IPUAVNP Chapter 138

Episode 138

 

Kyle’s room had been bustling since early morning.

It was because the owner of the room had gotten up early and started packing.

Brody watched silently as Kyle pulled out items from all over the room and tossed them into a large box.

Though it was called packing, most of the belongings were simply being discarded.

That large box had already been filled and taken out of the room three times. Yet Kyle continued to throw things away with an unwavering hand, as if trying to erase all traces of himself from the space.

As Brody watched him, she suddenly realized that the Oswald twins hadn’t visited since yesterday.

Just a few days ago, they had persistently come to see him, trying to convince him, ‘not leave like this.’

“Kyle, I haven’t seen the twins since yesterday.”

When she brought it up out of concern, Kyle tilted his head.

He, too, had only just realized that they hadn’t come to see him for two days. But he quickly dismissed it.

“Leave them be. I guess they’ve finally given up on stopping me.”

It was understandable. At first, Kyle had pretended to listen to their persuasion, but as time passed, he simply ignored whatever they said.

Knowing this, Brody sighed.

“Before you leave, you should go see them and comfort them. They seemed really shocked.”

“Comfort them? They’re not kids. They’ll figure it out on their own.”

Kyle was certainly a leader who raised his subordinates to be tough. Instead of worrying about the hurt twins, he seemed more concerned about Brody’s reaction.

He blatantly changed the subject and asked her,

“Brody, shouldn’t you start packing too?”

Brody, who had just taken a bite from an apple Kyle had left for her that morning, mumbled,

“What do I have to pack?”

She then turned to Kyle.

“You’re the one who needs to slow down. You only just recovered. If you push yourself too hard, it’ll be bad.”

“Maybe it’s because I just recovered, but I feel great. Honestly, I could leave as soon as tomorrow.”

His voice was loud. Before he could even finish, Brody quickly pressed a finger to her lips and hushed him.

“Kyle! Please, don’t say things like that with the door open.”

She was terrified that a passing family member might overhear and misunderstand that Kyle wanted to leave immediately.

Kyle waved it off.

“Come on, who would be listening…”

But then, he glanced toward the door—only for his face to freeze.

Someone had just entered.

It was Eliza.

Seeing this, Brody shot up from the sofa, her face turning pale.

‘Of all people… his mother…!’

Just from her expression, it was clear Eliza had heard everything.

As Brody bit her lip in distress, Eliza spoke to Kyle in a calm voice.

“…Before you leave, I wanted to ask if you’d join us for the family dinner you missed last time.”

“Ah….”

By ‘the dinner you missed,’ she meant the one they had planned when Brody and Kyle were living in the cabin.

Back then, his parents had invited Brody and Zelda, their soon-to-be family, for a meal. But Kyle had rejected the idea without even considering it.

Kyle didn’t respond right away. His gaze shifted to Brody.

It was because he felt uncomfortable about Zelda being invited too. But Brody widened her eyes as if to say, ‘What are you waiting for? Answer her!’

Only after receiving her sharp urging did he finally mutter,

“Alright.”

Eliza smiled at his agreement, but sorrow filled her eyes.

It deepened as she glanced around the room. However, she quickly swallowed her emotions and spoke again in a steadier voice.

“Alright, I must be interrupting your packing. I’ll go downstairs. Finish up.”

With that, she hurried out of Kyle’s room.

Kyle, oblivious to his mother’s emotions, resumed packing as if nothing had happened. But Brody had seen the tears in Eliza’s eyes and immediately rushed after her.

Sure enough, as she reached the staircase, she found Eliza standing on the landing, quietly wiping away her tears.

Feeling a pang of sympathy, Brody approached her.

“Mother….”

Startled, Eliza quickly wiped her face.

“…Miss Brody.”

But she couldn’t fully hide the traces of her tears. Brody took out a handkerchief and handed it to her.

Eliza accepted it with a quiet ‘thank you’ and wiped her face.

But no matter how much she wiped, the tears kept falling.

Seeing this, Brody lowered her head, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I’m sorry….”

She felt guilty for leaving.

Eliza quickly shook her head.

“Don’t say that, Miss Brody. If anything, I’m the one who should apologize. I don’t even deserve to be this sad.”

“That’s not true, Mother. Please don’t say that.”

Brody gently took Eliza’s hand, trying to comfort her. She didn’t want her to suffer so much.

Perhaps her sincerity got through, as Eliza soon stopped crying and instead held Brody’s hand in return.

Then, with a faint smile, she said,

“I’m glad Kyle has you by his side. If you weren’t here, I would have been much more worried when he said he was leaving alone.”

“…”

“Thank you for staying by Kyle’s side, Miss Brody.”

At Eliza’s heartfelt words, Brody could not reply, instead answering with an embrace.

Eliza returned the hug, and warmth spread across her face, which had been filled with sorrow.

 

***

 

That night, Kyle set the day for his departure from Roden, two days later, and informed his family.

The night before his departure, as promised, the family would gather for a dinner together.

However, even after agreeing to the dinner, Kyle continuously showed signs of discomfort about it.

Eventually, as Brody sat on the sofa before bed, Kyle approached her cautiously.

“Brody, about the dinner we’re supposed to have… we don’t have to do it.”

Brody furrowed her brows.

She had interpreted his words as meaning he didn’t want to have one last meal with the family. She responded firmly.

“Kyle, this is a final meal with the family. We can’t turn it down.”

“…”

Despite her firm stance, Kyle, who was still uneasy, hesitated before asking again.

“Then… what do you think about just having it between us¹He means between the family? Let’s not invite any other guests.”

Brody blinked at the mention of ‘guests.’ then quickly realized that Kyle’s discomfort was because of Zelda.

It was clear that he was concerned she would be uncomfortable because of Zelda.

As memories of the embarrassing incident when Brody had confessed that she knew about him liking Zelda flooded her mind, she hurriedly waved her hands and shouted,

“Oh no, it’s fine! Don’t worry about me! I’m fine with it now!”

Her reaction was more intense than expected. It wasn’t an act to seem cool—it was her way of showing that she really was okay.

However, Kyle, still deeply affected by that event, did not let go of his solemn expression. His face was a mix of fear, anxiety, and guilt.

Seeing this, Brody quickly reassured him.

“Kyle, there’s nothing to worry about if it’s because of me. I really don’t mind anymore. So let’s just eat together, okay?”

Kyle, feeling awkward in response to her words, absentmindedly fiddled with his neck.

It was ridiculous for him to be so stubborn when she was telling him she was fine.

So finally, with a resigned look, he nodded silently in agreement.

But even after agreeing, Kyle couldn’t look at Brody, his gaze fixed on the air ahead.

His eyes seemed drained, as if all energy had left him.

“Kyle.”

Brody called out to him, then softly urged,

“Kyle, look at me.”

But Kyle avoided her gaze and lowered his head. In that moment, his eyes was filled with sadness, as he spoke,

“I wish I didn’t have… that past.”

“…”

“I regret it so much.”

His voice trembled, as though overwhelmed by emotions.

Brody’s heart sank as she saw his red-rimmed eyes. Although he sat still, she could feel his inner turmoil and pain.

As she looked at him, she felt tears threatening to fall, but she steadied herself, calming her own emotions.

Then, reaching out, she gently took his hand and spoke in a composed voice,

“Kyle, don’t feel guilty about your past.”

Her warm gaze met his.

“Of course, it’s not like I’m completely unaffected by it… but I would rather look forward to the days when you’ll love me, instead of holding on to your past.”

When she finished, Kyle lifted his gaze, looking at Brody with surprise.

His eyes sparkled with emotion, and his cheeks flushed with warmth.

Brody smiled and asked,

“Is that okay?”

At that moment, a heavy sigh escaped from Kyle’s lips, mixed with something between laughter and tears.

“Of course.”

Kyle felt that, to live up to her expectations, he could give up everything, even his life.

It was a promise for a lifetime.

Brody smiled brightly at his answer, then, as if to return the gesture, leaned in and kissed him.

The kiss was brief, but after it, Brody, feeling a sudden rush of embarrassment, turned her face which was bright red and tried to act nonchalant.

However, before she could fully recover, Kyle, gazing at her with adoring eyes, pulled her into his arms and sat her on his lap.

“Ah, um…”

Brody squirmed slightly on his lap, but her resistance didn’t last long.

Kyle pressed his lips to her forehead, and then, with the same loving gaze, he kissed her in tender succession—on her fluttering white eyelashes, her eyelids, the bridge of her nose, and her soft cheeks.

When the brief kisses ended, the air around them, as well as the look in their eyes, had deepened, and the atmosphere between them shifted.

Soon, in the heat of the moment, without anyone having to say it, they kissed each other again.

Their love grew deeper as the long night continued.