Zephyr stared at his empty hand—the warmth Lucien had just offered him had vanished, ripped away without warning. A strange hollowness pooled in his chest, quickly giving way to something darker.
Anger.
Not loud or explosive, but cold and simmering, quietly waiting to ignite.
His fingers curled tightly.
The air around him began to shiver. The room responded to him, mana pulsing at the edges as the temperature dropped.
And yet… no one noticed.
Both the protagonist and the female lead had their complete attention fixed only on Lucien's bewildered face—unaware of the growing pressure building within Zephyr.
Erick seized Lucien's arm and pushed him toward the exit of the observation room.
"Go back to the Association—you seem perfectly healthy. I know you like me, but this is too much. How can you disturb a patient just to get my attention?"
Lucien let out a low, humorless chuckle, his eyes fixed on the red imprint left on his wrist. What was this bastard's problem?
Before Lucien could snap back or throw a few well-aimed curses, Nana Parker cut in.
"Lucien, please… have some self-respect. Erick has already rejected you, yet you keep doing petty things just to get his attention. It will only make him resent you more."
Lucien wanted to argue—to insist he didn't give a damn about Erick. But knowing that just two weeks ago, the original Lucien had done exactly what they were accusing him of, he bit his tongue. Ultimately, no matter what he said, they wouldn't believe him.
It would only seem like yet another one of his pathetic stunts to get Erick's attention.
He sneered and simply turned to leave, not bothering to hide his disdain. Whatever. He was in no mood to deal with any of them.
But just as he took a step, a cold voice cut sharply through the air—so chilling it made everyone freeze. It was Zephyr.
"What is the meaning of this? Why have some unknown people barged in here?"
The voice softened noticeably.
"Lucien… are you okay? Can you stay with me, please? I feel uneasy around strangers."
Erick looked shaken, while Nana bristled with irritation—how dare some unknown nobody criminal speak to them like that?
Did he not know who they were?!
Erick was doing him a favor by saving him from that devil Lucien O'Connell—and this jerk was not even the slightest bit grateful?
Unlike them, Lucien finally felt a wave of satisfaction as he turned and took in Erick's tense expression. Wow. Just—damn. It was the first time he'd ever seen the protagonist so rattled. A smug smile tugged at his lips as he turned his attention back to Zephyr.
"Ah, why not~ I'm free anyway."
But just as he began to step forward, Erick blocked his path and quickly faced Zephyr.
"Zephyr, he's not who you think he is. He is only pretending to care so he can provoke me. Really. Let me stay with you instead."
Erick's tone grew gentler.
"I am not a stranger. Don't you remember me? Well, it's been a long time—but I am your friend, Erick. Look at my face closely. We studied in the same class for years."
Lucien's eyes crinkled with amusement. Was it just his imagination, or was Erick acting unusually friendly with Zephyr?
Did he still have feelings for him?
How interesting.
His gaze shifted to Nana—and upon seeing her pink eyes narrowed like a bristling kitten who had just caught her crush flirting with someone else, his lips stretched into a grin.
Finally, he got to see them squirm!
Hehe. Lucien's eyes gleamed as he turned back to Zephyr. Who would've thought this side character—one who should've died—could shake up the main cast this much?
If he wanted to throw the protagonist and female lead off balance, staying close to Zephyr was a must—no matter the cost.
'Come on—say something even savage. I wanna see Erick cry like a kicked puppy!'
This was what Lucien was hoping for.
Yet, his excitement dampened.
Zephyr frowned at Erick's words.
"Erick? I don't know—"
He stopped mid-sentence as the name finally clicked. An old memory—one of the few, small kind moments in his miserable life—suddenly surged to the surface.
He remembered Erick.
The talkative, overly intelligent, bright, and good-looking boy he had always watched from a distance with a bitter sort of envy.
They weren't friends—at least, that's what Zephyr had always believed. Erick's world, so full of light, friends, and laughter, had always felt too far out of reach. Yet, there was a reason he still remembered him.
It was the day his parents asked him to take the fall for his older brother—the day they told him to get arrested in his place.
Coincidentally, that was also the day the school released the monthly test results—and rain poured down from a gloomy sky.
Zephyr remembered sitting alone on the steps outside the school building, soaked, quietly staring at his report card—the one that once again confirmed he was among the lowest in the class, despite all his hard work. That day, he felt like vanishing for a while, and he hadn't wanted to go home.
After all, he knew what awaited him: his parents calling him useless, again. That's when Erick appeared, holding an umbrella.
It was the first—and also the only—time they both ever exchanged words, despite always ending up in the same class.
As the rain kept pouring down on him, Zephyr looked up to find Erick standing there, shielding him with his umbrella.
Erick had asked hesitantly.
"Are you okay?"
And just like that, the words slipped from Zephyr's mouth before he could stop them.
"I just don't want to go home."
"My results aren't good enough."
Erick had looked at him, then tried to console him—awkwardly, but earnestly.
And then, without a second thought, he suddenly pulled out his own report card.
"Do you wanna switch? I always get first place… no one at home really cares. You can show mine to your parents."
Those were his exact words.
Zephyr had stared at the card, stunned.
His hands moved on their own as he took it. Maybe—just maybe—his parents would praise him, just once, if he was first. Then, he had run home with it. Eager. Desperate.
Just once—even if it was through a lie—Zephyr wanted to feel like someone loved.
But instead of praise, what awaited him was silence… followed by a cruel request.
They asked him to go to the police—to quietly turn himself in for the death his older brother had caused while drunk.
Zephyr had smiled to himself—not out of amusement or absurdity, but because of how broken everything suddenly felt. He asked them to give him just one minute.
Then, he hurriedly ran back—through the still heavily pouring rain—to that kind boy who had offered him a sliver of kindness.
Erick was still there, in the same spot.
Smiling, kicking at pebbles like the world was still simple, he was surprised when Zephyr handed him back his report card.
"Thank you. But I don't need it anymore."
Erick blinked, confused.
But before he could say anything, Zephyr had turned around and walked away.
That was the last time he ever saw him.
He was sent to jail not long after.
Zephyr's anger faded at the memory.
His gaze drifted around the room.
"Ah… it's you? Erick?"
Erick's face lit up instantly.
"Yes! You finally remembered?"
He finally noticed something weird.
"But why are you looking to the left?"
"I am on your right, Zephyr."
Lucien let out a sigh, still bitter that he didn't get to see Erick rattled again.
"Obviously… it's because he can't see."
Erick's eyes widened as he shouted.
"What?"