Page 46 of Obsession of the Egoist
“It’s…” Kuon stumbled.
“Complicated,” she finished for him.
“Yeah…”
She got up, gathered the cups, and moved away. The water hit the sink bottom, then the screech of a sponge rubbing against the cup reached his ears.
“You know…” The metallic clang interrupted her, and he realized that she’d put the cups on the dish drying rack. “I’ll bring Nelly tomorrow if that’s okay?”
LEANING AGAINST THE WALL,Yugo folded his arms over his chest the same moment that Mio’s slender form disappeared underwater. The faint smell of chlorine, ever-present in the poolroom, mixing with humidity, crawled under his skin, making him feel warm, uncomfortable. Bright sun, streaming through the windows, glinted off the surface, creating the effect of shallow water. Without a splash, Mio’s face surfaced; shimmering cascades streamed down his pale cheeks. Azure eyes opened, blinked off the water, and linked with his.
“Yugo…” Mio’s lips formed a silent word. His chin went to his chest, as he looked at Yugo from under his light eyelashes. With a few swift strokes, Mio crossed the pool, grabbed the edge, and pulled himself out of the water.
Yugo’s eyes wandered over his naked frame. Though still thin, Mio didn’t look anorexic anymore. His arms and legs, gaining muscles, had lost the painfully-broken look. Shoulders rounded, and his skin picked up a healthy glow.
Ungluing from the wall, Yugo took a few casual steps forward, picked up a towel from the white leather bench, and turned toward his nephew. Mio’s chin trembled, eyes glistened, lips twisted in a painful grimace, he threw himself into Yugo’s arms.
“I missed you…” Mio’s voice broke. “I missed you! Why do you never meet me? Do you hate me now?”
Cold wetness engulfed Yugo’s chest as Mio imprinted his drenched frame into Yugo’s suit. Pushing out a sigh Yugo smirked, his determination to keep Mio away fading with every second. After ruffling Mio’s wet, flaxen hair, he draped the towel around his shoulders, then replied, “Of course not.”
“Then why haven’t you met me for a month?” Hot breath brushed against Yugo’s neck; Mio raised his eyes. “Please, let me stay with you. I’ll do anything, please. I want to get back to… us.”
The hope shimmered behind azure eyes.
“You look good,” Yugo said, noticing a thickening layer of muscles under the almost transparent, pale skin on Mio’s chest. The veins under his eyes were still visible, but the bloody-red circles had disappeared. “You’ve gained more weight since last month.”
“Please, don’t brush me off.”
“What do you want to hear? You already know the answer,” Yugo said, the back of his hand wiped the water off Mio’s cheek. “I want you to stay with Tobias a little longer before you find your own place. He does a great job caring for you. Your latest blood tests are great; the best in the last ten years.”
Mio bit his red bottom lip and gave an abrupt headshake. “He hates me… he looks down on me.” His face lost the color, and Yugo realized that Mio wasn’t playing. “He despises me.”
“Does he hurt you?”
“No…”
“So what’s the problem? Make him respect you. You have spent two years with him. If during this time you failed to gain his loyalty, what worth do you have for the S-Syndicate?”
“I hate the S-Syndicate! I hate it!” Mio screamed into his face, sending fire down Yugo’s veins. Mio’s small fist slammed against his chest in a powerless fury. “You don’t give a shit about me. All you care about is your fucking business!”
“Well…” Yugo clenched his teeth. “Too bad you have nothing else. This is your legacy. But if you hate it, you’re always welcome to walk away. Go ahead; find yourself a decent job that pays a thousand euro a month. I’ll watch you trying to survive on this, or do you think I’ll always pay your bills?”
“It was supposed to be only a year!” Mio hissed; his eyes narrowed.
“And you were supposed to behave. Instead, you keep this childish attitude and cause Tobias problems with the police. If you’re unhappy with how things are, earn your keep and move the fuck out! No one will stop you.”
Mio’s upper lip drew up. Yugo heaved a sigh. Palm slamming against Mio’s chest, he pushed him back and into the pool. A splash caught his polished shoes when Mio’s frame disappeared underwater; only the white towel remained floating. When an angry face resurfaced, Yugo said, “Grow up. If you want people to treat you seriously, gain their respect.”
The plump mouth opened to say something, so Yugo warned, “Watch it.”
Gnashing his teeth, Mio punched the water.
“Calm down and meet me in my office. I want an update on your progress.” Turning around, Yugo threw over his shoulder. “You too, Tobias.”
“Oh, you noticed,” the man smirked, stepping out from the corner. Cracking his neck, he granted Mio with a derisive glance. “If you’re done ratting me out, little shit, why don’t you try crying? Maybe Yugo will take pity on you.” His pale eyes squinted, then he added in a sharp, spiteful tone, “Man up.”
“AREN’T YOU OVERDOING IT?”Yugo asked, watching Tobias take the guest chair. His black shirt looked clean, ironed. Yugo squinted, wondering if he’d finally gotten a decent lover. “Don’t degrade him.”
