She set aside the rag she was using to wipe plants and led me inside. Whether it was a break room or a space for receiving reservations, it was quite cozy.
As I stood awkwardly by the door, she gestured for me to sit on the sofa.
"Please make yourself comfortable."
Unable to refuse her gentle smile, I quietly sat down. As she placed the bouquet on the table, its sweet fragrance filled the air. The scent was oddly artificial, likely her perfume.
Where had I smelled this before? As I pondered, she brought me a warm cup of tea.
"Please drink this while you wait. I'll contact the owner right away."
"Thank you."
Somehow, I ended up being served tea.
After the part-timer quietly closed the door and left, I was alone in the break room, holding the mug. As I blew on the hot tea and took a sip, it tasted neither like green nor black tea. It was a peculiar flavor, perhaps from trendy tea leaves. Grimacing at the bitter aftertaste, I picked up my phone. I needed to update the client on the current situation.
[I delivered the flowers, but the recipient wants to know who sent them. Is that okay?]
A notification sounded in the room as I was about to drink my tea. Placing the cup down, I followed the sound to find someone else's phone beside the water dispenser. The part-timer must've left it while preparing the tea.
Wait a minute. Didn't she say she would contact the owner? How was she planning to do that without her phone? Something felt off. Just in case, I tapped the screen, revealing the most recent message.
[I delivered the flowers, but the recipient wants to know who sent them. Is that okay?]
It was the message I'd just sent to the client.
What's going on? Why was the message I sent to the client on the part-timer's phone…? Could the client be her? Even if I generously assumed she sent flowers to herself, why did she pretend not to know? My suspicions grew like a snowball.
"Ugh…!"
Suddenly, a severe dizziness struck, making my vision spin. I lost my balance, stumbling over the sofa. Grasping the table to stand, I found my body unresponsive. My stomach churned, and everything around me seemed to waver.
The part-timer's tea flashed in my mind. It was a trap.
No wonder it tasted bitter; she must've spiked it. Whatever the reason, I needed to get out of there. Struggling to move my arm, I crawled towards the door, but the handle turned with a click.
Creak—.
"Oh my."
Seeing me collapse on the floor, the part-timer covered her mouth in feigned surprise. But I soon realized her expression was an act. The corners of her mouth curved into a sinister smile.
"Just lie there for a while. The owner will be here soon."
"Why… are you doing this…?"
"Do you really not know?"
As I weakly grasped her ankle, I felt an unfamiliar texture. It didn't feel like a living person's skin. It was cold and hard, like touching a metal pole.
Suddenly, a memory from a few days ago surfaced. A hunter in a black frill dress with a silver prosthetic leg who'd struck down a salamander. Although she wore a mask, I remembered the rest of her appearance vividly. I felt a chill run down my spine.
She looked exactly like the girl in front of me.
"An… apostle?"
I murmured in a trembling voice, and she smiled lightly.
"You should stay put. The boss has been eagerly waiting to meet you."
Boss…. She'd only use such honorifics for one person.
"Oh, you're here? I followed your instructions."
I sensed someone outside the door as she shook off my grip and stepped back. The sound of elegant, leisurely footsteps approached—the same as in the dark alley. As a long shadow fell on the floor, my body started to tremble involuntarily. I didn't know why. Was it fear of what was to come or joy at this long-awaited reunion?
In the next moment, he knelt before me. After a long, silent pause, he suddenly grabbed my chin, forcibly lifting my face from the floor. His grip was rough.
Unable to control my drugged body, I heard him click his tongue softly and speak softly.
"Why are you trembling so much?"
The deep voice snapped me to attention.
"You…"
"Why are you so nervous? Are you scared? You're worried I'll do something bad?"
As my eyes finally focused, a winter landscape unfolded. Pale skin like the dawn sky, calm black hair, and cold, shining black eyes. His bone structure was still sharp and beautiful from his forehead to his chin. Just meeting his gaze made me feel like I was encased in frost.
Only one person could evoke such a sensation in me.
"You have no idea how hard I worked to find you, Mr. Hajae."
My body felt heavy, like waterlogged cotton, and I didn't want to move a single finger, much like in my unpleasant memories back in that old inn room.
Back then, my throat stung from the shards of glass embedded in it, but right now, my entire neck was stinging for an unknown reason.
As I slowly opened my eyes, a stark white ceiling greeted me. This wasn't the flower shop where I collapsed after taking medicine; it was somewhere completely unfamiliar. An ominous feeling began to creep over me. As I hastily sat up, a soft touch met my skin.
"What the…?"
I was not only lying in a bed but wearing different clothes from earlier. I was now in an oversized white T-shirt and shorts, and my pockets, of course, were empty. With my phone missing, I was at a loss for what to do next.
Then, from a distance, I heard a soft laugh. When I looked up with a start, I faced an unexpected figure.
"Good evening."
His silhouette was so dark I thought he may've even taken my shadow. Jet-black hair, black eyes, and a black suit. Only his skin contrasted as white as frost in the middle of winter. His thin double eyelids gave his eyes a cold look, but when he smiled, they curved gently, adding a touch of warmth.
He was still as beautiful as ever. Even more than my trivial memories.
Seven years ago, he was just a pretty child; now, he exuded a mature, somehow dangerous charm. It was as if, should he offer me a bite of the forbidden fruit, I would gladly accept. My gaze lingered on his prominently colored lips, and then I returned to reality. He gave me a subtle smile as if amused by my confusion and stress.
"What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"No…"
This wasn't the kind of reunion I wanted. No, we weren't supposed to meet again. But what's done is done. I needed to react as casually as possible to avoid any misunderstandings or revelations. Yes, as if he were a stranger.
The man before me was just someone who resembled Sang. Calming my turbulent emotions, I opened my mouth.
"Where… am I?"
"You're where you wanted to be."
It seemed to be the heart of The Apostles' base, but from inside the pristine room, it was difficult to tell. I opened my mouth hesitantly.
"But… you speak as if you know me."
"We've met before."
"Really? I'm pretty sure I'm meeting you for the first time."
I swallowed dryly, and he lowered his head with a small laugh.
"Haha, you're good at joking around."
What's this? He wasn't originally the type to laugh so easily. I used to have to ask if he liked something or gauge his reactions constantly. Yet, the man before me couldn't wipe the smile off his face. But somehow, his constant smiling was scarier than his expressionless demeanor.
Is he smiling because he recognized me as Johan…? No way. If that were the case, he would at least be angry. I couldn't discern the dark intentions hidden behind his gentle smile.
Feeling anxious, I glanced around, and perhaps sensing my tension, he spoke to ease it.
"Are you hungry?"
"Pardon?"
"Eat this."
He picked up a plate from the table next to the bed and handed it to me. It held a sandwich cut into four pieces. Though I appreciated the gesture, I was too tense to eat anything at the moment.
"…My stomach doesn't feel great."
I tried to refuse politely, but he persisted.
"You should eat."
His gentle voice and smiling face contrasted oddly with his forceful attitude. The reality of my situation started to sink in. I was someone captured here, and the person holding my life in their hands was the man in front of me. I wasn't in a position to refuse his kindness simply because my stomach felt uneasy.
I hesitated as I took the plate and prepared to eat the sandwich. What if there's something in this, too? As I stared at the sandwich filling, he seemed to read my anxiety and smiled gently.
"Don't worry. There's nothing in it."
Even if something was in it, I would have to eat it. Still, I appreciated his words of reassurance.
Forcing the sandwich into my mouth, I felt something brush against my uvula with each swallow. When I cautiously touched my neck, a sharp thorn pricked my fingertips. So that's why my neck had been stinging.
"What… is this?"
"It's a collar."
He smiled brightly.
"In case you do something unpredictable."
Is this really the Sang I know? For the sake of distrust, he had wrapped a thorny vine-like collar around my neck. It fit so snugly that only a finger could slip between the vine and my neck.
Now aware of it, the collar felt even more uncomfortable, and I unwittingly complained.
"You'd give a beast a softer collar than this."
"So?"
"So…? What do you mean, so?"
His nonchalant questioning, as if it were no big deal to put a collar around someone's neck, left me flustered. Ignoring my reaction, he approached me with long strides and stopped right before me. The shadow cast over my head seemed especially large and high.
"Do you want me to be more gentle with you?"
"No, it's just…"
When did he grow so tall? He used to be a head shorter than me, and I had to look down at him.
As I stared up at him, I felt an inexplicable sense of pressure and turned my head away. Then he lifted my chin with his index finger, forcing me to meet his gaze. His half-lidded eyes held a peculiar sense of displeasure.
"Don't avoid my gaze."
The low voice sent chills down my spine.
The Sang I remember… The boy who struggled to meet anyone's gaze, even his closest friend, would often run away when our eyes met. But he was different. He found me avoiding his gaze 'displeasing.'
This isn't Sang Heo. This is 'Simeon' with Sang's face. That's all I can see.
"It's like I'm tormenting you."
Sang, no, Simeon, quickly relaxed his expression and smiled. His fingers, pressing my chin, moved naturally, tracing down my neck. His touch stopped on the bulge of my Adam's apple.
"Does it hurt a lot?"
Simeon persistently caressed the skin, which was irritated by the thorns.
"....."
"In any case, it's necessary for us to have a conversation."
His gentle touch felt almost ticklish. As I swallowed nervously, his cold fingers gradually covered my entire neck. His long fingers, which had elegantly moved chess pieces, now tightened a little around my throat.
The lack of oxygen made my mind go blank, and the sensation, both terrifying and strangely titillating, caused my eyes to tremble. I accepted Simeon's touch without resistance, and his smile deepened.
"You have such a slender neck."
It was the face he showed when he received a new toy as a child.
As soon as Simeon released his grip, I felt dizzy. Coughing dryly, my neck, still held by his hand, burned. Simeon watched my gasping self with delight. Glaring at him, questioning his actions, Simeon continued without flinching.
"If you reveal any information about The Apostles, the collar will tighten, cutting off your head."
"What… are you talking about…?"
"If you're curious, you can try it."
It was chilling how easily he spoke such violent words.
"After all, you won't die, right?"
Simeon already knew my secret.
"Uh…"
I should have pretended not to know, but his direct question caught me off guard.
No one knew about my curse of immortality except my parents. And with both of them now deceased, that secret was mine alone. Yet, he had discovered my deepest secret after only a few encounters.
"How… did you know?"
"I tried several times while you were asleep, but I wasn't successful."
What had he tried, and what wasn't he successful at? Despite my puzzled expression, he continued calmly.
"Until now, I haven't met anyone I couldn't beat. You're the first, Mr. Hajae."
Simeon looked at me with interest. His black eyes seemed to lick me like a tongue. Even with clothes on, I felt as if I were completely exposed. Noticing my tension, Simeon chuckled softly.
"I'll save my questions regarding your immortality for later. Let's get to the point now."
I had no time to ponder his words. Suddenly, Simeon hooked his finger into the thorn collar and pulled, causing a sharp pain at the back of my neck. As I grimaced, his lips curled slightly.
"What…"
"It's better to be honest."
Simeon leaned down to meet my eyes. His pitch-black eyes, devoid of light, looked eerie.
"How much do you know?"
"Huh?"
"Don't play dumb. I know you're not the only one who's been tailing us lately."
Was he trying to coax information out of me? Simeon's voice was as smooth as a leaf rustling in the wind, yet his face remained cold and stern.
"Which organization are you from? What did they promise in return for information?"
"What are you talking about…? Ugh!"
Feigning ignorance, I found the collar tightened further. The sharp thorns pierced my delicate skin, and soon, hot blood would start to trickle down my neck.
His face was suddenly so close, reflecting my face like it did seven years ago, on the day we first spoke. But this time, it lacked the excitement and curiosity it once held.
"Don't make me angry. Despite everything, I find you quite likable."
I saw my pale, frightened face in his steely black eyes.
Is this tightening sensation around my heart fear or despair? My body trembling confirms its fear. But this isn't fear from physical pain or the pressure of the situation. It's because the man with Sang's face is saying and doing things Sang would never do. The shattering of expectations and familiarity hits harder than expected.
Did I misunderstand Sang all this time?
"Still nothing to say?"
The tension constricts my breath, but I can't escape his grasp. I'm not even allowed to avert my gaze.
As I stubbornly kept my mouth shut, Simeon removed his finger from the collar. Only then did the thorns digging into my neck withdraw, allowing me to breathe again. As I struggled to catch my breath, Simeon pulled something out of his jacket pocket and handed it to me.
"Are you still playing dumb?"
A notebook. The one where I scribbled everything about Simeon, comparing his traits and habits with those of Sang. No wonder he suspects me of spying on The Apostles.
But I didn't make any excuses. Carelessly speaking would only dig my own grave. Simeon opened the notebook and pointed to a part I had blotted out with black ink after writing Sang's name.
"What did you write here?"
Damn it. No matter how much I think, I couldn't find a good reason. In this case, lying was my best option. I looked Simeon straight in the eye with a steely face.
"Nothing. I was just frustrated because I didn't know who you were."
"I'm supposed to believe that?"
"Yes. Anyway, no matter what I say, you won't believe me until you hear the answer you want."
Simeon listened to me and then burst out laughing. Whether he was amused or found it ridiculous, I didn't know. His enigmatic smile seemed to enjoy this tug-of-war. Then, Simeon took a photo from the notebook and showed it to me.
"Then what about this?"
Here it comes. Now that he'd seen the secret photo, there was no escape. I should've deleted it right after sending it to the client. Why did I keep a copy?
I looked up at Simeon with a resigned heart.
"If I tell the truth, will you believe me?"
Simeon raised an eyebrow as if telling me to go ahead. My future depended on this moment. Like a student called to the principal's office, I clasped my hands and confessed.
"Somebody hired me to take your photo. I gathered information and took notes since I didn't know when or where you'd appear."
"Who hired you?"
"I don't know. The request was anonymous."
According to the contract, I shouldn't reveal the client's details. But what does that matter now when I might disappear without a trace?
Nervously watching Simeon's reaction, I saw him frown slightly.
"So, Mr. Hajae, you're saying you accepted an anonymous request to take my photo and just did your job?"
"Yes."
Nodding sincerely, Simeon gave a sly smile.
"That's quite a plausible lie."
"You still don't trust me?"
"If you were in my position, Would you trust someone who kept a notebook and photos of you?"
I wouldn't believe them either. It does sound like a lie. But it's the truth, so what can I do?
A sigh of frustration escaped me. Seeing that, Simeon showed me the photo again and asked.
"Then why did you keep this printed photo?"
"That's…"
"Isn't the job done once you send the file?"
Relentlessly digging, I had no choice but to tell the truth.
"I just… wanted to keep it."
It's true, but he won't believe me.
As expected, Simeon smiled softly, shaking his head.
"You should've claimed to be a stalker. I would've found that cute."
"I'm not kidding."
"Neither am I."
I was so frustrated that I could jump out of my skin. This could all have been solved if I'd told him I'd noted Sang's characteristics down to confirm he was Sang and kept the photo because I believed he was.
But I'd never confess that.