Maverick (Blank)
Chapter 34: NGNL Collaboration Event (8)
[There's a variable]
Jarvis looked at the scenery before him—a rural grassland with high mountains visible directly, a gentle breeze on the wooden hotel balcony with a simple, unique ambiance.
Jarvis sighed. "Indeed, not everything goes smoothly." His steps took him to his room, where he stared at a painting in the hotel depicting yin and yang.
"Let's buy a drink." Jarvis left the hotel and headed to the nearest store, walking on soil with grass on every side.
After 5 minutes of walking, he successfully bought an ion drink. Jarvis passed a small hill and saw a man on the slope in a disheveled white shirt leaning behind a tree.
The man was holding back pain in his left arm. It was Willie, resting in the morning after his escape. Jarvis looked at him without thinking twice. (Seems like there's some luck in the plan.)
Jarvis went to the slope, approaching Willie, who was staring at the mountains ahead.
"Hello, sir." Jarvis gave an innocent expression. "Are you alone? This drink is for you." Jarvis handed over a bottle.
Willie was startled. "Oh, thank you. You saw me?" Jarvis nodded and smiled. "Yes, I saw you from above." His eyes glanced at Willie's left arm in a short white shirt. "Are you hurt?"
Willie lowered his head. "Yeah, just fell." Jarvis gaped and patted his cheeks. "Oh my! Sir, that needs treatment. I have some at home. Come with me."
Willie looked at Jarvis—a handsome young man with an innocent face in his eyes. (That's good. I can take shelter in the settlements around here for a while.) Willie scratched both sides of his hair. "Hehe, is it really okay?"
Jarvis nodded and smiled until his eyes closed. "It's fine," while extending his hand. "Let's go." Willie smiled and took his hand. "Thank you."
That morning, they walked together. Jarvis led him somewhere, but it definitely wasn't a comfortable home he would get.
---
On the other side at the villa, Blank was currently sitting quietly on the bed, and Viera was still asleep.
But the problem was little Emma, who was folding her arms, seriously facing Blank. "Brother Kaelan, what were you doing just now?"
Blank knew for sure it was purely a misunderstanding, but he was confused about how to explain something simple to a little girl now. "Earlier, Sister Viera was sick. I was trying to—"
"Lies!" Blank's words weren't finished and were cut off by Emma.
The clock showed 6:40 AM. Blank had to face a little girl while his body still felt sore, especially his sensitive area, which still couldn't move freely.
"Brother Kaelan..." Emma spoke. Blank's heart beat fast. (Please, anyone.) Emma opened her mouth. "You're Sister Viera's boyfriend, right!"
Blank closed his eyes, his body growing weaker. "No, Emma. I was just—"
"I'm going to call Dad."
Goosebumps rose on Blank's skin, and his heart beat fast. "Emma! How about... later, I'll take photos of you at the lake in whatever pose you want, anything."
Little Emma glanced at him, but this time her response was different from before. "Yeah, that's okay. But Sister Viera is special."
Blank bit his lip. "Anything, Emma. I'll do anything, but don't tell anyone, okay." Blank covered his mouth. (Oh dear, doesn't that make it look even more suspicious?)
"YOU REALLY ARE DATING!" Emma shouted. Blank moved both hands forward. "It's not like that..."
Emma pressed her chin. "You must have done something with Sister Viera here before sleeping together."
Blank's eyes widened. (NO!) "Emma... Really, I'll do anything, please..." Blank pressed his hands together as if pleading.
Emma looked at Blank. "Then repeat the hug from earlier."
Blank looked weakly. "But, Miss Emma—" Emma approached. "I'll be in the middle!"
"Meaning... Miss Emma in the middle—"
Emma climbed onto the bed. "I'll be the little sister. You and Sister Viera will be the couple." Blank looked at the little girl staring at him from above. "Hurry!"
Little Emma told Blank to lie down again, and at that very moment, Viera precisely turned her body to face Blank. (Hey, Viera! Don't face this way!)
"Hurry, Brother Kaelan, lie down there!"
"Ah, okay, okay..." Blank could only obey the talkative little Emma to cover up the earlier information.
Blank lay down again, he and Viera facing each other. From below, Emma emerged and then squeezed through the narrow gap until she got into the middle and faced Blank.
"Hurry, Brother Kaelan, hug Sister Viera."
Blank closed his eyes. He tried to extend his arm over Emma's body and reach Viera.
Blank wasn't really hugging; he just directed his arm over Viera's body.
"How's that, Emma? This is enough, right—"
"WAAAHHH!" Instead, Emma screamed very loudly, her face reddening as she covered it with both hands.
Creak.
Lauren opened her room door. "What's going on? It's so noisy early in the morning." Her footsteps stopped. Blank's eyes widened. (Wait... what... Miss Lauren...)
"..."
"HAAAAA!!!!"
"Wait-wait, Miss Lauren, this isn't—"
Boyka came from outside the villa. "What's all this commotion early in the morning?"
Lauren glared, her hand pointing at the cloth Boyka was carrying. "Boyka... what are you carrying in your hand..."
Boyka raised his left hand. "Oh, this... eh... wait... EHHHH!!!"
Three doors opened simultaneously. Lirie, Navas, and Robert woke up from their rooms and looked around the living room.
Lirie patted both her cheeks. "KAELAN IS HUGGING EMMA AND VIERA!!"
Navas's eyes widened. "MR. BOYKA IS CARRYING WOMEN'S UNDERWEAR."
From inside the room, Leon woke up. "Oh dear, I need to go to the bathroom. It's so noisy this morning." Leon opened his room door.
"MR. LEON IS WEARING PINK SHORTS," shouted Robert.
Mr. Leon looked at his own pants; he forgot because he just woke up. "HEE!!"
---
On the other side, Viera's manager, Erna, was riding in a car. She was admiring a beautiful lake in the morning adorned by the warming morning sunlight.
"It's so beautiful here. No disturbances, and the neighbors seem to live comfortably here too."
Her hand held medicine. "I hope Viera recovers quickly." Erna leaned back in the soft car seat on the way back.
Erna fell into the comfort and silence of the journey, but that didn't apply to everyone at the villa.
Back at the very noisy villa, everyone stared at each other.
"Wait-wait, this is a misunderstanding." Blank stood up with his legs pressed together; his sensitive area still hurt.
Lirie covered her nose and mouth. "Haa!! Kaelan, you naughty boy." Blank clenched his fist with visible veins on his forehead. "HEY, IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!"
Lauren stared sharply at Boyka. "Boyka, explain. Whose are these?"
Boyka scratched his bald head. "Wait, this is something we need to discuss—"
Leon patted Boyka's shoulder. "I didn't expect this, friend. I thought you were a real man." Boyka pointed at Leon's pants. "Hey, your pants are pink!"
"Dammit!"
Because of the loud noise, Viera woke up and looked around, although her head was a bit dizzy.
"Hey, what's going on here?" Viera said weakly.
Emma sat beside her. "Sister Viera, you did that with Brother Kaelan last night, right?"
Viera's eyes widened. Everyone also looked at Emma; all opened their mouths.
Blank closed his eyes, his body weak. (I'm dead...)
"..."
"HAAHHHHH!!!" everyone in the villa screamed together.
At the same time, Erna had arrived in front of the villa. Her heart felt warm carrying medicine in her hand. Her steps approached.
"My goodness, the scenery here is too beautiful and peaceful. I feel at home." She stretched her body. "Whew, it's really so different from the city. The sound of water, no pollution, fresh air, amazing!!"
Miss Erna was feeling very cheerful now. The door finally opened.
"La la la, I'm home..."
Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz. Voices collided until they couldn't be described.
Her eyes widened at the incredible commotion and pointing fingers. She looked at the floor, and her back trembled. One sentence made everything fall silent.
"STOP!"
[10 Minutes Later]
"Okay, everyone is seated. I will be the judge, and you, explain why you were screaming."
(She's so stern...) Their hearts spoke simultaneously.
A whiteboard marker began to be pointed one by one. The first was Lauren. "I saw Kaelan hugging Emma and Viera, and then saw Boyka carrying underwear."
The second marker pointed at Emma. "I saw Brother Kaelan hugging Miss Viera intimately, and I tried to stop him."
(That's a lie!) Blank bit his lip.
The third marker pointed at Boyka. "I was just fulfilling Miss Erna's request to clean up last night's incident."
"Wait... what! Last night! Underwear!" everyone simultaneously.
"DON'T MISUNDERSTAND," shouted Erna.
The fourth marker pointed at Lirie. "I screamed because I heard the room was noisy and saw Kaelan hugging Emma and Viera."
Navas nodded. "Right, same here."
Blank's body weakened, almost unable to breathe. (I have no supporters...)
The fifth marker pointed at Robert. "I saw Mr. Leon wearing pink shorts."
Miss Erna looked toward Leon. "Where?" With a face looking at Leon's legs, he said, "Already changed."
Erna sighed. "Then Viera?" Viera shook her head. "I just woke up; I don't know anything."
Next, all eyes looked at Blank because only he was the center of attention now due to his actions.
Blank moved his finger; he was confused about how to explain, especially with Viera beside him. It was impossible to talk about this with little Emma still there. (I need to make sure both of them don't hear this.)
Blank sighed. "Emma, can you take Viera to the second floor?"
Emma tilted her head. "Why?"
"Brother Kaelan begs you."
Emma looked at the flat face of the person who always smiled at her before. Emma had never seen such a serious expression before. Finally, Emma's hand grabbed Viera's arm.
Viera furrowed her brow. "Why me?"
"I'm begging you too, Viera."
Viera was startled when Blank didn't look at her at all in his words just now. His eyes were sharp but not directed anywhere, like an empty, piercing gaze.
Emma and Viera's footsteps became inaudible; they were already on the second floor, and Blank began to tell the story.
"Don't say anything to Viera. I beg all of you, for her mental health."
Blank explained the story from last night in detail, everything he remembered and saw. Boyka also added about Willie's departure, whom he couldn't find. Everyone listened well.
---
At the same time, a river flowed with bright blue to white water. Several rocks were embedded in the river, and the waterfall where Willie previously dropped a stone was beside it.
Jarvis was cleaning his hands, which had bloodstains. From the back of his hand to between the fingers, all the red color that clung was beginning to disappear.
The water, previously blue, was slightly polluted with red color being washed away. Both his hands took water and washed his face. His eyes looked at the reflection of his face below. "Huh, troublesome person."
The sky began to turn perfectly blue. Now morning had erased the previous night, and the situation at the villa after explaining what happened to Blank and Willie last night made everyone shake their heads.
Lirie pulled the right corner of her lips. "Disgusting." Navas crossed his arms. "Are there really people like that?" Robert looked at Blank. "Then where is that person now?"
Boyka answered, "No information yet. Last, he went into the forest. There was a sound of something falling into the water. I think he jumped."
Lauren and Leon looked at each other and then at Erna. "Shouldn't we tighten security then?"
"I will call someone." Erna went to her room, activated her phone, and sent a message to a certain person. The name was clearly visible. Erna intended to call.
[Demma: Executive of NGNL Company]
[Demma, this is Erna from NGNL Company, Viera's manager. We need security assistance. Can you come to the Sweas countryside?]
Soon, Demma began typing a message.
[I'll talk to Miss Kiki first. I'll probably arrive tomorrow morning. Don't worry.]
All members returned to their rooms now because it was still morning, showing 7:15 AM, and no tour guide had arrived yet. So today might be a bit delayed.
Blank, who had finished his business on the first floor, then went up to the second floor to meet Emma and Viera.
Blank looked around. "Emma? Viera? Where are they?"
They were both seen on the balcony looking at the high mountain with a small lake and even a waterfall at the end.
The cool yet warming air added to the existing comfort. With harmonious wooden architecture, it quickly calmed the heart.
The wind's rhythm made Viera's hair flutter beautifully. And unexpectedly, Blank had been watching Viera from behind for 10 seconds without saying anything.
Slap.
Blank lightly slapped his own face. He then went to the balcony door and approached them. "Morning, Viera, Emma."
Both looked at Blank simultaneously, and Viera asked about the earlier problem. "Is it settled?" Blank nodded. "Yes, it's just been settled."
Suddenly, Blank's collar was pulled by Viera, and he was pushed toward the wall. The oversized shirt from Mr. Boyka was very easy to grab, and Viera looked at Blank with a serious face.
(Oh dear, the problem isn't over yet,) Blank's heart said.
"Did you... really hug me!?" Viera asked seriously.
Blank glanced briefly at Emma and saw the little girl holding back her smile. Blank was confused about what to say, but he would be honest.
"Viera, I woke up when you were sleeping next to me in the living room," his tone weak.
"And then?"
"You felt pain in your stomach. I was worried and saw you already holding your stomach tightly."
"I don't believe it."
"I wanted to call Erna, and then you said something while pulling my right hand to your stomach, so it looked like a hug."
"Lies. What did I say?"
"You said, 'Don't leave me, Mom...'"
Viera was startled. Her grip on Blank's shirt loosened. She stared blankly downward. "Then... about Emma being in the middle?"
Blank looked at Emma's face. The little girl was moving her feet with both hands folded in front, her face gloomy.
"Emma?"
Emma understood her lie. She admitted her mistake and apologized. "Sorry, Sister Viera. That was because Emma wanted to be hugged in the middle, so Emma asked Brother Kaelan to hug Sister Viera again."
Emma's face reddened again, but this red made her eyes a bit teary.
Drip.
Blank looked at the floor direction—it was a teardrop. Her body and hands trembled. Blank's pupils moved to see Viera's cheeks beginning to be streaked with tears. (Ah... I shouldn't have said that.) Blank's hand clenched and loosened. He bit his lip, but his hand began to rise.
Hug.
Blank's body hugged Viera's small body with both arms—one patting her shoulder and the other holding Viera's slightly brownish-black hair. The wind blew, and now Viera's crying had begun to subside with the warmth Blank gave—a hug similar to when Kaeri calmed him down as a child.
Time kept passing. The sun began to rise slowly, shining on more plants in the Sweas countryside. Lavender flowers had bloomed with butterflies moving from one flower to another.
---
At the villa, after 9:24 AM, all members were now sitting together in the living room. They were all paying attention to the script to be made this time, and they were also waiting for someone.
Ding dong.
The villa doorbell rang. Erna opened the door. A young man in a white shirt and cream pants arrived, but the top collar button was undone, and the bottom half of the shirt was left untucked.
All eyes looked at him, and that person gave a warm smile to everyone. He was handsome with long hair on his head, the corners of his lips raised until his eyes narrowed. The young man introduced himself.
[Hello, good morning everyone. My name is Novan]