Page 63 of Obsession of the Egoist
“I’m waiting.”
A heavy sigh broke out from Greg’s wide mouth. He scratched his ear, scrunched his mouth, then ruffled his short, black hair; his usually expressionless face puzzled. “I didn’t know he still kept them.”
“Care to elaborate?”
“After Milana’s death, Tobias severed ties with us, but from time to time he accepted my calls. At some point, he confessed to running the investigation and asked for assistance, but he wanted to keep his name out of it, which was understandable. We exchanged information. That’s how we got that Interpol file. His work in the criminal intelligence department came in handy many times. I used to consult him a lot. He couldn’t find peace and asked to see the footage for his moral satisfaction, and I needed help with behavior analysis and background checks. That’s it. After we lost the last lead, he quit Interpol and started his small weapon business. He was good, so I offered him work with us.”
Yugo’s sunk his canine tooth into the side of his thumb, processing the information. “Just like that, you trusted him…”
“You forgot that before working for you, I was Milana’s bodyguard. I’ve known Tobias for a very long time.” Greg said, staring at the floor. His wide shoulders slumped as his wide mouth disappeared into a thin line.
“You dumb fuck…” Yugo breathed, dismissing Greg with a hand motion. “Track Mio and get my car ready. I’m going to collect Kuon.”
THE CONSTANT CHECKUPS EXHAUSTEDKuon, and he prayed for the day to be over. The plastic eye shields substituted his bandages, but his vision didn’t improve. His eyes became sensitive, raw, and photophobic. Expressing his fears at the pre-release check-up, he received a cheerful reply that his vision could remain almost non-existent for a week or two before it would gradually return.
The morning, spent with Rick, stretched into an agonizing silent hell. The man acted distant, and his rare replies were short and reserved. Kuon knew that something gnawed at him, but couldn’t bring himself to ask. He could guess the reason. A need to explain himself wrenched his nerves, yet he couldn’t help procrastinating, as if waiting would change anything. When the doctor confirmed his discharge, it became impossible to postpone the inevitable.
Sitting on the bed with his hands wrapped around his knees, Kuon sunk his nails into his palms. A few times he opened his mouth then shut it, until he finally managed the weak, “Listen, Rick... I need to tell you something.”
“I already know everything. You’re covered in hickeys,” Rick uttered, gathering Kuon’s things. “You’re moving in with him, right? Can’t be helped.”
The coppery mixture of sour saliva and blood filled Kuon’s mouth as his tormented lip broke under his canine tooth.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…” Kuon rose to his feet and outstretched his hand, wanting to touch Rick to stop the insurmountable, invisible gulf growing between them with every second of silence.
“Please, spare me from this talk,” Rick cut him off. He didn’t touch Kuon’s outstretched arm, didn’t make a single step toward him. “Don’t make it even more complicated. I’m already doing my best here.”
“I understand…” Kuon mumbled, sitting back on the bed. Listening for Rick to go through the room and collect what little of his belongings he had here, Kuon hunched forward. His guts in knots, as he searched his mind for anything he could say to make it better.
“Don’t overthink it. I’m not mad,” Rick breathed. “When you break up with him, you know where to find me.”
Kuon couldn’t suppress a chuckle. He opened his mouth to reply when the door to the hospital room creaked, and someone stomped in.
“Ready?” Yugo’s low baritone shifted the atmosphere. Awkward, Kuon dropped his chin. When a warm palm cupped his cheek, and hot lips planted a kiss upon his, Kuon frowned.
“Oh, dog, you are here. Sorry, I didn’t notice you.” Yugo’s voice picked up smug notes, and Kuon clenched his fists, pain blooming in the places where his nails sunk into his palms.
“Yugo!” Kuon growled, investing all the warning he could muster. The way the man marked his territory annoyed him to no end.
Ignoring him, Yugo wrapped his fingers around Kuon’s biceps and tugged him up and forward. “Come on, get up.”
On his feet, Kuon listened for the noises of the hospital life to become louder. The sound of boots approached with a low screech of metal wheels, and Kuon wondered who that could be. The steps didn’t belong to Rick or Yugo, they didn’t belong to a nurse either. They sounded heavy as if the person was massively built. Yugo tugged him, disorienting him, as he tried to draw a mental picture in his head. Following the guidance of Yugo’s demanding hand, Kuon took a few steps forward but halted.
“Long time no see, Kuon.” A deep, rusty voice, coming from behind him, sounded familiar. A huge hand landed on his shoulder, and something bumped against the back of his knees. The pressure of the palm intensified, and Kuon realized that the man wanted him to sit down. He reached back and grabbed the handle of the wheelchair before slumping on the seat.
He let out a sigh, relieved. “Indeed. Hi, Greg.”
The spinning motion made him whip his face to the place where he thought Rick stood. Everything happened so fast; the wheels spinning under him seemed only to increase the speed.
“Rick…” He managed. “I’ll call you.”
“Sure,” Rick’s voice sounded dull as if coming from a deep hole. “No problem.”
Kuon hung his head, letting Greg take him away from the hospital room and the only friend he had.
I’m the worst…
EPILOGUE
