In the quiet of the dimly lit room, Karel leaned against his boyfriend's broad chest as he usually did. It had been three weeks since he arrived at this villa, and now he had to go back to the city.
"I'm going back to the city tomorrow, and the day after, I'm taking the SAT," he murmured, breaking the silence.
Arthur, who was lying down, spontaneously frowned. Karel's words stunned him, and he pulled Karel closer.
"You're taking the SAT?"
"Yale" Karel mumbled softly. "I'm going to Yale," he whispered, annoyed because he didn't yet have the strength to fight the old man.
Arthur was silent for a moment, trying to process everything he had just heard.
"Why are you only telling me now? Have you studied? It's very difficult to find the answer key for the SAT"
Arthur said with a worried tone. The hand that was initially just around Karel's waist now held him tighter.
This was all because he was too weak. The image of the wounds on his lover's back back then almost drove him crazy, and he couldn't witness that without acting.
Karel, feeling the change in Arthur's mood, slowly raised his head. His gaze was soft, and with a faint smile, he looked at his boyfriend's face, which was starting to harden.
His hand reached out, his fingers lifting to Arthur's chin and touching the rough skin that was beginning to grow fine hairs. It seemed Arthur needed a shave.
Feeling ticklish with the texture at his fingertips made his lips chuckle softly. "Besides, while I'm in the US, you can come visit me, right?" he said in a joking tone, trying to reassure his boyfriend.
But Arthur still didn't laugh. "The SAT is held simultaneously all over the world. It's very difficult to get the answer key" Arthur murmured, and there was a hint of regret in his voice.
Hearing Arthur's words, Karel's lips twitched instantly as he tried to suppress the urge to laugh.
After all, he had studied, and he was also quite confident in his ability to face the SAT without having to cheat.
"Relax, I've studied" he replied with an annoyed tone, but it was indeed his own fault that Arthur didn't trust his abilities.
Arthur narrowed his eyes, looking doubtful. "Really?" he asked skeptically.
Karel, feeling annoyed, started to nibble on Arthur's upper chest, and it was enough to leave a small red mark on the white skin.
"Do you really think I'm that stupid?"
o0o
Finally, the day of the exam had arrived. After nearly four hours grappling with questions that made his head spin, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
He stepped out of the building to inhale the air of freedom.
Thirst began to attack his throat, and he planned to get a drink at the cafeteria.
When he saw a vending machine not far from him, he immediately walked over. It was better to drink this than to walk all the way to the cafeteria.
However, as he approached, he saw a girl with an annoyed expression hitting the machine.
"Move!" he said curtly, successfully making the girl turn around and step back slightly.
"Sorry, I think this machine is broken. My money already got stuck..."
Before the girl could continue her complaint, two bottles of cola suddenly appeared from the machine. Karel, feeling happy to get two colas, immediately took them and walked away.
"Sorry, one of those is mine!" the girl interjected softly.
Karel turned around, raising an eyebrow. Because he was in a good mood, he kindly handed one bottle of cola to the girl.
The girl smiled broadly, clutching the cola bottle with both hands, and when she looked up, she gazed at the man in front of her with sparkling eyes.
"Hi, I'm Sofia. You just finished the test, right? Which university do you want to go to?" the girl said, wiping her hands enthusiastically before reaching out for a handshake.
Karel raised an eyebrow, looking at the outstretched hand skeptically. "Social distancing," he replied flatly, walking away.
Feeling rejected, Sofia withdrew her dangling hand with an unreadable expression.
After a few steps, Karel took his phone out of his jacket pocket, his hand quickly typing a message before putting it to his ear.
He could only sigh roughly, feeling regret for not being able to accompany Arthur during the surgery.
His hand clenched tightly as he thought about Arthur's suffering for a month in blindness, and he wouldn't stand idly by while Arthur's uncle lived happily. He had to take revenge.
Arthur might be too kind, but not him. He would make everyone involved in that incident go to hell.
However, when he thought about Arthur's surgery, he couldn't help but worry. If only his grandfather hadn't held an important meeting, he would have definitely flown to the States immediately to cheer Arthur on.
When night fell, Karel wore a white shirt under a black suit jacket, which made him look neat and more mature.
His feet stepped into the banquet hall, which was already filled with various relatives and business partners of his grandfather and father, most of whom he was seeing for the first time.
His grandfather, who was chatting with a comrade, immediately noticed the arrival of his beloved grandson. "Karelio, Grandpa's pride and joy! Come here!"
His friendly face conveyed pride as he beckoned his grandson.
Putting on a friendly face, he began to walk towards his paternal grandfather. "Grandpa, long time no see."
His grandfather laughed heartily, patting Karel's back gently. "It's all because you never come, you rascal!" He joked, but there was a serious tone implied in every word.
After that, his grandfather's gaze shifted to his business associates.
Happily, the old man began to show off his grandson with various achievements, and of course, a little exaggeration.
Karel, who had now become the center of attention, could only offer formal smiles as he was surrounded by the elders. Perhaps due to the generation gap, he couldn't keep up with the old people's jokes and only smiled formally when necessary.
However, in his heart, he smiled happily, looking at the gray-haired elders in front of him, who possessed fantastic wealth and extraordinary connections. He felt like he was looking at a group of treasure chests filled with gold in front of him.
After tiring of small talk, he was finally able to return to his apartment. Ever since the assault incident, he had rarely returned home unless he was called.
Karel stood in the middle of the room, his eyes fixed on a collection of photos pinned to his bedroom wall. Looking at them made his smile appear naturally.
His steps began to approach the collection of photos. There were even some where he had scribbled over faces with red ink.
There, were important photos of several characters from the novel. Ever since the incident that befell Arthur, he couldn't ignore this plot, especially since his own identity was that of the main villain.
On the other side of the wall, there were photos of the suspects in the accident that night. The police report stated that Arthur was driving under the influence of alcohol.
That classic excuse almost made him vomit with disgust at the bribed authorities.
His gaze settled on a photo of a fat man with a disgusting smile.
Seeing it, his smile slowly spread from his lips to his eyes. "Robert Lichoin, Birale Hertoyo, Mile Lichoin," he murmured in a low voice with a tone of hatred.
o0o