Kiss Me if You Can Novel Completed - Chapter 86

The security team, who found Henry in the hospital, was relieved to see him looking better than they expected.

“Don’t you even need to be hospitalized?”

At Seth’s question, Henry immediately gritted his teeth.

“Fuck, what? You try getting a hole in your stomach, you damn bastard.”

“They said you just grazed it, so you can be discharged soon. …Ouch.”

At Isaac’s tactless remark, Henry unhesitatingly lifted his foot and kicked him. Seth, who had been looking at Henry with disdain as he groaned from the vibration, turned his head.

“So are we staying here until Henry gets better? Or are we going back first?”

Everyone’s gaze focused on Mark. Mark, who had previously mentioned a major announcement, cleared his throat and opened his mouth.

“Well, about that. We’re staying here longer. As C’s bodyguards.”

“Huh, it wasn’t supposed to end right away?”

Mark shook his head at Seth’s question.

“They want us to stay until this shoot is over. They said if we refuse, they’ll sue us for breach of contract… Instead, once the period is over, they’ll give us three times the contracted amount.”

“That bastard really! Does he think money is everything?”

“Wait, so that means over 300,000 dollars per person?”

Henry, who was about to spring up, paused at Isaac’s words.

“300,000 dollars?”

When a surprised Seth asked, Mark cleared his throat.

“To be exact, it’s 450,000 dollars. The remaining shooting period is quite long, but with this much income, you could live for several years without working…”

Mark, who had said that much, added, looking at Henry, who was lying there with a brightly lit face.

“…That is, if you don’t gamble it all away in one go.”

Mark and everyone else looked at Henry worriedly, but it seemed nothing could reach his ears anymore. Seth reluctantly said to Isaac.

“Don’t lend him money anymore.”

“Of course.”

Isaac nodded seriously, but Mark and Seth knew that he, too, would surely become a beggar for the same reason he started this job. Seth sighed and changed the subject.

“What happened to Josh? He hasn’t been around since yesterday.”

“Ah, about that.”

Mark replied.

“He went to his mother’s house. He said he wanted to see Pete after a long time. Anyway, since the original security team is back, we have some free time…”

Just as he said that, Henry urgently asked.

“Then when do we get the money?”

Mark quickly replied with tact.

“After the job is done.”

“Ugh, what a cheapskate!”

Seeing him curse Chase, Seth gave a meaningful look.

Well done, Mark.

Mark also nodded, thinking, I should buy that guy some stocks in the future.

From morning, Chase was restless. The reason he could barely drink water, let alone eat, was because Josh was finally bringing his son today. The location was set for a famous amusement park. It was Chase’s choice for Pete, who had never been to an amusement park, and Laura, once again, paid the enormous sum on Chase’s behalf with a detached attitude.

The amusement park, restricted to the public all day, was covered early on not by regular visitors, but by suspicious groups in black suits. These were Chase’s returning bodyguards. They were very busy inspecting the facilities in advance, verifying the identities of the staff, and assigning their respective positions.

Meanwhile, time flew by quickly, and it was soon time for Josh to appear.

Huuuh.

Chase sat on a table chair set up outdoors and sighed again, a sigh he had repeated countless times already. No matter how deeply he breathed, he couldn’t calm down easily.

With his schedule tightly packed due to clearing an entire day, Chase had to film until dawn the day before. Nevertheless, he woke up having barely slept and paced inside his trailer. And now, he had arrived much earlier than the appointed time and had been anxiously waiting for Josh.

All this time, he couldn’t stand the anxiety. Introducing his son meant that Josh also took him seriously, but something kept bothering him.

“Don’t worry, he’ll like you. Because…”

Because, what was next? Chase was dying of curiosity, but at the same time, he was afraid to hear the answer.

Could it be that my son also likes my face, or something like that?

He tried to dismiss it as lightly as possible, but it wasn’t very effective. Chase remained restless with tension. Just then, his cell phone finally rang.

“Hello?”

He pressed the call button before even checking the number, but the caller was already determined. After a brief pause, the voice he had been waiting for came from the other end.

[Hello, Chase?]

Chase unconsciously exhaled a trembling sigh. Josh continued speaking.

[Chase, are you listening?]

“…Speak.”

When he finally managed to answer, Josh said.

[I just arrived, are you all ready?]

Chase didn’t know what kind of preparation Josh was talking about, but he replied, “Yes,” anyway. Josh said kindly.

[It’s okay, Chase. Everything will be fine.]

He spoke as if he understood all of Chase’s anxiety, then hesitated for a moment before hanging up. Chase exhaled a trembling sigh and closed his eyes.

He had never believed in God in his life, but at this moment, he desperately wanted to pray. After repeating several times, clasping his hands and exhaling trembling breaths, Josh finally appeared.

“…”

Chase slowly straightened his hunched back. Josh, guided by a bodyguard, approached him, smiling as always.

Instead of his usual bodyguard suit, he was wearing a common T-shirt and ripped jeans, and his hair, though roughly combed, was casually disheveled over his forehead, unlike usual. He was wearing basketball shoes that had been popular a few years ago, dressed in the most comfortable attire, but the fact that it was Josh wearing it made it special.

Chase, who had been staring blankly at him as he casually waved a hand in greeting, belatedly noticed a small child walking, holding his other hand. At the same time, his heart sank.

If one wanted to know what Josh looked like as a child, they could just look at the child. They resembled each other that much. Chase stared blankly at the child.

“Have you been waiting long? When did you even get here?”

Josh, who had approached closer, asked with a smile. His voice was as kind as ever, but Chase’s gaze couldn’t leave the child. Josh glanced down, knelt on one knee, and met the child’s eyes.

“Pete, I told you on the way, didn’t I? Come on, say hello.”

The child hesitated and looked up at Chase. He had one hand in his mouth, sucking on it, and in the other, he held a puppy doll, looking exactly like Josh. Chase’s heart suddenly ached.

“Hello, Pete?”

He barely managed to say that and quickly shut his mouth because his voice had become hoarse. The child’s eyes widened, and he suddenly clung to Josh’s neck. At the unexpected reaction, Chase’s face instantly turned pale. Seeing this, Josh burst out laughing.

“No, it’s a misunderstanding. He likes you.”

“What?”

Chase looked at the child again, unable to believe it. Pete buried his face in Josh’s chest and subtly glanced at Chase, then quickly turned his head away when their eyes met. Josh, still smiling, said to Chase, who held out a hand as if to say, “See?”

“He’s just shy. He’s a bit… fond of pretty faces.”

When he added that with a hint of bitterness, Pete subtly turned his head again. As Chase managed a smile, the child suddenly shouted.

“Villain!”

“Pete!”

Josh quickly made excuses to Chase, who froze as if shocked.

“He’s been saying that lately, he just says it to everyone he meets for the first time. Anyway, it’s all Emma’s fault for teaching him weird things…”

He kept saying something, but Chase couldn’t hear it. Only after hearing testimonies from other bodyguards that the child had said the same thing on the way there did he finally regain some composure. Josh didn’t miss the opportunity to scold him sternly.

“Pete, I told you not to say bad words, didn’t I? If you say that again, I’ll put beans in your food every meal!”

At those words, Pete’s face turned white. Chase, who was listening nearby, asked.

“Beans?”

“Pete really hates beans.”

Josh, who had answered thoughtlessly, turned to Chase in embarrassment. Of course, Chase didn’t notice at all. Josh avoided his gaze and forcibly pulled the child away from his embrace. He lifted the struggling Pete and held him in one arm, then held out his other hand to Chase.

“Let’s go, what should we ride first? Did you look at the pamphlet beforehand?”

Chase alternately looked at the hand offered to him and Josh’s face. Seeing his hesitant gaze, Josh bent down and took his hand first. Chase hastily rubbed his face with his free hand. Josh saw his ears redden and pretended not to notice.

“I used to come here often when I was little, but it’s my first time not waiting in line.”

“…You lived in California?”

“This is my hometown. I graduated from D High School…”

The two naturally conversed as they walked. A few bodyguards followed them at a distance.

The child’s stamina was amazing. He rode several rides in a row without showing any signs of fatigue.

On the other hand, Chase and Josh had already reached their physical limits, even after riding children’s rides. Watching Pete ride the same ride for the third time by himself from outside, Josh unconsciously massaged his shoulder. He glanced at Chase and saw that he, too, had a vacant expression, as if his soul had left his body.

The slow-moving train completed a loop, and Pete came in front of them. Chase smiled and waved. Pete also giggled and looked back at him. As soon as Pete disappeared from sight, Chase’s smile also vanished.

Josh, who was watching this, laughed. To Chase, who looked back at him silently, Josh cleared his throat and opened his mouth.

“Thank you, it’s Pete’s first time at an amusement park.”

“I know.”

He said in a still weak voice. The reason Chase specifically chose this place was because Josh had carelessly let that fact slip. Josh, sensing his thoughts, smiled kindly. No matter how he looked at it, it was clear that he wasn’t used to playing with children, but Chase patiently dealt with Pete. He never showed annoyance when the child paused or avoided answering.