ODKO | Chapter 22

Beyond just being my type, you’re beautiful. The serious answer rose to the tip of Jack’s tongue, but he couldn’t bring himself to voice it.

When Jack stayed silent at the joke meant to fluster him, Cayenne’s laughter turned awkward. Even after waiting for a reaction, the subtle silence that settled was chilling, and Cayenne’s expression twisted in a peculiar way.

“You’re supposed to laugh, not get all serious and make it awkward.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Do you want to die? Apologizing makes it even weirder.”

Jack nodded his head. Cayenne scrunched his nose and openly scolded him. Naturally, Jack’s head hung even lower.

“Let’s go. It’s late.”

Cayenne pulled Jack’s coat tighter around his shoulders and turned away. Jack awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.

He could have just laughed, so why did his expression freeze like that? Even if he had nothing else to say, he could have just smiled and said, “Yes, you’re my type,” and the atmosphere wouldn’t have turned so strange.

Regretting his actions, Jack followed behind Cayenne. As Cayenne walked ahead, his silhouette cast a long shadow. Walking silently, stepping on the black silhouette, Jack suddenly noticed that the back of Cayenne’s neck, swallowed by the darkness, was oddly red.

Looking more closely, even his ears were bright red. Jack couldn’t help but chuckle. Was it because his pale skin made it more noticeable, or was he surprisingly shy? Come to think of it, when they first met, he easily blushed at the slightest comment. Remembering how flustered he was, unable to hide his inexperience, made Jack’s throat dry.

‘…I want to see his face.’

Jack thought as he rubbed his neck again.

By the time Cayenne and Jack returned to the knights’ headquarters, the surroundings had turned pitch black. The sun, which had started to set, quickly disappeared behind the horizon.

Jack arrived at the headquarters without ever getting to see Cayenne’s blushing face. He couldn’t quite understand why. If he had quickened his pace to walk side by side like when they came, he could have easily achieved his goal, but for some reason, he lacked the courage. While he hesitated, the cold air had long since cooled Cayenne’s face, and only then could Jack meet Cayenne’s eyes.

“It’s late, so let’s head back. We’ll clean up in the morning.”

The schedule was a mess due to the Crown Prince’s intrusion. As if reading Jack’s mind, thinking about the desk he hadn’t properly tidied, Cayenne pointed to the accommodation building in front of the Red Knights headquarters. Behind the main building with the office was a separate building where the knights stayed.

“Are you feeling better now?”

Jack nodded but then remembered Cayenne’s pale complexion and asked. Thanks to the vigorous massage, Cayenne seemed fine on the surface, but the darkness that had engulfed the surroundings made it hard to see his complexion clearly.

“Thanks to you.”

Jack blinked at the unexpectedly kind response, having anticipated a “I’m fine” or “Don’t worry about it.” Was it just his imagination, or did Cayenne seem unusually gentle today? The unexpected warmth of the response was very comforting.

“What is that face? Were you thinking something strange about me again?”

Cayenne narrowed his eyes as if he could see right through Jack, who was newly realizing this side of him. Startled, Jack widened his eyes and lied, “No, I wasn’t,” but it was futile.

“Yeah, right. Your face is an open book. How are you going to survive the rough life of a knight with such a transparent expression?”

The chronic blusher clicked his tongue as he spoke.

Jack, who thought he was managing quite well in the knights, felt a mix of emotions. It was a strangely unfair feeling, like he didn’t want to hear such comments from Cayenne, even if he heard them from everyone else.

“Yes, well… I’ll keep that in mind.”

Nonetheless, Jack nodded and accepted the advice.

“Don’t wander off and go straight to your room. Don’t think about chatting with strangers.”

“I’ll escort you to your room.”

“No need. What are you plotting now?”

Cayenne pulled up the coat slipping off his shoulder and cast a suspicious glance. Jack was taken aback by Cayenne’s wary expression. He had no ulterior motives, just intended to escort him, but Cayenne’s words made him realize Cayenne was aware of him.

…Why does this make my heart flutter?

It was a series of strange events.

“…Am I some kind of dog in heat, always plotting something?”

Despite the odd fluttering in his heart, Jack pretended not to notice and pouted. Cayenne raised an eyebrow as if he found it hard to trust him.

“Given your track record, it’s only natural to be suspicious. Unless it’s nothing, then that’s a relief.”

After all the harsh words that left scars on his heart, telling him to forget it now seemed contradictory. And why was he suddenly feeling this fluttering sensation?

“…I’m going ahead.”

Cayenne said and turned away before Jack, who was trying to grasp the situation, could say anything.

“Oh, um….”

Jack belatedly reached out, but Cayenne had already disappeared into the darkness at an incredible speed. Left alone in front of the headquarters, Jack let out a dumbfounded sound.

A sense of déjà vu washed over him. The memory of that day, when Cayenne had suddenly appeared in the storage room, enveloped in cigarette smoke and sweet pheromones, seducing him and then disappearing, leaving him with nothing but a sense of loss, lingered like a trauma.

Was it just his imagination? Like that day in the storage room when he was left alone, he felt unusually cold. Shivering from the chilling cold, Jack realized something.

“…My coat.”

The person who left him with nothing but a fluttering heart had also taken Jack’s coat. Sneezing, Jack, dressed only in his uniform without a coat, belatedly wrapped his arms around his shoulders.

He hadn’t noticed when they were together, but the chilly night breeze was indeed very cold.

Meanwhile, Cayenne habitually pulled Jack’s coat tighter around his shoulders as he quickly entered the accommodation building.

…Damn.

His face was flushed with blood, burning hot. As he walked, only harsh curses echoed in his mind. They weren’t directed at anyone else. They were aimed at himself for acting like a fool.

He felt like he’d been hit. Why had he assumed that cheeky puppy had ulterior motives?

The image of those green eyes, swallowed by darkness, was vivid in his mind. The eyes that had widened for a moment showed no intention of anything. The moment he mentioned “plot,” the realization that such an option existed was apparent. From the start, it was just a pure intention to escort as a secretary. Only then did Cayenne realize his mistake, feeling like he’d shot himself in the foot.

The kid was surprisingly perceptive. He couldn’t have missed it. In fact, it was this side that was more conscious.

“…….”

Cayenne suddenly stopped in the middle of the hallway. He must have walked too quickly in his flustered state, despite not feeling well. A wave of dizziness hit him. The headache was so intense it felt like his head would split. Jack’s impromptu massage had helped a bit, but his excitement had made it all for naught.

The dizzying sensation made it hard to even stand. Cayenne leaned against the hallway wall to avoid collapsing, but the coat draped over his shoulder slipped off. He instinctively caught the coat before it hit the floor. Only then did he realize he was wearing another coat.

“…Ah.”

Cayenne belatedly remembered that Jack had draped it over his shoulders. The headache that had been making his mind foggy suddenly made it even foggier.

…What now.

He remembered how cold the outside breeze had been. It must be chilly, he thought, but returning it was out of the question given his condition. Headaches were a constant companion, but when dizziness hit, there was no solution. Resting quickly was the best option.

No choice but to return it tomorrow.

Having quickly given up on returning it, Cayenne wrapped Jack’s coat around his arm. While it was draped over his shoulder, he hadn’t noticed the unfamiliar scent that faintly tickled his nose.

‘I’m sorry….’

The face that had nodded awkwardly, apologizing, seemed to be summoned by the scent lingering in the coat, appearing before his eyes. It was a serious expression without a hint of a smile. Remembering it made his face feel hot again, and Cayenne pressed his cheek with the back of his hand.

…Clueless guy.

He had just intended to tease him a bit. But to think he’d affirm it with such a serious face.

It was impossible not to notice. The feelings with which that kid was looking at him.