Chapte 334

Chapte 334
Kenji sat at his desk, staring blankly at the lit screen in front of him.

Ice had left early to visit his parents at the hospital, not saying a word to him. He didn't quite understand Ice. It wasn't as if he had forced anything yesterday. For all he knew, he did give Ice the chance to push him away, but Ice never did.

It was mutual, so why was Ice acting like Kenji had forced him and left him halfway?

Or could it be that War was the reason behind Ice's behavior?

Since War had taken it upon himself to make breakfast for everyone, and even packed lunch for Kenji.

His thoughts were interrupted when his secretary called his desk phone.

"Yes?" He answered, placing the heel of his hand on his tired eyes.

"Sir, there's a man out here saying he's your husband and should be allowed to see you immediately." His secretary informed, sounding nervous.

Kenji's lips turned upward in a smirk. "Then why are you phoning me, Lara? Let him in." He placed the phone down and straightened his tie.

Kenji knew it was only a matter of time before Ice realised that he could not fight his body for long. He adjusted in his chair, staring at the door in anticipation.

Soon, the door was slowly pushed open, and Kenji straightened even more.

"Hi."

Kenji's shoulder slumped and the shiny anticipation in his eyes instantly died down.

"War," he called calmly, forcing a smile onto his face.

War hesitated in the middle of the office, eyes cast down. "I'm sorry I lied about my status, but I wanted to come see you and she wasn't going to let me in."

"It's fine. Sit, please," Kenji smiled, trying to put War at ease.

War nodded and went over to the chair in front of Kenji's desk, quietly glancing around.

"Why are you here?" Kenji could not help chuckling at the way War stared at everything as if he was new to earth... he found it cute.

War blinked. "I was lonely..." he bit his lip, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, I know that's a stupid excuse. I can leave—"

"It's alright, you're here already. It would be mean of me to ask you to go back..." Kenji sighed. "Although I do not think watching me work would be any fun either." He said.

War smiled. "It's fun... for me." He murmured.

Kenji shrugged. "Suit yourself, then."

He resumed his work, but for the love of God, he could swear that War had not once blinked since he started watching him.

He could not understand the fascination, but for War's sake, he was hoping Ice's instincts were wrong. If War was slowly trying to make a move on him, he had to draw a line.

He can't have someone making his husband uncomfortable while filling the space Ice should.

However, he could not advise War yet. For now, he was simply some cute introvert who doesn't want to be left alone at home.

Twenty minutes into the silence, War suddenly cleared his throat.

Kenji did not glance up. There was no need to since War had not said anything to him.

"It's past your lunch time... do you not like the food I made?" War asked softly.

For a second, Kenji's fingers paused on the keyboard, his mind swapping War's face with Ice's as he imagined how he would've felt if Ice was the one sitting there and asking him if he did not like the food he made.

That would probably lead to more than eating the food, but he knew Ice would never. That white-haired monster would rather fry his hand in cooking oil than make food for Kenji.

"Kenji?" War called again, leaning closer to the desk.

Kenji cleared his throat and finally looked at War. "I don't get hungry when I'm working. Are you hungry?"

War shook his head. "Carry on working. I'll be quiet now."

Kenji resumed working but was soon interrupted by a call on his private phone. He glanced at the screen and immediately turned away from his computer to answer the call.

"Sebastian?" Kenji called, drumming his finger on the sleek surface of his desk.

"Ezra has arrived? Oh, I didn't know that..." he swivelled his chair away from the screen, facing the glass window.

"What? He broke up with Nicholas, why?" He frowned, listening to Sebastian's reply.

Kenji suddenly chuckled. "You're unbelievable, Sebastian. I'm in the middle of something serious and you're calling me to ask if I know the reason behind their breakup? Seriously?" He shook his head, rubbing his temple.

"No, I don't, okay?" He sighed. "I'm just learning about Ezra's return. How could I possibly know? Why not ask him or Nicholas..." he furrowed his brows, looking extremely worried.

"Well, shit..." he tsked. "And here I thought they were having the time of their lives during the six months apart. Who knew they didn't last one month after we left the beach." He glanced behind him and found War staring quietly at him as if he was studying him.

"Look, Sebastian. I enjoyed this unsolicited tea, but I really have to go now. And yes, I remember the president's gala is tonight. Bye." He ended the call and swivelled his chair back to his computer.

"A friend?" War asked.

Kenji nodded.

"You seemed so close... I don't have anyone like that." War smiled sadly.

Kenji lifted his gaze for a few seconds, seeing how truly lonely War looked.

"Don't worry, you can come with me to the gala tonight. You'll meet my friends. They're quite nice... most times." He chuckled.

"Really?" War questioned, a hopeful smile on his face.

"Sure. However, you must make up your mind to be teased... hard." He smiled.

War chuckled. "They sound like fun already." He murmured.

After an hour of sitting in silence, Kenji finally was done for the day. Well, he wanted to get home to Ice. This was the longest they'd been apart since their complicated marriage.

"Ready to go home?" Kenji stood, picking up his phone.

War stood, too, covering his mouth as he yawned. "Yes."

Kenji walked over to the door and pulled it open. "After you." He said to War.

"Thanks," War smiled and stepped out of the office.

They walked toward the elevator and were almost inside when Lara appeared.

"Excuse me, sir." She said, her short hair bouncing around her face.

"Lara?" Kenji acknowledged her.

"Um, someone was here to see you but left this instead." She handed Kenji a neatly folded paper.

Kenji stared at it, not taking it. "Who?"

"The guy from the other day who caused a fuss to see you... white hair." She informed.

Kenji immediately took the paper and unfolded it. Written neatly in one line were two sentences.

\[You can go to the gala with your husband. I'm at the hospital\]

Kenji frowned slightly as he lifted his gaze to Lara. "What did you say to him?" His voice turned rigid, angry even.

Lara took a step back, head lowered. "I'm sorry, boss. I told him you were busy in the office with your husband. But after I read his letter, I checked online and realised that he was the real husband. I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry." War stepped forward. "I shouldn't have lied, but I thought that was the only way to see you. I'm sorry, Kenji." He gently touched Kenji's arm, gaze cast down in apology.

Kenji sighed. "Let's go." He said and turned away.

He could not blame his secretary. She didn't know better.

"I'm really sorry, Kenji," War murmured as they rode down the elevator.

Kenji gritted his teeth, staring at the floor in contemplation. He was thinking of words to use so War does not feel like he was being blamed.

He found none.

"You could have told her we're in-laws... that would have worked." Kenji said.

War bit his lip, brows creasing. "You're right. I was wrong." He glanced at Kenji's hardened face.

"Or you could have simply called me. That's all the proof you needed." Kenji inhaled deeply and turned to War.

"Just call me next time, okay?" He softened his voice this time.

"Okay," War nodded and looked away.

They walked through the reception and outside the company. War slowed behind him, watching Kenji walk toward the car like the ground between them had changed.

Kenji stopped at the passenger side and opened the door.

"Get in."

It wasn't unkind. It wasn't warm either.

War hesitated, then slipped into the seat. Kenji shut the door, walked around, and started the engine without another word.

The drive back was silence.

City lights slid across the windshield. War kept glancing at Kenji's profile, at the tight line of his jaw, at the note still sitting in the cup holder like evidence. Kenji kept his eyes on the road. He did not turn on music. He did not explain. The quiet filled the car until it felt heavier than shouting.

When the white mansion came into view, War sat up a little. Kenji pulled through the gates, parked, and got out first. War followed him inside.

The large living room was dim except for the amber lights along the walls. Kenji loosened his tie as he walked, already reaching for his phone, already thinking of Ice at the hospital, already thinking of that one line.

You can go to the gala with your husband.

War caught his arm before he could take another step.

His hold was gentle. Careful. Almost afraid.

"Kenji…" War's voice was soft. "Do you hate me now?"

Kenji stopped.

He looked down at War's hand on his sleeve, then at War's face. The polite answer was already forming. No. Of course not. It was a mistake. Don't worry about it.

"I don't hate you," Kenji started, measured, trying to keep it clean. "You made a mistake. That's—"

War suddenly stepped in and wrapped his arms around him.

The hug was sudden enough that Kenji's breath caught. War pressed his face into Kenji's chest, words muffled against the expensive fabric.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to… I just didn't want to be alone. I didn't think he'd come. I'm sorry."

Kenji stood still for a second, then sighed.

His hand came up and patted War's back. Slow. Reluctant. The kind of comfort he gave because leaving someone shaking against him felt worse than this.

"It's okay," he said quietly. "It's okay."

That was when he felt it.

Not the hug.

The stare.

Kenji's eyes lifted—

Ice was at the top of the stairs.

White hair. Tired eyes. Frozen mid-step, one hand on the rail, looking down at the exact picture Kenji did not want him to see: War in his arms, Kenji's hand on War's back, the living room too quiet around them.

Kenji's body went rigid.

"Ice."