Chapter 26 - Are We Close? (2/2)

On the other side of the things, Darren had only taken a couple of steps on his way back when he saw his security team running his way.

”Sir, are you okay?” The head of security inquired with his stern face but his furrowed brows gave away his anxiousness.

”Don't ask--it's still too early to tell,” Darren replied ambiguously. ”Anyway, what's the rush? Why do you look like the time I almost...”

”Darren!” His chief of security; Shota interrupted him mid-sentence, not letting him go back to the memory of that time. Sometimes, Darren wondered whether he was the one still chained to that memory or Shota was. However, he never voiced it out. Shota was an ex-Special Forces officer who had been with him since he was a teenager. So, it was not hard to tell that Darren meant a lot to Shota and the same went the other way around.

Darren raised his hands in defense as he said, ”Okay, I won't finish that thought. But really, why do you look so worried?”

”When I didn't find you at the pool, I thought...”

”That someone kidnapped me?” Darren finished his words for him and earned a glared in response. ”Relax! I'm not a kid. I can very well take care of myself.”

Shota was surprised to see Darren in a playful mood. What happened to this iceberg? But he knew that he won't be able to hear a word from Darren even if he asked directly. ”Where did you go?” So, he used indirect manners.

Darren looked at the forty-something security officer of his who still could shame youngsters with his fitness and vigor. ”I was learning the art of change and acceptance.” He replied solemnly.

”Huh?” Even at his age, Shota could say that Darren loved to give him a hard time with his mysterious way of talking. Why did this boss of his never understand that he was the guy who loved using his fists to solve the problem, not his brain? Well, not everyone could find pleasure in mind games anyway.

”You won't understand even if I tell you,” Darren said as he put a hand in his jeans pocket while the other was raking through his dark hair as he started walking again. The rest of his security team also followed suit in silence.

Darren really wasn't in the mood to explain his encounter with Xiu to Shota. He knew that Shota would overreact. Because for Shota, nothing was a coincidence.

As for the art of change and acceptance, he had learned it very well today.