"Boss, boss!"
Tristan's voice carried a hint of urgency, prompting Karel to open his eyes, which still felt heavy with sleep. He blinked several times before finally turning his head.
"Here are the complete documents regarding the location and last known position of this person"
Tristan explained, handing over a brown envelope with a slightly trembling hand.
Hearing this, Karel's eyes opened fully, his drowsiness evaporating in an instant. Without hesitation, he snatched the envelope and tore it open roughly. The papers inside spilled onto his lap, but his gaze remained fixed on a single photograph lying on top.
In the photo, a man with a sturdy build was visible, though the angle of the shot only showed his back.
Beside him, a small child held his hand, as if guiding him with great care.
Karel's heart raced. Even without seeing the man's face, he was absolutely certain—it was Arthur.
Slowly, his fingers traced the surface of the photograph, as if trying to touch the figure within. His sharp eyes softened slightly. But as he recalled the suffering Arthur endured in the original novel, anger flashed across his face.
"Bring your most trusted gangster with you."
o0o
Without wasting any more time, Karel quickly prepared for the journey. They moved swiftly, navigating roads that led deeper into the countryside. After a long trip, they arrived at a small village surrounded by green hills.
The sun was already leaning westward, casting a golden glow across the evening sky.
Karel stepped out of the vehicle, his eyes scanning the rocky, rural path stretching before him. There was no proper road for four-wheeled vehicles, forcing him to walk for ten minutes to reach the location mentioned in the documents.
His breath quickened slightly as his gaze finally caught sight of a striking villa in the distance. The building stood majestically, surrounded by a vast, meticulously maintained garden blooming with flowers in every corner.
But it wasn't the natural beauty that caught his attention—it was the figure of a man standing in the middle of the garden, watering plants with one hand while leaning on a cane with the other.
The fading sunlight cast a clear silhouette of the man's back.
Karel's eyes lifted, staring blankly at the man's back. His lips pressed tightly together, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill at any moment.
The man finished his task and slowly turned toward the villa. His steps appeared steady despite the cane.
"Wait here. Don't let anyone in"
Karel ordered, his voice cold and firm. Without waiting for a response from the men behind him, he strode quickly, almost running, toward the villa's entrance.
At that moment, a voice he hadn't heard in a long time finally echoed through the air.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Karel's steps halted immediately. That voice… there was no doubt. It was Arthur's voice.
A red cane suddenly extended, stopping just inches from his chest. But he remained still, unmoving. His eyes were fixed on the man in front of him, filled with both hatred and longing.
He hated being left without an explanation, and now he would demand one directly from the man standing before him.
He closed his eyes briefly before speaking, trying to calm himself.
"Why… why did you do this? Why did you leave without saying anything?"
Arthur's eyes, which had been empty and calm, now widened in shock as he heard the voice. A voice he hadn't heard in so long, so familiar and so close.
The person he had longed for. His lover—Karel.
Not wanting to worry Karel, Arthur forced a faint smile. But the smile was cold, hollow, not reaching his eyes. His lips curved slightly, but his eyes remained empty, reflecting no emotion.
He lowered his cane and took a step toward Karel, closing the distance between them.
"Why are you here?" he asked, lowering his voice to almost a whisper.
His hand rose, slowly reaching into the space between them until his fingers touched Karel's damp cheek.
"Why?… Why didn't you tell me? I looked for you everywhere!"
Karel spoke softly, his voice hoarse, barely audible.
Arthur lowered his hand after touching Karel's cheek, then took a step back.
"Don't cry."
"Do you know what condition I'm in now?"
Arthur's voice was soft, hoping his words could calm Karel. He wished that after learning the truth, Karel would leave and live a better life.
"How was I supposed to know? You didn't even call or send word!"
Karel shouted, unleashing his emotions in one breath. He stepped forward and struck Arthur's chest with all his strength.
Arthur remained silent, letting the blow land on him as if accepting Karel's rage and sorrow without resistance.
Karel's fist couldn't physically hurt him—the pain was nothing compared to the hollow ache in his heart as he heard the muffled sobs from the man in front of him.
"I'm blind" he whispered, barely audible.
The words slipped bitterly from his lips, as if cementing the harsh reality he had been struggling to accept. After saying it, Arthur stepped back. He didn't dare approach Karel again.
"I hope you can find someone better.""And about the answer key, don't worry—"
"WHO CARES ABOUT THE DAMN ANSWER KEY?!"
The shout echoed through the spacious room, freezing Arthur in place.
Karel clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he fought back the surge of emotions. He bit his lip until it nearly bled, unable to believe Arthur would let him go so easily—as if everything they'd been through meant nothing.
Without another word, he turned and strode to the large sofa in the corner. In one swift motion, he collapsed onto it, burying his face in a pillow to hide the tears he could no longer hold back.
"I'm staying here. Don't you dare try to kick me out."
Arthur stood motionless, his fingers gripping his red cane tightly. With slow steps, he began moving toward the sofa, the cane tapping against the cold wooden floor.
Once near, he lowered himself carefully and sat at the edge by Karel's feet.
"Darl..." His voice almost trembled, but he quickly corrected himself. "Ahem. Karel."
He took a deep breath before continuing.
"I told you… I can't see. But… I also see Daniel. He's a good man—"
His words abruptly cut off. He paused, not daring to go further, and simply bowed his head, staring at the cold floor.
In front of him, Karel remained still, his face still buried in the pillow. No response—only heavy, slightly shaky breaths.
Arthur reached out hesitantly, but his hand hovered in the air. Did he even have the right to touch him now?
In the end, he let his hand drop weakly, resting it on the cane in his lap.
"Don't sleep here"
"Your back will hurt."
Karel didn't move. The only sign he'd heard was the slight tightening of his fingers around the pillow.
"I'm still mad. Don't talk to me"
"Sorry"
Arthur murmured helplessly. He only wanted what was best for Karel, yet the words of farewell stuck in his throat.
He knew that if Karel stayed with him, he'd never be happy—not with his limitations, not after losing his sight, and certainly not after losing his company.
Yet, for a fleeting moment, selfishness surfaced. Could he ask Karel to stay by his side, even if he knew it wouldn't bring him happiness?
o0o