Tonight the entire lineup of important guests had arrived and gathered in the lobby. News media reporters were also on hand to cover the event. Monsieur Serge will be promoting the newly completed hotel, officially opening tonight, and tonight's press conference will be shown on local television live. Everyone was busy talking, and the reporters were ready with their cameras and microphones. No one showed any interest in the food and refreshments that were set out beside the table. The Keano family owns the hotel business sector and the tourism industry. They also manage shopping centers, restaurants and supermarkets.
Monsieur Serge stepped out of the limousine to a flurry of cameras and reporters. The middle-aged man, who is of French descent from his mother, smiles with fine lines of wrinkles around his eyes and lower cheeks. In his fifties, his body still stands as it did in his youth.
"Monsieur Serge, word has it that you have another son. Is that true?"
After so many questions had been asked, this was the one that drew the most attention after a woman who was a print journalist asked.
"... That's right, I have an adopted son."
Suddenly, dozens of journalists immediately approached right where the middle-aged man was standing. Raising their cameras, they asked enthusiastically.
"Why don't you ever tell me about him?"
"I was waiting for the right day for it. And I think this is it."
"Can you tell me what his name is? Where he is now?"
Monsieur Serge smiled slightly and replied, "My son is here, and you can ask him directly."
Shortly after, a man in a neat and elegant black suit walked confidently towards Monsieur Serge and stopped beside him. The man flashed a smile and lowered himself slightly in front of the media.
One second later, a blinding white light rushed at the man. Dozens of journalists vied to take photos of him standing in front of Monsieur Serge.
Austin who had just arrived immediately raised his face, looking at the familiar portrait in his memory, an overwhelming shock filled his eyes. All the blood in Austin's body rushed to his head. A so-called 'past memory' had returned to his life wearing the same identity and status.
***
Bisma, who was bored with television programs on that Sunday night, lazily flipped through the channels as fast as clockwork, while beside him, there was Ersya who had just arrived with a jar of pineapple tarts.
"What did you bring?" Bisma turned to Ersya who was eating nastar.
Without answering Ersya handed the jar of cookies to Bisma, and he immediately took it and put some in his mouth. "Mas Kenan hasn't come home today?"
Ersya nodded in between chewing. Bisma asked again, "Do you know where Kenan went?"
Ersya shook her head.
"Have you asked Ivan?"
"Not yet, but maybe he already knows where Mas Kenan went," Ersya said while stuffing the pineapple tart into her mouth.
Bisma only nodded apathetically before Ersya's voice squealed loudly right in front of his ears. "I know where Mas Kenan is."
When Bisma was about to ask, his voice caught in his throat as he saw Ersya pointing at the television with bulging eyes.
On the television screen, someone they knew was standing in front of the podium with many reporters cameras.
***
Kenan walked step by step, his dark brown bead sweeping the neoclassical-style room with an admiring glance. Kenan imagined Monsieur Serge to be so capable and so brilliant. At the far end of the room was an x-ray cabinet with a mountainous landscape painted on it. There was a fireplace, with a long deerskin armchair in front of it, a large coffee table and four comfortable chairs. The desk was made of sturdy mahogany. Beside the desk were piles of papers, notes, and figures, statistics, and reports.
Kenan remembers the moment when the middle-aged man adopted him as a son when he was 16 years old, it was the first time he set foot in the luxurious villa owned by his adoptive father. Now Kenan was back in this place, and there was no one but him, because Monsieur Serge hadn't arrived yet. After the official opening of the new motel, the middle-aged man told Kenan to return to the villa first.
Just as he was full of admiration, Kenan heard a sudden voice.
"Easy come, easy go. That's who you are, kenan, Kenan?"
"Do you think I am?"
Austin snorted. "You think you can come back as easily as you came the first time?" Austin asked in an unfriendly tone.
Kenan just smiled sarcastically in response. "Your father still considers me his adopted son to this day. So, isn't it natural for me to come back?"
Austin didn't reply, he was waiting for Kenan's next words.
Kenan's eyes narrowed to look at Austin. "Why, are you afraid I'll take your place as his favorite son?" A lopsided grin spread across his face.
Austin almost bit his own tongue, he knew that Kenan's character had not changed since they last met face to face. It was just the old shock that struck him at this moment because someone he called 'memories' had returned.
Austin finally said, "Stop imagining something you'll never achieve, your status will never allow you to reach it."
In Austin's eyes, Kenan was just a street cat that his father had picked up. And of course Kenan realized that. In this atmosphere, he crossed his arms over his chest and admitted casually. "No need to remind me about my status, I'll always remember it." He smiled bitterly as he recalled how it all started.
The corners of Austin's lips turned up at that, he was glad that this man was aware of his status. Then, his pleasure was short-lived. Kenan continued, "But I wanted to see what would happen if a street cat managed to overthrow a lion as the ruler."
Kenan didn't care who he was dealing with, even Austin who was the type of person who stood at the very top of the ladder, born to be respected by people, just like his father. Only in his late twenties but a huge business empire already awaited him, be it in popularity or wealth. The difference with Kenan was like heaven and earth, they were nowhere near each other.
"Try it if you can."
Austin took a step closer to Kenan, looking at him from just one step away to get a closer look at the irises he hadn't seen in years.
Kenan could see the glint in Austin's eyes as he stared intensely at Kenan. Ten years they hadn't seen each other, facing adulthood when Austin wasn't by his side.
Austin could see the cruel and cold temperament that had been thriving at the bottom of Kenan's heart since before. "You've changed."
Kenan smiled wryly. "It's all because of you."
Austin threw a sneer through his expression, he leaned his face towards Kenan with a sharp piercing gaze. Like a lion staring intently at his enemy on the prairie to say if they had entered his territory he should show him the consequences he would face if Kenan provoked him. However, it seemed that it was useless. The proof was now that Kenan retorted, "Don't use the same tricks to subdue me, I'm not the old Kenan anymore."
Kenan's words just now were like oil that further ignited the fire. It was evident by the flash of anger in Austin's cold eyes. However, before the fire could flare up, a calm voice put it out.
"Did you wait long?"
It was the voice of their father who had just arrived. Standing in the doorway staring at Kenan and Austin who pulled themselves away to keep their distance after sharing a fierce glare.
Both of them smiled slightly. Austin replied, "Not really. Right, Kenan?"
"You're right."
Monsieur Serge was happy too, he said proudly, "I'm glad to see you guys getting along so well even though you haven't seen each other in years."
***
Dinner turned out to be an interrogation for Kenan, Monsieur Serge asked him questions one after another like a policeman investigating a theft case. Austin sat next to his father, facing him. Kenan knew exactly what the man was thinking, what they were all thinking. That he had no business being there.
"You surprised everyone at the press conference today," Monsieur Serge laughed. "So Kenan, do you have any plans after this?" he asked again for the umpteenth time. Kenan looked at the middle-aged man, but didn't answer. Monsieur Serge continued, "Like getting married, for example."
The question made Kenan smile blandly. "I have no plans for that yet."
"If you want to get married in a few months' time, I can find a suitable woman for you. And of course one who comes from a conglomerate." he said casually.
"No need Dad, I don't think I deserve it." Kenan said modestly, and Austin's gaze flicked to him.
"Why not? You deserve it, oh yeah, you said you're not going to college, right? Do you want to go to college first?"
"Dad, why do you look like you're managing Kenan's life now?!" cut in Austin.
"Managing? I just want him to have what you have."
Suddenly Kenan turned to Monsieur Serge. The middle-aged man continued, "I want Kenan to be Executive Manager, after you who is both CEO and general manager."
"Isn't that too sudden?" Austin interjected. And his father replied, "You don't agree?"
Austin replied bluntly. "Isn't it natural that I don't agree. He just came back to our family after disappearing somewhere, and now you want to make him executive manager, isn't that sudden?"
"All decisions are in my hands." Monsieur Serge growled angrily before Kenan instructed quietly.
"It's okay, Austin is right. Isn't it too hasty to give me a position with that much responsibility? I just came back anyway, it's only natural that Austin still thinks of me as a stranger." said Kenan, he felt uncomfortable with the father and son's little argument.
Monsieur Serge took two deep breaths before looking at Austin and Kenan in turn. "All right, I respect your wishes, but as for housing ..."
"I'll stay at Austin's place, at least for a while." Kenan looked at Austin and smiled sweetly. "Is that okay?"
"Suit yourself." Austin replied apathetically. He stood up from his chair and said, "I need to use the restroom."
He then left Monsieur Serge with Kenan who seemed to be soaked in silence after the small argument.
"I need to use the restroom too." Kenan added. Austin's slight haste left the middle-aged man who was shaking his head quietly alone at the dining table.
***
The restroom was now rather quiet, Kenan waited for the last person before Austin to come out and then he entered. As he expected, as soon as Kenan entered the restroom Austin pulled his shirt collar quite tight, Austin's eyes sharpened coldly, looking straight at Kenan.
Kenan's purpose in going to the restroom was not to fulfill the call of nature, but to do something to Austin.
Kenan had no intention of avoiding his gaze at all, instead he pulled Austin's tie back no less forcefully to make direct eye contact.
"Let go!" Austin yelled. He tightened his grip on Kenan's shirt collar. However, that only made Kenan smile more enigmatically. "Who do you think you're dealing with?" he continued.
Within two feet of their faces, Austin could clearly see that Kenan's lips were twitching to say something. Just when he thought Kenan was going to say something that would make his temper flare, the thought vanished like a lump of ash in the wind as Austin felt a warm, rubbery object touch his lips.
Kenan had kissed him.
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