If there is a comb in the world that can comb up all the memories and emotions hidden inside the heart, and comb away all the unbearable deception, torture, misunderstandings and pain from them, to leave behind only their acknowledgement, mutual confession, and their love, then no longer will there be anyone in the world troubled by their romantic ventures. Their divided hearts will no longer be in pain, and their split souls will be able to obtain peace.
To Hopkin, however, a comb like that would only remove all the memories between them. Between them, there has only ever been deception, taking advantage of, hate, and embarrassment. Without these, he will no longer have anything. Not have anything to do with Bright.
He thinks about how great it would have been if he had known the truth long ago. Then perhaps he might have escaped from the net Bright weaved, and he will never have fallen to the depths of being manipulated and yet still does not feel like resisting it.
Yet he also wishes he knew nothing of this truth; to forget this truth that is making all his organs ā his heart, his liver, his spleen, his lung and his kidneys hurtāāBright does not love him; Bright is only using him; Bright has never fallen for him. He might be able to lie to himself, and indulge himself in that enticing, bewitching dream, until the dream ends, until Bright abandons him or kills him, until then, he can still be happy.
Real and unreal, an illusory happiness and a truthful tragedy. Hopkin is at the conjuncture of two worlds, dazed and not knowing where to head next.
The discussion in the room dies down gradually. Everyone is waiting for Hopkinās opinion, despite the fact that his opinion is no longer going to be considered in this proposal. He will no longer be able to be part of the story of Bright. Inner City residents are always unified against threats, even if they might be able to understand how sad and how furious Gentleman is.
Who would not want to take revenge after being deceived and used like that? Everyone believes Gentleman will make rational and logical decision here. He would probably even have wanted to punish the slave harshly, to defend his own image and honour.
Only Scientist and Detective, who are more aware of the relationship between him and Bright, look each other in the eye, feeling that something is not right here.
As expected, against the predictions of most Inner City residents, Hopkin utters two words, āI object.ā
āGentleman, you have become too engrossed.ā
āThis is not the time to act in line with your whims.ā
The other people around him are persuading him directly or indirectly.
Scientist considers his words carefully, before saying, āIām also partly responsible. I didnāt expect the chip to fail suddenly; I will do my part to make up for it.ā He is implying he can produce a designer product with DNA, to manufacture the perfect Bright for Hopkin.
Hopkin is silent. Those who should be his fellow allies, none of them knows him, understands him.
Bright will be sent into the Citadel, never to make it out again. Whether itās death or lifetime imprisonment, nobody knows, nor does anyone care. They only know that the threat will be gone, and their lives can continue as usual.
What turns out blunter than Detectiveās words is his course of action.
He tells Hopkin, āDirector is already headed to your residence to capture Bright. We planned to take him into custody first, but now we will send him to Citadel directly.ā
āDid you set me up?!ā Hopkin stands up in anger. Rarely does his emotion show publicly like this. Today, he is completely out of control. All because of that man.
āItās an intervention.ā Detectiveās voice is calm. He has already clearly made the case that Bright is a threat to Inner City, and yet he is still stubborn like this. He canāt help but appreciate how manipulative Bright is, while also lamenting Hopkinās misfortune and being infuriated by his incapacity.
Hopkin pays no mind to othersā opinions. He is descending into a nightmare he has never experienced before.
He thought his emotions being manipulated to the core is already tragic enough, and yet there would be something even more devastating and heart-rending, which is the complete denial of his emotions.
He just told him he loves him not a while ago, and now he sends someone after him. What will the man think?
He will definitely question the legitimacy of his emotions, right? The despicable Inner City scum has ulterior motives. To first modify him, and then take him in, before throwing him away like trash and sending him to Citadel to die.
But, but my love is real! I donāt want to hurt you! Would you please believe me?
Hopkin feels utterly insulted. He never did believe in love, he would mock those hopeless romantics, with their fake emotions and untrue promises. Karma is a bitch.
Detective wants to continue persuading Gentleman, but he suddenly receives a communication.
Itās Director.
Detective accepts the call, which turns out to be audio-only, without video, and he is alerted that something has went wrong. Director has brought enough people to secure Bright. The amount of time that has passed should have seen him on the way to the Citadel by now.
Directorās tone is wavering, āthere has been a problem in the operation.ā
Detective puts the call on speaker mode, so all present could hear.
āAs discussed, I have come to repossess a property of the show; number 199 has defied us, and currently I am a hostage,ā Director sounds unwilling, and sometimes a hissy breath inward is audible, as if he is being physically punched, āhis condition is that he be allowed to see Gentleman.ā
Actually, Brightās original words were, āI will wait for him to come back.ā
Though the message did get transmitted, so Bright cuts the call and punches Director in the guts without restraint. Director is squirming on the ground curled up like a cooked shrimp.
He has never had a good impression of the Director of the show for a long time. Since Gentleman has retired from the seat of the one Bright hated the most, Director has succeeded that. The show has maliciously targeted him for many episodes now, and Bright remembers them all. Director, the instigator of all that, will have to be responsible.
Especially when Director showed up to take him into custody, perhaps deluded with his confidence and his self-convinced certain victory, said, āyouāre the best product Iāve ever had. While you did not become the champion this season, and it is not the most opportune of moments, I do not mind, however, to enjoy you prematurely.ā
Bright goes ā ptwoo! ā at that.
To be honest, Bright is not currently as collected as he is showing. He is somewhat worried that Hopkin would not come.
While from his perspective, his rebellious actions can be seen as having been forced on him, a sort of right to self-defence. Though deceptions are deceptions, and he did lie to him both physically and mentally. He certainly is a standard kind of scum, Bright thinks in self-mockery. In a certain way, the two of them are certainly quite well suited to each other.
Bright canāt help but guess, that when he is now aware of the truth, will Hopkin forgive him? Even if not, will he still feel like returning to see him? Perhaps will his having only lied verbally and physically birth pure hate from his pure love, and he will go to the extreme and decide to transform him completely into a human fleshlight?
Heās a bit fidgety, a bit panicky. Itās not just fear, but there is also a feeling of emptiness. His previous complicated state of struggling between his love and his reservations has gone away completely. All that is left is a void, where only the echoes of loneliness can be heard.
Hopkin arrived quicker than he thought. Working out the time, Bright is pretty sure he rushed back as quickly as possible on his flying vehicle right after receiving his transmission.
God knows how Hopkin has negotiated with the Inner City aristocrats, but he is alone. He walks right in front of Bright, with no guards or security beside him at all, as if he has just had a normal meeting outside and is now coming home after work. This is slightly surprising to Bright, so a look of confusion shows on his expression. It seems to have stung Hopkin, however, who thinks the man is suspecting him. So he bites his lips.
They look at each other, silent, not finding the right words to say for a moment.
In the end, Hopkin is the one to speak. His tone is quiet but firm, āI will send you to Citadel.ā
What is this? A final parting? Drawing boundaries with me?
Bright feels as if stones have been dropped into his stomach. Heavy, pressing, sloshing about in his body, dragging his oesophagus downwards, pulling, tearing.
āYou know about it?ā Bright asks. Itās a useless question, really. This expression on the aristocrat, this attitude from Inner City, is telling enough. Yet Bright cannot find the appropriate words for this place, for this scene. What should he tell Hopkin?
Tell him that I actually love you? Tell him that I didnāt want to hurt you? Tell him that I want to take you with meā¦?
Yet Hopkin chose to stand alongside Inner City aristocrats, to send him to Citadel personally. Bright is regretful the two have finally reached this step. He laughs at himself, for having deserved this, but there is also another voice, pushing him to kidnap Hopkin as he is. He suppresses it as much as possible.
āMm.ā I knew you donāt love me, and Hopkinās eyes are dark, without a glimmer of light. He seems to have transformed back into his previous form of the emotionless, cold and prideful Inner City aristocrat.
āGo.ā
Bright walks towards the flying vehicle without looking at Hopkin. Hopkin moves only after Bright has moved a few steps, before quickly catching up to him.
The control of the vehicle has probably been set to auto-pilot by the Inner City. The engine activated on its own after the two boarded, quickly ascending. Halfway through their journey, Hopkin suddenly starts to quickly press the operating module of the vehicle, as if trying to modify the path of flight. A red light comes on, and a beeping sound of warning comes out.
He seems to have triggered something, and Detectiveās voice can be heard in the vehicle, āGentleman, donāt waste your time. The firewall is designed by Statistician. You donāt have enough time to break through it. All doors of the vehicle are locked and will not open before reaching Citadel. When youāve escorted Bright there, it will automatically carry you back. Donāt try anything stupid.ā
Hopkin is unfazed. His hands speed up, but turn only into a punch of frustration and venting in the end, āShitā¦ā
Hearing Hopkinās expression of exasperation, Brightās mood suddenly climbs back up from the lowest valley to the highest possible point. You can practically see the flowers blooming, the birds singing, a smile appearing on the sun in his background.
Eh? This seemed different from what he thought?
āYou want to save me,ā Bright says slowly.
Of course I do.
Hopkin tries to not sound like heās about to cry. His head is lowered, not daring to face Bright, afraid of seeing mockery and suspicion in his expression. His hands form into fists behind him, and he says in a flat tone, āI didnāt send Director. Detective caught number 56 and his people. They worked out what you did and only told me at the last possible second.ā
āI see.ā Brightās hope is more than half restored. He approaches Hopkin, wanting to talk to him while looking at his eyes, but Hopkin is still stubbornly lowering his head.
Bright tells him the truth, āI actually figured out the truth in the explosion.ā
Yet Hopkin does not believe him. He has already confirmed from number 56 that the man is the one who masterminded the whole kidnapping. He has been planning to leave the City from a very, very long time ago.
āYou donāt have to lie to me anymore, Bright. I canāt help you much anymoreā¦ Maybe thereās still one thing. Take me into Citadel, as a hostage against the people in Citadel. I hope itās at least a bit usefulā¦ā Hopkin gives up on going back. Without Bright, he has no reason to return anymore.
āIām sorry, to have done all those unforgivable things to you. This is my own doing. Not even death can atone for my sins. I chose to see you, maybe to make it up at least a little bit to youā¦ You probably think itās laughable how Iām thinking like thatā¦ But, I still want to tell you myself, for all this time, I might have lied to you, hid things from you, but my emotions are genuine, not an ounce of it is fakeā¦ You can look down on me, but donāt, donāt look down on itā¦ā His voice still ended up a whimper in the end.
A few blossoms of bursting water droplets show up on his collar. The clothing is not absorbent, being a bit waterproof. So the water droplets continue streaking downwards, gradually shrinking as it does. Only disappearing after a long journey.
Even if you know Iām using you, you still rush forth like a happy dog to get used by me?!
Can you be a bit more dignified than that?!
Bright is a bit angry, but also full of bitterness. This guy is really something. Heās super prideful when he is prideful, not a single thing in the world can be in his eyes; when he is trying to humble himself heās so humbling heās more positioning himself as a speck of dirt, that anyone can trample on. Say, youāre way past puberty already, can you not go to such extremes, ok?
āWe have a lot of grudges to settle, but, at least listen to me sometimes, wonāt you?ā
āI love you, Hopkin. Maybe not at first, but then Iāve fallen for you more and more. I donāt know why either.ā
āWill you be willing to leave with me?ā
Hopkin is dumbfounded. His head shoots up, staring at Bright with his black, wet pair of eyes, as if Bright has just uttered some alien language.
Bright sighs, and then pulls his chin up, kissing onto him forcefully.
Finally understanding what has happened, Hopkinās tears start streaming down like a waterfall. Heās also choking incessantly like a broken TV, while still holding tightly onto Brightās clothes, not allowing him to stop the kiss. In the end theyāre both tasting the saltiness of tears in their mouths, and then Hopkin even manages to start hiccupping from his cry/kiss.
Authorās notes: Iāve managed to HE hahaha
The end, the end, what follows isnāt important hahaha