We Can Return

20) Unexpected Encounter

Krist's POV

I'm sitting in the hotel lobby, sipping coffee and checking the renovation plans for the hotel on my tablet. I'm waiting for Saint, Gulf, and New so we can go to the hospital together to visit Win and Gun. I'm deeply engrossed in my work when I notice a familiar figure approaching me. Singto. I immediately remember our last conversation, which ended in an argument. Despite the various thoughts racing through my mind, I remain calm and silently gesture for Singto to sit down.

Singto sits across from me and remains silent for a moment before he starts speaking. "Krist, I come in peace. I want to talk to you like two adults," he says quietly.

I look at him suspiciously but say nothing. Singto continues, "I apologize for what I said last time. I'm really sorry. I thought that by pressuring you through Saint, you would agree to talk to me. Even when I said it, I knew I was making a mistake."

I frown. "How do you know about Saint?" I ask suspiciously.

Singto sighs and begins to tell his story. "Seventeen years ago, my father visited me and blackmailed me into breaking up with you. I was afraid he might hurt your family, so I called a childhood friend to consult on what to do next. When you unexpectedly came to my house early, I started kissing her to make it look like I had cheated on you. Then I started spouting nonsense without realizing what I was doing. When you left, I immediately knew I had done something terrible."

I look at him with distrust, but Singto continues, "I swear I never slept with anyone else. When I started looking for you, I only met your parents, who threw me out and said I would never see you again. I tried to find you through a detective and found out you had been to a clinic but never went through with the procedure. I knew you had bought a ticket to Vienna, and that's where I lost track. Only now, after 17 years, have I found you again. I know you have a family and a partner, but I still love you. I won't interfere in your relationship; I just want you to know that I loved you and never cheated on you."

I look at him for a long time before finally speaking. "Singto, what you did hurt me more than you can imagine. But thank you for telling me. I need time to process all of this."

Singto nods. "I understand. Thank you for listening to me."

I take a deep breath and return to my tablet. Singto gets up and slowly walks away. As he passes through the lobby, he encounters Saint, Gulf, and New, who are just arriving. Singto looks at Saint for a long time, then looks at me, and then turns and leaves without another word.

Saint's POV

We arrived at the hotel to pick up Momma K and head to the hospital to visit Win and Momma G. When we entered the lobby, we noticed Krist sitting at a table talking to a man. The man looked very elegant and professional. He was wearing a dark blue suit that fit him perfectly, and a white shirt with a tie. His black hair was neatly styled, and his face was striking and charismatic. He looked to be around 34 years old.

We watched as Momma K and the man talked. Krist looked tense but focused. The man across from him spoke calmly and seemed to be trying to explain something. I couldn't hear what they were talking about, but I felt it was important.

After a while, the man stood up and looked at Krist. Krist said something to him, and the man nodded. Then he turned and started walking towards us. As he passed by, he stopped for a moment and looked directly at me. His eyes were deep and full of emotions that I couldn't quite identify. I felt my heart race.

The man then looked at Momma K, apologized once more, and continued walking. I watched him leave the hotel, unable to stop thinking about who he was and what had happened between him and Krist.