“What are you going to do?”
Hyungoh was restless. Hunter, who had been staring outside while momentarily frozen, spoke calmly into his phone.
“Stop right there, Theo.”
“What?”
“Gostin’s men are at the right street corner.”
Quickly assessing the situation, Theo raised his hand to stop the men following him. Then he slowly raised his gun.
“Roughly how many?”
“Hmm, eyeballing it, about twenty-five?”
Damn it. Theo aimed his gun straight ahead.
“You’re not planning to just start shooting, are you?”
“Should I offer my neck first and then shoot?”
“They won’t attack recklessly either.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Since when have Ghost’s men been prudent?”
“Well, I don’t know about the others, but Herick could be considered relatively prudent.”
“Herick?”
Theo’s eyes widened as he spotted a familiar face among those appearing around the corner. Herick, who had been walking with his eyes on his wristwatch, looked up with a start when his subordinates abruptly formed a barrier in front of him.
His eyes met directly with Theo’s. Herick stared at him with wide eyes before carefully scanning the surroundings.
“Ha.”
Herick laughed as if in disbelief and glared at the second-floor window of Hunter’s house. Michael was looking down at him indifferently.
I almost got riddled with bullets. Herick wanted to block all the gun barrels pointed at him. You could have given me a heads-up about something this trivial.
“Care to lower your guard a bit?”
Herick tossed out the words gruffly. Theo grinned in response.
“Try calming your lackeys first. They’re about to piss themselves in fear, man.”
“How crude.”
Herick and Theo sneered at each other.
“Still playing nanny to Ghost, I see?”
“Of course. How about you, still playing the pet dog?”
“I’m honored to be fed and housed. Unlike someone who gets beaten by his master day in and day out.”
“Well, I think I’m still better than a certain dog who was beaten to within an inch of his life during his first meeting with his master, yet still dedicates his entire body to loyal service, either out of stupidity or mindlessness.”
“Both of you, stop it and come inside.”
Hunter, who had been listening to their argument through the phone, intervened.
“Those guys too?”
Theo furrowed his brow.
“No, just you and Herick.”
“Why is he coming in here?”
“Michael is here right now. Judging by the look of things, Herick seems to know that too.”
Theo quickly turned his head to glare at the window. Someone was standing behind Hyungoh, who was peering out the window. He couldn’t see clearly, but it was quite a large figure.
Is that really Michael? Theo spotted pale yellow hair and gaped. Damn, when did he get so big?
“Hey, Herick.”
Theo nodded toward the front door. Understanding his intention, Herick lowered his men’s guard and walked alone to the front door where Theo was standing.
“Hey, be honest.”
Aren’t you glad to see me? As they walked side by side across the garden, leaving their subordinates behind, Theo whispered. Herick shook his head as if displeased but then blurted out:
“It’s not as bad as I thought.”
Theo and Herick wore slight smiles on their faces. Their expressions, as they both looked straight ahead, resembled each other somewhat.
How long had it been? Although their last meeting had ended awkwardly, they didn’t particularly harbor hatred or animosity toward each other.
Their relationship had always been that way. They didn’t have grand ideas about friendship, but having bickered without pretense, they couldn’t hide the genuine pleasure of seeing each other again, born from old affection.
Herick smiled broadly as soon as he entered and saw Hyungoh. Choi. Seeing him sitting there with a dumbfounded expression naturally deepened his smile.
“All the familiar faces have gathered.”
When Hunter clapped his hands, Herick turned his eyes to him.
“It’s been a long time for you too.”
If you ran away, you should have stayed hidden, why crawl back out? Herick said, crossing his arms.
“I was planning to live the rest of my life quietly, but…”
Hunter looked over Hyungoh, Theo, and Michael in turn. There are just too many people trying to ruin my plans.
“Let’s tie up all the loose ends while we’re at it. These fights are getting tiresome, aren’t they?”
“How exactly do you plan to tie things up?”
“We should start by recovering Hyungoh’s memories.”
Step by step. Hunter extended his hand to Hyungoh, who was sprawled on the floor.
“No.”
At that moment, Michael blocked Hyungoh. Hunter responded with an exasperated look.
“Michael, Hyungoh wants answers.”
“Those answers will be poison to Choi.”
“Whether it’s poison or medicine, it’s the path he wants.”
“No, Choi doesn’t want this path.”
“This conversation feels like it’s going in circles. Let’s just ask the person directly.”
Hyungoh. At Hunter’s gentle voice, Hyungoh hiccupped involuntarily. Don’t you want to satisfy your curiosity about your lost memories? Hunter extended his hand once more.
Hyungoh shyly raised his hand but then slowly lowered it. Michael’s gaze was expressing rejection too strongly. The answer Hunter would give would be poison to me.
Michael doesn’t lie.
Fidgeting with his fingers hesitantly, Hyungoh soon changed his mind. No, I can’t keep avoiding this. Even if it’s poison, I need to know what I should know. Above all, it’s about my own memories, not someone else’s.
“…Tell me.”
Hyungoh firmly grasped the large hand. This must be the right choice. He made his decision hurriedly before regret could set in.
“No. You can’t, Choi.”
Alarmed by the decision, Michael cornered Hyungoh. Hyungoh winced as his back hit the closet by the window.
“It’s not good, Choi. It’s dangerous. You’ll break. You’ll definitely regret it.”
“Just stop—!”
“This isn’t right. You should run away even now—”
“Michael!”
Slender nails pressed into Hyungoh’s shoulders. Feeling strong revulsion toward the forceful restraint, Hyungoh finally raised his voice, and only then did Michael close his mouth.
Theo, who had been striding over to stop Michael, halted in surprise. Ooh. As he let out an admiring exclamation, Herick bumped his side.
“If you try to stop me like this again, I’ll really get angry.”
When Hyungoh scolded him, Michael immediately became dejected and hung his head.
Hunter, suppressing his laughter that was about to burst out, was even more pleased with Hyungoh’s presence. If things continue like this, it’s perfect. I might be able to finish earlier than expected.
“Let’s go downstairs, Hyungoh.”
Hyungoh followed Hunter. They had to go back to that wall. He said the answer I want is there. He swallowed involuntarily.
“Theo, you come too.”
“Where are we going now? We should head to Michael’s mansion quickly.”
“Showing that room to Hyungoh comes first.”
“What room?”
Hunter, holding the doorknob, turned his head to stare at Theo. At the meaningful gaze, Theo raised his eyebrows. What’s this all about?
Theo was the one who opened the door back then too. If nothing else, his strength is reliable, so he should be able to open it easily this time as well. Hunter silently urged him along, quickening his pace.
Herick nodded toward Michael, who was standing blankly, not following Hyungoh for some reason.
“Aren’t you going after him?”
Without answering, Michael spread his palm wide open. Then, very slowly, he folded one finger at a time.
Herick tilted his head. Just as Michael had only one delicate finger left extended, a vibration rang out from somewhere as if it had been waiting for that moment.
The timely silence focused everyone in the room. Hunter checked his phone. It was a call from Marsha.
She wouldn’t call me at this time when I’m with others. Hunter sensed something was off but answered the call thinking it might be urgent.
“What is it?”
“Hello, Hunter.”
At the familiar cracked voice, Hunter closed his mouth. Hyungoh and Theo looked at him with questioning faces.
Federico.
After six years, he was greeting him. And through Marsha’s phone, at that.
Hunter pressed his forehead. His anxiety about the plan slowly began to rise.
