TSCEIAB Ch. 30

 

“……?”

 

I turned to see a shirtless man wearing only black jeans holding a red plastic cup towards me.

Water was dripping from his wet hair; he seemed to be one of the crowd from the pool.

I half-heartedly accepted the cup he handed me and replied.

 

“Just… standing.”

 

“Oh, really? I’ve never seen you before. What’s your name? I’m Tyler Thompson. You can call me Tyler.”

 

Tyler? Tyler?

 

I muttered to the familiar name, my eyes widened.

 

“The homeowner?”

 

“What?”

 

Perhaps hearing the expression for the first time, he gave a small laugh.

 

“You’re kinda funny.”

 

“…….”

 

“So, what’s your name?”

 

“Oh……. Haley. Haley Baek.”

 

“Can I call you Haley?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I nodded and lifted the cup Tyler had given me to my lips. I was thirsty after all.

But before I could take a sip of what was inside, a large hand popped in and grabbed the cup.

 

“……!”

 

The recoil sloshed the drink inside, soaking my hands and sleeves.

 

‘What the?’

 

Startled, I raised my eyes and looked at the owner of the hand.

A man who wasn’t here there a moment ago stepped between me and Tyler.

 

“What are you?”

 

Tyler, bewildered as I was, turned to the man and asked.

Black pants, a black short-sleeved T-shirt, and a black baseball cap.

I tried to make out the man’s face, but he subtly turned away from my gaze.

All I saw was a man’s straight neck, sharp jawline, and black hair exposed beneath his hat.

 

“This isn’t a drink, it’s alcohol. This kid’s still seventeen.”

 

The boy, all black except for his pale skin, cocked his head and pointed at me. Tyler’s face crumpled at this.

 

“Who are you? Do you know her?”

 

“Yes, a friend from the same school. I’ll take her with me.”

 

The man turned to me.

He snatched the cup from my hand and placed it on the cabinet and gently touched my shoulder.

 

“Let’s go over there. Haley.”

 

“……!”

 

Only then could I see the man’s face clearly. As I opened my mouth, he furrowed his eyebrows and smiled.

 

“H-Hu..go …….”

 

“Shhh.”

 

It’s Hugo.

Hugo Alexis stuck close behind me and led me somewhere.

 

“Let’s go to a place where there are no people……. No. You should go to the bathroom first.”

 

His gaze turned to my damp hands and sleeves. Before I could say anything, he turned my body in a certain direction.

 

“The bathroom is over there.”

 

“No, I- I can go there myself……. .”

 

“You’re wet because of me. And we haven’t seen each other in a while. You’re not going to push me away, are you?”

 

“…….”

 

He bent down slightly and brought his lips close to my ear, whispering softly.

 

“That would make me feel a little sad.”

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

As soon as I washed my hands in the bathroom on the first floor, I faced Hugo, who was waiting for me with a handkerchief.

 

“Here. Wipe it dry.”

 

“…… Thanks.”

 

I glanced at the handkerchief he handed me.

Even when we were little, he always carried a handkerchief.

 

“Aren’t you going to wipe? Should I do it for you?”

 

Hugo, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, tilted his head to the side. Perhaps because of the shade of his hat, his complexion looked worse than before.

 

“No. I’ll wipe it.”

 

“Alright, then.”

 

Even though he looked very tired, he had a picturesque smile on his lips without any sign of fatigue.

I don’t know why he looked so pleased.

 

“When you’re done, give it to me.”

 

“No, I’ll wash it and give it back.”

 

“Hmm……. Okay, then. Give it back to me later.”

 

He gave a strange emphasis on the word ‘later.’ I frowned slightly as I stuffed the wet handkerchief into my pocket.

 

‘Wait, does that mean I have to see him again?’

 

I felt like I was dried up inside.

But before I could reflect on our earlier conversation, Hugo came up to me again and asked.

 

“It’s too noisy in here. Why don’t we go somewhere quiet?”

 

“No, I…….”

 

“I saved you. So I’d like you to lend me your time. Is that a no?”

 

Saving me seemed to refer to the time he stopped me from drinking alcohol because I thought it was a drink.

My hands and sleeves were wet, but I was grateful that he stopped me from drinking unintentionally.

 

‘Still……. It’s a bit awkward being alone with Hugo.’

 

I was uncomfortable with Hugo.

His smug face reminded me of my childhood memories, the sins I had committed, and the harsh words that have been directed at me.

 

“Hmm? Haley?”

 

But deep down, there was still an unresolved debt in my heart.

Kang Yi-seo who almost drove a seven-year-old child without a proper guide into a rampage, and then cowardly ran away.

Looking at Hugo’s pale face and tired eyes from not receiving proper guidance, it was hard to ignore his words.

 

“…… If it’s just for a moment, it’s fine.”

 

In the end, it went like this.

I nod my head, embracing my childhood guilt.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

Hugo smiled and moved away from me a little in a casual manner, as if he had been clingy for some time.

He walked away without checking to see if I was following him.

 

“Haa…….”

 

I felt dried up again.

I stood there for a moment, rubbed my eyes with my hands, and followed Hugo.

Hugo acted as if the mansion were his home.

He grabbed two cups and a hot dog without hesitation as he walked along.

 

“Here we are.”

 

I don’t know how long we walked.

Finally, we arrived at a corner of the mansion, a staircase leading up to the second floor.

 

“This staircase is in the corner, so it looks like they don’t use it much.”

 

“There are two stairs in this house?”

 

“Yes, the one near the entrance is the main stairs. I think this one is for emergency purposes.”

 

It was definitely unused as there were no lights on around area.

Judging by the rugs on the stairs, it looks like it was being maintained, though.

 

“Sit here.”

 

Hugo was sitting on the stairs and motioned with his chin the spot beside him. I hesitated for a moment, then sat down a step below him.

Hugo looked back and forth between the empty space next to him and me sitting below him, then shrugged slightly.

And then.

 

“Here, I brought it because you seemed thirsty earlier. Drink it.”

 

He held out a cup he had brought on the way here.

 

“…… Isn’t this alcohol?”

 

“Doubtful?”

 

I couldn’t answer right away.

When I squinted and glared at the cup, Hugo chuckled softly and brought the cup to his lips.

 

Gulp.

 

His throat moved up and down. He had tasted it.

 

“Wait, what if it’s alcohol……!”

 

“It’s cola. Cherry flavor.”

 

Hugo furrowed his brows as he removed the cup from his mouth. He grumbled that it was too sweet and handed me the cup again.

 

“It’s okay, so drink it.”

 

“…….”

 

Unable to hide my trepidation, I accepted the cup Hugo gave me. When I sniffed it, I heard Hugo’s laughter from above me again.

 

“You’re still so cautious.”

 

“Huh? What?”

 

“Nothing, I’m talking to myself.”

 

Listening to his reply, I sipped the drink from the cup. Just as he had said, the carbonation of the tangy cola tickled my mouth.

 

“It’s cola, right?”

 

“…… Yes. Cherry-flavored.”

 

I nodded and took a few sips of artificially flavored cola. It was then that I felt my thirst quenched.

 

“Do you want a hot dog?”

 

As I fiddled with the half-emptied cup, a hot dog popped up in front of me.

Smelling the hot dog without having eaten yet made my stomach rumble.

 

“Go ahead and take it.”

 

“What about you?”

 

“I’m not hungry.”

 

Hugo snatched the cup from my hand and handed me the hot dog. As I took a bite of the fluffy bread, I heard Hugo’s soft question.

 

“Is this your first time at a party like this?”

 

“Huh? Yes.”

 

He made a complicated expression as I nodded, biting my lip.

 

“…… It’s my first time at a party, too. It’s the first time for both of us.”

 

There was bitterness in his voice. I raised my head in curiosity and saw Hugo’s face with an unreadable expression.

He looked at me in silence for a moment. Somehow, the atmosphere became awkward.

 

‘What is it? Is there something on my face?’

 

I avoided his gaze, feeling uncomfortable. As I focused on eating my hot dog again, Hugo took off his hat and ran through his hair.

 

“Is it good?”

 

“Yes, it just tastes like a hot dog.”

 

“Well, It is a hot dog.”

 

Fortunately, Hugo soon returned to his usual self. He casually leaned his chin on his hand.

 

“Why did you try to drink what the naked boy gave you earlier?”

 

“Naked……? Tyler?”

 

“I don’t know his name. But in a place like this, you can’t just take whatever someone gives you.”

 

“You’re someone too.”

 

“Of course, I’m an exception. I…….”

 

He paused for a moment. I chewed and swallowed what was in my mouth and looked back at him.

Hugo seemed to be thinking about something, and then cautiously added,

 

“I’m your friend.”

 

“…… Friend?”

 

“Yes. I caught you when you almost fell in the parking lot, helped you when you were in trouble in the hallway, and this time too……. After all, we’ve met like that three times.”

 

Our eyes met. Our gazes met and became entangled in the air .

His red-tinged eyes folded slightly. A faint blush spread across his pale cheeks.

 

“So let’s be friends.”

 

His voice cracked, as if he were making a secret promise.

He whispered very softly.

 

“Hmm?”

 

The voice overlapped with that of the young Hugo.

 

<Then you’ll pair up with me. Hmm? >

 

Before I could even realize it, my vision blurred. I saw Hugo’s surprised face through the rippling vision.