There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)-Chapter 772: Side Story 4. Endless Journey - 55

Thankfully, the fever went down considerably after Byul ate all the food he had ordered from Kar. Even while feeling sluggish, the meal tasted delicious--maybe even more delicious than before?

How could that be?

"Is the taste alright?" Kar asked.

"Mm!" Byul exclaimed while biting the spoon--even the leftover tasted good. Maybe because it was made just for him?

"That’s a relief," Kar smiled and brushed the curly fringe away so he could touch Byul’s forehead. "You’re fever is down now."

"Because I sweated a lot," Byul grinned shyly. "Oh, I should take a shower!"

"Won’t your fever return if you do?" Kar frowned. "Just wipe your body and change your clothes."

Byul shook his head and shuddered in disgust. "No, I feel gross!" he got up and puffed his cheeks, returning the snack plate to the sink. "I’m just going to take a quick warm bath, okay?"

"Hmm..."

Looking at the skeptical esper, Byul laughed and flicked the furrowed brows. "Pfft--it’s not like I’m actually ill, Hyung. Don’t tell me you’re going to watch me shower out of worry?"

Kar tilted his head and stroked his chin in contemplation. "Should I?"

"W-what?" Byul stepped back in flusters; he suddenly wanted to smack his own mouth that spoke without thinking while he ran back to his bedroom. "No!"

The esper smirked and got up, chasing the escaping actor with calm, long strides. "Don’t run."

"It’s because of you!"

"How can an actor be flustered because of something like that?"

"T-that’s different!" Byul turned around and pursed his lips, hiding behind his bedroom door. "Just so you know, I won’t be reacting like this if it’s someone else!"

"Really?" Kar stopped at the door and leaned against the frame. "What about Asa?"

Byul tilted his head. "What about him? Asa Hyung is not you?"

"...yeah," Kar chuckled, holding the door as he leaned down and kissed the innocent lips. "I guess it’s my honor, then."

"Uhh..."

How could Byul keep holding the door between them if Kar acted this sweetly? He was already so sweet and kind before, but...it was like he became several times sweeter than before--it was maddening! Byul worried he would catch a fever every time his hyung did something.

Oh. His Hyung...

Could he call Kar that? His?

Byul was drowned in his own thought that he didn’t even realize Kar already entered the bedroom. Before he knew it, the esper was already looming in front of him, playing with his curls. "Are you still going to be busy after this?"

"Aside from going to classes, I have promotions for the drama," Byul replied in a slight daze, cheeks heating up from the occasional touch on his temple. "Why...Hyung?"

"If you have some time to spare..." Kar’s hand slid down along Byul’s arm and held the younger’s hand, bringing it to his lips. "Would you like to go on a date with me?"

What the hell? What the hell?! Byul had to bite his lips to prevent any scream from slipping out as the blue and amber stared at him; the same gaze he remembered from last night. While he tried not to scream, he couldn’t prevent the intense blush spreading across his cheeks.

"Y-yeah..." Byul lowered his head as he stuttered. "I’ll...I’ll tell you if I have a day off..."

"But don’t force yourself to make time, okay?" Kar cupped the younger’s face and returned the black eyes to him. "I don’t want you to exhaust yourself and get sick."

Byul couldn’t quite decide if he wanted to scream of melt to the ground--but he managed to nod, at least. "T-then...I’ll have that shower now!"

"Be careful and stay warm," Kar smiled and let go of the younger’s hand. Well, he didn’t want Byul to catch a fever again. "I’ll have warm ginger milk ready after you finish."

Byul perked up at the mention of his second favorite drink and nodded before running to the bathroom. "Okay!"

Well...it seemed like it was okay to call Kar his hyung.

* * *

A date...Byul only thought it was a pipe dream before, as Kar left to climb the Tower for who knew how long. He had fantasized about it sometimes or when he had to act in his drama. Funnily enough, once he did it, Byul couldn’t remember any of his fantasy.

Well, in the first place, Byul never fantasized about being flown with a helicopter that his hyung piloted himself. Being aware of their limitation, Kar brought him to a place that not many people knew, somewhere with an incredible view where they have a picnic--of course, with Kar’s homemade food.

He also never imagined going around the city on a motorcycle, feeling the wind against his body while hugging his hyung tightly. Oh, what a dream!

Of course, they also did normal stuff like going to the movie theatre and visiting the cafes that Kar had missed for the past four years, but since it was too public, they had to act like two childhood friends hanging out together. It felt less like a date; Byul honestly preferred to spend time at home instead, watching movies or just talking about nothing and everything.

The downside about that was...it got harder to keep his heart from palpitating and his face from reddening. At home, his hyung was truly, truly sweet. It was like he took revenge on the time they couldn’t show intimacy in public. Kar would pull Byul onto his lap or lay on Byul’s thigh.

Sometimes, he would even sneak to Byul’s bed and slept while hugging the actor--usually after returning from dungeon raids.

No matter what, that winter was full of bliss and warmth for Byul. And apparently, it was very visible to the people around him.

"You look brighter these days," his manager said one early spring day when he was visiting her office after the closing party for his drama. "I mean, you always looked cheerful, but you’ve been in such a good mood the whole winter."

"Really?" Byul tilted his head. He didn’t particularly feel he was acting differently, but...it was true that he was much happier than usual.

"Wait--don’t tell me..."

She suddenly narrowed her eyes and leaned forward, looking at Byul closely. Unconsciously, Byul stuttered in response. "W-what?"

Instead of answering, she looked around her office, proceeded to lock her office door, and closed her blinds. "Byul, be honest with me," she grabbed Byul’s shoulder next.

"Y-yes?"

"Are you dating someone?" she asked with a sharp, intense stare that made Byul flinch. "Damn it--you are!"

Byul smiled wryly. "Is it...bad?"

"Haa..." the manager let out a long sigh while walking back to her desk. "You know...personally, I want you to be able to do whatever you want, including dating. But you know, don’t you? The world is not that lenient."

"Yeah, I know..."

She sighed again and turned around. "Can you hide it well?"

"Hmm...I don’t think people will realize," Byul stroked his chin. "I mean, he’s my childhood friend, so our pictures had been out there since we were children," he paused, "...since I was a baby?"

"...wow," she arched her brow. "First love?"

"One and only," Byul smiled shyly; the black eyes softened as a blush spread across his cheeks.

The manager closed her eyes, massaging her temple. It would be easier if it was merely a fling because she could try to convince Byul to end it. But this kind of pure, sincere feelings...she wasn’t heartless enough to put an end to it.

Honestly, it reminded me of the face Rina made when the girl was thinking about that Ishtera’s chief of staff, and it brought a smile to her lips.

"I guess you can do it as long as you don’t do stuff like holding hands or kissing while you’re out," she said.

"Oh, we’ve been careful about it," Byul nodded. "We rarely went out, anyway."

"Well, that’s goo--" the manager paused and narrowed her eyes. "Wait..."

Rarely went out? Not rarely going on a date? And...childhood friend...childhood friend...why did that jolt something in her mind?

She gasped and gripped her desk. "Your roommates? The owner of the penthouse?"

"Hehe..."

"Oh, Gods!" she leaned back and buried her face in her palm. "Wait--who did you say that man’s name was?"

Byul smiled sheepishly. "Umm...Karna Ishtera?"

"Goodness gracious!"

The name of Karna Ishtera wasn’t very well known at the time when Byul’s moved to the penthouse. The name Ishtera itself was known better in the far east district, where they reign as the main Old House of the area.

That being said, the man had been gaining traction as the new rising star among espers, starting as a Saint class already. A proper successor to the legendary Bassena Vaski, people said. He also started to become SavAsh’s new brand ambassador after New Year, so the general public also knew his name nowadays.

With Byul, only some people knew the identity of his family. People knew his family was an esper, but Han Shin and Han Nari did not dabble in entertainment, so their name was only known in the sentinel community. People might know Reina Savich, but Byul did not resemble her, and did not use his maternal surname.

In fact, the stage name he used was Hanbyul, so people didn’t think Han was his surname either. Since the academy protected the student’s information, his friend merely knew the face of his parents but not necessarily their affiliation.

Funnily enough, people thought he was Rina Soltice’s son since she was the one who brought him to his first gig and introduced him to the entertainment industry. His current manager was also Rina’s last manager before she retired, who established her own agency. That was why she took care of Byul herself, even though she was the CEO.

Rina’s backing acted like protection from the dark side of the entertainment industry, but it was also the reason why he was called a nepo baby.

Of course, his manager knew who he was. "Ah...sometimes I forget who you truly are, Byul."

"Isn’t it better that way?" Byul laughed.

"Yeah," she sighed in agreement. It was better not to think too much about the fact that Byul’s blood uncle is the husband to the current patriarch of House Mallarc. "But now you even have the crown prince of House Ishtera as your boyfriend?"

Byul scratched his neck shyly. "Well, he never said he’d inherit..."

"Same thing," she scoffed. "Still, just be careful for now."

Byul sighed, dropping listlessly on the couch. He knew, and he prepared for it. Kar also understood before Byul even explained it. Still...it sucked.

"I’m not saying you have to hide it forever," the manager smiled helplessly. "Just hold on until your career stabilizes more, okay?"

"Yeah, I know..."

"Don’t be so down," she chuckled and took a bundle of papers from her drawer, throwing it in front of Byul. "Look here."

Arching his brow, Byul glanced at the paper. "Is that a script?"

"Yep," she smiled deeply. "Something you’ve been waiting for."

Byul gasped and straightened his back, staring at the script with widened eyes. "A s-sentinel show? An...an esper role?"

"Yep--and it’s a movie," the manager smirked. "I think they are considering you after your last drama since you did the action scene well. It’s only a supporting role--and you still have to audition for it--but it’s rare for a newbie esper role to come, so--"

"I’ll take it! I’ll definitely take it!" Byul slammed the table, eyes flashing sharply like a predator looking at prey.

Seemed like the blood of an esper was still inside him after all, even if he did not awakened.

"Hey, read the script first," the manager rolled her eyes.

"But if you bring this to me, it means it’s already passed your inspection already, right?" Byul grinned widely, even adding a wink as a bonus.

"Flatterer."

"Hehe..."

Snatching the script, Byul immediately reviewed it right there and then. He couldn’t wait for his hyung to come home so he could tell the man in person.

Finally. Finally! He was stepping into his real dream!