IN THE CAGE

70. JUST SUDDENLY

...ACE pov's...

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Jeremy Emery-Jem's brother appeared in front of me today. It was an accident because we had lunch at the same restaurant. Jeremy-sweet young boys with dimples came up to me and joined my desk.

"I haven't seen Ace for a long time" he said, very friendly as always. Jeremy is 4 years younger than me, but that doesn't create awkwardness between us. Jeremy looks more mature than his age, and he's also insightful. I'm quite happy to meet him.

"You come home and don't visit me at all, I'm disappointed." I made a joke, but Jeremy sneered.

"Don't play with me. I know you're so busy, that's why I don't want to riot."

"Your arrival will not make me troubled." I seriously.

"I'll come if I do, then. Do I have to bring parcels for Margot's sister?" Jeremy tilted his head. His pair of innocent eyes made me laugh.

"Don't bother yourself. Your arrival has been fun enough, Margot."

Jeremy manyun's. "How's the job, Ace? I noticed-Diamond became very busy lately, does this have anything to do with Evan's brother who is merging with Spades?"

"You talking business now?"

"Awww, I have to learn." Jeremy laughed then. The dimple of her cheek shrank deep, reminding me of Fawn's thin dimple. "After all, I'm 23."

"Does this mean you're going to take Jem's position?" I mocked him, and Jeremy's smile instantly faded faintly. He scratched his neck and seemed to think for a while.

"You don't have to answer me, you know." I don't want to know either.

"It's not so, brother. I just don't know how to structure it. But, between me and Jem-I'm not so obsessed with leading Hearts. I think I can start on my own from the beginning if I want to, right? But Hearts isn't just between me and Jem, is it? Grandma's involved, too, and I have to think about the workers as well. It's so complicated and exhausting."

What Jeremy said, I believe what he said is the truth. Jeremy is a young boy with a lot of potential. He knows he has that potential and I know he can be anything he wants to be. He's so smart, I'll support whichever way he wants.

"How to think of you like that makes people not want to let you go." I drank mineral water in the glass.

If Jem puts power first, Jeremy thinks it's the best choice for everyone. He is brilliant and empathetic. But I believe, behind that sweet dimple, he's not a boy you're easy to grow up with because of his naivety and empathy. In other words, he described the true leader of Hearts.

"I want to be like Ace's brother. It looks more exciting, doesn't it?"

"What's so exciting about being everyone's enemy? Do you know how many times I've faced attempted murder in this year alone?" If I could choose another life, I would rather be a mediocre man.

"If it was Jem was the same. I mean, I want to be like Ace's cute, cool and great brother. Many of my female friends idolize Ace's sister, but they think reaching for Ace's brother must be as difficult as reaching for the sky. Ah, imagine I was rumored to be?"

"You're going to be single for life because people love you, is that what you want?"

Jeremy laughed again. "Is that why Ace hasn't dated yet?"

"No, not really." My smile expands without me holding back. How to say it, even though I have no ties to any woman, I have someone I really want to meet when I get home. Someone more valuable than any existing label - a lover or a girlfriend - Fawn has a higher value than all of that.

"Ah, it seems like brother is thinking of someone..." Jeremy spoke again. His pair of eyeballs flashed wittyly, teasing me with lips that fell open. "Did you already have a boyfriend that I don't know at all?"

I immediately shook my head. No, Fawn's not my boyfriend...

he is my home.

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"What's this?" Fawn greeted the bag I stretched out with a pair of widened eyes in wonder.

"Just open it" I said and left it for the wardrobe. I took off my chest while watching him pull out a box of expensive chocolates that I bought specifically for him. Jeremy said, the chocolate is being loved by many women.

"Waaaah, brown." Fawn's voice bloomed enthusiastically in my quiet room. I've always been happy how he was able to make a room that was once quiet and felt like it was dead, turn out to be as warm as the morning sun because of its existence.

"Are you a moron?" Who else is it for?

"Tsk." Fawn frowned, but it did not last long as she headed straight for her favorite sofa-spot. He opened the ribbon that sealed the box before opening the lid that was as luxurious as a jewelry box. "Aaaaaah, it smells so good."

"I'm amazed at your love for food." I commented after replacing my shirt with a black sleeveless shirt. I dropped my back next to it, leaning against the sofa while my legs were straight on the table.

Fawn watched me for a moment, judging my gesture with her pair of ever-honest eyeballs-before moving her chocolate box from table to lap.

"Basic has no ethics" he spoke to himself.

"This is my home, why should I think about ethics?"

"Did you also put all the adab and morals that you learned on the shoe rack before entering?"

Always good at answering. Absolutely adorable.

"Give me one." Lazyly debating Fawn, I pulled her shoulder that was behind me. I'm not sitting on this couch looking at his back. This girl is really good at frustrating me.

"Why do you always want my food? Can't you buy it yourself?"

"I bought it for both of us."

"Sucks." Despite the objection, Fawn thrust the chocolate box at me. His hand was outstretched in the air and I did not welcome it at all.

"I was lazy to use my hands." I said, deliberately spoiled.

"annoyingly. If you can't do something for yourself, don't expect anyone else to do it for you." Even though Fawn was nagging, I still got a slice of chocolate. She thrust a small fork with the chocolate towards me with cute bulging cheeks.

"Mhmmm, this is delicious." I commented excessively. Of course, I didn't feel anything different from that chocolate and other chocolates. I don't understand why chocolate is so expensive compared to the salaries of my employees.

"You tortured me on purpose, didn't you?" Fawn looked at me with a bored look.

"When did I torture you?"

"Now this is an example" Fawn said.

"Rather than calling it torture, how about seeing it as temptation?"

"Haaaaah?" Fawn snorted with a voice that heightened the irritation. "Tempting my snoring. Why are you teasing me, damn it?"

"To get your attention, is that it?"

"Then why do you need to get my attention?" Fawn - with a forced grin, faint dimples and eyes that curved like a crescent moon - faced me.

"Because I like you."

"..."

"..."

I looked Fawn in the eye. Right to his pair of widened pupils stunned. A grin playing on his faded face was replaced by an obvious nervousness. He was clearly trying to dismiss my words by assuming it was fake. But before he said anything and changed my point as a joke, I interrupted him once more and caught his wrist in my lap.

"I like you, Fawnia."

This is a confession from me that has committed many sins to you. I don't expect anything from my confession, just...

Don't just go.

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