Chapter 38
Theo’s giggling made him look like a villain. What is he trying to do? Hyungoh shot him a distrustful look. He’s probably acting this way because of my uncle. With an uncomfortable feeling, Hyungoh was about to tell him not to follow, but Herick beat him to it.
“It would be better not to overstep your boundaries.”
“What does that mean?”
“Act like yourself and hang out with losers. Don’t try to approach Michael out of petty curiosity.”
“Losers? Come on. Can’t you tell who’s closer to being a loser right now by looking at yourself?”
Theo flicked Herick’s head with his finger. When Herick staggered from the dizzying sensation, Hyungoh reflexively reached out to steady him.
“Let go, it’s disgusting.”
Herick pushed Hyungoh away irritably. Taking a step or two backward from the shove, Hyungoh raised his eyebrows.
“Excuse me?”
Hyungoh had kept his patience even in front of Theo’s friends who openly displayed racial discrimination. At least they didn’t show this kind of hateful malice toward him.
Do I have to be called disgusting just because of your petty jealousy? I showed you concern and goodwill despite everything. Hyungoh placed his hand on his chest where Herick had pushed him. It felt like blood was rushing to his head.
Turning sharply on his heel, Hyungoh flung the front door open and went inside the house. As the door slammed shut, Theo and Herick both flinched.
Stunned by Hyungoh’s sudden action, they stood blankly in front of the entrance for a moment. Theo, who had been staring at the firmly closed door with a dumbfounded face, soon burst into laughter. He’s really got some nerve, that guy.
“Didn’t you hear me? Michael is waiting.”
“Yes, I heard you clearly, and don’t come in with your shoes on.”
Hyungoh, sitting on the sofa with his arms crossed, glanced at Herick as he opened the door and came in. Theo, who was following behind Herick, casually took off his shoes.
Once again at a loss for words, Herick closed his eyes tightly. The more he talked with Hyungoh, the dizzier he felt. It was as if blood would flow back through the wound on his head. Why on earth would Michael be with someone like that… Herick’s gaze grew increasingly fierce.
“Follow me before I drag you there by force.”
“Whoa, whoa, I can’t allow that.”
That would be majorly disrespectful to the other person, disrespectful. Right? Theo approached Hyungoh and put his arm around his shoulder. Hyungoh nodded with a surprised expression toward Theo, who was grinning as if asking for praise. Why is he suddenly taking my side? And then Hyungoh quickly caught on to his intention. Ah, he wants to be taken along too.
In fact, even considering Herick’s injury, Hyungoh had thought he would definitely lose in a physical confrontation. Herick’s grip when he grabbed Hyungoh’s wrist earlier had been strong. He had been worried about what would happen if Herick really tried to drag him away, but fortunately, Theo seemed to be on his side.
If nothing else, Herick couldn’t overpower Theo with strength. With Theo by his side, Hyungoh raised his chin toward Herick.
“If you take Theo along, I’ll go too.”
Hmph. Theo snorted at Herick and raised his chin, following Hyungoh’s gesture.
It would be a lie to say that Herick’s obsession with Michael didn’t bother him. Since it was true that Michael liked him, Hyungoh naturally became cautious about dealing with Herick. His gaze carried a threatening intensity similar to that of a cult follower, so Hyungoh instinctively realized he couldn’t handle him alone.
If, just if, Herick tried to harm me… Hyungoh looked at Theo with a meaningful expression. Theo showed his palm as if asking what was wrong. At least in this situation, Theo is the only reliable person. Hyungoh sighed, half relieved and half disappointed.
“Hey, are you crazy?”
Theo, who had been maintaining a playful smile, suddenly became serious and pounced on Herick. Herick, who seemed thoroughly enraged, had picked up a ceramic plate from the table and was about to throw it at Hyungoh.
Hyungoh’s mouth fell open as he raised his hands defensively. See that? That’s why I have to be careful. With eyes consumed by madness glaring at him, if Theo hadn’t stopped him, Herick would have not only thrown the plate but might have grabbed scissors to tear Hyungoh to pieces.
“If you keep spouting that nonsense, I’ll tear your mouth apart with my own hands.”
“Put that down first! That’s Hunter’s favorite plate!”
Theo yelled. The plate had a picture of a short-haired woman’s back. Although the word ‘angel’ was written very small on her back like a tattoo, the three excited men failed to notice this detail.
“What did I say that was so bad?”
Hyungoh, who had jumped up from the sofa and stepped back, cried out as if wronged.
“Are you saying this because you don’t know Michael’s situation? How can you so easily suggest bringing an outsider into that house?”
“What’s wrong with that? Fine, I admit I was wrong to talk about taking Theo along without the homeowner’s permission first. But that’s not enough of a mistake to deserve getting hit with a plate!”
“…You really are something else.”
Ha. Did he hide this from you too? Herick lowered his hand, laughing as if in disbelief. Theo quickly snatched the plate and put it back on the table.
“To be this careless, Hunter is really fucking up.”
“You bastard, again…”
“You shut up!”
Herick shouted in an even more intense voice at Theo, who was about to threaten him, upset at the insult to Hunter.
“Why is that? Surely you didn’t want him to grow up like a flower in a greenhouse, or were you afraid he might run away out of fear?”
“What…”
“Listen carefully, because I’m not kind enough to repeat myself.”
Herick approached Hyungoh with large strides and spoke in a suppressed voice.
“Michael is on the run right now. If any information about him living in this area leaks out even slightly, the Gostin guys will come running.”
“…What?”
“What?”
Theo and Hyungoh both uttered dumbfounded sounds at Herick’s words.
Noticing Theo’s wide-eyed look, Herick frowned. Right, that idiot. He had unintentionally gotten worked up and blurted out words without considering Theo’s presence.
It shouldn’t be a big deal, though. Hunter must have had his reasons for keeping that guy close. Though he acts stupid, he’s not the type to go around blabbing. Even when he learned about Michael’s existence, he didn’t bring it up to people around him. Well, he wasn’t the type to talk about his personal business in the first place.
Despite his appearance, he keeps his mouth shut. Herick thought as he brushed his bangs up.
“Hey, explain that more clearly. So why is Ghost running from your family?”
“What nonsense are you talking? Why are you suddenly creating a non-existent family?”
“What nonsense are you talking? You said the Gostin guys would come running.”
“Why would they be my family?”
“Because you’re Herick Gostin.”
“What?”
“What?”
Theo and Herick glared at each other suspiciously.
“Where did you hear that?”
“I heard Hunter call you that before.”
Theo had never directly asked Herick about his surname. He wasn’t curious, so he didn’t try to find out. However, when Herick began formally acting as Michael’s caretaker, Theo vaguely remembered hearing Hunter playfully call Herick “Gostin.”
He has the same surname as Ghost. That’s what he had thought casually. The question of whether they might be distant relatives crossed his mind, but at the time, it wasn’t a topic he was interested in, so he just let it go. More than that, he was feeling tremendous jealousy seeing Hunter speaking familiarly with Herick, so he wasn’t concerned about other matters.
“So you and Ghost aren’t family?”
“You’re spouting nonsense. And I’m warning you, stop calling Michael ‘Ghost.'”
“Why is this so complicated? Then who are these Gostin guys you mentioned?”
In response to Theo’s question, Herick sharply turned his head toward Hyungoh. It was a movement meant to draw his attention, as if saying “listen carefully.”
“A mafia organization.”
“Mafia?”
Theo frowned. The Gostins are a mafia group? Theo, who was more ignorant about criminal organizations than he appeared, scratched his head at the unfamiliar name.
“…Mafia?”
Hyungoh, who had been frozen stiff, barely managed to inhale.
I never thought I’d hear that word up close in my life. To Hyungoh, the mafia was nothing more or less than a criminal group that existed only in movies. They trafficked drugs and, what, laundered money, right? And people like that are after Michael?
At that moment, Hyungoh thought of Marsha. The incident in the backyard replayed in his mind.
Ah. So it’s related to that.
Hyungoh, who had been spacing out for a moment, stood in front of the door with trance-like, calm steps. Dangerous. This seems dangerous.
Why did Uncle leave Michael with me? From what Herick is saying, Uncle seems to already know that Michael is being pursued by the mafia.
He blinked. While harboring resentful questions toward Hunter for putting him in this situation, he gradually felt worry and sympathy for Michael.
It’s dangerous. I shouldn’t get involved any further. Hyungoh’s instinct whispered subtly.
But Michael…
Hyungoh placed his hand on the doorknob with a pained expression. Michael’s bright face persistently lingered in his mind.
***
Marsha, who had been standing upright like a mannequin, met Herick’s eyes. A hint of reproach was contained within her indifferent gaze.
Herick turned his head with a displeased expression. Theo and Hyungoh stood side by side on either side of him.
“Choi!”
Michael, who had come out of the room, peeked his face over the second-floor railing to look down. Michael, who had been smiling brightly toward Hyungoh, quickly became serious when he met the eyes of Theo, who was glaring at him with a fierce expression.
“Long time no see, Ghost?”
“…I’m not Ghost.”
“Yeah, you’re not. Looking at the way you behave, you’re not a ghost, you’re worse than an animal.”
Herick nudged Theo as if to caution him. However, Theo ignored him and walked around the living room as if it were his own home.
“Wow. Brandy, liqueur, vodka. There’s all sorts of things here. Does a little kid like you collect these by type? Or is this your taste?”
Theo tapped his fingers on the liquor display case, nodding toward Marsha. When Marsha simply stared back with no intention of answering, Theo, losing interest in her, shifted his gaze back to Michael.
“Why don’t you come down? Since we’ve met like this, let’s get to know each other.”
Theo, who had opened the display case on his own and taken out a bunch of liquor bottles, placed them down on the table in front of the sofa with a thud. Michael rolled his eyes to look at Hyungoh. Hyungoh, who had been silently looking at the floor, soon walked over with large strides and sat on the sofa.
That’s right. Theo grinned and flopped down on the sofa after him. Herick touched his forehead as he watched the forceful Theo. That idiot. Marsha, whom Herick glanced at, though it was subtle, had her eyes narrowed more than usual, suggesting she was displeased.
Michael pushed his lips out as he looked at Hyungoh, who wouldn’t meet his eyes. Hyungoh felt Michael’s gaze but didn’t raise his head. The sound of someone coming down the stairs could be heard, and Michael’s legs came into view as he gently sat on the opposite sofa.
Hyungoh finally looked at Michael with eyes full of worry. Michael blinked and tilted his head.
“Now, let’s…”
“This is crazy.”
As soon as Theo opened his mouth, Hyungoh quickly grabbed one of the bottles of liquor and opened the cap. Theo hesitated and unconsciously swore.
“Oh, shit. No.”
Just as Theo reached out to snatch the liquor from Hyungoh’s hand, Hyungoh tilted his head back and started gulping the liquor straight from the bottle. Herick, Michael, and even Marsha’s eyes widened. Only Theo, who knew about Hyungoh’s drinking habits, clutched his head with a shocked expression.
