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“Here’s the report of my examination of your client.”
Vyn said as he slid down a brown paper folder into Artem’s glass desk. The senior attorney inspected it right away, taking out the contents before blue eyes quickly scanning the content of the documents. Vyn was standing in front of the lawyer’s desk, one hand inside his white lab coat pocket.
“As you had expected, he is a drug addict. He stopped six months ago, but he’s relapsing. For further explanation, you can read it on the report. I’m afraid your client is not innocent for this case.” The doctor said, briefing the two attorneys of the examination he conducted on one of Artem’s clients. The psychiatrist hid a snicker in between his explanation; Vyn saw the case report, besides the fact that the client did in the fault, the complexity of the said case is inequal for attorneys of Artem and Rosa’s caliber. But of course, the client has power and money that he’s able to hire Themis Law Firm as their lawyer. If you can’t avoid the charge, what’s should you do next, then? Hire an attorney with 99% win rate, of course.
Sometimes, the world is just laughable like that, he thought to himself as he slid another brown paper folder, this time is thinner than the first folder. “And here’s the signed expert witness statement. You can call me to be present on court trial if it’s necessary,” Vyn’s tone has a slight sarcasm inside it, making sure the older man catches the hidden mockery. Rosa didn't suspect a thing as the younger attorney keep busying herself with the documents on the desk in front of her, diligently taking notes and summarizing the abundant informations available.
Unlike Rosa, Artem glanced at him -pretty much getting the sarcasm- looking exasperated, “Thank you, but there’s no need for that. This is sufficient.”
“Rosa, complied all of these with exculpatory evidence we have had gathered so far. We will go with a plea deal for lesser charges and more lenient sentences. Arranged the best possible output.” The senior attorney gave out instructions as he handed out the documents Vyn provided to his partner, which the woman accepted and sorted out right away with a serious look.
“Yes Mr. Wing, I will get it done right away.” She said, before springing out from her seat and walked out from the office with all the documents, her heels clack echoing inside Artem's office.
Vyn waited for Artem’s office door to be fully shut by the young lawyer before opening his mouth, “Now, business thing aside-” he strolled to the seat Rosa just used, dropping to the couch and making himself comfortable, “You noticed, didn’t you.”
Artem stopped typing on his laptop, managing a glance at the psychiatrist. “Are we talking about Marius?”
At the mention of the youngest NXX member's name, Vyn definitely flinched but hid it well from the attorney. “Yes,” He said with heavy voices.
The older man sighed as he closed his laptop. “Then, of course. I don’t think there’s a term of subtlety inside his dictionary.”
Vyn took off his glasses, wiping the lenses with a handkerchief, “I see.”
“I know I won’t get a straight answer from you. So I went to Marius instead yesterday,” Artem told the adjudicator with accusing looks. The lawyer remembered his confrontation with the young CEO yesterday as he watched the professor adjusting his glasses back. What Marius said during that confrontation still lingered in Artem's mind; he knows about Marius's straightforwardness, what he didn't expect is the possessiveness the younger had toward the doctor.
Don’t get me wrong, Artem. I’m dead serious about him
Artem was quiet when his brain rewinding what the youngest had declared. How those purple eyes burnt with determination, emanating power and danger. The Libra raises his head to looks at his friend; Vyn is smart, smarter than all NXX members combined, but sometimes the adjudicator looks oblivious to things so obvious in front of him. If Artem had to be honest, he was genuinely worried. Vyn tends to lower his guard toward someone who’s he considers close enough to be an ally. It’s not that Artem didn’t think that Marius isn’t qualified for his business friend, it's just that professor Neil trusted Giann, and then-
“…and what did he say?”
Vyn’s soft voice cut through his train of thoughts. Artem shook his head to throw the negative thoughts away. He looked up to see Vyn was watching him with curious eyes, “He said that you neither reject nor accept him, and he will continue with his pursuit. I don’t know if that’s a good or bad sign.”
Artem heard a soft chuckle that came from the psychiatrist. “That does sound like him.”
Artem frowned when he hears fondness deep buried inside Vyn’s usual neutral tone. “What about you, then?”
Vyn ignored the question. The white-haired professor stood up from his seat, walking to the large window on Artem’s office. The attorney could see how Vyn placed one hand through the glass, his sharp gaze scanned through the busy city panorama. Artem raised his brow, finger rhythmically tapping the desk as he waits for the other to answer his question.
“As of now…” The psychiatrist started, before trailing off, letting his sentences unfinished. He saw Artem's tapping fingers from his peripheral vision. Sensing the lawyer’s thinning patience, Vyn turned around to face him, “Honestly, I don’t know.”
The older man sense a migraine forming at the back of his head from the laid-back answer he got. “How can this happen in the first place though? Are you-”
Vyn was quick to cut the other, “Are you implying that I flirted with my student, Artem? I never expected you to think so low of me.” The psychiatrist scowled to the attorney, his eye twitching in annoyance at the other’s accusation; the professor loathes it when people question his professionalism when doing his job. He never for once thought that Artem of all people will question his work ethics.
Artem challenged the fiery golden glare, keeping his own frown present clearly, “I am saying that this isn’t like you. You are always able to separate your personal and professional life, so this slip actually came as a huge surprise for me.”
“Trust me, I am also surprised by this turn of events.” Vyn caved in, heaving a long sigh. “If you are asking if I treat Marius differently than my other student, then yes. But that’s because he is my student and my co-worker. I never act around him that can possibly cultivate this feeling he’s having right now.”
Artem was feeling skeptical; he did see how Vyn treat the youngest during NXX business, so he can affirm the other’s statement of un-favoritism, but he can’t say so about Vyn’s private tutor session with Marius. The senior attorney wants to ask about that because he bet that their tutor session is actually what sow the seed in the first place. After contemplating whether to press more or not for what felt like forever in what in reality was just a mere five seconds, Artem decided against it. He ended up with only a tired question, “… So, what will you do?”
“My first step -which I’m currently doing- is to distance myself from him,” Vyn explained as his hands moves, making a motion of creating distance between his two hands, before shaking his head. “I’m trying to see what space and ignorance will do, but so far, it didn’t do anything to hamper him.”
“My second step is to understand myself better. Confirming whether or not I want to try accepting his feeling.” This time, Vyn walked back to the couch, plopping back to the soft cushion. “And the third step- well, confronting him.”
Artem couldn’t believe his ears. “Your plan sounds unconvincing from the second step.” He said, deadpanned.
“I merely say that I will try to accept it after I know what I really want.” Vyn shrugged off the judging looks he got from the brunette lawyer. The psychiatrist reached out to his leather bag on the table, pulling out a box of poker cards from the front pocket.
“You are serious about him?”
Vyn had this mysterious smile on his lips as he hazardously threw the box content to the glass desk. He scattered the cards around, searching for that specific card in mind. The professor's hands stopped moving when he found the black clover king card he’d been searching for, his hand hovering above the said card. “Just like him being interested in me for whatever reason… something about him intrigued me too.”
“Both of you talk as if this is just a game,” Artem criticized.
“In a way… it’s actually is.” Vyn amusedly said as he take the card into his hand, twirling it with his nimble fingers. “Attraction is on people's subconscious level, so you don't proactively select who you're attracted to. But since there’s this unforeseen mutual interest about him and I, it will be interesting to explore it more, no?”
“You are insane.” Artem tiredly said, head shaking lightly when he realize that Vyn was actually enjoying the youngest’s undivided attention and if Artem could say it- obsession.
“My, you hurt my feeling. Don’t worry, this is but a mere speculation, Artem. Yes, I do plan a few steps ahead, but it’s all about progress. I need to see where’s this going before making my move or any decision.” Vyn replied as he played around with the card in his hand, his voice light and with a hint of mischieve.
There is no stopping on him, isn't it? For the love of God, these two- Artem accepted the fact that whatever he says to Vyn will only fall on deaf ears. “Just be careful. I don’t really trust the PAX after all that happened with professor Neil’s disappearance-”
This time, Vyn openly scowled at Artem. “Distrust inside compact organization like us is a big flaw, Artem. It will create a rift.” The adjudicator firmly warns, clearly not pleased to hear such a statement. It amazed Artem that Vyn's calm and easy attitude when talking about his personal life changed drastically when talking about the organization.
Artem raised both his hands in surrender act at the harsh tone directed to him, “Yes, I know. It’s not like I don’t trust him.” At Vyn’s unamused expression, the older added “I trust him as much as a business associate will do.”
Vyn sighed, “That’s not much trust, then.”
“You get my point.”
Vyn couldn’t help how his lips tugged upward in a small smile at his friend’s concern. “Oh yes, I do. I understand your concern, Artem. But rest assured, I can handle myself.” The professor assured the other as he started cleaning up the mess on the coffee table, gathering the scattered card and stacking them together.
Artem stood up from his leather chair, now choosing to lean his weight to his table, sitting lightly on the furniture. “I actually worried about you. But now I am equally worried about him too.” He truthfully said, crossing his arms.
Vyn snickered at the elder jab, Artem is one of the few individuals who are able to give the psychiatrist that kind of attitude. “While you’re busy worrying about us, how about you finding your own life, then?” Vyn can’t help but counter the said mockery with his own.
“I don’t want to hear that from you.” Despite the cold response, Artem smiled at him.
As Vyn finished cleaning up his belongings, he walked to the standing lawyer, offering the only card he didn’t put inside the poker box. Artem raised his eyebrow at that, clearly confused as to why Vyn give that card to him, but he still took the piece of card. “Really, you should stop worrying,” Vyn said with a simple, most genuine smile he had ever given someone, before excusing himself.
When Vyn was about to exit his office, Artem called out again, “Be careful, Vyn.”
He only got a smile as an answer,
and then the door closed.
“Be careful, huh.”
Inside his spacious vintage-style study, Vyn was building a card pyramid. It was like that time when Rosa first came into his residence as a test for the young attorney to be a part of NXX. But this time, instead of consisting of numerous ace cards, this one is built by dozens of black king cards. The adjudicator had opened boxes of cards just to collect the spade and the clover king card, and then start building the pyramid with them.
“You don’t understand the fun of riling an emperor, Artem.”
He said as he marveled at the beautiful card structure he just made. It was balanced and stable, symmetric and well-shaped. There’s one card left on the table, a black clover king. The club card, symbolling life’s small joys - which are usually fleeting, passing by at a moment’s notice. Impulsiveness – a chance that needs quick action to reap the benefits.
Like a certain ‘King’, Vyn thought.
The white-haired doctor then flicked one of the cards located on the bottom of the pyramid. One of its foundation parts was gone, the card structure crumbled down like leaves getting blown by the wind. The adjudicator let out a smirk,
“You get the king. You get the empire.”