenched.

“No matter how much you want to leave, you can’t. I won’t let you.”

There was a crazed edge to his expression that sent a wave of fear through her.

But at the same time, her own rebellious spirit surged. She gritted her teeth and yelled,

“Let go of me!”

Instead of loosening his grip, Kyle’s hold only tightened.

“You started this!”

He shouted, his voice filled with frustration as though he were trying to pin everything on her.

“You’re the one who came after me! You started this, so you have to take responsibility!”

Blaming her entirely for their situation, Kyle’s words sent Brody trembling with rage.

Every time his grip dug into her wrist, it felt like a noose tightening around her throat.

She loathed how he used her sense of responsibility to bind her to him.

‘He only wants to use me.’

“Why should I…”

Her voice cracked as emotions she had buried deep rose to the surface.

“Why should I be responsible for you?”

Tears streamed down her pale cheeks as she cried out, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Seeing her tears, Kyle’s frown deepened, but Brody didn’t stop. She shivered as if she were freezing, struggling to keep her voice steady.

“You don’t even love me…”

That was the final trigger.

As soon as Brody spoke those words, the dam broke, and all her suppressed sorrow came flooding out.

Tears she had held back for far too long poured down her face.

“Brody, what… what’s wrong?”

Kyle gripped her shoulders, alarmed by her uncontrollable sobbing.

Her tears seemed to infect him, his pale face and trembling hands betraying his panic.

But then Brody spoke words that froze him in place.

“You love Zelda.”

Her sad, tear-filled eyes met his, her voice trembling as if she had known all along.

Kyle’s face drained of color.

Brody continued between sobs, her breath hitching.

“I know everything… I’ve always known. From the beginning. Even when you started dating me, it was only because you wanted to use me for my abilities…”

Her words pierced through him like a knife, each one cutting deeper than the last.

“Even now, you’re just trying to use me…”

“No.”

Kyle shook his head desperately, his voice rising.

“No, that’s not true. It’s not like that!”

He gripped her tighter, shouting as if he could undo her pain with sheer force.

“It’s not true! I don’t love anyone else! I only have you!”

But his frantic words fell on deaf ears. Brody’s heart had already closed itself off.

“Liar.”

She spat, wrenching her arm free from his grasp.

“I want to leave. I don’t want to be here anymore. I don’t want to be with you!”

“It’s not a lie! Please, Brody, believe me! I’m not lying!”

Kyle begged, grabbing her again as she moved toward the door.

But Brody didn’t listen. She struggled against him, yelling,

“I don’t believe you! Let me go! Let me out!”

A chaotic struggle ensued. Brody fought to escape, and Kyle refused to let her go.

Her defiance grew more intense, and Kyle’s grip grew tighter.

“I’m leaving! I’m leaving!” she screamed.

“Brody, please! Listen to me!”

Kyle’s desperation reached its peak. In a reckless bid to stop her, he made the worst decision he could have.

He forced a kiss on her.

“Mmph!”

Brody’s eyes widened in shock as she pushed and struck him, trying to free herself.

But Kyle only held her tighter, pouring all his unfiltered emotions into her.

The kiss grew more heated, but eventually, Brody’s resistance waned. Her strength drained away until she was barely struggling.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing heavily, their emotions in disarray.

Kyle stared at her with conflicted eyes, but when he saw her lips trembling, he froze.

Brody’s trembling body shuddered as she gasped for air, her lips split and bleeding.

Kyle instinctively reached out to touch the blood-streaked corner of her mouth. But the moment he did, Brody turned her head away, evading his touch.

“…”

Kyle’s face hardened as the weight of what he had done finally sank in.

He stepped back, distancing himself from her, and then fled the cabin like a man running from his own guilt.

Kyle wandered aimlessly through the dark forest, his mind in turmoil. Before long, his knees buckled under the weight of the pain in his chest, and he collapsed to the ground.

He wasn’t running, yet his breath came in short, sharp gasps, and his chest felt as though it had been pierced by something razor-sharp.

‘I know everything… I’ve always known. From the start, you were only with me to use my abilities…’

Brody’s words echoed relentlessly in his mind, suffocating him.

He clutched his throat, unable to breathe, as the image of her sobbing uncontrollably flashed before his eyes.

“Ugh…”

A groan escaped from deep in his throat, followed by an overwhelming wave of sorrow that threatened to drown him.

Brody had known all along.

She had known the truth about his intentions. And she was right. He had started dating her to exploit her abilities.

He had once abandoned her, drained and dying, after using her power.

Even when they had reached Roden, he had thought about killing her if she became too much of a nuisance.

That wasn’t all.

Kyle had left countless scars on Brody, wounds that could never be erased.

Faced with the stark reality of his actions, Kyle crumbled under the weight of his guilt.

He pounded his chest with a clenched fist, as if trying to suppress the unbearable ache within.

The searing lump in his throat burst into sobs, his cries filling the dark, silent forest.

Around him, there was nothing but pitch-black despair. And above him, a long, lightless night descended.

 

***

 

The next morning, Alexander sent Kernels to summon Kyle to the house before meeting Baldwin’s envoys.

Originally, he had planned to summon both Kyle and Brody, but after hearing a troubling account from Eliza the night before, he decided to call Kyle alone.

Alexander had instructed Kernels to inform Kyle that it was an urgent matter, but he wasn’t sure if Kyle would actually show up.

As he waited, tense with uncertainty, the sound of fluttering wings announced Kernels’ arrival at the office window.

“Leader! I went to see Kyle! He said he’ll stop by soon!”

The unexpected response surprised Alexander, who had deliberately kept his expectations low.

But then Kernels tilted his head and added,

“But Kyle seemed really off. It looked like he spent the night outside. He seemed… broken. His eyes were red. Could it be that the rabbit hit him? I’m a little worried.”

Alexander tried to take Kernels’s report seriously, but the absurd suggestion that Kyle had been struck by Brody was too much.

He dismissed the thought, pretending not to hear it.

Shortly after, Kyle did arrive at the office, as promised. However, Kernels’ earlier remark about his appearance wasn’t far off.

Kyle looked unrecognizable. His face was pale and gaunt, his expression darkened by shadows, and his eyes were red and bloodshot as if he’d been crying all night.

Alexander was taken aback by his son’s state.

“…Why did you call for me?”

Kyle’s voice was weak, devoid of its usual sharpness. Gone was the boy who once bristled with determination to reveal no vulnerabilities.

Alexander stared at him, unsettled by this unfamiliar fragility. Regaining his composure, he spoke.

“Ah, well… your mother. She’s been unwell, perhaps from worrying too much about you both after you left. I thought you might visit her.”

The softened request was a lie, of course. But whether Kyle knew it or not, he stood in a daze before answering,

“Is that all?”

“Yes.”

Alexander confirmed with a nod.

“I’ll go.”

Kyle said weakly, turning away.

It was unclear whether he meant he’d visit his mother or simply leave the office, but Alexander couldn’t let him go in this state.

Kyle looked like he would crumble at the slightest push.

“Kyle.”

Alexander called out as he rose from his seat, stopping his son in his tracks.

“Is something wrong?”

Kyle paused, staring blankly into the distance before slowly turning his head to face his father.

His voice was drained of energy, but the words he spoke cut deep.

“Father.”

“Yes, speak.”

Alexander urged, his heart heavy with the sight of his son teetering on the edge of collapse.

But what came next was a dagger to the heart.

“Why did you have me?”

Alexander froze, stunned by the weight of the question.

Kyle stared at him for a moment, then lowered his gaze and sighed, his voice bitter.

“You should’ve just killed me.”

Tears fell from Kyle’s hollow eyes as he whispered.

“If you had, I wouldn’t have met her. I wouldn’t have hurt her.”

 

Thank you for the Ko-fi again, dear Jean. You’ve made quite the record 🤍