Vol 11 - 22

Vol 11 - 22

I suddenly turned my head to look at Kyle. Although his face was normal, the expression of dissatisfaction was evident with a slight frown as he glanced at Christoph and then back at the newspaper. I smiled lightly.

“But you still like Christoph.”

“What me?!”

Kyle’s eyes widened, and he shouted. But then, seeing my wide grin to the point of curving my eyes, Kyle sighed.

“Beautiful.”

“………” – Taeui fell silent.

“Why?”

“Just a bit surprised.”

I shook my head. Ah, such a surprising reason. Throughout the years living with Kyle, he had never expressed likes or dislikes about others’ appearances. He could say someone is beautiful, but he had never said he liked them because they were beautiful.

“Really? Actually, no one knows, right? If you look closely, Christoph is also beautiful.”

Not sure if just a glance would tell that he is beautiful, but Kyle still added, seemingly trying to defend Christoph in front of a perplexed Taeui.

“He doesn’t know how to speak indirectly and sometimes is blunt with everyone, so at times he might make others uncomfortable, but if you just look, his simple mind indeed makes him look beautiful. It’s really easy to read his thoughts.”

Only after hearing this did I finally find it reasonable. I wondered if I was weak in German, but it seemed like the man was just using the language unusually.

“Is it like a younger brother much younger than me?”

“Exactly!” – Kyle nodded. Then it seemed like he suddenly thought of something and sighed.

“Such younger brothers eventually only give you a headache, whether it’s a blood brother or Christoph……”

Jeong Taeui laughed loudly.

“But it seems you still love Christoph more than the aloof Richard—a person who doesn’t give you a headache.”

“Oh no. Richard is also beautiful. I like him too. But he doesn’t make me worry. I don’t even feel restless. As a result, I probably worry about Christoph more…… Although my busy life almost doesn’t allow me to notice. But isn’t that too obvious?”

Kyle took off his glasses and asked me discreetly. He hoped it wasn’t too obvious. I shook my head.

“Not really obvious. But I just feel it.”

Although not entirely clear, sometimes I still felt it from the empathetic gaze or the subtle tone. Kyle seemed like a big brother worriedly watching his younger brother walk on a shaky path.

“Is that so…… But I also like you, Tay. You're beautiful too.”

I was instantly surprised by the praise I had never heard before, and suddenly felt like I was eating honey. But then I smiled shyly and said: “I like you too.”

Kyle truly loved everyone. He not only liked people in the literal sense but also had a sincere affection for each person around him discreetly. He wasn’t overly friendly with kind people, but he was always ready to help those who needed his assistance.

A person who has always lived a happy life. That’s why Jeong Taeui liked him. Although it felt completely different from Jeong Jaeui, now he was like a big brother to Jeong Taeui.

It seemed unknown that the confessions were overflowing as Christoph stood up from behind the glass looking at Taeui and Kyle chatting happily.

“Having fun?”

Christoph stepped in and plopped down next to Jeong Taeui with an unhappy face. He then picked a grape from the small fruit basket on the table and put it in his mouth.

“Um. Kyle said he likes me and said I’m beautiful.”

I chuckled and pointed to myself. Christoph chewed the grape in his mouth and then glanced at us both strangely.

“…….Really?……. Does Rick know?”

Christoph’s blunt tone carried a bit of vague worry as if he had just discovered a big secret that shouldn’t be known. He lowered his head and stared at the grapes seriously.

……Aha, so this is what’s called ‘beautiful.’

I laughed loudly. “I’m not sure.” – I whispered, and Christoph cautiously asked again.

“Do you like that?”

“Um——maybe I also like Kyle. Yes.”

I said with a smile in my eyes, and Christoph was still silent. But then he suddenly mumbled.

“But why not me?”

“……Huh?”

“Even if it’s not Rick, if it’s okay to like, then why not me? Why Kyle?”

Christoph’s gaze became sharp and fierce; suddenly, he stared at Kyle. Kyle’s eyes also widened.

“Look at that why am I— or rather, you—.”

This time Kyle looked at both with a very skeptical gaze.

Strange. How did it start as a joke and not end with a joke?

I licked my lips and waved my hands.

“No, no. I like you too. Just like I like Kyle. It’s completely different from liking Ilay. Oh?”

As I spoke, Christoph watched me intently for a while, then finally seemed to understand – but still not very happy – he mumbled “Um” and nodded.

Kyle rested his chin on his hand and frowned as he looked closely at Christoph and Taeui from every nook and cranny on their faces, then shrugged.

“Um, okay. Anyway, this isn’t a good topic to discuss for a long time. This joke, if dragged on, will become either awkward or boring. One of the two.”

I shrugged and nodded. As I tried to change the topic as usual, a short silence passed.

“Do people usually say such words when they are close to each other?”

Christoph asked with a puzzled face, and Kyle looked at him with slightly furrowed eyebrows as if trying to remember.

“No, actually, if they are close, they seldom say that. For example, in a family, people usually don’t say such words. Right?”

“It’s roughly like that, I guess. I also seldom say such words to my brother.”

I also recalled memories while speaking. I couldn’t remember much about the long time living with those considered family. But even when thinking about friends and colleagues from school days, saying ‘I like you.’ wasn’t a common thing.

“Yeah, that’s why it’s easy to cause misunderstandings.”

I smiled and shrugged. The words just now were just a joke, not because of the subject but because the way of conveying the meaning of the sentence could easily be misunderstood, leading to chaotic situations I had witnessed a few times. It was one of the most easily miscommunicated sentences.

Suddenly, Christoph’s gaze met Taeui’s.

It was unclear what Christoph was thinking; his blue eyes didn’t blink as he looked at Taeui. It seemed like something flashed in those eyes.

Finally, he seemed to want to join the conversation and whispered: “Right, I’ve never said those words to my family.”

It seemed obvious. The carefree words were blurted out.

The smile on Taeui’s face faded momentarily.

I wanted to say that it wasn’t like that, not like that, but I couldn’t utter it.

It wasn’t that those words were never to be said. People don’t say them because they assume they are understood without being heard. If they can’t be felt without saying, then those are the words that need to be said.

When I suddenly fell silent, Christoph looked at me in surprise. I awkwardly replied vaguely: “Well, uh……nothing.”

“By the way, a few days ago, when talking on the phone with Changin, the conversation about your brother was mentioned. They asked for your phone number.”

At that moment, Kyle naturally changed the topic of the conversation.

“Ah…… yes. There was a phone call.”

I followed the new thread of the topic. However, a corner of my heart still ached. Perhaps because Christoph seemed too normal, the emotions became even more complex.

“Alright. They said they are coming to Germany soon. Do you plan to meet?”

“Ah. No. I’ll just stay in Berlin. With a situation like this, it seems difficult to meet……”

I hesitated after pausing, and at the same time, Kyle looked at me while my mouth stiffened for a few seconds.

“……might not meet. Because he wants to meet. As you know, things related to my brother always happen contrary to my wishes.”

Jeong Taeui smiled bitterly.

Perhaps by now, my brother had forgotten the desire to meet me. Or had given up on that intention and decided to meet next time. If so, we might not be able to meet at this time, but we can meet at a later time.

But in reality, whether to meet my brother or not doesn’t matter. The current situation is already like this.

“There’s a forum in Frankfurt at this time…… The omens seem unusual; I wonder if your brother is okay.”

To be precise, it’s not that the forum is happening at a dangerous time, but danger has appeared precisely when the forum is happening, but I slowly shook my head.

“The organization will take good care of him there; there’s nothing to worry about. Moreover, it’s Jeong Jay after all.”

“I’m not worried about my brother’s situation, but somehow it doesn’t seem too good.”

I rubbed my forehead.

If I knew nothing, perhaps it would have been better, but having heard some things, I couldn’t help but worry.

“If someone attending the forum is kidnapped, it will be a major issue.”

“Indeed, it would be huge. It’s not just any attendee; if the main character gets kidnapped, then what more is there to say?”

As I muttered, Kyle nodded immediately without hesitation. However, as I sighed and groaned, Kyle seemed to want to soothe my worries and added:

“But in this situation, the abduction itself is the problem. Jeong Jay currently has a clear affiliation. And you’ve been with UNHRDO yourself—you know how it is.”

I nodded. Regarding that, I had argued that the idea of kidnapping was nonsensical. The organization that Jeong Jaeui is currently working with has a training program almost at a military level. If he is protected by such a group of people, unless he steps out voluntarily, kidnapping is impossible.

If one has to consider the possibility—

“If someone who understands the operational mechanisms stands out, it would be easy to find a loophole.”

Christoph said while chewing grapes, seeds and all.

That’s indeed the problem.

However capable one might be, taking someone out quietly is impossible, but if Ilay stands up, it’s not impossible to say.

……More terrifying than anything is if that person stands up without knowing what he would do to achieve his goals.

“But the contract with Rahman has been broken. Ilay won’t need to bring my brother forward anymore. So, I wonder what Rahman would do in this situation.”

I slowly tapped my chin, pondering.

Last night Richard said: They had gone to Frankfurt immediately after.

If kidnapping becomes infeasible, the only approach left is the conventional one. That is to meet face-to-face to get the desired response. While inside the headquarters of UNHRDO, the organization can completely prevent any external contact as it wishes, but once outside, the story changes. At least, face-to-face meetings are possible.

Meeting Jeong Jaeui is possible, but to extract his consent—

“If it were me, I’d target you.”

Christoph had responded as if he had seen through my thoughts. I frowned at Christoph and then ruffled my hair: “It’s indeed back to the starting point.”

After being caught up in a whirl and finally stopping, it all comes back to where it started. “If this continues, I might collapse before achieving any result,” Taeui sighed internally and muttered. As long as no specific situation occurs, any further speculation won’t continue.

“I wonder if Ilay is alright……”

While ruffling my hair as if trying to figure out a solution, and suddenly mumbling to myself, remembering the person who had nearly become the main character in the mentioned kidnapping.

Ilay wasn't someone to worry about like Jeong Jaeui, but the last image of him in my memory was of him collapsing and unconscious.

Luckily, whether it’s Rahman or Tarten, their ultimate target was not Ilay. Yet, on the other hand, for a man who has committed a series of brutal crimes to the extent that it’s unknown how many enemies he has at all times. Thus, it’s possible that while he was unconscious, the victim had managed to pull out a knife and strike.

“No news at all…… It’s really unsettling.”

I whispered so softly that it was almost inaudible, but because the living room was so quiet, it seemed as if the sound had been heard. Suddenly becoming alert again, I realized Kyle was quietly watching me. Kyle’s expressionless face merely blinked, making me slightly embarrassed, thinking I had said something wrong.

I looked at Kyle in surprise, and Kyle slightly raised his eyebrows looking up at the ceiling, then widened his eyes and shook his head: “No…… it seems there isn’t much to worry about.”

After speaking, Kyle shifted his gaze back to the newspaper. Beside him, Christoph was picking grapes and continued to mutter as if hearing everything.

“You worry about who you need to worry about. Someone who has been injected with Propofol to that extent yet can still run around and kill three people.”

“HUH, killed three people during the coronation ceremony?”

Kyle had only heard briefly about the general situation and the cause and effect but didn’t know the details, so he looked up from his newspaper and asked again.

“I haven’t verified it exactly…… quite possibly more.”

Although he had run away with the intention of severing all ties, since it was a family affair, Christoph spoke calmly to the point of surprise, making Kyle slowly hold his forehead. From what Christoph said, it seemed like the issue was bigger than just killing three people, talking about murder now was too late.

“But for Rick, that’s also enough to go mad.”

Christoph muttered while picking up grapes to eat. I looked at him with admiration as I saw Chris chew both the skin and seeds and replied: “Right?” Christoph frowned as if it were obvious.

“I’d go mad too. If someone who promised me stabs me in the back at a crucial moment.”

“Even though it’s not something pleasant, thinking about it, Ilay is even more of a surprise. I don’t think he’s the type to trust others easily.”

He thought that if one had signed a contract, one wouldn’t naively trust the content of the contract and the partner to the point of being blind. On the contrary, if someone is ready to strike from behind, then it’s worth mentioning.

“Ah…… right. You’ve never been here. You were only at UNHRDO for a short time before leaving.” – Christoph nodded as if he understood.

“It’s like your life hangs by a thread attached to a condition in the contract. Adding or omitting a word can decide whether you go to heaven or hell, not to mention if there’s a problem with the contract overall, then it’s not even worth mentioning. Here, unilaterally breaking a promise is taboo.”

Christoph spat out a grape stem from his mouth and glanced at Kyle.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***