There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)-Chapter 786: Side Story 4. Endless Journey - 67

"Haa...I’m so bored..."

After spending two weeks going around attending interviews and talk shows until he fed up, Kar still had to face another punishment of staying at home. The home at Lucre, not the home at Althrea. Not for dating Byul, but for forgetting to call his family after getting out and causing his fathers emotional distress.

The not-meeting-for-a-while was Byul’s punishment. Again, not for dating, but for keeping it a secret.

"Can’t believe I’m still being grounded at this age," Kar laughed incredulously while watering the potted plants on the patio.

He knew the ’punishment’ was only an excuse, though. His parents and uncles just wanted him to rest after working non-stop since climbing the tower. Well...with this reclamation, he had cemented his position as a top ranker anyway. He could rest and only come out for high-rank dungeons from then on.

Besides, looking at the great scenery of his home after being stuck in the Deathzone for almost three years was nice. It was different from the urban scene of Althrea, especially the air. Perhaps he had been taking this scenery and atmosphere for granted, since he had this since he was born. Now that he returned after so long, he was thankful that his father had chosen this place.

Still...

"I wish you were here too, baby..."

[But it’s kind of thrilling, getting punished when we’re adults] Byul laughed. [Why don’t I visit once our punishment is over, Hyung?]

"You’re the best," Kar chuckled. "I’ll bake some cinnamon rolls for you."

[...strawberry roll cake too?]

"Anything for my baby," Kar stroked the blushing cheek on the screen. "You won’t be shooting immediately, will you?"

Byul had finally chosen a lead role in the sentinel genre, and was on his way to the script reading when Kar video-called him. [There’ll be a lot of young actors, so an extensive training period will be needed. The crank-in is probably not until fall]

"So we at least have time for a couple of dates," Kar smiled as Byul blushed again.

But the shy face shifted into a serene, mildly serious expression as the car stopped. [Ah, we’re here. I’ll call you once it’s over, Hyung]

"Alright--show them, baby."

Byul laughed softly for a second before putting on his actor face again. Kar had a feeling that Byul was taking his father’s resting face as a model for his actor persona, which was cute. Talking about his father...

"Was that Byul?" Zein came out to the patio, perhaps to check on Kar’s progress in taking care of his beloved plants.

"Yeah, he’s about to go on the script reading for his new movie," Kar replied while continuing with his plant watering.

"Hmm...maybe I should go to the theater once in a while," Zein muttered. He never saw the need before, since he didn’t like crowds, but...if his future son-in-law was starring at one as a lead, he thought it would be worthed. "Anyway, Asa is coming home."

"Huh?"

Kar glanced at his commlink, which was devoid of reply from his twin still. Didn’t even reply to his text informing that he was home, but suddenly going home?

"He’s coming with a girl," Zein added.

Kar turned to his father with widened eyes. "No way..."

Zein merely smirked and told him to finish watering because Asa was already driving to the hill. Kar arched his brow, muttering amusedly. "Finally?"

Huh...maybe this punishment wasn’t so bad after all.

* * *

"Finally, huh?"

"Yeah, finally."

Julia had been nervous ever since she realized she would have to face her benefactors. She wasn’t nervous when she presented the result to the executives and the investors, but her palms were clammy when the car entered the hill’s driveway.

Not even the beautiful scenery could calm her mind, and she almost couldn’t bring herself to get out of the car. Asa had to help her and rubbed her hands before they could proceed to the beautiful house.

For the first time, she felt what a wonderful thing a chair was. Certainly, she wouldn’t be able to go through that day with her trembling legs otherwise. She had heard a lot of stuff about the Ishteras; both what the public said and what Asa told her. Both, however, couldn’t prepare her enough.

First--how could people still look that good and ethereal even in their fifties? She couldn’t believe that Asa’s fathers and those senior researcher geezers were around the same age. No wonder Asa was good-looking--no matter which gene he received, it was a win. His twin looked just slightly different--more from the different building of muscle due to their profession--but still carried the incredible gene.

Honestly, Julia understood why a lot of people cursed her just because Asa returned her paper in the past.

But that wasn’t what made her nervous.

"Took him long enough, but welcome," the legendary esper, Bassena Ishtera, held her hand with a charming smile she could always see on Asa. Even the way the amber eyes curled was the same. "It’s Julia, isn’t it?"

"Y-yes!" it took her all willpower to not crumble back onto the couch as she let out a squeaky sound that not even Asa had ever heard before. "I--I mean...yes..."

She bit her lips, beating herself inside her mind for fumbling so hard. Gone was her fearless self who could stand tall against her theses examiner and the project executives.

"Dad, you’re scaring her," Asa hugged his fiancee’s shoulder and hissed at his father, who looked at him incredulously.

"What about me is scary?" Bassena clutched his chest, looking absolutely flabbergasted at the accusation.

Zein patted his husband’s back and nodded. "Yeah, your Dad is cute."

"Your assessment is invalid, Father," Kar chuckled--which was correct. Even if Bassena growled, it would only look cute in Zein’s eyes.

But that assessment was supported by the fiancee herself. "Y-yes! Sir is not scary!"

"Oh, a betrayal~"

"Shut up, Kar!" Asa hissed, sighing inwardly because Julia wasn’t usually like this.

He knew she was nervous, but...he never thought it would be to this extent. Asa had never seen her stuttering and fidgeting like this before.

To be fair, Julia herself didn’t expect she would be that nervous. "Ah...f-forgive me, I’m just..."

"It’s okay, Julia. There’s no need to be nervous; we’re not going to interrogate you or anything," Zein said, taking a seat on the couch opposite the couple so everyone would follow.

"Yeah, they had fun doing it to me already," Kar said, plopping on an armchair near the fireplace, a bit away from the couch--but still ensuring his participation in this juicy stuff.

Asa narrowed his eyes at his twin. "Hanging out with espers your age made you cheeky, huh?"

"Evidently."

"I’m sorry, I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to conduct myself--" Julia paused, taking a deep breath so she could start to control herself again. "Then, first..."

Even though she had already sat down earlier, she abruptly stood up again, startling Asa. "Forgive my rudeness; I’m late to introduce myself," she put her hands politely on her stomach. "My name is Julia Rios, someone who promised to marry your son. But, first of all..."

She bent her waist, bowing deeply toward Zein and Bassena, who blinked at her in surprise.

"I would like to...thank you," her voice strained as tears welled in her eyes. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t hold it in the end. "Really...truly...thank you..."

Long, long before she even met Asa, the existence that got her to hang on and try her best was her benefactor. Thinking about how she could repay their kindness, she strived to be the best in what she could do. Studying hard so she could be something, so she wouldn’t be ashamed if she stood in front of them one day.

She never thought it would be in this way, instead of after she received an award for something, but...

"Ju..."

"For now, please sit down, Miss."

The melodious, serene voice from the ethereal-looking man beckoned her to plop down. Thankfully, Asa helped her so she could sit properly instead of falling back from nervousness.

"I heard from Asa that you’re a beneficiary of our foundation," Zein started the conversation again after asking the house staff to bring them refreshments--and a lot of water for the poor girl.

"Y-yes, Sir."

"Well, in that case, you should thank the management--I mean, the people who decided to choose your orphanage and you," Bassena said. "Honestly, all we did was putting in our money."

"Yes, I understand," she nodded. She never expected them to know her at all from the start. "But--"

"And I’m sure, even without our foundation, someone of your caliber could find another scholarship," Zein added.

Asa nodded eagerly. "That’s what I’ve been telling her!"

"If anything, we should be the one to thank you," Bassena smiled wryly.

"...yes?"

"I’m ashamed to say that I don’t check on the foundation often," Bassena sighed. "I don’t even know who had been receiving the money, or if they received it well."

"Oh, that--"

"That’s why, I’m thankful," the amber eyes curled softly, with thin wrinkles around them that lessened the initial sharpness. "Thank you, Julia, for using the scholarship well and growing up to be someone so brilliant," the gentle smile spelled father even though Julia had already forgotten what a father was supposed to look like. "I’m sure Asa’s grandmother would be happy to know that."

"Oh..."

She bit her lips and lowered her head, feeling her tears threatening to fall. It was like all of her hard work finally got validated; as if a large, warm hand was patting the crying girl inside and told her she did good. She did good. She wasn’t wrong to hold on.

Oh, truly...she already knew her benefactors would be good people, but...they were truly such amazing existences.

"Honestly, I’m thankful enough that you want to take my son," Zein said calmly.

"Father?" Asa gasped, didn’t expect the slander to come from Zein.

"That’s true," Kar sneered. "Must be hard managing someone so boisterous."

"Must be hard for Byul to manage someone who likes to run away," Asa hissed in return.

"Ouch?"

"But, well...if you’re still feeling thankful," Zein smiled and leaned forward slightly. "Why don’t you start by calling us ’father’ instead of ’Sir’?"

Asa snapped his fingers. "Good idea!"

"Oh, I..." Julia blinked rapidly, feeling overwhelmed by the whirlwind shift of emotions going through her. "T-that’s too sudden..."

"Give her time, won’t you," Kar sighed. Even Byul would be weirded out if Zein and Bassena suddenly wanted to be called father.

Zein tilted her head. "Why? Aren’t you here to talk about marriage anyway?"