Martin's eyes shot open. The dream pushed him away again. The overall time he spent looking at the girl was getting shorter each time. This time he wasn't alone with her. In this dream, he was a complete bystander.
For the first time, the woman was no longer in a state of weightlessness as if floating in water with her eyes closed. She had her eyes wide open. She was standing in the middle of a large forest-like place, her gaze fixed on the man in front of her, and she was only showing Martin her side profile.
"Angie."
The man with the amazingly beautiful face called her that. From this, Martin also learned that the woman's name was Angie. And the woman named Angie called him Kai. While she called him Kai, she also clearly called him Master Kyle.
Martin groaned in horror. Kyle? Could it be Kyle Rawdon Blackwell, Edward Liam Blackwell's son? That Kyle?
Martin wiped the cold sweat with the back of his hand in the darkness without even turning on the lights. The moment he saw the two men and women was very brief. The two faced each other and then embraced each other as if it were a natural sequence.
Perhaps, just before his consciousness intervened, there was something more than an embrace. The flushed face and eyes of the woman named Angie were those of a woman in love. There was no denying it.
No, no more... you must not get close to that man.
Something flashed through Martin's mind. Now he finally understood. What kind of person was that girl named Angie? Why did she keep appearing in his dreams? It could have been just a coincidence. At the same time, it didn't seem like a simple coincidence.
It may be intentional. But whether it's a coincidence or not, he has to let her know. Now that he knows, he has to warn her of the danger that lies ahead.
“But... But how? How can I tell you?”
Martin clutched his head with both hands. He wanted to tell her, but he didn't know how. Even if he knew how it would be impossible to tell her without revealing his identity and location.
It had been eight years since he had escaped from the island. Martin was no longer a resident of Cullinan Island. He was an outsider. An escapee, a fugitive, and now an outsider. Now that he had settled into the peaceful life of Vintergar, he could not risk his entire new life for a girl whose face and name he knew only.
Martin arrived at the police station an hour later and approached the Morse code transmitter. Willem van Armitage sent a reply a while later.
"Martin. What's going on? It's not a bad thing, is it?"
"No, that's not it. I'll tell you when I see you."
He added one word just before sending his final message.
"It's about Cullinan Island."
The tips of his fingers pressing the keyboard were stiff with tension.
Knock knock.
He looked out the window where the sunlight was slowly fading away.
“I will be able to go out freely during the day. Like other people... I will be able to stand in the sunlight normally like you.”
Kai's gaze turned back to Angie. The eyes reflected in the setting sunlight took on a golden hue. Angie felt a thrill as if her soul was being swallowed by those sunset-colored pupils. Fear and anxiety were also surging in.
“So, during those few months... I won’t be able to see Kai at all?”
Kai nodded silently. Angie asked again. She knew it was a pointless question, but she kept asking it. She wanted to check and check again to see if there was even a slight possibility.
“How many months? Until when? May? June?”
“It could take longer. It could even take until fall... I can’t be sure of anything right now.”
“Is it impossible for me to see you even for a moment?”
“Angie.”
The next moment, she was in Kai's wide arms. For some reason, her legs were definitely uncomfortable, but his arms were stronger than she had imagined. Angie was sitting comfortably on his lap like a baby. Kai's wide arms were as warm and comfortable as she remembered, no, even warmer and more comfortable than she remembered.
“You can’t imagine how much I desperately want to see you... I’m the one who’s been hoping and suffering in advance that I can see you even just for a little while during the treatment.”
His beautiful eyes were filled with pain. The longing for something that could not be achieved, the pain that seemed to pierce his heart, was so deep. A wind began to blow deep inside Angie's chest. The pity of understanding his pain, the storm of fear of a separation that had not yet come, was slowly coming.
“Master Kai.”
The tip of her nose felt tingly. Her eyes turned red and she felt like her strength was leaving her body. Only after hearing Kai's words did Angie notice the tears running down her cheeks. Her jewel-like eyes began to shake and a sense of unconcealed agitation began to rise.
“Angie... why are you crying.”
His fingers gently wiped the wetness from her eyes and cheeks. Ah, what beautiful and exquisitely sculpted hands they were.
Angie held his hand that was sweeping her face with both of her hands and stared at it endlessly. Kai's hand was more than twice as big as hers, but his skin was whiter and more transparent. And how soft it was. She unconsciously stroked his long, strong fingers as if they were delicate glasswork.
“Angie.”
“I don’t know. Kai... I don’t know why I’m like this. I’m just, I’m just so sad and my heart hurts... I can’t stand it.”
A few more tears fell. Was it just a feeling of pity for the master's condition?
For the first time, the woman was no longer in a state of weightlessness as if floating in water with her eyes closed. She had her eyes wide open. She was standing in the middle of a large forest-like place, her gaze fixed on the man in front of her, and she was only showing Martin her side profile.
"Angie."
The man with the amazingly beautiful face called her that. From this, Martin also learned that the woman's name was Angie. And the woman named Angie called him Kai. While she called him Kai, she also clearly called him Master Kyle.
Martin groaned in horror. Kyle? Could it be Kyle Rawdon Blackwell, Edward Liam Blackwell's son? That Kyle?
Martin wiped the cold sweat with the back of his hand in the darkness without even turning on the lights. The moment he saw the two men and women was very brief. The two faced each other and then embraced each other as if it were a natural sequence.
Perhaps, just before his consciousness intervened, there was something more than an embrace. The flushed face and eyes of the woman named Angie were those of a woman in love. There was no denying it.
No, no more... you must not get close to that man.
Something flashed through Martin's mind. Now he finally understood. What kind of person was that girl named Angie? Why did she keep appearing in his dreams? It could have been just a coincidence. At the same time, it didn't seem like a simple coincidence.
It may be intentional. But whether it's a coincidence or not, he has to let her know. Now that he knows, he has to warn her of the danger that lies ahead.
“But... But how? How can I tell you?”
Martin clutched his head with both hands. He wanted to tell her, but he didn't know how. Even if he knew how it would be impossible to tell her without revealing his identity and location.
It had been eight years since he had escaped from the island. Martin was no longer a resident of Cullinan Island. He was an outsider. An escapee, a fugitive, and now an outsider. Now that he had settled into the peaceful life of Vintergar, he could not risk his entire new life for a girl whose face and name he knew only.
Martin arrived at the police station an hour later and approached the Morse code transmitter. Willem van Armitage sent a reply a while later.
"Martin. What's going on? It's not a bad thing, is it?"
"No, that's not it. I'll tell you when I see you."
He added one word just before sending his final message.
"It's about Cullinan Island."
The tips of his fingers pressing the keyboard were stiff with tension.
***
Knock knock.
There was a knock on the door. It was a visit like any other time, but at the same time, a visit like no other time. As always, there was no answer.
Angie waited a moment and opened the door. The room was no different than usual. The room was faintly scented with the scent of hawthorn blossoms, or maybe catreya blossoms. It was still mid-January, but the room had an early spring atmosphere.
“Master Kai...?”
But something had changed. The room was very bright. The curtains that had always covered the window were pushed all the way to the edge of the window. The curtains that had surrounded the bed were no longer visible. The curtains that had been the first thing she saw when she opened the door, like a huge curtain, were nowhere to be found. The bed, which was large enough for three or four adults to sleep on, was empty.
“Angie.”
His voice was coming from across the narrow hallway, between the bed and the window. Angie had never seen the inside of the L-shaped bedroom, beyond the curved wall.
“This way. Come here.”
His voice was deep. Angie walked slowly across the room as if under a spell.
It must have sounded like this. If the Siren, sitting on a rock in the middle of the dark waves and captivating the sailors with her enchanting voice, were a man... it must have sounded like this.
The faint creaking sound was getting closer. The source of the creaking sound was none other than the master. Kai was sitting on a rocking chair, wrapped in a thick dressing gown. His perfect face was slightly shadowed by the sunlight streaming in through the window.
Angie took a deep breath. Her hands, which had been holding her hat tightly, trembled. Warmth was everywhere. The warm winter sun, the soft dance of the fire in the fireplace, his eyes—she couldn't tell which one held the deepest warmth.
But her heart seemed to instinctively know the answer. Angie slowly approached the mahogany chair where the master was sitting.
“Sit here.”
Angie sat down in the chair right in front of him. She was too close to the master, but she didn't move her chair back.
Kai was looking at her with a soft smile on his lips. Angie’s gaze was directed to the lap blanket that covered his waist and feet. Something was off. Contrary to his bright expression, his body looked uncomfortable.
“Master Kai. Are you... are you okay?”
“It’s okay. It’s not that good, though.”
It was a vague answer, neither positive nor negative. Angie looked at him with a bewildered expression as his large hand came over and covered her own on her knee.
It's warm...
Angie was momentarily lost in the pleasant warmth that felt like her whole body was melting, and then she suddenly came to her senses. What does it mean to be okay but not so good? It was okay enough to meet like this, but in reality, there must be a health problem.
“It’s not good? Is it still not good? Isn’t it on the way to recovery?”
“It’s getting better.”
On Angie's worried face, a faint smile appeared on his lips. His lips were too red and provocative for a patient. His complexion, which had hardly ever seen sunlight, was pale to the point of whiteness and dangerously transparent.
“I’m getting better, but... the process is still a bit difficult. But I can bear it.”
Angie was already so close to Kai that she was almost glued to him. One hand was trapped in his large, warm hand, and she didn't know how to let go. She didn't even want to let go.
“But for the time being... I don’t think I’ll be able to see you.”
Angie's eyes blinked wide at Kai's quiet announcement. He must have heard the sound of her heart thumping in his ears.
Angie waited a moment and opened the door. The room was no different than usual. The room was faintly scented with the scent of hawthorn blossoms, or maybe catreya blossoms. It was still mid-January, but the room had an early spring atmosphere.
“Master Kai...?”
But something had changed. The room was very bright. The curtains that had always covered the window were pushed all the way to the edge of the window. The curtains that had surrounded the bed were no longer visible. The curtains that had been the first thing she saw when she opened the door, like a huge curtain, were nowhere to be found. The bed, which was large enough for three or four adults to sleep on, was empty.
“Angie.”
His voice was coming from across the narrow hallway, between the bed and the window. Angie had never seen the inside of the L-shaped bedroom, beyond the curved wall.
“This way. Come here.”
His voice was deep. Angie walked slowly across the room as if under a spell.
It must have sounded like this. If the Siren, sitting on a rock in the middle of the dark waves and captivating the sailors with her enchanting voice, were a man... it must have sounded like this.
The faint creaking sound was getting closer. The source of the creaking sound was none other than the master. Kai was sitting on a rocking chair, wrapped in a thick dressing gown. His perfect face was slightly shadowed by the sunlight streaming in through the window.
Angie took a deep breath. Her hands, which had been holding her hat tightly, trembled. Warmth was everywhere. The warm winter sun, the soft dance of the fire in the fireplace, his eyes—she couldn't tell which one held the deepest warmth.
But her heart seemed to instinctively know the answer. Angie slowly approached the mahogany chair where the master was sitting.
“Sit here.”
Angie sat down in the chair right in front of him. She was too close to the master, but she didn't move her chair back.
Kai was looking at her with a soft smile on his lips. Angie’s gaze was directed to the lap blanket that covered his waist and feet. Something was off. Contrary to his bright expression, his body looked uncomfortable.
“Master Kai. Are you... are you okay?”
“It’s okay. It’s not that good, though.”
It was a vague answer, neither positive nor negative. Angie looked at him with a bewildered expression as his large hand came over and covered her own on her knee.
It's warm...
Angie was momentarily lost in the pleasant warmth that felt like her whole body was melting, and then she suddenly came to her senses. What does it mean to be okay but not so good? It was okay enough to meet like this, but in reality, there must be a health problem.
“It’s not good? Is it still not good? Isn’t it on the way to recovery?”
“It’s getting better.”
On Angie's worried face, a faint smile appeared on his lips. His lips were too red and provocative for a patient. His complexion, which had hardly ever seen sunlight, was pale to the point of whiteness and dangerously transparent.
“I’m getting better, but... the process is still a bit difficult. But I can bear it.”
Angie was already so close to Kai that she was almost glued to him. One hand was trapped in his large, warm hand, and she didn't know how to let go. She didn't even want to let go.
“But for the time being... I don’t think I’ll be able to see you.”
Angie's eyes blinked wide at Kai's quiet announcement. He must have heard the sound of her heart thumping in his ears.
We can't meet? Why?
“We can’t meet. Why? Could it be... Where are you going?”
Maybe he should go far away for treatment? But he can't leave the island. It's still dangerous because of the aftermath of the war, and the nearby waters are full of fog and sharks. Wind, standing tall on the dark blue waves, came to Angie's mind.
“No, I’m not going anywhere, Angie. I’ll stay here.”
He said calmly. Angie felt relief rise in her chest. Yes. No one can leave the island. But why can't we meet for a while? Why on earth?
“I have to focus on treatment for a few months. The doctors have developed a new treatment drug. I can’t tell you the details now, but... if the treatment goes well...”
“We can’t meet. Why? Could it be... Where are you going?”
Maybe he should go far away for treatment? But he can't leave the island. It's still dangerous because of the aftermath of the war, and the nearby waters are full of fog and sharks. Wind, standing tall on the dark blue waves, came to Angie's mind.
“No, I’m not going anywhere, Angie. I’ll stay here.”
He said calmly. Angie felt relief rise in her chest. Yes. No one can leave the island. But why can't we meet for a while? Why on earth?
“I have to focus on treatment for a few months. The doctors have developed a new treatment drug. I can’t tell you the details now, but... if the treatment goes well...”
He looked out the window where the sunlight was slowly fading away.
“I will be able to go out freely during the day. Like other people... I will be able to stand in the sunlight normally like you.”
Kai's gaze turned back to Angie. The eyes reflected in the setting sunlight took on a golden hue. Angie felt a thrill as if her soul was being swallowed by those sunset-colored pupils. Fear and anxiety were also surging in.
“So, during those few months... I won’t be able to see Kai at all?”
Kai nodded silently. Angie asked again. She knew it was a pointless question, but she kept asking it. She wanted to check and check again to see if there was even a slight possibility.
“How many months? Until when? May? June?”
“It could take longer. It could even take until fall... I can’t be sure of anything right now.”
“Is it impossible for me to see you even for a moment?”
“Angie.”
The next moment, she was in Kai's wide arms. For some reason, her legs were definitely uncomfortable, but his arms were stronger than she had imagined. Angie was sitting comfortably on his lap like a baby. Kai's wide arms were as warm and comfortable as she remembered, no, even warmer and more comfortable than she remembered.
“You can’t imagine how much I desperately want to see you... I’m the one who’s been hoping and suffering in advance that I can see you even just for a little while during the treatment.”
His beautiful eyes were filled with pain. The longing for something that could not be achieved, the pain that seemed to pierce his heart, was so deep. A wind began to blow deep inside Angie's chest. The pity of understanding his pain, the storm of fear of a separation that had not yet come, was slowly coming.
“Master Kai.”
The tip of her nose felt tingly. Her eyes turned red and she felt like her strength was leaving her body. Only after hearing Kai's words did Angie notice the tears running down her cheeks. Her jewel-like eyes began to shake and a sense of unconcealed agitation began to rise.
“Angie... why are you crying.”
His fingers gently wiped the wetness from her eyes and cheeks. Ah, what beautiful and exquisitely sculpted hands they were.
Angie held his hand that was sweeping her face with both of her hands and stared at it endlessly. Kai's hand was more than twice as big as hers, but his skin was whiter and more transparent. And how soft it was. She unconsciously stroked his long, strong fingers as if they were delicate glasswork.
“Angie.”
“I don’t know. Kai... I don’t know why I’m like this. I’m just, I’m just so sad and my heart hurts... I can’t stand it.”
A few more tears fell. Was it just a feeling of pity for the master's condition?
No. Angie's feelings toward him had already gone beyond pity.
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