Chapter 66
By the time I returned to the hotel, it was already late at night. Despite the presence of guards standing watch in the hotel lobby, I paid them no mind.
As I stepped out of the elevator, Jiwoon blocked my path in front of the entrance to the penthouse. His brown hair was tousled.
“What were you doing until now?!”
“Next time.”
“…Fine.”
“I’ll talk about it later, whatever it is.”
I brushed past him, pressing my aching head.
But before I could take a single step forward, I was blocked again.
“The boss is waiting inside.”
“Certainly feels like it.”
Passing Jiwoon, I opened the unlocked door and entered.
My head was pounding. So, without realizing what expression Jiwoon wore or why the living room was empty despite his words, I climbed the stairs.
What should I do now?
I never expected that apologizing would solve everything. But at least I thought things would improve.
The fear of not knowing what would happen next terrified me.
Should I just run away? To a place where I can’t be involved, somewhere in the rural parts of Europe.
“No, I can’t.”
Running away once is enough. I promised myself I wouldn’t run away.
As I entered the room, I froze in place.
“…Did I come to the wrong room?”
My mouth dried up. In the dimly lit room, with the glass window overlooking Victoria Harbor as a backdrop, Baek Ha-won sat casually.
His pitch-black eyes, gazing out the window, met mine.
“Sit.”
There were two wine bottles on the table, both open. One empty, the other halfway full. Despite his appearance, there was no sign of intoxication.
My hand clenched into a fist.
Being warned that he was in my room, was it a warning? That he could do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.
I sat down, choosing to do so rather than standing there, unable to withstand his presence any longer. I walked with steady steps and took a seat opposite him.
“Did you assign someone to follow me?”
“Knowing that, you still ask.”
I swallowed my trembling breath.
“Don’t play games.”
“Games?”
His calm voice was as dry as sand.
“You keep sending the doctor with me every time I go out…”
I tightened my grip on my hands, which I had folded on the table.
“If you knew, why bother asking.”
His gaze was silent, but colder than the wine and deeper than his words.
I clutched my hands tightly under the table. My nails dug deep into my palms.
“If you know everything, then there’s nothing more to say.”
Eventually, I stood up. I had no more strength to endure being in his presence, so I decided I would sleep in another room.
“Keep someone with me. Who knows, maybe my precious little brother might run away next time.”
I spat out the words and turned away. I wanted to faint from exhaustion.
But just before leaving the room, I stopped in my tracks at the sight of Jiwoon standing at the open door.
“I’ll return to Baekcheon in 5 days.”
A foreboding feeling gripped me.
“Don’t let me leave until then.”
My heart thudded.
On the other hand, he remained as calm as ever.
Standing in my bedroom at this late hour, in unfamiliar attire. His hands playing with the cufflinks at the end of his sleeves, as always, an elegant silver watch adorned his wrist.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you planning to confine me now?”
He remained silent as I questioned him, unshaken.
It felt as though I was facing a wall, feeling smaller and smaller. A sense of helplessness washed over me, as if I would never be able to overcome that wall.
“I told you.”
Baek Ha-won poured wine as he spoke plainly. The transparent glass turned crimson like blood.
“There won’t be a next time.”
His silent gaze was colder and redder than the wine.
“If this isn’t enough of a reason…”
I saw myself reflected in his eyes.
“As an alpha, don’t you think you should take responsibility?”
Baek Ha-won stood up. Now, his gaze descended upon me.
“You think you have somewhere to go now?”
A gaze piercing through the pouring moonlight felt heavy.
A wry smile escaped my lips. At the corner of those lips hung a hint of mockery.
“So, it’s time to do it properly.”
Baek Ha-won extended a crimson velvet case. My head, which had been spinning, suddenly went cold.
Receiving something like this was a first. In a world where I had nothing. Why did that thought come to mind now?
Feeling overwhelmed, I opened it.
“If you find this seat tempting, I’d be happy to oblige.”
The gun, engraved with letters, gleamed amidst the dim light.
* * *
“That’s… dangerous.”
Angel’s voice trembled. I was still lying on the couch, spinning the gun on my finger.
“Don’t worry.”
I grinned at Angel, who was sitting at the other end of the couch.
“What if I accidentally pull the trigger and shoot myself? What are the odds of getting hit and dying?”
“… ”
“You and me. It’s fifty-fifty, right?”
I laughed again, watching Angel’s skeptical face. When I finally stood up from the couch, he hesitated before sitting back down.
“Given by the boss?”
“Yeah.”
The gun seemed to have been made for me, fitting perfectly in both shape and weight. As a result, I felt less jittery when holding the gun. However, I felt awkward as if I were holding a gun despite being familiar with it.
“What does it mean?”
I focused on the alphabet engraved on the gun barrel. It wasn’t my name’s initials, just an unexpected “S.”
“You should ask the boss about it.”
“The atmosphere didn’t seem right for that.”
“Maybe it’s heaven? Isn’t the sky the limit for Baekcheon?”
“Oh, maybe.”
I replied with a voice devoid of soul. In truth, it didn’t matter to me what letters were engraved on the gun.
As I examined the gun, I opened the cylinder. After loading it with bullets, I closed the chamber and put it back into my pocket.
The penthouse, bathed in the midday sunlight streaming through the giant window, was always quiet. I strolled across the sparkling white marble floor and entered the kitchen.
“Want something to eat?”
The fridge showed no signs of human touch, but it was stocked with essentials.
Come to think of it, when was the last time I cooked? Was my cooking skill… decent? I shrugged and grabbed whatever ingredients I could find.
“I’ll cook. Anything you don’t like?”
“There is.”
“What is it?”
Angel answered, subtly avoiding my gaze.
“Eggs… rice… meat… fish…”
I looked at him suspiciously while making a failed attempt at frying an egg. Oh right, I didn’t even turn on the stove or put oil in the pan.
“Did you happen to see Ichun in the alley that day?”
While attempting to make a somewhat presentable fried egg, I asked. Why is this so difficult? Am I really that bad at cooking?
“I didn’t see him. You wouldn’t believe how surprised I was when he wasn’t there.”
That day, thanks to Angel, I was able to leave that place. Hearing Angel’s voice calling me just in time, I picked up the gun and approached.
“We’ll probably meet again soon.”
I looked at him, wary of whether he would grab the gun again. How surprised he must have been when I pointed the gun at his chest.
The smoke from his seemingly tearful confession was so convincing, yet so incredibly deceitful. Despite knowing it was a lie, my mind went blank, unable to think of anything.
There was no room for anger amidst the mocking laughter that seemed to have no intention of hiding.
When I realized it was a lie, instead of getting angry, I felt relieved, and at the same time, a bitter taste spread deep in my chest. I didn’t even know why.
With a smile, Yugyeom whispered softly in a voice as gentle as could be.
“Don’t follow strangers, and don’t do those funny things like coming to see me.”
As gentle as a breeze that could break at any moment.
“Because it would be troublesome if even your eyes got hurt.”
Perhaps I was already shattered into pieces and forcibly pieced back together, I thought.
