Bernard was startled as if burned and examined the employee’s face. However, her subtle expression had completely evaporated in the meantime. Examining her face with a perfect smile unfavorably, Bernard clamped his lips shut. It was obvious what she was thinking without even saying it.
“Who does he think he is, acting like Elliot?”
“Does coming out instead because Elliot is sick make everything okay?”
“We waited for Elliot but some random trash…”
“Gloomy and unlucky bastard. Probably coveting his brother’s position.”
It was a seat Elliot had asked him to go to instead. A request to go in his place and sing happy birthday and clap since he was sick and couldn’t go celebrate his friend’s birthday. Bernard was faithful, but his classmates ridiculed Bernard like that.
Though she was smiling because of money, Bernard could keenly detect that the jewelry shop employee’s lips were subtly curved. Having been despised and driven out in everything, he had become rather good at noticing others’ contempt toward himself.
“Elliot has fair skin so this color will suit him well. He’ll probably be happy. Since it’s a gift from you. His hand was empty anyway…”
“Is that all you have to say?”
She rambled on as if she hadn’t heard him tell her to wear it and go, but her words were cut off. Rubens stared at Bernard blankly like someone waiting for an answer. Bernard just looked up at the man blankly, not understanding why.
If he made a mistake here, he would surely become the subject of gossip. Scandal issues spread fast, and as someone who was receiving unpleasant attention as the duck in a swan family unintentionally, he had to be especially careful. Even now, a paparazzi reporter might be hiding somewhere.
He couldn’t guess what kind of answer he was supposed to give in this situation. He had come to pick up a ring, and he knew that ring was Elliot’s. Yet he couldn’t understand why he was telling him to wear it and go.
“…It’s an engagement ring, right? Congratulations on your engagement.”
Was this the correct answer? Rubens didn’t ask further and turned his back toward the clerk. Standing one step behind him, Bernard was finally relieved that he had let go of his hand. He fidgeted with his aching wrist. Then he looked down at his own hand with the ring still on it.
It was truly a ridiculous and unsuitable scene. The ring on his pale skin… was expressing with his whole body that it wasn’t his. Something like this would suit Elliot’s hand well.
After touching the diamond that must have been cut with great care, he carefully rubbed over it with his clothes in case his fingerprints remained. The employee’s fussy words interrupted.
“Oh my, there’s a separate thing for wiping. Give it here.”
Somehow embarrassed, Bernard’s nape flushed. When he hastily took off the ring and held it out, the employee snatched the ring away firmly yet somewhat hastily. She checked its condition by holding the ring up to the light, then took out a cloth and meticulously wiped the ring’s surface. Becoming more embarrassed at the attitude as if foreign matter had gotten on it, Bernard just fidgeted his toes and held his ground.
Should he go outside even now? Should he ramble on a bit more to salvage the situation? But how should he salvage this situation? All sorts of thoughts churned through his head.
“The service is unpleasant.”
It was an unexpected remark. Bernard was rather surprised by Rubens’s words and widened his eyes.
“I put it on, but the handling is a bit…”
“Ah, that’s…”
The employee subtly examined Bernard’s expression. She seemed to be gauging the situation. Reading that appearance clearly, Rubens’s eyes narrowed again. The action of tapping the glass display case felt ominous. At that, Bernard rather urgently grabbed the man’s sleeve. Bernard tried to smile to smooth things over somehow, but the distorted smile was pathetic.
“…I’m fine.”
“You’re mistaken, it’s funny and unpleasant that the treatment differs depending on who I’m accompanying.”
To Bernard, Rubens and the employee were the same. They both looked the same in driving him into situations and mocking him, yet suddenly Rubens was pointing out the employee’s behavior, so he first suspected whether there was some price attached to this kind favor.
“It’s okay. I wiped it carelessly.”
“I’m giving treatment befitting my lover’s brother.”
Ah, a brief exclamation came out. At the words that it was an action considering Elliot, not Bernard, Bernard made an awkward face. The hand that had been gripping Rubens’s sleeve fell limply. As if embarrassed by what he had assumed alone, subtle disappointment and embarrassment spread across Bernard’s face. Rubens felt an inexplicable pleasure. To think he was expecting again after being trampled on several times. It couldn’t look more foolish.
“I’m sorry. I’ll apologize… Will you take the ring now? Should I wrap it for you?”
“With the case, please.”
“Yes, I’ve put it in well here. Please check.”
He didn’t dwell on the apology that passed by fleetingly. Bernard was just awkward that there was someone apologizing to him, touching his earlobe and stroking his wrist, restless.
“I’ll go outside first.”
“Alright.”
Bernard somehow couldn’t stand that place and left the store first. But it took longer than expected for Rubens to come outside. He seemed to be looking at something more inside the store. He examined the glass display case and talked with the employee for a long time, pointing at something with his finger. The employee opened a few more cases and the man carefully examined inside, then soon chose one. Bernard just thought he was giving something more to Elliot as a gift.
“Let’s go.”
The man who watched Bernard sit in the passenger seat and fasten his seatbelt started the car.
“Don’t you wear accessories, Mr. Weil?”
“Because they don’t suit me… And there’s no occasion to wear them.”
Rubens’s gaze swept over Bernard’s hand.
“It was fine though.”
“No way.”
Bernard, thinking it was a joke, smiled subtly. There had been some people who would mock him, asking if he really took it literally, when he responded with thanks after they asked like this. Thinking it was that kind of teasing, he firmly refused, but Rubens’s expression was subtle.
“Ah…?”
Something slid onto Bernard’s fourth finger. A round, cold sensation. And a flashily cut diamond decoration.
“Wear it around.”
“This is, the ring to give to Elliot…”
“It’s different. The diamond cutting method is slightly different.”
It was an answer mixed with mockery. Bernard opened and closed his lips, then rolled them inward. Because it seemed like he would give some stupid answer. The ring on his hand resembled the ring to give Elliot no matter who looked at it. It seemed no one could easily distinguish them without looking closely.
The employee called that ring a ‘custom-ordered ring’. That meant it wasn’t originally a ready-made purchase, so this ring must have also been ordered in advance.
“It suits you.”
“You’re joking, right?”
All sorts of emotions swirled on his face that had turned pale. Rubens quietly looked at that face. He couldn’t not know what thoughts were in that small head.
“Why? Does it seem like an affair?”
“…Ah.”
“Strictly speaking, it’s right.”
They haven’t even married yet. But clearly a dating relationship, and a relationship on the verge of engagement. And a sex partner caught in between. It was nothing less than a reminder of the relationship diagram.
“When I give you payment, fill your pockets well. There should be some benefit to selling your body instead of your brother.”
“……”
“And who knows. There might be another occasion when you need to stand in for Elliot.”
With those final words, the car moved forward smoothly. Bernard’s eyes, frozen stiff in the passenger seat, blinked slowly. His dry eyes gradually became wet. The pooled tears fell silently and wet his pants.
“Bernard, I have someone I like.”
“Who is it?”
“That person is a really good person. You’ll like them too.”
“Really…?”
“Bernard. I’m so happy… What should I do? That person says he likes me. Says he likes me that much.”
Elliot’s voice buzzed in his head. The car smoothly exited the parking lot. There seemed to be a clear destination. Bernard blinked his wet eyes continuously, but the tears didn’t stop easily.
“The ring.”
His whining voice kept getting swallowed. Bernard tried hard to speak more clearly.
“I understand it’s a spare for when I’m used as a substitute.”
“That’s right.”
“But it doesn’t seem like you’d just give it to me.”
Bernard’s chest ached dully. It might be an arrogant thought, but he didn’t want to lose meekly. Even though he had already been broken several times before him, hot heat warmed his insides. Even though they were already completely burned internal organs.
“How much is it?”
“It’s an amount you can’t pay.”
“I know. But it seems like there’s something more you want from me.”
He condemned that Bernard had a face wanting to have it, but the truth was unclear. Bernard didn’t know whether he truly desired this ring or feared it. He just felt too hot inside and his head was dizzy.
“Then clean up Rhino McPherson.”
