Chapter 15
Hyungoh took a bite of an apple. Standing by the window after waking up, he could see the sun had risen long ago. It had become routine for Hunter to knock on his door at exactly 8 AM to wake him, but today was an exception. Today was the “tomorrow” Michael had mentioned.
He didn’t feel good. When he finally got up just after lunchtime, his head was pounding. Usually he didn’t pay attention to his dreams since he always forgot them, but today he couldn’t ignore it. When he opened his eyes, his vision was blurry and wet. The sheets were soaked with sweat, and his eyes were drenched with tears.
Why? What was so special about today?
“Ouch.”
Hyungoh grabbed his throbbing head and glared at Hunter’s study. The door was firmly shut. Hunter seemed to be inside. Was he planning to stay in there all day? Despite watching for three hours, he hadn’t come out even once. Only faint sounds of glass clinking could be heard occasionally.
One clink of glass, one sound of liquid pouring.
Is he drinking? Hyungoh relaxed his strained eyes. It’s not like staring would let him see through the door anyway. Sprawled on the sofa, Hyungoh recalled what Michael had said yesterday. Uncle will tell me everything today, he’d said. But it didn’t look like he was coming out anytime soon.
Fiddling with the TV remote, Hyungoh had a sudden realization: Wait. At some point, I’ve just naturally started believing Michael’s words.
“Hey, Hunter!”
Theo’s voice boomed from the front door. He was knocking so urgently it seemed like he might break it down. Since he was calling for Hunter, Hyungoh stayed put. With him calling so eagerly, Hunter would surely come out. That’s what Hyungoh thought.
But even after several minutes, Hunter didn’t open the door. He was completely unresponsive. Hyungoh was almost worried he might have collapsed from a sudden heart attack. Pressing his ear to the door just in case, he could fortunately hear some movement.
Hyungoh thought they were both pretty stubborn. Whether it was Hunter refusing to come out, or Theo who wouldn’t stop knocking even after ten minutes. With no choice, Hyungoh opened the front door himself to greet Theo. Theo, who was about to flash a bright smile as if to say ‘Success!’, immediately turned serious when he saw Hyungoh’s embarrassed expression.
“What, Hyungoh? It’s you?”
“Yes. Sorry, it’s me.”
“Where’s Hunter?”
“He hasn’t come out of his room at all.”
Hyungoh glanced at the rugby ball Theo was holding. The worn ball with frayed edges was covered in dirt. One of the flowerpots that had been neatly placed at the edge of the garden was completely shattered, though it wasn’t clear when it had broken.
“When did you break that?”
“Earlier. Damn, I went through all the trouble of breaking it, and Hunter doesn’t even come out?”
“Did you do it on purpose? Just to talk to my uncle?”
“Why else would I do this annoying shit?”
Oh right, Hyungoh. Theo snapped his fingers and pointed at Hyungoh, who was standing there with a deeply furrowed brow.
“But how do you know about Herick?”
“What?”
“Herick. You called out that guy’s name before, when you were completely wasted.”
Me? Hyungoh couldn’t remember. Who’s Herick? Scratching his head at the memory that seemed just within reach, Hyungoh clapped his hands as if he’d suddenly remembered. It’s the name Michael was muttering! Herick. Right, it was definitely Herick.
“Theo, do you know someone named Herick?”
“Of course. Aren’t you talking about Herick Gostin?”
Gostin?
“He has the same last name as Michael. Is he Michael’s family?”
“I don’t know, maybe, considering how much Herick protected that Ghost bastard.”
“Who’s Herick?”
“My ball buddy.”
“…What?”
“So how do you know Herick?”
The rugby ball spun on Theo’s fingertip. Staring blankly at it with unfocused eyes, Hyungoh raised his eyebrows. The person Michael was calling out to so desperately is Theo’s childhood friend?
“Where is he now?”
“In the hospital.”
Wait, who are you? Theo asked, tossing the precariously spinning rugby ball behind him. Somehow, you don’t seem to know anything about him except his name?
“He was hospitalized because of Ghost. That bastard fucking smashed Herick’s head with a hammer this big.”
Theo demonstrated swinging a hammer with his fist.
“Don’t talk nonsense. Michael wouldn’t do something like that.”
Hyungoh quickly shook his head in denial. But part of him somehow found it plausible. How to put it—judging from what he’d seen of Michael so far, he seemed like the kind of kid who could very well do something like that. What if I hadn’t put on that act of understanding him back then? Would my head have been smashed with a hammer too?
Even as these dark thoughts formed, the cute, pretty image of Michael surfaced, covering all the ominous ones. Come on, how could such a delicate child do something like that? Hyungoh deliberately avoided Theo’s gaze.
“Tsk, tsk, you’ve been completely bewitched too. It’s hard to believe he could do something so brutal with that innocent face, right?”
“…”
“Let me give you a tip: there’s not a single normal person in this area. Even if they look fine, they’re all psycho bastards, you poor Asian… no, b-boy.”
Theo had been about to say “Asian” but hastily corrected himself, perhaps remembering the drunk Hyungoh from before.
“Especially someone like Michael with such a pretty face.”
“…I can’t believe it.”
“Tsk, tsk, if you really can’t believe it, let’s go visit the hospital together.”
“To see this Herick person?”
“Yes. Actually, it’s a secret… Oh, right. It was a secret.”
Oh, shit. I forgot. Theo let out a short groan. Herick’s gonna give me hell for this again.
Damn it! Theo kicked the rugby ball stuck in the mud, sending it flying over the wall. Ah, whatever, it’ll work out somehow. Theo muttered, casually brushing the mud off his pants.
“So are you coming or not?”
“Right now?”
“Yeah. It’s not like you have anything else to do anyway.”
But I need to go to Michael’s. Hyungoh turned and glanced at the study. Honestly, he was curious. Just who this Herick person was, what relationship he had with Michael, and whether he might be connected to his uncle too.
“…But we need to get back before it gets too late.”
“Huh, really? What are you, Cinderella?”
Fine, kid. I was planning to visit him anyway. Theo led Hyungoh to his garage.
Through the door connecting the garage to the house, Hyungoh spotted Theo’s friends sprawled on the floor. The smell of alcohol wafted all the way to the garage. Do these people just drink, sleep, and drink again for days on end? Don’t they study or work? Hyungoh wrinkled his nose at the faint, unpleasant odor.
It took quite a while to reach the hospital. Thanks to Theo’s outlaw-level speed on the motorcycle, it didn’t take more than two hours. Though Hyungoh did throw up all the bean sprout soup he’d eaten for dinner the night before as soon as they arrived.
Theo strode confidently through the hospital, clearly familiar with it. As they went deeper, turning corner after corner, the stares around them grew uncomfortable. Desperately following Theo to avoid getting lost, Hyungoh glanced around and noticed everyone staring intently at him. Startled, Hyungoh quietly moved closer to Theo, who casually remarked:
“Ignore them. They’re just wary because they’re seeing an Asian for the first time.”
“…Thanks. That’s really reassuring.”
“What, are you pissed again?”
I wasn’t even teasing this time. Theo frowned. Alright, just walk faster. These people are staring so hard it’s too much. Theo shrugged, turned the final corner, and threw open the hospital room door.
“Hey, Herick!”
A man who had been lying peacefully with his head wrapped tightly in bandages slowly opened his eyes at Theo’s booming voice.
Reddish-brown hair peeked out slightly from between the snow-white bandages. Hyungoh carefully examined the man and met his vivid emerald green eyes. Hyungoh clenched his fist tighter, unsure whether the man’s fiercely slanted eyes were glaring or just looking. Was it too rude to come without notice? Herick, who had been quietly staring at Hyungoh with his lips pressed tight, soon smiled.
“So you’re Michael’s next punching bag?”
