Chapter 69

Translated by boilpoil Edited by boilpoil

The documentary that Bright and Hopkin watched is called ‘Trilogy of Apocalypse,’ with three episodes total. It’s about the zombie apocalypse when humans descended into chaos. Many people lost their sense of self and their humanity in the calamity and became demons, neither human nor humane. There were, however, many souls that were exalted as well.

The team’s leader takes out a walkie-talkie and proclaims to people, “it is time to wake up! Tomorrow never comes, how many tomorrows there are! Don’t walk idly by in complacence, don’t spend your days in delusions; we need you, humanity needs you! Fight with us, right now!” Behind him are his comrades soaked in blood, the background filled with ruins resulting from explosions.

On the other side, people are hiding in temporary makeshift camping grounds, wallowing in desire and money, playing hit songs from the olden times aloud, indulging in sex and entertainment.

“ Love like a hungry wolf, how can I hug it to sleep; he will give me deep wounds as souvenir... ”

The Cantopop rhythm catches Bright’s attention, and he can’t help but hum along. The background music starts to fade, and episode one ended with those contrasting images.

“Do you like music?” Hopkin asks. He recalls the saxophone performance they heard together before. The man seems to be easily influenced by music.

Bright says, “I think it sounds pretty nice.”

“Why did you come back for me back then?” Hopkin asks out of the blue.

Bright immediately realises this is a critical moment. Hopkin is referring to him having drugged him before sending him to be molested. To be honest, he also didn’t know why he would have done something like that to the person he loved. Even if he were angry because he was deceived, he shouldn’t have done something that atrocious.

The man’s brows frown, the creases so deep they can crush mosquitoes. Hopkin thinks he might have been too forward, and he also becomes nervous.

Why is it?

Because… because I hated him?

No, I loved him very much, I want to be with him together very much!

“It’s fine if you can’t think it through.” Hopkin interrupts Bright’s train of thought.

“Sorry.” The man’s expression looked so apologetic that the aristocrat is suddenly filled with anger. He takes a deep breath, suppressing his own irritable mood, and changes the topic.

“The second episode is starting.”

Hopkin leans on Bright, who is hugging him by the shoulder, helping him to find the most comfortable position on himself while sighing lightly in relief. There’s even sweat in his palms.

His boyfriend suddenly talking about the past is making him restless.

They didn’t have a romantic start, nor an affectionate progression. At first they were barely colleagues at work, and Hopkin was his patron whose thighs he were hugging. There was a great difference in their status and social class. Hopkin saw him as a toy and time-killing device. He has hurt him, deceived him; Bright’s motives were unclean either. He wanted to leave the City, and wanted to use him as well, which is why he approached him. Who would have known he has long since fallen in love with him?

Later, Bright discovered that Hopkin is the Shithead, that antagonist that would have treated him cruelly in the past. He begins to have a love-hate relationship with him, and was so traumatised he went berserk and was taken over by his hatred, almost irrevocably harming Hopkin. It’s a good thing that it worked out in the end and they’re now together.

Bright is recalling the past, swearing to himself that he would remember this well and be nicer to Hopkin. He must not ever fall below his baselines again.

The movie is over before he noticed it.

Hopkin comments on it, “this is the movie that propelled Director to popularity. It managed to influence the emotions very much, and the retelling of the characters were mostly based in reality. It has largely captured the times during the zombie apocalypse.”

Bright is inquisitive, “Director?”

“It’s the Director of that show of yours; he’s an Inner City aristocrat.” Hopkin does not want to tell Bright too much about Inner City residents, both because he wants to be careful about this and he doesn’t like Director himself.

Now that the topic has shifted to the Killing Gauntlet Reality Show, Bright asks, “can I forfeit the show?”

“Why?” If the current situation continues, the man will definitely win, becoming both rich and famous.

“Don’t want to join, I hate it.”

The man rarely expresses his own likes and attitudes. Hopkin is surprised the phrase ‘don’t want’ is appearing more and more often in front of himself. This is different from his original intentions. Though since the man’s hatred and rejection is directed at someone else, he is even a little bit happy for the man’s honesty to him.

Hopkin says regrettably, “I can help you win the game, but I can’t bend the rules casually to take a contestant away directly.” Bright looks disappointed. Then Hopkin encourages him, “I’ve told you, you will be the champion.”

Yes, become the champion, and be together with Hopkin.

Bright nods.

Detective’s investigation is not going well. He decides to put out a bait to reel in the one working behind the scenes. He suggests releasing the news that Gentleman has tamed the tiger and try to catch that someone in their act.

While Hopkin is not fond of it, he agrees to cooperate. Yet he underestimates how interested everyone is in Bright. He receives several invitations that same day, all occasions to bring a partner. He picks one of those, then has people send appropriate clothing for them.

Bright wears his custom-made suit, showing off his wide shoulders, narrow waist and long legs. He follows closely behind Hopkin, treating himself as only a bodyguard. Yet the others clearly don’t see him as that. Some are better in that they only look at him in a cold and critical gaze. Some are particularly open with their desirous intent, their eyes almost fixated onto him.

With his guise of a business smile on, Hopkin greets and talks with people cordially. He starts to feel frustrated. When he decided to attend this social function, he thought that this kind of function is mainly not about that kind of invitation, that there’s no entertainment with swapping toys. Those others’ objectives were too plain in sight, only dumbasses would have exchanged toys with them! But he didn’t expect that this function invited Outer City citizens, including number 56 Piers.

As expected, while he was being distracted by people, Bright is gone.

Hopkin looks around, and number 56 is also gone. His expression darkens.

Piers has cornered Bright, taking him by the collar, talking in an exasperated manner, “why are you mingling with Inner City residents? You can’t have forgotten what we’ve talked about?”

“Of course not.” Bright does not speak his mind. He remembers that, to obtain the secret of manufacturing werewolves, he lied to Piers that he wants to rebel together. Though since he has now successfully become a couple with Hopkin, is there still a need to do so?

Before, loving Hopkin has not been in conflict with leaving the City. He wanted both, from the bottom of his heart. Though it is different now – Hopkin wants him to obtain the championship and become a star, to stay in the City with him.

Bright has become confused. He knows that there’s only so much companionship between contestants, and everyone has their own little objectives. That said, he still doesn’t want to kill them one by one just to become the champion… Besides, the City is still something he hates from the bottom of his heart.

Piers is still suspicious. His hands are still holding onto him, his face closing in to that of Bright, “then why are you ingratiating yourself to that Inner City aristocrat like a dog?”

Bright retorts, “am I able to say no?” Piers staggers in his speech, and with this opportunity, Bright knocks his hand away, sidestepping him and walks a bit away from him. He starts tidying his own clothes.

The young master of Outer City still doesn’t believe him. The man is looking at Hopkin in a strange manner, as if he really fell in love with him, but he doesn’t say so out loud. And so the saying goes that the one that understands you the most is your enemy. Piers always thought of Bright as a rival and is quite sharp when it comes to changes in the man’s expressions.

“Have you got what you wanted?”

“What?” And then Bright recalls it. He realises Piers is asking about the u-drive. That’s right, where’s the u-drive gone? He remembers carrying it with him into Inner City, and he also got the information he wanted. It’s still there the first time he did it with Hopkin, and then…

He can’t remember. Bright’s expression turns serious.

Piers can see Bright’s expression turning sour, so he assumes he hasn’t managed to do it yet. Someone comes along at that instance so he greets that person like nothing has happened and leaves nonchalantly.

“Gentleman, it seems your pet is not that obedient yet. It left its master and went to play by itself on the sidelines.”

The host of the function sounds sarcastic in tone, trying to imply something. The Internet is full of stories about how number 56 and number 199 are quite infatuated with each other. It’s a known fact that there are no waves when there is no wind and smoke do not appear without a fire, and those stories probably aren’t just entirely fabricated. He implies that he knows some good tamers who might be able to help. Then, he looks towards Bright, curving his fingers while pointing at him, as if treating a dog or a cat, “your master is over here. Why don’t you come crawling over?”

Bright stands unmoving, as if he hasn’t heard it – who the fuck are you, even?

The man does not respond to the one speaking, and instead looks at the aristocrat who has his cold expression on.

His black pair of eyes sweep across the creases on the man’s collar. His expression cools even further. Bright and number 56 were standing closely nearby, almost sticking together, and they clearly pushed and pulled on each other.

Hopkin can feel that suppressed rage bubbling out again. He doesn’t understand why he still feels as if he is slipping away even after inserting a chip into Bright. There’s a feeling of anxiety, an anxiety like he is a thief that can be caught at any time.

The moment the host of the function called out to the man themself he does not immediately stop it. After that, even though Bright could see him, he still stands there without moving. The moment he saw that his rage erupts.

Damn it! You’re still not coming!

“Did you not hear me? You sure lack discipline…” The host of the function is still babbling on, equivalent to adding oil onto fire.

Hopkin is out of patience, “I still have matters to attend to. Excuse me.” He brings Bright back right after saying that.

Nobody said anything along the way. Neither are in a good mood.

While out in public, Hopkin can still endure it. As soon as they’re back at their home, and seeing Bright who is quiet and not even looking at himself, Hopkin blows up.

“What do you even think you’re doing?” A scolding tone can be heard in the voice of the black-haired aristocrat.

Bright is expressionless. It has been quite the experience today for him as well. He deeply understands how unequal their relationship is, as if showing him that Hopkin’s like for him is a top-to-bottom like with disdain and contempt. He is also just a toy and nothing has changed from before even though they are already in that kind of relationship.

He doesn’t want to say anything, feeling dejected. He is also afraid saying anything at this point will make matters worse.

Bright’s silence is treated by the aristocrat as a voiceless complaint. Hopkin is furious. It shouldn’t be like this. He knows he has conquered Bright, how could he still be treated so coldly like this? He wants the pity and kindness, the soothing and the flirting, yet he still seems to have lost it. His fear is creating even more anger, and his expression is appearing forceful, “I order you to answer me!”

Bright also sounds cold, “do you wish for me to kneel down and crawl for you, master?” That title sounds especially mocking.

Hopkin is out of control already, and his words reflect that, “if it is what I want, then you will have to do it.”

“Oh? Then do you still require my service for the night?”

Without waiting for Hopkin to answer him, Bright throws him onto the sofa.

Authors notes: Bright: A fight? It’ll resolve itself with a good hard fucking.

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