27: "I need your PRESENCE, not your PRESENT"

Despite receiving reports from his men from the registry office and the ones who look out at Yuki's house, Kevin keeps calm. He didn't fluster, not even anxious. He holds onto the principle that haste makes waste. Thus, he lets everything follow the flow.

He didn't know who was the person behind all these disturbances lately but he is hundred percent sure that it was not Kenji because Kenji won't need Yuki's pictures. Plus, his lackeys won't hesitate to barge into Yuki's house as they did before.

Therefore, instead of stressing himself thinking about this matter, it is better to let it be. Sooner or later, everything will be known. Plus, he wanted to know that person's real intention.

Kevin is having lunch with Raiden and he told him everything that happened. Raiden looks at him dumbfoundedly, loss for words.

"Y- You really did nothing?! Shouldn't you at least send your men after that guy? Or find out who is the hacker that tried to find out about Yuki? Why are you being so... relaxed?!"

Kevin just wiggles his eyebrows and smirks.

"Don't tell me...you no longer care about Yuki?" Raiden's eyes widened and stared straight at him.

"What a bullshit."

Raiden heaves a sigh of relief. As long as Kevin still cares and loves Yuki, then it is fine. He and his partner, Mika, like Yuki. His presence changes Kevin in many ways. Moreover, Yuki is pure and innocent, unlike Kevin's one-night stand.

"Then, what's your plan?"

Kevin hums. "I let nature take its course. I cannot focus on two things at one time and I also cannot focus on one thing and forget the other. So, I will just be on guard and do whatever I can in case the matter turns the worst."

Raiden frowns, "Two..things?"

"The whore and the perverted geezer."

Raiden huffs. 'What a nice combination.'

Raiden out of nowhere thinks of an excellent idea. "Hey, how about you get married to Yuki as soon as possible? Maybe that will stop April from disturbing you again."

Kevin shakes his head, unfazed by the idea from Raiden. "Do you think marriage will stop a nutcase like her? Even a tsunami won't be able to stop her crazy ideas." Kevin scoffs. "I will marry Yuki but not now. I will wait until he finishes high school. I don't want to pressure him with this thought."

Raiden lifts his right eyebrow, "What do you mean by pressuring him with this thought? Yuki loves you, he won't feel pressure about marriage."

Kevin shows a faint smile, more like a defeated smile. "I know he loves me but at the same time, he still feels like he is indebted and owed me. He still has the thought of 'repaying my kindness' and 'won't trouble me anymore in the future'. Aren't we lovers? Why would lovers care about repaying or returning the favor? I still didn't get him sometimes." Kevin releases a heavy sigh.

Raiden pondered for a moment, "Perhaps, he was raised like that? You heard yourself that Ellis told you how his neighbors love his family. Until now, they still treated him so well. This means their family is a good one. Who knows, his parents already taught him that every kindness he received must be returned tenfold, or something like that. Probably, he thought it was an obligation for him to do that, no matter if it was towards his family, friends or even his loved one."

Kevin puts down his fork and knife at the center of the plate in the position of 04:20, picks up the napkin on his lap to wipe his mouth then puts it on his left. He leans back and sighs, "Did you ever face any problem with Mika?"

Raiden huffs. "With his personality, you think it's gonna be easy to handle? He is three times harder to understand. You're lucky Yuki is easy to talk to."

Kevin chuckles and nods agreeing. Mika is hard-headed and short-tempered. Only someone as calm as Raiden can handle him and that's also the reason Mika feels head over heels with the guy opposite Kevin. In contrast, Yuki is gentle and soft-spoken. He is easily trampled by others due to his naivety.

"Just talk to him if you have any problem. How you want him to open up to you, he also wished for you to open up to him. Tell him every problem, seeking advice or opinions from him. It might sound like nothing but that little thing makes him feel a little bit useful to you. As much as he received from you, he also wanted to give something to you. Maybe not physically but emotionally."

Kevin just sighs and doesn't say anything in return.

"So, now?" Raiden wiggles his eyebrows, expecting some answers.

"Still, marriage needs to wait until he gets his high school diploma. I want him to keep focusing on studying at this moment and I know that's the most important to him right now. But, I will bring up this matter to him soon to know his opinion. If he agrees, we will register our marriage before he enrolls in college."

Raiden nods twice. "I think that's the best. If you need any help, just tell me. And if you're getting married, please tell me AT LEAST a month ahead of the date."

Kevin knitted his eyebrows then a second later he smirks, "You want to sponsor my wedding attire?"

"My wife is the best fashion designer. A suit or two is not a problem." Raiden said smugly. Kevin rolls his eyes.

During work, Kevin couldn't concentrate at all. He keeps thinking about what Raiden told him.

Marriage.

His lips are unconsciously curved. Imagine their newlywed lives, honeymoon in the Maldives or maybe Hawaii. The grin is wider when Kevin thinks of mini Kevin or mini Yuki running around the house.

Kevin is drowned in his imagination, he didn't hear someone knock on the door and already walked inside his office. Ellis was frozen when he saw his boss grinning and giggling by himself. His jaw wide opened and his eyes bulged.

Ellis is in a dilemma, to go back quietly and pretend like he saw nothing or just call out his boss and pretend like he saw nothing. Either way, he has to pretend as if nothing happened but the first choice will save his boss' face.

And so he decided to, "Ehem. *cough* cough*"

The smile immediately fades and the curved lips form a thin line. The stupid-looking face turned poker and serious. But the reddened earlobes still cannot be hidden. Ellis bites his lips, preventing him from bursting out his laugh. He clears his throat, "Mr. Kevin, Hina Corp. has sent over the copy of progress of the project between them and Evo Org." Ellis puts down the fax in front of Kevin.

"Hmm. Okay, thank you."

"And..." Ellis hesitates.

Kevin didn't lift his head and just rolled his eyes upwards to see his fidgeting PA. "What is it? Spit it out."

"Miss April Stewart insisted on meeting you, Mr. Kevin. She has been waiting for about half an hour in the lobby. She wanted to come up to your office but the receptionist and the guards were holding her back as you've ordered so she just waited for you in the lobby. She said she won't go until she meets you."

Kevin clicks his tongue. "Let her come up."

Ellis turns to leave and calls the receptionist to let April come up to the top floor. The receptionist tried to be kind as it is part of her working etiquette, so she tried to lead the way for April but the latter arrogantly waved her hand. "No need to escort me. It's not like it is my first time here and maybe in the future we'll be meeting more often," she smirks.

The guard and the receptionist looked at each other with scrunched-up faces. They scoff then continue their work.

April directly heads to Kevin's office as she always did. Walking with head held up high as if she's on the runway where all eyes are on her.

Without knocking, she pushed open the door to Kevin's office, causing the man inside to feel annoyed to death.

"Hello, darling. Why didn't you pick up your phone? I've been calling you several times to inform you that I'll be coming here." While walking to Kevin's side and landing her ass on the table, she keeps on babbling. "You see, you should fire the receptionist and the guard. How dare they stop me from coming here. Just a low-level worker but acting almighty. If you didn't have the heart to fire her, I can do it for you."

Kevin yanks his arm that was being rubbed sluttily and makes a distance between them. "They are MY workers and who are YOU? What rights do you have to fire them?"

The hand that was being pushed away hung in the air. April grits her teeth and tries to control her expression. "I- I'm just... worried for you. I didn't me- mean anything. Sorry."

Kevin brushed off the topic and changed into a new one instantly. "So, what's the reason for this visit? Are you sure you're not coming here just to fire my employees, aren’t you?"

April stiffly smiles. "I'm here to invite you to my birthday party this weekend. Well, supposedly, as you know, my birthday is this Thursday but I can't hold a party during weekdays. It won't be fun so I will hold it on Saturday. In that way, everyone can attend."

Kevin raises his left eyebrow, looking at her in confusion. 'As you know? Sorry but I never remember your birthday. It was you who forcefully reminded me so I will remember it.'

Looking at the guy who didn't say anything but just kept looking at her weirdly, April bites inside her mouth. "Please, don't say no, Kevin. It's fine even just for a while."

Kevin frowns with the persistent voice that sounds so annoying to his hearing. The high-pitched voice that April thinks she's so cute and seductive using is a turn-off for Kevin. If he is getting hard while thinking about Yuki's body, he needs to hear this voice. For sure, it will go soft instantly.

"Sorry, I'm busy. What do you want? I'll send it later." Spending a few hundred or thousand dollars is nothing compared to attending the party.

"No. I want YOU to attend. I don't need a present."

"I told you, I'm busy." Kevin slightly grunts startling April.

But the shameless woman won't back off and give up. "It's freaking SATURDAY! What are you so busy with?"

"It's freaking none of your business what I'm busy with. Do you think I don't have friends to hang out with? And more importantly, did you forget I have a boyfriend? It is better to roll in the sheet with my boyfriend than attend your party."

April clenched her fists. Crescent lines form on her palm as her nails dipped into the skin. She takes a deep breath and eases her expression. Her lips twitched from faking a smile. "Fine. Then, you can bring along your b- boyfriend to the party. I can get to know him as well. Maybe we could be friends. Raiden and Mika also have agreed to come."

April knew everyone who was close to Kevin so of course, she would know Kevin's best buddy. As for Mika, she used to meet him a few times during a fashion show. She also modeled for one of the fashion shows that Mika's company held. Later on, she knew Raiden and Mika were a couple and already married.

"If both of them come, then I don't have to personally come to pass your present, right? I'll ask them to give it to you."

Stomping on her heels, April slams on the table. "Kevin! Why are you doing this? You never missed my birthday party even if you came just for a few minutes. I need your PRESENCE, not your PRESENT!"

Kevin thinks the annoying woman in front of him won't stop making a scene until he agrees, "Fine. I'll come."

April's face immediately lights up. "Really? Promise me, okay?" Kevin just wiggles his eyebrows. "Thank you! Don't forget to wear something red or maroon. It's the dress code!"

Kevin hums lazily. April didn't mind it as she's currently over the moon. "Alright. See you this Saturday, at 8 pm. I'm leaving first. Bye!"

As soon as the door is shut, Kevin smirks. "Well, I didn't say I promised you. *sigh* Three hours more. I miss my baby..."