CAPTURING REDEMPTION

CHAPTER 17: A SEED OF FRIENDSHIP WAS SOWN

There were moments when Yevgeny Bogdanov wished he could slap himself and yank his ego out of its lofty perch. Times when his rational self knew the best course of action, yet his ego and childish tendencies took over instead. Every single one of those moments had everything to do with his lifelong nemesis—Kwon Taekjoo. A week had passed since their intense conversation, a conversation that, in hindsight, offered a vivid glimpse into their intricate relationship dynamic.

Though Yevgeny had spoken words that would make anyone swoon, he remained sceptical of Kwon Taekjoo's faith in him. He knew that snakes could take centuries to trust others, seeing every creature as reflections of themselves—agile, cunning, and goal-oriented survivors. From what Yevgeny had learned about the actor in the months following that apology letter, they buried the hatchet and forged a tentative friendship, it was clear the actor embodied the very essence of a snake.

If nothing else, Kwon Taekjoo was a survivor.

The actor hadn't contacted him since that night, nor had Yevgeny reached out. It was as if they were engaged in a silent battle—who would falter first? Yet it was the actor's call to make, as he still harboured doubts about Yevgeny's professed love. The more Yevgeny thought about it, the more he cringed. Love? He wouldn't blame Kwon Taekjoo for questioning him at every turn. After all, who would believe that a victim of severe bullying could fall in love with his tormentor years later? It sounded like the plot of a third-rate movie and adding a straight man into the mix would only ensure its failure.

Despite his desperation, Yevgeny maintained his composure throughout the week. He went to work, handled several cases, and constantly checked his phone. Every notification heightened his anticipation. In the meantime, he watched fresh interviews with Kwon Taekjoo, noting that the actor was gearing up for drama auditions and planning to record new music. There were also news reports about Mrs. Ju and the new boyband. The boys under Sisyphus Entertainment were set to debut that month, but for undisclosed reasons, the boyband disbanded before they could even debut. Although Yevgeny felt sorry for the innocent boys who wanted nothing more than to fulfil their dreams, he knew sacrifices had to be made.

Now, sitting on the couch and staring at the road from his balcony, Yevgeny sipped his chamomile tea. He had come home early that evening because he finally received a call from the man, he was desperate to see. The actor, without wasting a breath, told him he was on his way to meet the reporter. Although Yevgeny was sceptical of the sudden phone call and the actor's strange decision, he didn't waste time dissecting it. He immediately left his office and drove to his apartment. Within fifteen minutes, the usually lifeless apartment was clean and welcoming.

As the minutes passed, his heartbeat quickened, matching the pace of a Fastlane race. He was quickly reminded of the moment he first saw Kwon Taekjoo smile. It was after he had spent a month in the hospital healing. One day, rain poured suddenly, and his butler took his sweet time coming to pick him up from school. He and a handful of other students stood at the front porch of the first building, eyeing the gate and hoping the heavy downpour would subside. He remembered it clearly: after a while, when he was standing alone and playing with the droplets, Kwon Taekjoo approached him and left with a small tip, as if to compensate for something.

"I hope you know there's a telephone near the shoe racks," the tanned boy's voice echoed through the empty corridor, leaving Yevgeny to catch his drift. As soon as Kwon Taekjoo was out of sight, the Russian boy ran toward the shoe racks. Despite his inhibitions, he was pleasantly surprised to find a telephone near the racks. But as luck would have it, the phone was as good as useless—a broken seal on a confidential letter. The wire had been cut, spider webs as old as the school surrounding the empty socket and broken telephone.

"Who keeps a telephone these days, anyway?" he hissed to himself, kicking the table. The ancient gadget fell to the ground with a clatter as he walked away, his ears burning with frustration. As the minutes stretched into hours, his impatience turned into desperation. With a surge of determination, he made a reckless decision—to run for it. He threw his backpack over his head, shielding himself as best he could from the deluge, and dashed through the puddle-filled streets.