There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 117

Chapter 117: Chapter 113. The Touch of Depth

"So what do you think?" Bassena asked as they walked along the pier of the artificial lake.

It was painted white and a beautiful pair with the lake that reflected the color of the bright sky. Zein had to walk carefully though, because he kept looking at the water rather than the walkway.

But Bassena’s question had him shift his gaze toward the esper. "Of what?"

"My work,"

Zein could see the amber eyes glittering with anticipation, and he wanted to mention that Bassena’s work was supposed to be raiding dungeons. But seeing the enthusiasm that almost seemed too innocent, Zein just smiled subtly beneath his mask and replied casually.

"It’s interesting," Zein could see the sparkles increasing inside the fiery orbs. "There’s a lot of things I have never seen before, so..."

Almost instantly, he could see the esper deflated--the metaphorical puppy ears were sagging down. "Hmm..." Bassena muttered quietly, lips pursing in disappointment. There was no countenance of that suave, charming gentleman he showed to the whole federation earlier.

Ah, Zein truly preferred this Bassena, who was true to his emotions--something that Zein found difficult to do. He decided to stop teasing the man then.

"You looked good," he said, and Bassena almost paused walking, snapping his head to look at Zein so swiftly. "You looked cool."

"Oh?" it was easy to hear the sound of excitement in his voice.

And then, in a nonchalant voice, Zein added. "But I like you more when you’re cute."

"Hnggh!" Bassena groaned, once again covering his face with his hands. It’s frustrating that Zein was actually being truthful about it--that’s right, his type was the cute one. "I can never win, can I?"

"Who are you competing with?" Zein rolled his eyes in response.

"Your heart?" Bassena chuckled after sighing, and then proceed to warn the guide as they climbed into the yacht he--or rather, Lex--had been prepared. "Oh, be careful, it might sway,"

Just in time, because the ship did sway and Zein held onto the railing steadily thanks to that warning, before continuing to step into the yacht. Behind them, Lex watched with an unimpressed gaze.

"Then why are you telling him that, Commander?" he commented while shaking his head, prompting Bassena to look at him with narrowed eyes. "You should let Sir Zein lose his balance and catch him,"

The amber eyes widened as Bassena paused and slowly parted his lips. "...you should have told me that before we’re coming here, Lex..."

"I thought you were already an expert enough in a matter of wooing," the assistant shrugged and replied with a smirk.

"Hey--"

"He’s gone, Sir," with a grin, Lex pointed to an empty spot beside Bassena which was supposed to be filled with Zein. But the guide was nowhere to be seen.

With a simple glance, they found the lithe figure had climbed over the deck, and crouched behind the railing to peek at the water below. The guide captain that usually looked stern and cool now had sparkles in his sapphire eyes like an excited child, fingers clutching into the railing tightly.

As the boat started to move and the water churned below, a soft exclaim left the guide’s parted lips. "Ah..." again, his body swayed by the sudden movement. But this time, there was a sturdy arm holding his midriff steady.

"Be careful," the esper warned a second time with a smile, watching the eager look in the blue eyes with delight.

With eyes still fixed on the water as the boat began to sail away, Zein replied with a smile of his own. "Well, you’ll keep me steady, won’t you?"

Bassena paused at that remark, which was thrown casually by the guide. The man was happily watching the water part and feeling the stray droplets splashed over his face, oblivious to the way his words sent the esper’s heart into palpitation.

"Is Jock driving this too?" Zein looked up innocently toward the cockpit, only to see Bassena frown slightly while staring at him. "...what?"

"I’m weak for your seduction, Zein, don’t do it in public," the esper sighed and smiled playfully.

Zein wanted to roll his eyes and told the man he never did any seducing. But the amber eyes were hard and serious, and Zein found it hard to reply as he planned.

Shifting his gaze back to the water, Zein just muttered in response. "Train your restraint more."

"I’m trying," the grip on the guide’s waist was getting tighter. "You’re not making it easy for me,"

Zein laughed at the esper’s pouting lips, feeling his heart finally lighten after the heavy time in the studio. He planned to never go there again, even if he had to break Bassena’s heart because of it. But looking at the water and bright sky felt like a healing for the arduous time earlier.

"Look at you," Bassena chuckled at the blue eyes that shone brightly. "You looked so bored before, like nothing mattered," or rather, like he wanted the day to be over quickly. Even if Zein found the set and the shooting to be interesting, there were many places he’d rather be than there.

But now, from his expression to his gesture, all screamed joy. "It’s so different from the face I see now,"

"Can you even see my face?" Zein scoffed.

"I can see your eyes,"

"Everyone can see my eyes."

"Not like me," the esper leaned his face closer, a confident smile on his handsome face. "Not this close."

The smile looked like a triumph, as if the man was proud of the privilege he was allowed to have, being in the proximity of the guide’s glee.

Gazing at the amber eyes that were looking deep at him, Zein asked with a tilted head. "Is this your way of asking for a reward?"

Pfft--Zein stifled his laugh with a shaking shoulder, prompting the esper to tighten his hold on Zein’s waist to keep the guide’s balance better.

"So there’s this tower built into the sea floor, for research and stuff. But there’s also an observatory for commercial purposes, and we can watch the deep sea from the window there," Bassena started to explain, and he could hear the guide swallowing at his words.

With a soft smile, Bassena leaned down and whispered, as if they were about to make some secret plan. "Shall we go there someday? It’s quite far though, and it’ll be a waste to spend only one or two days--since it’s in the southern kingdom--so we need to beg for a vacation from Radia first."

"Yeah...let’s do that," Zein replied immediately, also in a whisper, getting carried away by the esper’s antic. But he paused then, and glanced toward their hotel’s direction. "...would it be possible to sleep in a place like that too? Where I can see the sea from the bedroom?"

"Sure, you can," Bassena nodded with a grin. "There’s also a cruise ship if you want to sleep above the water too," he added, "Ah, but then you won’t be able to play on the beach..."

"...beach," Zein almost gasped. "The sandy place?"

Bassena blinked at how innocent the guide sounded during this whole conversation. "Yeah..." he replied in a soft voice, stroking the guide’s back gently. "It’s nice to stand at the beach and let the seawater wash away on your feet,"

"Mm..." Zein sighed at the imagery, and Bassena felt his heart pounding and clenching hard.

"Sounds nice, isn’t it?" Bassena took a deep breath and smiled. At this point, he couldn’t even think about a prospect date or whatever. Just the thought of witnessing Zein’s sparkling eyes at the simplicity of seeing a massive body of water, or having his feet washed by little waves--it was all enough for Bassena to want to grant it immediately.

But just as he said, the journey would need careful planning around their busy schedule, so he just said softly. "Look forward to it, okay?"

Zein froze suddenly at the words.

Looking forward to something...

Had Zein ever looked forward to something before? No--had he ever let himself to, not just looking at tomorrow, but also the day after, the week after, the month after...probably the year after.

Staring at the softly rippling water, the blue eyes flickered at the faraway memories. Of course, there was such a day. The days when he planned about being a legal guide and brought his brother to a safer place.

He was looking forward to the day when his contract ended and he could seek a residential permit in the higher zone. Looking forward to sending his brother to a better school, seeing them standing and living on their own, and then...

And then what?

Zein had forgotten about all of that. About dreaming of something, and looking forward to something. Drowning, suspended in stagnant water while being moved by others’ whim.

It was why he stopped dreaming about the future, rotting in a place where he searched for answers and death.

But under this blue sky and the beautiful lake, there was no way he could let his heart keep stagnating. Beside the man who kept hammering into the wall blocking his heart, would it be possible to stay cooped up inside his dam?

With a hidden smile on his face, Zein replied in a firm tone, as if making a promise to himself.

"Yeah, I’ll look forward to it."