An honest lie | Kim Taehyung (editing*)

- Personal feelings -

XVIII

The waiter brought the drinks and placed them on the table. After he was done, Taehyung parted his lips to speak but was cut off by the sound of clicking noises right next to him. Eda was mixing her shake and bringing it upwards to her eyesight, carefully analyzing the creaminess of it from the movements of the spoon.

As she felt his gaze on her she looked back at him with a blank expression. He cleared his throat and turned to Leo who was also watching her with wonder.

"So it was all about keeping her image safe?" Deduced Taehyung with uncertainty lingering in his mind as he brought back the subject. "Or was it your image?"

"I know how this may sound... as if I'm pathetic, thinking she would come back to me. But I wanted to give it another chance, show her that I didn't mind at this point. I love her, and I want her to know that I'm willing to put all of the bad behind us." Leo kept his gaze locked on the ground while speaking with determination and distress.

Eda clenched her jaw and dissuaded her eyes away from him.

"So you confirm it?" The detective asked with a serious expression.

"What?"

"That she, indeed, stole your money and ran away."

He paused for a moment and took a deep whiff. "Yes... yes, I do." His gaze dropped once again.

Eda's fists clenched to the point of forming red marks from her fingers digging in her very flesh.

Taehyung pressed his lips and felt his muscles tensing up. "That changes things. That act was illegal, she'll have to-"

"I'm not going to report it. She doesn't have to face anything." He interrupted him abruptly. "That's why I didn't want to talk about it because, in the end, it wouldn't have changed anything."

"But if I'm going to look for her, I need to know everything, Mr. Palazzi." Taehyung demanded with a steady voice.

Leo sighed. "Alright. Ask me anything. I will be honest this time."

Taehyung slightly nodded, but Eda on the other hand scoffed.

The two men looked at her with a querying expression. She lightly coughed and cleared her throat.

"Alright then, I have another question for you." Taehyung scowled but proceeded with his interrogation as Leo focused back on him. "Do you have a dog?"

Leo frowned at the unexpected topic and looked down for a split second. Eda averted her gaze back on him and tilted her head.

"I.. eh..."

"So?" Taehyung came out impatiently and consulted him again.

"I.. well, my fiancé had one." He answered with the same confused manner.

"Had one?" Taehyung wondered. "What happened to it?"

"We lost it." He answered half-heartedly.

"Oh. How long ago?"

"I'm not sure, maybe..." he paused to think.

Eda eyed him carefully.

"I don't quite remember. A couple of months ago, or even less."

Taehyung slowly nodded in comprehension.

"Why do you ask?" He then questioned with wonder.

"I saw a dog house in your garden but didn't see any dog. So I was just curious about it."