Michael’s expression looked so fragile that it seemed like it would break if touched even slightly. It was enough to evoke involuntary sympathy.
He appeared utterly haggard. Whatever he had been eating all this time, his already slender cheeks had become even more gaunt. No, it seemed like he’d lost weight overall… Hyungoh felt an inexplicable ache in his chest. Michael’s drooping shoulders looked heavy, as if bearing some invisible burden.
“I’m sorry, Choi.”
Michael opened his mouth.
“I’ve been thinking about how sorry I am all this time.”
Hyungoh pressed his back against the door. His eyes kept darting around. He didn’t know where to fix his gaze, and above all, he kept thinking that he shouldn’t look into Michael’s eyes.
Because he’d be easily swayed.
It had always been like that. If he looked straight into Michael’s eyes, somehow he’d end up moving according to his will. Having fallen for this tactic more than once before, Hyungoh had no choice but to keep his wits about him.
“You’re still angry with me.”
I’m sorry. Forgive me, Choi. I’ve reflected a lot. Michael spoke as if reciting. His voice had less strength than before. He looked so pitiful that Hyungoh wanted to embrace him right away.
Don’t do that. Hyungoh reminded himself. I need to think rationally. Hyungoh took a deep breath. His gaze settled calmly.
“What are you sorry for?”
Hyungoh asked. And immediately regretted it. What are you sorry for? Is that important right now?
Michael couldn’t readily provide an answer. He looked uncharacteristically withdrawn.
Hyungoh sighed. Right, I expected you wouldn’t be able to answer. Hyungoh glanced at the open window behind Michael and asked.
“Did you climb up through that?”
When Hyungoh pointed at the tree, Michael nodded. Huh. Hyungoh let out a hollow laugh. Now as before, why does everyone climb trees when there’s a perfectly good door?
“Did only you come here? No other Gostin people?”
“No. Not yet.”
“Not yet?”
“Choi……”
Michael suddenly grabbed Hyungoh’s hand. Hyungoh flinched but firmly maintained his composure.
“Let’s go together.”
“Where?”
“We need to get away from here.”
“So where to?”
“……”
Back to the Gostin mansion? Hyungoh quietly looked down at Michael’s warm hand.
“Don’t you feel like the situation is repeating itself, Michael?”
“……”
“Things keep getting complicated. To the point where it’s hard to handle.”
The people around you are desperate to get rid of me because I’m an eyesore, and just when I think I might catch a breather, another incident occurs. He squeezed his eyes shut. It’s the same now, I still can’t believe I’m being caught up in a war.
“Even if I leave this place with you, it won’t solve all the problems, right?”
Hyungoh released Michael’s hand. Though his tone was demanding, Hyungoh was just as frustrated.
“……”
Michael lowered his head and grabbed Hyungoh’s hand again. It was like a child being stubborn. Hyungoh heaved a deep sigh.
“Michael.”
“We have to go.”
“So I… huh?”
Michael lifted Hyungoh up and slung him over his shoulder. M-Michael? The startled Hyungoh frantically patted Michael’s back. Seeing him about to jump out the window while holding onto the windowsill with one hand, Hyungoh exclaimed in terror.
“W-wait! That’s dangerous, okay?”
Michael? Hyungoh was on the verge of fainting at the sight of the garden far below. It felt like he would plummet headfirst to the ground with the slightest wrong move.
Amid the commotion, the door to the room opened. Hyungoh painfully lifted his face, flushed with blood.
“As I thought.”
Hunter, with his arms folded, leaned against the wall and looked Michael up and down.
Michael’s cold gaze turned to Hunter. As Hunter slowly approached him, Michael positioned himself as if ready to jump immediately.
“A lover’s escape, isn’t that too childish?”
What’s meant to happen will happen, you know that better than anyone. Hunter said.
“Let’s not do anything unnecessary. Since we’re seeing each other after so long, shouldn’t we at least greet each other properly?”
“No.”
Michael was completely on edge. His tensed hands were gradually breaking the corroded window frame.
“What’s the rush? You know that my presence here means that Cenaline guys have already secured positions around. There’s no escape.”
“Gostin will arrive soon.”
“Hmm, will your father be making a personal appearance too?”
Hunter asked mockingly.
“Yes.”
Michael replied indifferently. Although it was a brief answer, it carried a warning. Hunter seemed to notice this and wiped the smile from his face.
“Why don’t you put Hyungoh down first? It seems like we have a lot to talk about.”
“Y-yes, Michael. Please put me down.”
Hyungoh pleaded with a face that had turned bright red. Seeing Hyungoh struggling to speak, Michael hesitated briefly before gently setting him down on the floor. Hyungoh, without even trying to stand up, sat down and smoothed his heaving chest.
“Now tell me. What’s the reason you caused this commotion?”
“……”
“Why are you instigating Federico to start an unnecessary war?”
“It was the lesser of two evils.”
“The lesser evil?”
“If I hadn’t done that, you and Choi would have met a meaningless death.”
Internal slander, false accusations, jealousy, and carelessness. Thousands of possibilities threatened the two of you. Michael approached Hunter, giving him a contemptuous look.
“And don’t worry. The war won’t happen.”
Hunter focused his eyes. What? After momentarily appearing confused and frozen, he soon closed and opened his eyes.
Michael isn’t a child who lies, so those words must be true. But Gostin was clearly focused on preparing for war, so was that all deception?
“The fact that you’re telling me this means that Federico also knows this fact… Funny, does he still come here with his ailing body despite knowing this?”
“Because he desperately wants to meet you.”
“Ah, that’s right. But just because he wants to meet me doesn’t mean he’ll come alone.”
“No, he won’t.”
Hunter opened his eyes intently at Michael, who was answering concisely as if playing twenty questions. Cenaline and Ghost meet in one area, but war doesn’t break out? The claim that world peace will be realized would be more convincing.
“There won’t be a war?”
Hyungoh’s eyes sparkled. When he grabbed Michael’s arm and asked, Michael nodded shyly.
Well, that’s reassuring news. Unlike Hunter, who seemed deep in thought with his lips tightly sealed, Hyungoh alone felt relief. At least I won’t have to see blood splattering everywhere, right?
“Then why did you come here?”
Hunter asked Michael.
“To take Choi away.”
“Haha, back to the Gostin mansion? He was a restless puppy there, unable to settle down. I doubt he’d want to go. Or are you planning to kidnap him again?”
“……I gave you enough concession, Hunter.”
“What?”
“Ample time for you to get the information you wanted.”
Michael said.
Well, well. Hunter raised the corner of his mouth. How kind of you to bring that up first.
“Well, I don’t think we ever set a deadline in our agreement.”
“It’s your fault for being too leisurely for six years.”
“And what’s your rush, kidnapping the kid and putting him in danger? You couldn’t even properly handle a fool like Jake.”
When Hunter brought up Jake, Michael raised his eyes coldly.
“Don’t blame me. You were the first to break the promise.”
“When did I ever break the promise……”
“You completely forgot about your promise to obtain ‘that information’ I wanted?”
“……Ah.”
Hunter’s voice trailed off as the memory came back to him.
“I was trying in my own way. The first button wasn’t fastened properly, so I couldn’t make progress.”
Hunter stood in front of Hyungoh. Crouching on the floor, Hyungoh looked up at Hunter with wary eyes.
“This first button.”
Hunter tapped Hyungoh’s forehead with his finger and said ominously.
“What kind of conversation are you having right now……?”
“You asked before, didn’t you? Why Michael turned a blind eye even though he knew I would escape.”
Hyungoh glanced at Michael. A bit of killing intent could be felt from him as he glared at Hunter with an expressionless face. This situation… somehow looks dangerous.
“We made a promise to each other.”
“What kind of promise?”
“In exchange for him turning a blind eye to my escape, I had to grant his wish.”
“Hunter.”
Michael raised his voice in warning. As he took an aggressive stance as if telling him to stop talking, Hunter raised both hands in a smooth pretense.
“Calm down, both of you.”
Hyungoh said. Michael seemed more sensitive than usual, and Hunter also appeared quite agitated.
What’s going on? It seems like they’re both hiding something from me. Hyungoh observed the two glaring at each other for a moment, then inadvertently turned his gaze beyond the window. Not far from the main entrance, Theo was walking with about a dozen men.
Theo had a phone to his ear. Judging by his deeply furrowed brow, he didn’t seem to be in a good mood.
Hunter, who had been staring at Michael as if in a staring contest, took out his phone at a subtle vibration. It was a call from Theo.
[Hey, Hunter! What are you doing, not coming quickly?]
As soon as he answered the phone, Theo vented his irritation. Hunter was about to make some excuse when Hyungoh nudged him and he turned his gaze toward him.
“Um, look over there.”
Hyungoh whispered with a serious face, pointing beyond the window. On the opposite side of the street from where Theo’s group was walking, Herick and dozens of men who had just gotten out of cars were closing the distance with quick steps.
