Kiss Me if You Can Novel Completed - Chapter 41

The doctor would arrive soon. Once he was examined and confirmed to be fine, everything would be over. Josh stared at Chase for a moment, then pulled up a chair and sat down. He watched silently for a while, but there was still no reaction.

Everywhere was quiet. As if only Josh and Chase were left in the world, no sign of other people was felt. Josh briefly tried to recall how long it had been since he had looked at Chase’s face with such peace of mind.

A bitter laugh escaped him at the thought. Unless he lost consciousness like this, he couldn’t properly see this man’s face. Josh quietly looked at Chase and muttered softly.

“Why are you always bristling like that?”

The man rumored to be a mad dog was sometimes like a cat. A beautiful cat that bristled all its fur, ready to scratch anyone at any moment, and that could only be watched from afar.

Josh gently reached out his hand to him. He flinched at the soft touch of his hair on his fingertips, then chuckled.

<Do you want to kiss me?>

The whispering voice suddenly fell into his ear. His laughter soon vanished. Josh stared at Chase. He showed no sign of waking up.

A man he couldn’t even look at unless it was like this.

Josh faintly frowned. He slowly bent down. He felt Chase’s cool body temperature at the tip of his lips as they touched his temple. He lifted his head, but he still showed no reaction.

Hoo.

Josh sighed and slumped into the chair. Rubbing his furrowed brow, he let out a low groan.

What a state I’m in.

“Haah.”

He sighed aloud again, but the silence did not break easily. And Chase woke up a full day later.

The car heading to the hospital was simply quiet. It was always like that, but today it was especially so. Of course, it was because Chase was in a terrible mood. Everyone spoke only the bare minimum necessary to avoid upsetting him. Tensely, as if a punch or kick might suddenly fly their way.

The news came the day after Chase woke up. Josh was surprised when Mark, who came to relieve him, told him the story.

<He’s going for an examination?>

Mark nodded.

<Yeah, he had side effects from the medicine. Actually, Laura wanted to take him right away, but the manager stopped her. Coordinating with the director’s schedule was the priority. It seems they talked it over well, there’s no choice anyway with his condition… They cleared two more days. He’ll go during that time. It’s best for everyone if he goes as soon as possible.>

<…I see.>

After briefly agreeing, he briefly explained the next day’s security to Josh and patted his shoulder.

<I talked to the former team leader yesterday. He said they’re looking for new bodyguards and the response is quite positive. Let’s just hold on a little longer, he said they’ll come back as soon as possible.>

Josh just smiled instead of answering. And finally, morning came, everyone busily finished their preparations, and waited for Chase.

Until then, Josh had a strange sense of unease. His pale complexion, which he had last seen, wouldn’t leave his mind. His weakly buckling knees, his shoulders heaving painfully with heavy breaths.

Even his appearance, sleeping like a corpse without opening his eyes for a long time.

It won’t happen again, will it?

Just as he thought that, the trailer door opened, and Chase appeared. And Josh’s gaze froze.

Chase, unlike usual, had two or three buttons of his shirt undone and wore only a jacket over it, giving him a rough appearance. His hair, always neatly combed back, was also casually down.

Today, he truly seemed to have come out without caring about anything. But even so, everyone couldn’t take their eyes off him. If it were this man, everyone would praise him even if he wore rags. Josh recalled it anew. Moreover, perhaps because of his comfortable attire today, he looked even younger.

If it weren’t for his furrowed brow and tired expression, he would have been perfect.

“He hasn’t been able to sleep much because he stopped taking the medicine. They’re prescribing a new one, so he should get better again.”

Laura whispered subtly beside him. Just then, Chase ran a hand through his hair and sighed. At that moment, he undeniably gripped and shook Josh’s heart.

His long, lowered eyelashes trembled faintly, casting shadows on his cheeks. His straight nose bridge led to slightly parted lips that were bloodless and pale, but that only made the red flesh inside more prominent.

As he stared at him, lost in thought, Chase suddenly turned his head. Immediately, their gazes met. It was only for one or two seconds, but Josh couldn’t take his eyes off him.

He just stared at him with wide-open eyes. Chase’s eyes narrowed. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again. And ignoring Josh, he got into the car.

Josh, belatedly coming to his senses at the sight, hastily opened the driver’s side door. Chase flinched, knowing that he would be riding in the same car, but soon turned his head without a word.

Mark’s voice came from behind.

“Alright, everyone get in. We need to go.”

Sitting in his seat, Josh subtly glanced at him through the rearview mirror. His gaze immediately met Chase’s. Embarrassed, he quickly pretended not to notice and looked elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Mark got in the passenger seat, Laura in the back seat, and Isaac, Henry, and Seth followed in the car behind. Laura occasionally talked about projects or schedules during the drive, but she didn’t get much reaction from Chase. He just kept looking out the window the whole time. Eventually, Laura also fell silent.

Finally, in silence, they barely arrived at their destination, the hospital, after three hours.

“Welcome, was the journey difficult? Everyone looks unwell.”

Steward, who was sitting in the examination room waiting for them, looked around the group and joked with a smile. But no one laughed.

His examination room was truly bare; the spacious interior contained only a large desk and the chair he was sitting on. There wasn’t even a makeshift guest chair.

Does he examine people in a place like this?

As Josh wondered, Steward stood up from his chair.

“Then let’s go to the consultation room. Could the others please wait in the lounge? There’s no need to be so sensitive about security here.”

As Steward said, the area where various laboratories and research rooms were gathered had several buildings spaced apart, and the security, as well as the unmanned system, was quite densely installed, making it seem impossible for anyone to intrude. The building where his examination room was located was also the same, so they had gone through a rather strict identity verification process when entering.

Steward instructed an employee to guide everyone except Chase to the lounge and added,

“Make yourselves comfortable, there’s absolutely no way an accident will happen here.”

Nevertheless, since duty was duty, Mark and the others decided to look around the building. Isaac was chosen to wait outside the consultation room door while Chase received his examination. Steward said nothing more and headed to the consultation room with Chase. Isaac followed behind him.

“Phew.”

After each dividing their areas and looking around the building, when everyone gathered back in the lounge, Seth, who plopped down on the sofa, was the first to speak.

“It’s wider than I thought. We don’t need to check the other buildings, do we?”

Mark poured coffee and nodded.

“I looked around the overall security system, and it’s very well done. Besides, if you try to look around all those buildings, you’ll be up all night. Chase’s examination will be over before that.”

“I guess so.”

Josh agreed. All that was left was to endure the boring waiting time. Henry, who was leaning casually on the sofa, soon snored softly.

“What’s with that guy?”

Mark looked at him in disbelief, then shook his head. Josh habitually reached for a candy to put in his mouth but stopped. His pocket was empty. Seeing this, Seth took out three at once and handed them to him.

“Thanks.”

He thanked him and put one in his mouth, when Mark suddenly spoke.

“Candies are disappearing too much these days. Is someone eating a huge amount?”

At that moment, Henry, who was dozing, flinched and straightened his posture.

“Ah, I just couldn’t help it because they’re so delicious.”

Josh blinked at Henry. I wasn’t the only one eating a lot?

As if answering the silent question, Seth silently pulled out handfuls of candy from his pocket. Henry hurriedly added,

“Isaac eats even more, that guy eats so much he fills his mouth like a hamster!”

Henry mimicked puffing out his cheeks with both hands, then crossed his arms and declared,

“I still don’t eat more than three bags a day.”

“Do you know there are thirty pieces in one bag?”

When Seth asked in disbelief, he retorted angrily, slamming the table.

“Then how can I not eat them when that pheromone scent is constantly wafting around? And they’re so delicious!”

At his confident protest, everyone fell silent. Finally, Mark sighed and offered a compromise.

“Everyone pays an extra $10 from now on.”

No one objected. Meanwhile, Seth quietly found a website selling discounted candies and showed it to Mark. As he silently looked at the screen, an employee who had just entered the lounge saw the candies piled on the table and spoke.

“Oh, it seems the snacks are running low. I’m sorry, I should have refilled them earlier.”

She disappeared without giving them a chance to say it was okay, and soon returned with her cheeks full of chocolates. Henry’s eyes widened.

“These are ridiculously expensive. One piece is $2.99. Can you believe it? This tiny thing.”

The employee smiled and left, as if telling them to eat as much as they wanted. Mark picked one up, examined it, and then frowned.

“Is that expensive?”

He unwrapped the paper, put it in his mouth, chewed it, and then tilted his head.

“I don’t know what’s different.”

Seth also put a chocolate in his mouth and then offered one to Josh. Josh shook his head, declining.

“The candy hasn’t melted yet.”