IN THE CAGE

25. TRAITORS

...ACE pov's...

...…...

Because Fabian is Margot's special bodyguard, I, as the head of the Hunter family, took the time to come to the Fabian cemetery created by David. Carcel was next to me, leading me to the Fabian funeral.

Arriving at the funeral site, a number of my workers who also came to the cemetery bowed politely and gave me space to stand at the front.

Without saying anything, I advanced to the forefront with Carcel. We monitored the funeral procession accompanied by the sound of crying of a fifteen-year-old boy who Carcel said was Fabian's son. I noticed the boy being hugged by a middle-aged woman, he lamented Fabian's departure with a face drenched in tears.

Being left behind by the only family he had must have been very hard.

Seeing Fabian's adopted son, I became nostalgic for the day that Uncle Jack came to my college to tell me information about the deaths of father and mother. Back then, rather than crying, I was fixated in an ambiguous void of feeling. The feeling of loss and shock was blending into my head, met with confusion.

What the hell's going on? How did this happen?

For a moment, I forgot that my parents were human too. The chance of losing them is as easy as winking an eye. God was able to snatch away, erasing their existence from my side at any time. I forget that they are not immortal and feel very distrustful when they are truly gone.

The day my parents' funeral was held, I was still in shock mixed with bitterness. I didn't cry, but my heart was forced from my chest. I stared as their coffins were sunk to the bottom of the earth. I barely blinked at all. I witnessed how their existence was completely erased from my life. In the future, Margot and I will only have each other.

"Boss, it's time to pay your last respects." Carcel reprimanded me from the daydream.

I opened my eyes and realized it was time for us to say goodbye to Fabian. It started with the Fabians, and then the relatives. I came first after the Fabian family. Maybe because I'm the boss, I get that privilege. I think David deserves to be on this front row.

With a quiet step, I approached Fabian's coffin. The face of the man who often smiled kindly to me appeared pale. Lying in a doldrums with a new black suit. I put a sprig of white roses on Fabian's chest and said goodbye.

"May your next life be filled with a flowering path."

After saying farewell, I stepped back into the line while the other Fabian relatives went along to give farewell.

I saw David, Vera, Dean and Willa (the Margot's personal bodyguard) marching in front of Fabian's coffin, bidding farewell with grim faces. Seeing them, I remembered Margot who was now confined to my room with Fawn.

For some reason, Margot did not want to come to Fabian's funeral at all. I think the main reason is because he's still not willing to let go of his beloved bodyguard, or number 2, he's still traumatized by the funeral after the death of our parents.

...---...

After the funeral procession was over, Carcel stopped by a cafe and bought a cold cup of coffee. We stood in a smoke-free area in tranquility while obnoxious pop music filled the room. I took a sip of the cigarette on my lips and the stupid music started to infiltrate my ears.

[Kite, when you call my name, only then do I soar into space.].

[Kite, when you laugh, I smile.].

"Does pop music sound like this?" I glanced at Carcel with a keenness.

It feels so ridiculous. I'm not a typical music connoisseur, but hearing every word of that music gives me goosebumps. I don't know love and I never know love songs. To think of a smile being able to melt one's heart sounds a bit silly to me.

"Oh, this song is very popular right now. I once overheard Margot's boss and Miss Fawn singing this song." Carcel answered me casually.

"Huh?" I frowned. When did that happen?

"Bos Margot often karoke in Ace's boss' room every afternoon. The music sometimes gets out." Carcel answered me uncomfortably.

Oh, if it's the afternoon then it's worth it. I used to leave the noise that Margot created and locked up in another room to sleep.

[Thank God, even if it's just a game of fate, this chance encounter brings happiness.]

He creates comfort in my life that runnyam and just thinking about it has made me contract happy.

This...

"Ace Boss?"

Uh!!!

I choked on cigarette smoke.

"Yes?" What did I just think? Transmittedly happy? I don't have time to feel happy. That feeling I had ignored for a long time, I left for my present life.

I never imagined I would be happy in my life right now.

"Boss, it looks like your phone is shaking." Carcel reminded me of an electronic object now in my suit pocket.

Immediately, I reached into my pocket and answered the phone call on the screen.

"Hello" I said in a serious tone. This is a call from uncle. "What's wrong?"

"Hello, Ace. Where are you now?" uncle's voice was like an alarm signifying danger, I immediately focused my hearing on each of his words.

"I bought coffee" I said. Mata glanced towards the cafe which was full of teenage visitors and young children who had just graduated High School.

"Go home now, we have something important to talk about."

"What kind of gene?" I didn't want to be hung by my uncle's words and urged him to answer my curiosity right then and there.

"Seurgen Margot wanted to dismantle Fabian's tomb and get the man's body back from the ground to be boxed."

"HUH?!" Is my uncle drunk or am I starting to have ear disease?

"Go home and calm your brother, he's very angry now. Your pet can't even calm her down."

"Wait, what's going on?" I switched off the cigarette and hinted Carcel to go home. My bodyguard quickly obeyed my words and went out first to pick up the car from the parking lot.

"Something suspicious was discovered when Margot hacked into the private accounts of Fabian's adopted son." uncle's voice made me swallow. Whether I had instinctive or psychic powers, I could clearly read what my uncle was about to say next.

My jaws hardened in disappointment and anger.

"Ace, this is still a possibility, but.., I think Fabian is a traitor and a spy who's been selling our information out."

Uncle's words confirmed my disappointment.

A big rock like hit my head right then and there. I wasn't surprised, but I still felt a deep disappointment.

...Fabian, what have you done!...

...------...

*ps. The lyrics of the song above are a translation of the song Kana Hanazawa - Renai Circulation.