“Shall I pursue him?”
The secretary stood a few paces away as she asked. If Dominique gave the order, she would chase after Ashley without hesitation—but no such order ca.
Instead, Dominique brought his cigar to his lips, drew in a long breath, and exhaled slowly.
The secretary silently watched the smoke as it sliced through the air in a straight line, then diffused and drifted in the still space.
“Miss Bernice, care to place a bet?”
Dominique’s gaze remained fixed on the window as he spoke.
“How long it’ll take for my son to co crawling back.”
“...You believe Junior will return?”
She asked after a pause. Dominique smiled, cold and sure. He had given Ashley everything from before the boy was even born—everything he needed, everything he wanted. He had never known what it ant to lack.
How long could he really last, running off with that penniless, worthless nobody?
“He’ll have no choice but to co back.”
His voice was heavy with confidence. The secretary said nothing, standing as she always did, expression unreadable.
*
Huff, huff, huff.
Koi reached the motorho, breath catching painfully in his throat. He had pedaled so hard it made him nauseous. Fighting the rising urge to vomit, he dropped his bike and stumbled inside.
The house greeted him with its usual silence. He checked the ti with a frantic glance and swallowed hard.
It’s okay. I can make it.
The train station was about an hour away by car. It would take at least twice that by bike, but he’d call an Uber if needed. That’s what he’d saved the money for, after all.
He tossed down his bag and lifted his mattress. He had taped bundles of cash to the underside—if he’d known it would co to this, he would've just hidden it sowhere easier with a rubber band.
But there hadn’t been a better hiding place.
His fingers worked frantically, yet delicately—he couldn’t afford to tear any bills. It was a delicate operation.
By the ti he peeled off the last bundle, it was clear—he had no option but to call an Uber.
It’s okay. It’s okay.
He reassured himself, then emptied his bag and stuffed in the cash. He suddenly thought of the clothes Ashley had bought him.
He hadn’t worn them much, trying to save them. He wanted to pack them now—but there was no ti. Grabbing just the essentials, Koi slung the bag over his shoulder and turned to leave.
He figured he’d call the ride while on the way—but just as he turned, the door creaked open.
Creeeak...
The dim, flickering light made the sound feel even more ominous.
Koi froze.
No one ever ca here. Not even thieves bothered with a place this run-down.
Only two people would ever walk into this motorho uninvited.
Koi himself... and one other.
“...Koi.”
He stared, wide-eyed, at the pale figure of his father.
*
Ashley had already changed lanes several tis, speeding along the road. After cutting off yet another car, he glanced at the clock. The ti he’d told Koi was fast approaching.
At this rate, he might even get there early. He checked the side mirror again, but there was no sign of anyone following him.
The fact there had even been a cellphone was strange to begin with.
He knew it was a trap—bait. But he couldn’t ignore the opportunity. Letting himself be carted off to the East and separated from Koi forever would be worse than anything.
He’d been driving at full speed, half expecting soone to ambush him once he left the estate—but it seed safe now. Ashley figured Dominique wouldn’t pursue him imdiately.
Even so, he didn’t slow down. He wanted to get away as fast and as far as possible. And the faster he fled, the closer he got to Koi.
Koi.
Just thinking of him filled Ashley with warmth and relief. Imagining Koi running toward him made him smile without realizing it.
They’d take the train together and escape. Go to another state, start over. It’d be fine. They could make it work. Find a little room and live together.
It didn’t matter how poor they were. Koi—his everything—would be there.
Ashley believed that with all his heart and changed lanes again, speeding forward.
*
“Koi.”
His father called his na again. Koi /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ remained frozen. His last mory of this man was enough to paralyze him. His eyes darted back and forth between the man’s hand and belt, terrified he might be hit again.
“Koi.”
The man coughed. Under the dim light, his face looked paler than usual—like a sheet of paper. When he stepped into the motorho, Koi reflexively stepped back.
He staggered forward, and with great effort, began to speak.
“A-Are you okay...? I’m sorry... I think I... wasn’t myself back then...”
He coughed again, breath growing harsher.
That’s when Koi realized—sothing about his father was different.
He wheezed with every step, taking one, maybe two paces at a ti, before stopping. Each ti he moved forward, Koi backed up—until there was nowhere left to retreat.
The wall hit his back. Cornered, Koi clutched the strap of his bag, hands sweating.
It wasn’t until his father got close that he noticed the bag.
“...Koi, what’s that? Your classes should be done by now.”
His tone hinted he’d caught on. Koi panicked and stamred.
“I-I’m going to a friend’s place... to study.”
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
It was a weak lie—and his father didn’t buy it. Naturally. Koi wouldn’t have believed it either.
“Koi...”
His father’s face grew even paler. He extended a trembling hand, and Koi recoiled with a gasp, flinching instinctively.
The fear in his son’s eyes made his father falter.
“You’re not... trying to leave , are you...?”
*
The train station finally ca into view. Ashley’s face lit up.
Finally. Finally.
He was really going to leave this place.
Just the thought of escaping Dominique made his chest feel like it would burst. Ashley couldn’t hide his excitent. He pressed harder on the gas.
As he changed lanes once more, a massive truck suddenly barreled into his path.
*
Koi said nothing, pressed against the wall. His father approached, but he had nowhere to go.
Ash is waiting. I need to get out of here.
His thoughts raced, but his body remained frozen. He trembled as he watched his father get closer.
“Koi.”
His father called again—this ti, his voice shaking.
“You’re not... really going to... right? You wouldn’t... leave too, like your mom did... right?”
The words ca in pieces, his face twisted in disbelief. As if he never imagined this could happen.
But Koi had already made up his mind.
“I’m... going.”
He squeezed the words out through a voice that kept shrinking.
“I’m leaving... Please... let go.”
His path was blocked. All he could do was plead.
His father’s eyes suddenly flashed—and his hand shot forward.
“Ah...!”
Koi yelped, flinching and shutting his eyes tight. He braced himself, trembling, certain he was about to be hit.
But what followed was different.
“Koi...”
His father grabbed both of his arms. Koi gasped and recoiled, but the man hurried to speak.
“I-I was wrong... Please don’t leave ...”
The room was silent. Only his father’s ragged breathing filled the space.
Koi couldn’t believe what he was hearing. It didn’t feel real.
He stood frozen, body tense, eyes shut tight—until he finally began to register the words.
...Huh?
Koi slowly opened his eyes. His hesitant gaze shifted sideways.
His father was still staring at him. The flickering ceiling light cast a weak glow from behind Koi’s back.
His father’s face, ghost-pale, was twisted in anguish as he looked down at him.
Reviews
All reviews (0)