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Nothing was going to change those two things.
It was better to accept the reality than hope for something that will never be.
* * *
An uncomfortable warmth spread across my face the moment I stepped back inside, needles prickling my cold skin. I took myjacket off and glanced at King who was leaning over the desk, observing the papers in front of him with a faraway look in his eyes.
“You should take a break. Go stretch your legs and eat something,” I suggested, noting the exhaustion that draped over him like a heavy cloak.
He rubbed at his eyes, pressing a palm to his temple. “In a moment. I’m still not done yet.”
I made my way over to him, casting a look at the chaos that was scattered across the desk. “Is this the only thing that troubles or are you also thinking about something else?”
King’s exhale seemed to be laden with the weight of the entire world. “You can just say Ludovica. There’s no need to tiptoe around it.” He sank into the nearest chair, resting his elbows on his knees. “She’s going to leave, isn’t she?”
His question was in direct parallel to Ace’s earlier words.
Those two had always been more alike in nature; had more things in common with each other than they ever did with me.
The one who liked to dote and the one who liked being doted on.
I didn’t think that there was anyone who could understand Ace more than King did.
“What do you think that we should do?” King inquired, his voice filled with an uncertainty that was quite unusual for him.
“What doyouthink that we should do?”
He fell silent at my question, staring down at the floor. He looked to be in deep thought, and then I saw the tension in his shoulders slowly dissipate. He raised his head.
“The right thing.”
I nodded, not at all surprised at his answer.
King leaned back, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips. “I don’t suppose you’ll tell meI told you so,will you?”
I chuckled in response, shaking my head.
What good would it do to rub more salt on his wounds?
And it would be pretty hypocritical of me to do so, considering the way I had fallen for her as well. That hadn’t been a smart thing to do, but the matters of the heart rarely ever were.
“Yeah, I didn’t expect you to do that. You never do,” King mused out loud. “Have you spoken with Ace, too? His mood has been quite poor as of late.”
So King had noticed it as well.
“That’s not entirely surprising,” I remarked.
Ace was the kind of person who became attached. And while it was a rare occurrence, when it did happen, those attachments ran deep. For all that he seemed like someone who wasn’t able to take anything seriously, he felt very strongly.
I remembered how it used to be when we were younger.
Marcello.
The compassionate boy who had a bleeding heart.
Who used to sympathize too much with others, animals and humans alike, always wanting to help.
Alessio.
