When Vega woke up he was already lying on a hospital bed. He had a heavy expression from seeing his useless subordinates lining up next to his bedside. One after another, a new source of headache kept flocking to him. It's good that the pain in his thigh had subsided. Otherwise, no one could endure it if his temper worsened again.
His cloudy mood plus his horse voice were extremely hard to bear. The people standing shivered. After which the sound of a living Hell's prince transmitted inside the quiet ward, giving off a chilling and gloomy vibe. "Have you looked into that girl?"
The very first inquiry coming out of Vega's mouth was abrupt for some people to hear. Especially for his trusted close subordinates who weren't by his side for the past few months in order to find the little young masters.
Is the girl more important than his health?
However, they don't have the right to comment. Nor do they dare to. No amount of bravery could win against Vega's notorious deeds.
Secretary An exchanged glances with Alex. His complex expression was seen by Vega who then ordered coldly.
"Report."
Secretary An briefly concluded the report he got from Alex and the result of his recent investigation.
"Ruby Heather?"
"Yes. Apparently, she ran away from home and went to City J where she found little young masters. It was unknown what her motive is because she borrowed Young Master Guy's hand to cover the trail."
"Did she enroll them into that school?"
"Yes, Young Master."
Alex's itchy mouth was threatening to blabber but Vega's mood was a bit off for him to carelessly open his mouth.
Alex carefully suggested an idea, "Should we retrieve little young masters now?"
"Retrieve? Do you think little young masters are goods you can just grab?" Secretary An scolded Alex in an accused tone.
Alex was baffled, "Even Young Master Vega didn't say anything. Why are you angry?"
"Shut up." Vega harshly interrupted. Vega rose from the bed and walked while rubbing his swollen temple. His wound twitched in pain, but it couldn't hold Vega back from pretending to walk normally.
"Leave them be."
The subordinates were startled, doubting if their ears were damaged by their constant training. After spending so much time locating the twins, is Young Master really going to leave them alone?
"Will this be fine, Young Master? Isn't it best to bring them back to the mansion with us?"
Vega's cold gaze flashed through Alex and stated, "Do as I say and send someone to their side too."
He paid no heed about them again and left rather absent-mindedly the whole time. On the way to the parking lot, Vega accidentally bumped into Crystal who was walking with her head looking down. Vega's hard muscles made Crystal bounce back after bumping him.
"Sorry, I didn't see you there."
Her eyes widened the moment she lifted her head, meeting Vega's indifferent gaze.
"You are-!" Crystal shouted in surprise. She was thrilled and she couldn't hide her excitement. She hurriedly grabbed Vega's arm to stop him from leaving.
Vega hardened when Crystal's fingers tightly grasped him. It was faint, but the headache eased. His eyebrows faintly moved.
His attention landed on Crystal's flushed face. Vega pursed his lips. He wasn't showing her a good face but he didn't shake off her grip.
Secretary An keenly caught the fast changes in his boss' expression. He stopped following behind and tactfully retreated a distance away to give them space. Now Crystal could freely convey the thoughts that had been swirling in her mind. "Thank you. You saved me from the car crash before, right? I'm really grateful and I am.. sorry for causing trouble for you."
Vega had a slight dislike of hearing Crystal's sweet voice. He suddenly recalled the apathetic girl who talked like everyone owed her the world. His lips unconsciously curved, and a subtle, dazzling smile emerged.
Thump!
Crystal felt her chest stuffy from his smile. She didn't waste the opportunity since Vega didn't seem as scary as he was before. The flowers in her eyes bloomed as she invited Vega. "If you have time, I want to make it up for you. I know a nice restaurant close by."
Vega glanced at her hand, startling Crystal who was too busy to realize. Letting go of her hand, she blushed harder than before. Her cheeks were dyed pink. She used her palms to cover her shyness.
"I'm sorry..."
"Mn."
"It's lunchtime. We can have a meal together. How about it?"
"No."
"Then... Tomorrow? Or maybe we can schedule it first?"
"No." Vega was beginning to get impatient. He had no time to spare for having a meal, all the more with her.
"There's no need to decide it in a hurry, sir. I can wait. Furthermore, I don't feel at ease if I keep being indebted to you." Crystal cooed.
Vega frowned, "Don't take it seriously."
Forget it. Vega was too lazy to deal with this woman. His patience was running out as Crystal spoke. "How could I not? It's my responsibility to repay your kindness. Please don't reject it."
Vega stopped listening to Crystal and avoided her touch which was trying to grab a hold of his shirt. Following that, Vega left without looking back.
Crystal was stunned being coldly brushed to the side. She bit her lip and ran to catch up, "Wait, please..!"
"I'm sorry, Miss. Our Young Master doesn't want to get disturbed."
A group of bodyguards obstructed Crystal's way, showing no mercy even when Crystal's face became pale and tears flooded her pretty eyes.
"I-I... only want to talk for a moment, can you let me through?"
"No." The bodyguard's rigid answer shattered Crystal's hope.
"...." How can her tears not work on these people?
Crystal wasn't one to give up. However, Shishi was certainly someone who knows a boundary. Shishi said. "Stop it, Crystal. Let's go back."
Although Crystal was unwilling, there was nothing she can do in this situation. She might as well pretend to be well-behaved.
Crystal helplessly nodded. She threw a last sad, puppy-like gaze to the back of the man who no longer could be seen.
The road back home was quiet. Nothing different than before. Vega spent the time staring out with a blank stare. The fast, changing scenery couldn't even get to enter his eye. His finger twirled a cigarette, toying it to the point that the cigarette ended up being crushed in between his fingers.
Vega went into the study as soon as he got home. He pulled a file he had about Heather's family and skimmed through the information. However, he stopped at Ruby's part and read it carefully.
Lost and found.
An antisocial, depressed young lady who had nothing in Heather's family.
She tried to kill herself by hanging on the roof of her room but failed. Not giving up on dying, the girl ran away and instead found his children.
Everyone probably questioned whether she could really take care of the children after all she had been through. But, Vega didn't think so. The bright eyes glaring suspiciously at him weren't the eyes of a person who couldn't make the right decision. That tough but unique way of caring attitude was enough to convince him. Thinking about her exasperating words, Vega chuckled.
Nonetheless, when Vega's memory started conjuring up the same intense feeling he had, he couldn't. His heart was calm like a lake without ripples. It was bizarre how that bundle of emotions comes and goes as it pleases.
A sudden call came ringing in the quiet room. Vega's obscure gaze was gone. It was replaced with a profound gaze staring at Ruby's picture on the information page.
After some time, Vega closed the document and pressed the green button on his phone screen.
"Where are you? I've been calling for ages."
"You just called."
"Oh. That's true."
Vega leisurely remarked, "Yes. You must have been itching for another beating."
".....That's not what I mean."
Vega pretended to wonder, "Does that mean I heard it wrong?"
"...."
The other side of the phone went silent before hurriedly applying his main skill, "I was wrong! I'm sorry!"
Vega nodded in satisfaction. "Speak."
Ryen tsked. He must endure!
"I mixed a new ingredient in your pills. Come to my lab and try it. It might be more of a help than the previous pills."
Vega hummed in agreement. He thought for a moment before finally voicing the problem that had been bothering him, "Can a skin touch cure my headache?"
Ryen, "?"
Ryen tried translating it to a human's word, "Did someone touch you, and your headache is gone?"
"Yes."
"...."
Ryen was speechless.
"Crazy bast*rd!!!!" Ryen cursed as he was too excited to hear juicy gossip coming from the person himself.
"Who? Who is that girl?!"
Vega's brows furrowed. He coldly said, "It doesn't matter. Explain it."
Ryen laughed his ass off. He clamored with a gloating tone, "How come you don't know what it means? It's love! Lo-!"
Beep.
Vega calmly cut off the call.
Love?
Vega sneered. Is love so cheap? Going by Ryen's conclusion, does someone who could cure your abnormalities means that she is special to you?
Funny.
Late at night, an owl's cry rang across the garden in Vega's residence. The crows were offended, they fought for louder cries as though it was a battle to show their mightiness in making the air heavy and bleak. Shadows of non-living things floating on the surface of the damp soil looked obscure.
Cold sweat ran from Vega's forehead to his closed eyes, and his well-defined jaw, before it fell on top of the smooth sheet.
It was bright and blinding, the fire had ruled over the apartment. It burned almost every corner of the room, while the ash hovering along with the hot wind devoured half of the oxygen inside.
He couldn't sense the heat that could roast a pig with its light wave. However, he knew how dangerous it was!
His eyes were circling, searching for a dumb girl who wouldn't follow the rules.
His sight locked on to a silhouette near the window. The young girl had her head tilted upwards.
The vague image of her charred bottom half drove him crazy.
He bellowed out of desperation, 'I'm here! I'm here!'
But nobody could hear his yell. Nor could they ever find the tears of his heartbreaking soul crying.
Nobody is..
What..
He, is, nobody.