Requiem: Chapter 28

I had given Stephen a tour of my apartment. Fortunately, the guest room had a separate, slightly smaller bathroom, so that we could spend the night without disturbing each other. We took another nightcap before we went under the wool.

“Thank you, Yu, I really appreciate letting me stay here with you.“It sounded tired but heartfelt from Stephen's mouth. 'It's been a lot in the last few days in terms of emotion and... well, I wouldn't have felt comfortable in Oji. Just with those warnings to my address.He sighed for a moment, 'I am not afraid and I can stand my man, but we are not dealing with some kind of troubled person who I can bring to different thoughts with a few rake punches. A murderer with a trace of blood on his heels seems a little too high to me. By the way, I heard from Eagle Eye that you and Ji are both Red Circles at the Kami Akai. So I guess the choice is then made.’

I was thinking about the night I was mugged. My knowledge of the Kami Akai would not have helped me. Meanwhile, Gekko had made sure that my safety system had been replaced by some more sophisticated technology. So I didn't have to worry about that anymore. While we sipping our drink, I told him about my parents Arturo and Sachiko. How I felt the moment they lost me. About the fun things we had experienced together. About their passions. I was very surprised that I opened up to Stephen so easily. That wasn't my habit. How long did I know him? Still, it was not difficult for me to talk to Stephen about confidential subjects.

Stephen apparently relaxed. It had been stressful days for all of them, including Ji and Eagle Eye. 'One more to learn, 'I asked Stephen. He laughed. It was a friendly smile that could be read not only on his mouth but also in his brown eyes. I accidentally touched his hand when he handed over his empty glass, and for a second longer than intended, we stood like this. “Thank you, “he saved me, “one more and I hope I don't keep you awake with my snoring..’