Kiss Me if You Can Novel Completed - Chapter 23

He had just seen the child’s face the day before, but his heart was already heavy with longing. Wanting to at least hear his voice, he quickly searched for his cell phone. But then.

“Hey.”

At the sudden cool voice, Josh instinctively turned his head. The moment he saw the man leaning against the paneling, he was surprised once more. Chase was standing there, glaring at him.

In this unexpected situation, Josh just blinked. He belatedly stood up awkwardly, trying to find something to say, but nothing came to mind. His mind, which had been full of Pete, was instantly filled with something else.

A heavy silence hung in the air. For some reason, Chase just looked at him without speaking. After a long moment, Josh finally managed to squeeze out a thought and spoke.

“…Is there something you need?”

Instead of answering, Chase lowered his gaze and swept over Josh’s long limbs and lean, muscular physique, which looked as if it didn’t have a single pound of fat. He unconsciously frowned.

Why is this man, with that face, working as a bodyguard? He looks like someone who should be guarded.

“…?”

As Chase just stared intently without a word, Josh tilted his head in confusion. Chase didn’t like that reaction either. But when he finally opened his mouth, something completely different from what he intended came out.

“Why isn’t anyone answering the phone, you damn bastards.”

He cursed inwardly, but he knew himself that this was all he had to say.

He couldn’t ask, Why are you a bodyguard with that face? Chase wanted to bite his tongue.

“Ah.”

Josh let out a short exclamation, as if finally understanding. Chase didn’t like that either, but Josh, completely unaware, realized anew.

So that’s why he came all the way down here.

As soon as he understood the reason, and grateful that a topic had arisen, he quickly spoke.

“They must not have heard. What do you need?”

Chase still spoke with a frown.

“Food.”

“Pardon?”

Josh reflexively asked again, then winced. A punch should have come flying immediately, but for some reason, Chase remained standing, unmoving. He just glared at Josh with bloodshot eyes.

“Food, I said. Can’t you speak English? Don’t you understand? Are your ears just for decoration?”

Josh frowned at the inevitable sarcasm but endured it. After all, he was just an employee.

“I’ll prepare it.”

Josh replied as professionally as possible, then turned around. Even as he opened the refrigerator and began preparing the meal, Chase remained standing, unmoving. Josh knew his gaze was persistently glued to his back, but he completely ignored it.

If it was difficult to cook with Pete on his shoulder, Josh would seat the child in a chair and buckle him in. Then the child would follow Josh’s movements with longing eyes, endlessly shifting his gaze. It was truly difficult to ignore the child’s gaze fixed on his back. Compared to that, the gaze of an arrogant adult man was nothing.

A smile naturally formed as he thought of the child, drooling profusely with his mouth open, engrossed in following Josh with his eyes. When he unconsciously chuckled, Chase suddenly blurted out.

“What’s so funny?”

Oops, Josh paused. He was immediately picked on by Chase, but luckily there was a prohibition clause. He ignored the question according to the clause.

“You.”

Chase spoke again, with a nervous laugh, as if greatly annoyed.

“Are you ignoring me right now?”

Josh hesitated for a moment. At this rate, he felt like he’d get beaten whether he followed the clause or not. There was a clause in the new contract about refraining from violence, but it was questionable how much it would be adhered to. Either way, if he got hit, he’d be the only one losing out. He also wanted to avoid tasting Chase’s surprisingly strong punch again. Josh made up his mind and spoke.

“There’s a clause that says I shouldn’t answer if you speak to me, sir. I was just following the contract.”

But what came back was, as expected, nothing but rough curses and sarcasm.

“Who told you to do that every time? Don’t you have any sense? You should speak when necessary, you idiot. Is there nothing in your head?”

Chase seemed angry and spoke more than usual. Nevertheless, not a single word among them was pleasant.

Josh had to take a deep breath to suppress his rising anger. He thought about beating the bastard and just going to jail, but at that moment, Pete’s face came to mind, and he had no choice but to hold back. Instead, Josh replied with a professional smile.

“I apologize. I will judge better next time.”

“….”

Chase stared at him without a word. In the tense atmosphere, Josh had no choice but to lie.

“I was just thinking of a comedy show I saw the other day. It had no special meaning.”

Fearing that he might be picked on again, he quickly changed the subject.

“What would you like to drink? Water, sparkling water, or should I just decide…”

“Hey.”

“Yes.”

Josh answered immediately this time. Chase gritted his teeth and spat out.

“Shut up.”

“….”

Josh, as he wished, closed his mouth and instead quickly began setting the table. He laid out the placemat, neatly folded napkin, fork, and knife, then placed the finished dish on the plate.

Chase continued to watch Josh as he perfectly plated the dish. Josh ignored him, took a bottle of wine from the wine cellar on one wall, uncorked it, briefly tasted it by scent, filled a glass, and smiled as he stepped back. This time, it was a genuine smile.

“Please eat, Mr. Miller.”

Chase looked at Josh for a moment without speaking. Josh smiled again. Only then did Chase, who had been unmoving until then, finally stir.

In just a few steps, he crossed the wide room and arrived at the dining table. Just as Chase was about to sit down, Josh suddenly widened his eyes as if something had just occurred to him, saying, “Ah.”

While Chase watched with a frown, Josh immediately turned around and returned with a small frying pan. And right before Chase’s eyes, with a bright smile, he poured the contents of the pan over the steak.

It was perfectly cooked green beans.

“….”

Chase just stared at the plate without a word. His gaze slowly shifted after a few seconds of silence. Josh, whose gaze finally met his, smiled brightly.

“I forgot to put in the poison, you see.”

Chase’s face gradually darkened. But Josh paid no mind and added.

“Please enjoy your meal. Perhaps after eating the poison, your temper will also die down.”

“….”

“Along with you, young master.”

Saying that, Josh quickly pulled out the chair for him, just as he used to do for girlfriends on dates.

This person is prettier than anyone I’ve ever dated, and has a worse temper.

He thought inwardly, and waited for Chase to sit. At the same time, his heart genuinely pounded, unsure of what reaction he would get.

Chase glanced down at the plate. All he saw was a mound of beans; there was no meat anywhere. Just when Josh thought he might throw the plate, Chase suddenly moved. He readily walked around the table towards the chair where Josh was waiting. He seemed about to sit down. It was then that Josh felt a slight disappointment.

Suddenly, Chase grabbed Josh’s arm.

“…?”

Surprised by the unexpected situation, Josh unconsciously looked up at Chase. Chase was looking down at him with a frown. Their gazes met once again. This time, they were too close.

His slightly blurred purple eyes looked at Josh. They stood there for a moment, silently looking at each other. Josh swallowed hard. He knew too well who the man in front of him was. He knew he should pretend not to know, pull his hand away, and retreat, and that he was nothing more than a speck in Chase’s sight.

But unfortunately, his body wouldn’t move. He just stared blankly at Chase, as if captivated, even holding his breath.

He honestly felt like he was going crazy. Is this even a human face?

Haa.

Chase let out a faint sigh. At the same time, Josh’s ears seemed to hear a faint, forgotten chocolate melody. The cute blonde girl had now grown up and was in front of him. He used to dream of kissing the girl every night. He had suffered a clumsy puppy love for the girl who was much smaller and lovelier than him.

The girl was nowhere to be found, but his heart still pounded wildly. As if he had reverted to that small child he once was.

In front of him, Chase’s long eyelashes slowly rose and fell. His unfocused purple eyes disappeared for a moment, then reappeared.

“You.”

Chase whispered in a voice as sweet as his face.

“Do you really want to die?”

He was smiling. His hand, gripping Josh’s wrist, slowly tightened as if he would really strangle him right then and there. Soon his fingertips tingled and his arm trembled, but Josh still couldn’t take his eyes off Chase. He answered with difficulty.

“No.”

“Then what is this? Are you dying to die?”

Chase’s voice dropped even lower. His annoyance had reached its limit. At this rate, he really seemed like he would beat Josh to death. In the tense atmosphere, Josh subtly threw out a joke.

“If you kill me in bed, I think I’d be dying too.”

“….”

The moment he saw Chase’s expression, Josh realized with regret that his joke hadn’t landed this time. He was going to die in the kitchen, not in bed. Josh frantically thought of all the tools in the kitchen.

Will he shove my head in the oven, or use a knife? He wouldn’t put me in the refrigerator, would he?

“You…”

Chase gritted his teeth and trembled faintly. The moment Josh saw him raise his hand, Chase instinctively closed his eyes. He thought it would be a blessing if it just ended with a beating.

“….”

He had been somewhat tense, expecting to be slapped on the cheek, but that moment never came. After counting to ten inwardly, Josh had no choice but to open his eyes.

Chase was looking down at him. His raised hand was still suspended in the air.

Josh blinked in confusion.

What’s wrong with this man?

For some reason, he just frowned and quietly looked at Josh’s face. Josh hesitated to speak but couldn’t make a sound.

For some reason, they were facing each other at a distance where they could feel each other’s breath. Neither tried to avert their gaze or retreat first. Without knowing his intention, Josh just met Chase’s gaze.

Chase, who had been unmoving, slowly tilted his head, but Josh didn’t realize it. Only after he heard a deep intake of breath, a sudden hup, did his entire body belatedly stiffen. Chase was smelling Josh’s scent.

Suddenly, Josh’s mind went blank. He should have pushed him away, but his body wouldn’t move. Moreover, Chase might suspect him of overreacting.

Did I take my medicine earlier? Was that yesterday? Did I not take it today yet?

He couldn’t remember properly.

It’s okay, my scent is weak anyway.

Josh tried to reassure himself. He often skipped his medicine, but no one ever noticed. He himself would even forget he was an Omega, unless it was his heat cycle. There was no way he would be found out.

“Mr. Miller.”

Josh tried to speak casually.

“May I leave now?”

Chase remained still and did not answer. Josh’s heart pounded with anxiety. He frowned and remained silent for a long time. He had no idea what Chase was thinking.

Suddenly, when Chase released the hand that was holding Josh, Josh stumbled back. Chase suddenly frowned. Seeing him about to say something, Josh quickly smiled.

“Then, I’ll be going, Mr. Miller.”

And he vanished quickly, as if fleeing. Chase, left alone, stood there for a while, looking in the direction he had disappeared. His furrowed brow remained.

A fragment of a forgotten dream kept flickering before his eyes. He irritably ran a hand through his hair.

It must be a mistake, that he resembles that man.