By Zephyria “Is it alright to just let him go?”
His secretary, standing a few steps away, asked. If Dominique ordered, he would have chased after Ashley immediately, but no such order came down. Instead, he brought the cigar he was smoking to his mouth, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled.
The secretary silently watched the smoke, which flowed out in a straight line, cutting through the air, and then floated in the void.
“Miss Bernice, shall we make a bet?”
Dominique said, still fixing his gaze out the window.
“How long it will take for my son to return.”
“…Do you think Junior will come back?”
When the secretary asked after a pause, Dominique gave a chilling smile. He had given him everything since before he was even born. Everything he needed, everything he wanted. To the point where he wouldn’t even realize what lack was. How long could he possibly last running away with that penniless, empty-handed brat?
“He’ll have no choice but to come back.”
He seemed to be confident in his victory. The secretary stood there with her usual expressionless face, saying nothing.
*
Huff, huff, huff.
Koi arrived home, completely out of breath. He felt like he was going to throw up from pedaling so frantically. He suppressed the rising nausea, roughly parked his bicycle, and went inside.
As it had been for the past few days, a silent interior greeted him. Koi hurriedly checked the time, panting and swallowing hard.
It’s okay, I can make it in time.
It took about an hour to get to the train station by car. It would take at least twice as long by bicycle, but he was planning to take an Uber if necessary. It’s okay, I’m saving money to use it for times like this.
Koi hurriedly threw down his bag and lifted the bed mattress. He had taped the money he had saved up in stacks to the opposite side of the mattress, but if he had known he would be using it so urgently, he would have just tied it with a rubber band and hidden it somewhere in the house.
Of course, there was no suitable place to do so, which was why he had to use this cumbersome method.
Koi desperately moved his hands, careful not to tear the bills in this delicate task.
By the time he barely managed to remove the last bill, he had no choice but to take an Uber.
It’s okay, it’s okay.
Reassuring himself, he hurriedly emptied his bag and stuffed the bills inside. Ashley’s clothes suddenly came to mind.
He wanted to take them out and pack them right away, thinking about how he had barely worn them to save them, but he didn’t have time. Koi, who had packed only a few urgently needed items and slung the bag over his shoulder, immediately turned around.
Just as he was thinking of calling a taxi on the way, the door suddenly opened.
Creak…
An ominous sound echoed in the room, illuminated only by the flickering light.
Koi, who had just turned around, froze in surprise. Not even thieves would break into this shabby Motorhome. There were only two people who would come to this place.
Koi himself, and one other person.
“…Koi.”
Koi could only stare blankly at his Father, who was looking at him with a pale face.
*
Ashley was already speeding down the road, changing lanes several times. He glanced at the clock in the car, having cut in front of another car once again. The time he had told Koi was approaching.
At this rate, he might arrive a little earlier than planned. He checked the rearview mirror again, but he didn’t feel any ominous movements that suggested someone was following him.
It was strange from the start that he had a cell phone.
He knew. That it was bait and a trap. But he couldn’t miss this opportunity. There was no worse situation than being dragged to the East Coast and being separated from Koi forever.
He was driving as fast as possible, worried that they would chase after him as soon as he left the mansion, but now he felt like he could rest assured. Ashley thought that Dominique wouldn’t chase after him right away, but he still didn’t slow down. He wanted to run away from that man as quickly and as far as possible. And get closer to Koi by that much.
Koi.
Just thinking about him made his heart warm and brought a sense of relief. A smile unconsciously appeared on his lips as he imagined Koi running towards him.
They would take the train together and leave this place. They would go to another state and start anew. It’s okay, I can do anything. I’ll get a small room and live with Koi.
It didn’t matter how poor and lacking they were. Because Koi, who was his everything, would be with him.
Ashley believed that and changed lanes again, speeding away.
*
“Koi.”
Father called his name again. Koi was frozen, still unable to move. His last image of him had frozen Koi in place. He was just frantically darting his eyes between Father’s hands and belt, thinking that he might hit him again.
“Koi.”
Father, who had called him once more, coughed. Father’s face, illuminated by the dim interior light, was particularly pale. Just as he thought it looked like a blank sheet of paper, Father stepped inside. Koi, startled by the movement, unconsciously stepped back. Father staggered as he moved his feet, then opened his mouth with difficulty.
“Are, you alright? I’m sorry… I, I think I was… out of my mind for a moment back then.”
Father, who had struggled to finish his sentence, coughed again. Just as he thought his breathing was unusually rough, Koi suddenly realized. That Father was somehow different from usual.
He was wheezing and slowly approaching him, one step at a time. It was only one or two steps before stopping, and then taking another one or two steps, but Koi, who had been stepping back each time, soon ran out of space.
He was cornered with his back against the wall, sweating coldly as he gripped the strap of the bag on his shoulder tightly. Father noticed it after taking another two steps closer.
“…Koi, what’s that? Class should be, over, right?”
He asked, noticing something unusual. Koi was momentarily flustered and lost his words.
“I, I’m… going to study… at a friend’s house.”
He barely managed to lie, stammering, but Father didn’t seem to believe him. Of course. If the situation were reversed, Koi wouldn’t believe it either.
“Koi.”
Father’s face was turning even paler. His dry hand reached out towards Koi, and Koi gasped and cringed, seeing it. Father’s eyes wavered at the sight of his terrified son.
“Don’t tell me, you’re trying to leave this place…?”
*
The train station was starting to come into view in the distance. Ashley’s face gradually brightened. Finally, finally.
Finally, I’m leaving this place.
The fact that he was getting away from that man made his chest swell as if it would burst. Unable to hide his excitement, Ashley sped up even more. The moment he changed lanes again, a huge truck suddenly loomed before him.
*
Koi stood speechless, pressed against the wall. Father was approaching, but he had nowhere to go.
Ash is waiting. I need to get out of here quickly.
His mind was racing, but his body remained frozen. Trembling all over, Koi could only watch as Father approached.
“Koi.”
Father called him again. This time, his voice was also trembling.
“Don’t tell me, no…? It’s not like that, is it? You’re not… trying to leave me like your mother did, are you?”
Father’s words came out in broken fragments. He was stammering, his face pale as if he couldn’t believe it. As if he had never imagined such a thing.
But Koi’s mind was already made up.
“I’m going.”
He forced himself to squeeze out the fading voice and opened his mouth.
“I’m… leaving here. Please, let me go.”
Koi had no way to get out because Father was blocking his way. All he could do was beg him. At that moment, Father’s eyes flashed, and then his hand flew.
“Hiek…!”
Koi screamed in terror and squeezed his eyes shut. He cringed, terrified, but the situation that followed was different from what he had expected.
“Koi…”
Suddenly, Father grabbed both of his arms. Koi gasped and flinched at the sudden contact, but he continued to pour out his emotions urgently, not caring.
“I, I was wrong… Please don’t leave.”
The surroundings were silent. Only Father’s rough breathing faintly struck his ears. Koi lost all sense of reality at the unexpected words.
He had just been tensing his body as much as possible, squeezing his eyes shut, but after a while, he finally understood Father’s words.
…Huh?
Belatedly, Koi slowly opened his eyes. His hesitant eyes moved to the side, faltering. Father was still standing there, looking at him. The dim light flickered behind Koi, dimly illuminating his face.
Father was looking down at him with a pale face, twisted as if he was about to cry.