Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 78: A chance encounter [2]

Chapter 78: A chance encounter [2]

Kayden furrowed his brows, confused, he asked away, "A noble family? Who are you referring to?"

Azrael stared at his cousin for a while. It’s already been days after he and Knox parted, yet there was still no news about his identity. Did Chairman Nathaniel chicken out and decide to keep Knox hidden instead?

He frowned imagining Knox’s disappointed face. Knox never said it but he looked happy after knowing that the chairman came and carried him.

Azrael stood and spoke as he made his way to the door, "It’s nothing. Anyway, I’m going." He made his way down the corridor before the doctor could say another word. He passed the garden and stopped in his tracks after bumping into someone.

"Ow!"

Looking down, Azrael found a kid on the floor. He fell on his back and the contents of his small opened bag scattered. Candies along with some crayons and one thin coloring book rolled out.

"Mister, why don’t you look your way?!" the kid’s head was lowered as he was picking the crayons. But somehow, Azrael found his black curly hair and his reprimanding voice familiar.

He crouched and started picking the candies, but his hands were pinched instead, "That’s mine. Don’t take it!"

The kid lifted his head and glowered at him cutely. Azrael smiled after confirming that it was indeed the kid he met before. Then, he puckered his lips and defended, "I’m not taking it. I’m helping you pick it. Why are you accusing me already? Didn’t your parents tell you not to judge others easily?"

Knoa’s eyes widened. It seemed that he wasn’t aware that what he did was bad, so he quickly nodded his head and explained, "Papa did! Papa did! But before! Someone took Knoa candy without a permit!"

Azrael faked his shock and gave the kid a sympathetic look, "What?! Then, what did you do? You should tell him to the cops!"

Knoa tilted his head. His thin and small eyebrows met as he spoke, "Cops? Like what Grampa uses in tea time?"

Azrael tilted his head unconsciously and his thick eyebrows met as well, "...what?"

Knoa jumped his shoulders, an act of getting excited to explain. He beamed and responded to the confused older alpha, "Cups! Grampa uses it always tea time! He pours mister teapot and tea comes out! Knoa should tell cups about the kid who stole my candies?"

"Er...no, I meant...by cops, I’m referring to the police, kid," Azrael answered, picking the crayons instead and giving it back to the kid.

"My name is not kid! My name is Knoa, mister!"

’Do all children shout every time they talk?’ Azrael pondered. He rubbed the child’s head and responded, "Oh, is that so, then my name isn’t mister either."

Knoa pouted, "What’s your name?"

"I don’t want to tell you. You pinched my hand, look, it almost bruised," Azrael showed his left hand to the kid while the right hand was kept in his pocket. The back of his palm wasn’t discolored, so he quickly hid it after the kid looked down. "But you didn’t say sorry until now. How could you? I don’t want to tell my name to someone who doesn’t know how to apologize."

The kid grabbed the coloring book on his chest and his eyes shook. Azrael was surprised. He thought that the kid would cry so he quickly showed the back of his hand, but Knoa pulled it closer and placed a candy on his palm.

"Mister, Knoa sorry. Here, peace offering!"

Azrael’s gaze moved down at his opened palm. He found an almond-shaped chocolate candy wrapped in plastic. He frowned after realizing its size. "Hey, kid...I mean, Knoa, do you eat this whole? Did these candies even fit in your tiny mouth? Isn’t this dangerous for you?"

Knoa answered earnestly, "I have teeth, look!" He flashed his pearly white teeth to the older man. "And Papa always breaks it into pieces whenever I eat!"

"Oh, good for you then. Anyway, go find your Papa now. I’m sure he’s looking for you already," Azrael stood, he pocketed the candy then looked down at the kid.

Knoa followed; he patted his butt and looked up, but since the man was too tall, his neck almost stretched backward and before he fell again, Azrael grabbed his backpack and pulled him up.

"Woah!" Knoa excitedly screamed. He felt like flying after his feet floated in the air. He was elated and amazed at how high he was from the ground, that he ended up swinging his feet while giggling.

His adorable chuckles brought a smile to Azrael unexpectedly. Instead of placing the kid on his arms, he even swung his arms to make it look like the kid was maneuvering in the air. Some nurses passed them by and giggled at their interaction.

On the other hand, while all of this was happening, Knox stood not far from them. He was watching the both of them converse with each other with a troubled look on his face.

After the car arrived at the hospital, they brought Shawn lunch and they ate with him. When Shawn brought up the engagement between him and Athan, they talked more seriously and Knoa got bored.

He asked the bodyguard to bring Knoa to the garden as there was also a small playground for children. After their conversation, he left and looked for Knoa, only to see him talking with Azrael on the way to the exit.

His body stiffened after recognizing that wide back even from afar. He had the urge to run and snatch Knoa away, but when he heard his son giggle as he enjoyed Azrael’s tricks, tons of guilt poured over his head.

He was rooted on his spot, and couldn’t take away his eyes from the two. He silently watched Azrael play with Knoa with a wide smile on his face. His chest throbbed. How long will he deprive the two of the truth?

Knox clutched his chest and breathed deeply. He jolted when a hand tapped his shoulder. Turning to his side, he found Dr. Kayden looking at the Azrael and Knoa as well. His expression was unreadable, but the silence told Knox that he was being persecuted for his unfairness.

He looked away.

Kayden spoke, "I’ll get him. You should stay here."

With that, the doctor approached Azrael and exclaimed, "For the love of God, Azrael! That’s dangerous, put the kid down!"

Azrael looked back at Kayden, unnoticing the figure behind the doctor. He waved his injured hand to the doctor and replied, "My hand is on standby. He’s safe."

Kayden took Knoa and carried him in his arms, "Still. You don’t know what might happen. Besides, I told you to not strain your hand unless you want it to bleed again!"

"You’re a goddamn worrywart—ack! What the hell—ow!"

"There’s a kid here, watch your language!" Kayden ended up smacking his cousin’s hands away. Azrael realized and shut his mouth, looking away while mumbling something incomprehensible. Kayden looked down at the kid staring at him with wide eyes, "I’m bringing you to your Papa now. Do you remember me?"

Knoa slowly nodded with a pout, "Uh-huh. You make Uncle Shun scared! You’re a bad guy!"

"You’re right, he’s a bad guy. Come to me, I’ll bring you to your father," Azrael opened his arms and Knoa was about to stretch out his hands to him when Kayden remarked, "You can’t, kid. See his hand, he’s injured. He can’t carry you. And I’m not a bad guy. I’m a doctor, I heal people. I’m also the one who treated that bast— that man’s hand. See my uniform? I’m a doctor, right?"

Knoa looked at Kayden innocently, "You said you are. Why ask Knoa?"

Azrael, "Pfft."

Looking at Azrael suppressing his laughter and the kid’s furrowed brows, the tip of Kayden’s eyebrows twitched.

The kid swung his feet and insisted to be let down. Kayden put him down gently. Then, Knoa fished a candy in his bag’s pocket and gave it to the doctor as well, "Sorry. The teacher said doctors save lives, so you’re not bad. Thank you for saving Uncle Shun’s Papa, Mister Doctor. Here’s a gift! I’m giving you too! I’ll go to Papa on my own. Knoa’s a big boy already! Bye-bye!"

He waved and ran back in Knox’s direction. Knox hid in the corner, so when Knoa went past him, he called his name in a subdued tone. The kid looked back and his face brightened, shouting as he jumped, "Papa!"

Knox swooped him from the floor and walked away.

Azrael’s forehead creased, "What? His father was just there all along? Why didn’t he come and get his son?"

Kayden averted his eyes and shrugged his shoulders, "Who knows."

Azrael asked again, "But who is this Uncle Shun that you frightened? Are you acting like a thug now, Kay? Or is he just another one of your flings?"

"Mind your own business," Kayden spat and walked away. However, he halted and turned a bit, giving Azrael a middle finger, "I don’t have flings, you bastard. Don’t lump me with you."

The doctor’s mood turned gloomy after hearing Shawn’s name. Once again, he recalled their last conversation that took at the rooftop of the hospital a few days ago.

’You’re telling me you looked for me after what happened? Are you insane? Who would look for someone for four years after just having a one-night stand? Don’t delude yourself there’s something special between us, doc. You were just the right person that time, but even if it’s not you, I would have done the same with anyone.’

Those words rendered him speechless. Kayden slapped his forehead, trying to erase Shawn’s image against the moonlight that night. He looked weary and troubled, and he wanted so badly to lean his shoulders to him. But if his mere presence was making things more complicated for him, then Kayden would choose to stay away.

Looking back, he asked himself, why did he look for him and why was he hoping he’d feel the same? Even after going back to his office, he failed to secure an answer.