Maverick (Blank)
Chapter 37: NGNL Collaboration Event (11)
All team members were sitting and waiting for their orders. Blank moved his legs and looked at the sky. In front of him, Viera sat facing him. (I'm nervous. Why did I get the seat opposite Viera?) Viera faced the other way, her eyes looking at her feet.
Then a waiter wearing only an apron came. "Good afternoon, the iced teas are ready. The fried rice is being prepared." The waiter began distributing the glasses one by one.
Novan looked at the waiter. "You seem to be having trouble. Need help?" The waiter chuckled softly. "Ahaha, no need, sir. This is my job."
"Kaelan, let's help so it's faster," Novan invited Blank. "Ah, yes." Blank stood up to get the glasses.
Novan took two glasses, one from the very center of the tray, and gave them to Blank and Viera. (Let's see what happens,) Novan thought while handing out the two iced teas.
At the same time, Boyka said, "Viera, let me have it first. I'm thirsty." Viera was startled. "Ah, yes, here, take it." One of Viera's glasses was given to Novan.
The waiter gave one iced tea to Lirie. "Thank you, waiter." The waiter smiled. All had been distributed, and now only two glasses remained, just for Blank and Viera.
Blank took them. "Viera, which one do you want?" Viera pointed. "Ah... the one in your right hand." Blank gave her one glass.
Everyone started drinking except Erna, Viera, and Blank.
Erna looked at Viera's drink. "Viera, let's swap glasses." The girl tilted her head. "Why?" Erna pointed. "Your glass is a bit dirty. Let's just swap."
Viera listened to Erna. They exchanged glasses, with Novan watching.
(...)
Novan restrained all expression on his face. He drank his iced tea while his heart spoke, (Right instinct, Erna, but unfortunately, too accurate makes it easy to read...)
The trainee waiter bowed. "Thank you." His steps went away, the corners of his lips raised without being seen.
Erna had already drunk. Viera began lifting her glass. Her mouth opened. The glass was almost at her lips. Novan looked at his watch.
(...)
Cough, cough.
Clatter.
Blank choked, startling Viera in front of him. The glass spilled, wetting the floor. Lirie stared. "Oh, the iced tea fell." Boyka approached the waiter to get a cloth.
Cough, cough.
Blank was still choking. His hand covered his mouth. Viera was worried and asked, "Are you okay, Kaelan?"
Blank held his breath long and exhaled. He shook his head. "It's nothing. Maybe the sugar went in too fast." Blank looked at the fallen glass. "I'm sorry, Viera. I'll order a new one in a moment."
"No need, Kaelan, it's just—"
"It's okay, wait a moment." Blank stood up and walked away.
Novan looked at the contents of Blank's used glass. (It's even less than half full.)
Blank approached the order counter. "Miss, I'd like to buy 2 glasses of iced tea." "Alright," said the waiter.
"Where's the toilet?" The waiter's hand pointed to the right. Blank opened the door and entered the toilet. Although there was a folded paper belonging to Neo above the air vent, Blank didn't notice it.
At the same time, the waiters brought the fried rice. Everyone's eyes sparkled with waiting stomachs. Everything was served on the table.
Blank came carrying two newly ordered glasses of iced tea and gave them to Viera. "This is for you, Viera." Viera received it. "Thank you, Kaelan."
Everyone ate together until finished. After some time, all plates were empty, and they all rested until the time showed 2:20 PM. All team members brought their belongings into the car.
A 40-minute journey to the villa was quite tiring but rewarded by the view of a large mountain and many pine trees. Slowly, the sky color began to change to orange when they all arrived at the villa.
As Blank was about to enter the villa, Viera approached him. "Kaelan, do you have time tonight?" Blank blinked. "Of course, what's up?" Viera chuckled softly. "I'll explain later. You rest first." The two of them walked together.
Novan listened to their conversation. His steps approached Erna.
"Miss Erna, I'll go get the bag from the previous lodging." Erna lowered her gaze and replied, "Yes, thank you for your help today. When will you get here again?"
"Probably around 6:00 PM."
"Alright, be careful."
Novan smiled. His steps went to the car and left the place. Everyone had entered the villa, and many were seen resting in their rooms, including Blank.
After 30 minutes, Novan approached a small wooden house with many spiderwebs above it. Light entered from several holes in the wall. The door opened with a rough sound.
Creak.
"Hi, have you recovered?" Novan greeted someone tightly bound at both hands and feet. His nose was red even though many wounds had been treated. A tall man looked at Novan. "Are you going to torture me again, you bastard?"
It was Willie. He was still alive, though with some new wounds on his face. Novan chuckled softly. "Shouldn't you be grateful? I let you live."
Willie gritted his teeth. "Tch, you damn liar." Novan approached with a sharp gaze. His hand gripped Willie's jaw. "I give you a choice: obey and live, or rebel and die."
Willie smiled. "You're threatening me? I'd rather die." Novan sighed. His hand took a phone on the table. Willie raised his eyebrows. "Now what?"
Novan pointed at the screen. "What's the password?" Willie smiled. "Don't know—" At the same time, a hard punch hit Willie's stomach. His eyes twitched, enduring the pain. Novan said, "What?" Willie stated, "311657."
Novan opened Willie's phone. His fingers started moving everywhere without Willie's knowledge. "Hey, what are you doing, bastard!" Novan fell silent, then turned the screen towards his face. "I'll spread this, okay?"
Willie's eyes widened. Many photos of him stalking and sleeping with women were revealed. Novan used them as a weapon. "How about it? I'll just let you live and accept hell on earth longer."
Willie bit his lip. "Bastard!" Novan began looking at the contacts one by one. "There's a girlfriend, parents, coworkers, company, alumni... I'll spread them all..." he said casually.
"YES! YES, I'LL OBEY YOU!" Novan smiled. His steps went to the table. His hand took a knife and a small syringe. He threw the objects right at his face. "Alright, follow my instructions."
Novan began whispering his plan. Willie, still trapped and threatened by him, couldn't do anything. Everything passed for about 20 minutes, and finally, Willie was released.
"That's all, right?" Novan raised his right hand and turned around. "Yes," he said flatly. His hand took Willie's phone. "If you run away, your life will never be safe forever." Novan raised the corners of his lips and left the tall man alone in the small wooden house.
Silence enveloped Willie. Only a knife and a small syringe were before him. He took them and began thinking.
---
The sky began to show an orange color. The warmth at dusk could be enjoyed by anyone. The wind blew, and birds flew across neatly arranged pine trees.
Time passed. Now the clock showed 7:30 PM. Novan had arrived at the villa, and this time Blank was sitting in his room, scrolling through his phone with many news headlines.
[Reynald, 24-year-old young investor with assets of $250,000,000]
[Boy sleeps in Chean B library for 3 days]
Blank pressed the second news. His eyes widened when he saw a familiar face appearing on the news page. "Hey, Alexander! What are you doing sleeping there!?" Blank held his forehead. "Oh dear, this kid..."
However, Blank's head felt painful and throbbed without reason. Both his hands held his hair, and his vision was slightly blurry. When he stood up, it felt like an earthquake.
At the same time, Blank's room door made a sound. Someone knocked on the wooden door. Blank opened the door and stepped back slightly. "Viera?"
Viera came to meet him. "Let's go for a walk." Blank moved his pupils. "Really?" Viera smiled. "Yes, wait outside, okay? I'll come in 10 minutes. No need to bring a camera." Viera walked away. Blank scratched his forehead. "What? I didn't ask anything, and she just left..."
Blank took a white sweater and put it on. Three sprays of sandalwood-scented perfume were enough to fragrance his body. Blank went outside the villa and saw Novan sitting alone, looking at the sky.
"Novan, what are you doing?" Novan turned his head. "Isn't the full moon beautiful?" Blank looked at the sky. A perfect, bright full moon adorned the night. "You're right."
Novan chuckled softly. "Hey, Kaelan, want some coffee? There's a suitable place around here. Come with me." Blank rubbed his right hand. "Hehe, sorry, Novan. I already have plans." Novan raised his left eyebrow. "Is that so? Alright then, I'll go ahead."
Blank waved his hand. "Be careful." Novan did the same, both hands in his pockets. (30 more minutes, and you'll fall asleep, Kaelan.) Novan looked at the sky. (Because you were the one who drank that iced tea.)
At the same time, Willie placed a knife in the bushes and hid behind the trees. He was following Novan's instructions.
Blank sat cross-legged and waited for Viera. He moved his feet, and footsteps began to be heard by his ears. His gaze went to the source of the sound, and the two people fell silent.
Blank looked at Viera. Viera looked at Blank. Both wore white sweaters. They both laughed. "Hahaha." Blank stood up. "Viera, I still don't understand. Why did you invite me out?"
Viera raised her right hand from top to bottom. "I just wanted to walk around. Don't worry, Boyka is accompanying." Boyka stood behind Viera. Blank asked, "Is it okay?" Viera stepped forward. "I already told Miss Erna."
The two of them began walking together. Boyka kept some distance because Viera instructed him not to be too close and to listen. Their steps were in rhythm with the gentle breeze under the moonlight.
"Kaelan, do you know Ms. Kiki?" Blank shook his head. "No. If I knew her, something like this morning wouldn't have happened." Viera scratched her hair. "Ms. Kiki is strange. Asking for your photo but not the formal ones." Blank was startled. "Huh?"
Viera glanced. "I don't know. Maybe she's just playful. Sometimes she often teases me." Blank nodded. "Oh, right. How about your illness?" Viera raised the corners of her lips. "It's better now. Thank you for helping me earlier this afternoon."
Blank put his thumb and index finger together to form the letter O. "Safe and sound. I happened to see the medicine left behind before leaving."
Viera smiled. Her eyes looked ahead. "Thank you, Kaelan." Viera bit the flesh inside her mouth. Her hands came together in front with moving fingers. Her breath was drawn, and her gaze directed at Blank. "Let's be friends—"
Viera stopped. Blank held both sides of his head. "Kaelan? Are you okay?" Blank felt his head painful and throbbing. Suddenly, at the same time...
Thud.
The sound of someone falling from the hilltop. Boyka looked carefully. His eyes recognized the body. "Viera, wait a moment." Boyka ran towards the tall man lying sprawled. His body was bruised with some blue marks on his face.
"Willie?" Boyka saw the man helpless. His body was weak, his breath slow. Even his clothes had some bloodstains. "What happened here?"
Boyka lifted Willie. Because his body was tall, Boyka carried him towards where Viera was. "Viera, it's Willie. Let's go back."
Viera nodded. But suddenly, Boyka fell. Willie got up with a syringe hitting his neck. Boyka's body went weak with gray eyes. Willie stood upright. It turned out what was on his face and body was just makeup.
Viera was shocked, but a sudden sound was heard.
Thud.
Blank slumped forward. His eyes were gray and motionless. His mouth was open with a hunched back. Viera, alone, saw Willie looking at her.
Quickly, Viera took her phone, but Willie slapped her hand so the phone flew away. Willie quickly grabbed the phone and ran into the bushes.
Viera, seeing this, tried to escape towards the villa road. But that place was already very far. The road was quiet, only a few trees and bushes, some wooden houses but without residents.
Viera ran, but one hand grabbed her collar and threw her body backward. Willie already had a knife in his hand from the bushes earlier. Viera's face paled, and her breath was ragged. With no other way, Viera ran back towards where Blank and Boyka had fallen.
Willie walked slowly with a smile. Viera tried to wake Boyka. "BOYKA!!!" His eyes were dull, saliva fell from his mouth.
The final steps approached Blank. His face looked pale, his gaze empty, and his jaw dropped. "KAELAN!!!!" Viera looked back. Willie was getting closer with his knife.
Viera's body trembled. She was alone, having to fight a tall man with a sharp weapon. Her hair stood on end.
Willie only uttered a name, but Viera's body went numb. His tone was soft as if trying to guess. That one name was...
[Viera~]