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Haemi froze in his tracks after he closed the door to his house behind him. He was thinking deeply on how to take Rea away from the hold of the man. People would say it was not proper to stick your nose in someone else's matter, but Rea, he had no one else other than him. The boy only stayed by Taurent's side because the man was all he had.

"Haemi," a sweet voice disturbed his thoughts. Leah was tugging on his shorts with a doll in her other hand, the very doll that the man he wished to be in the future had made. Haemi turned his face to the other direction, disgusted on how he could desire to be one of his kind.

"Haemi, what are you doing there? Come, I have something to tell." A man with a newspaper tucked between his left arm and body called for him. Lord Vestal Kral, the father of Haemi, was responsible for the job of leasing lands.

Leah held her brother's hand and pulled him to the kitchen. Their mother, Anne, had just finished cooking for dinner. Haemi took a seat opposite of Leah, and waited for the food to finish being served.

"So, Haemi," Vestal began, "5 days from now, we decided to go back to our house in the capital."

Haemi stood up abruptly, his glass of water spilled. The room was silent for a while before Anne scolded him, "What is wrong with you? You are being oddly quiet just now, and then you suddenly stand up. I know we stay here shorter than usual but we-"

"I will go!" Haemi cut off. Vestal was weirded out with his son, the man put down his newspaper and massaged his temple.

"You always refuse to go before. Well, not that it is a problem, I am glad to be honest, but what happened to you? Wait, what happened to your face?" Anne rushed to observe her son's face. A faint mark of red was on his cheek. She put her hands on her waist and asked, "Did you make trouble for Taurent?"

Hearing the name made the adrenaline in his body shot up. He frantically denied by telling them he just fell down and smashed his cheek on the ground. Leah who was combing the hair of the doll, ended up laughing, "Stupid big brother."

Haemi puffed his cheeks as he wiped the table with the cloth Anne gave him. Then he washed his hands and sat back down. His thoughts kept running, ignoring the conversation the family was having at the dinner table. Sometimes he would answer with, 'Hm' and 'yeah' when his parents asked him some questions about his day.

"Hey dad," Haemi called, and Vestal turned to him.

"Can we bring Rea along?" asked the boy again. Vestal scratched chin and replied, "Rea? Oh, the kid that is always with Taurent is it? Sure, I will tell him."

"No!" Haemi banged his fists on the table, but he quickly apologized. He made up an excuse, "I already asked him if I can bring Rea somewhere again. He already gave the permission."

"Well, okay then. But I mind you, it is uncertain when we will come back here, I am not sure Rea can stay for long. Make sure you discuss with Taurent. He is Rea's legal guardian now after all," replied Vestal.

Haemi nodded. Maybe he could stay for a few months, when the time is up, Rea would be back to the damned manor. First, his goal was to ask Rea to come with him and next, he will think up a plan when it comes.

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The next day, Haemi went to the shop with his bike as usual. He searched for Rea from outside, but there was only Taurent. His hands tightened and loosened for a few times, unsure if he should go in. Well, it was not as if Taurent told him to never come again. He should act normally.

"Good morning, Sir," Haemi greeted as he went in. Taurent looked at him, replied his greetings, then he went back to sweep the floor. The same, yet different. Haemi looked around.

"Do you need anything, Haemi? You don't have an appointment today." Taurent put the broom into a locker at the corner and brushed his hands together. He walked over to the counter and pulled out a book with dates, list of names and other details Haemi didn't bother to peek at.

"Well, not really," Haemi replied as Taurent put his reading glasses on. For a while there, Haemi was amazed with how beautiful he looked with the glasses. Plus 20 points, BUT! That was not what he was here for. Haemi reminded himself to not fall for this man ever again.

"I am just thinking, where's Rea?"

"Sleeping."

"At this hour?"

Taurent looked up and raised an eyebrow while crossing his arms. He then sighed, "You don't see him here. He is still resting. If you have nothing to do in this shop, please get out. I refuse to have a child disturb my work."

"Excuse me, Sir. I'm 16 and a year older than Rea," Haemi retorted rudely but was completely brushed off. Alright, that actually made Haemi a little mad, but he wasn't surprised with the fact on how Taurent treated Rea. Haemi bid his goodbye with puffed cheeks and stomped out. Then, Taurent called out to him.

Haemi turned to see Taurent was sighing as he tapped his fingers on the table. Taurent then made a simple apology, which Haemi shot back with a, "Why?"

"Yesterday, I went overboard. I realized I was acting so immature. I am sorry for hitting you."

Haemi nodded, uncertain on what to reply. Then an idea popped up to his head but Taurent continued, "But that doesn't mean I am okay with your careless attitude and no, I won't accept you if you say I am to take you as my apprentice."

"Alright I get it!" Haemi rushed out, flushed. He slapped his face with both of his hands to keep his mind straight. He mumbled to himself, "Who said I want to? I was just thinking, so I can take Rea away from that monster."

He walked to the left side of the shop and counted the windows at the top level to where he thought Rea's room would be. He had been there yesterday, so he wouldn't forget that easily.

Maybe he could climb up, if only there was something he could mount on. Near the window there was a pipeline, however it would be dangerous, and if he fell down, Taurent would notice. The window was open, and Haemi tried to think of something.

He took out a notebook from his bag and ripped out a page to make a paper plane. He wrote, 'Rea, this is Haemi. I need your help. Tonight, can you hang some long fabrics from your window down?' He blew the end of the paper plane before he threw the object into the window, hoping this would reach the other boy.

Inside, Rea was staring blankly to the ceiling while he was lying on his bed, until a paper plane landed on him. He observed the paper and realized there was a message inside. He rose from his bed, reading the content inside and headed to the window, looking down, he noticed Haemi was waiting for him. Haemi beamed widely.

Rea crossed his arms in annoyance, thinking about what the other was trying to do next. Haemi was irritated on how similar Rea was to Taurent in responding to him. Rea's face asked for an explanation, but Haemi just made a begging gesture with his hands. Rea sighed and gave him a thumbs up before he went back inside.

"Seriously, you little," Haemi almost cursed in his mumbles. Haemi walked away from the location, as long as he got to tell Rea of his small plan, it was good enough. He was going to make Rea realize that he was living with a monster all this time. Not only any monster, a murderer and a manic, but a good looking one. Haemi exhaled noisily, he was losing his mind at this point.