There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 288

Chapter 288: Chapter 280. Premonition

"They have a field day with this," Abel chuckled while reading the dozens of articles that came out from Zein’s single affirmative word about his relationship with Bassena.

"Why? I already kissed him in front of the camera," Zein rolled his eyes, once again failing to understand people’s interest in his and Bassena’s private life.

Abel swiped the screen to read another bombastic article analyzing all of Zein and Bassena’s ’moments’ that were captured by cameras and videos since Zein’s first public appearance. It was such a nice distraction from all of the wedding frenzy. "You do know that Guide and Esper kissed all the time, don’t you?"

Zein paused from his typing, tilting his side to look at Abel from behind the screen. Right, he kind of forgot that while it wasn’t always the case, guiding through a kiss wasn’t something rare, especially if they needed fast emergency treatment. Kind of like CPR, actually. It was a medical emergency.

"But they already made a lot of speculations in the past," Zein argued, recalling all the gossip about him being a relationship wrecker and that Bassena was two-timing and stuff.

He also recalled their excitement for the airport picture where Bassena holding Zein’s hand tightly all the way to the car, making a lot of theory and bet about their actual relationship. This included making a lot of assumptions about the Temple video that now had been taken down from the net.

"Why are they still acting surprised?"

"Not surprise," Abel corrected his fellow guide. "It’s just an excitement that they finally have the answer and not just wild speculation. You know, just like we always believe we will get the project and act like we already get it, but we still get excited once the announcement is out, right?"

Huh...Zein leaned back and pondered about it. That actually made sense. "Speaking about the announcement, when will it be?"

He knew Radia had already flown to Rexon to meet with the President, and it would be continued with the press conference and contract signing on live television.

"Luncheon, I presumed."

As with any other important announcement, it came out in the afternoon as people were having their lunch break, and everyone from office workers to students had access to their commlink. It would be in the breaking news section, and all channels would air it simultaneously.

That was how important this project was. More than important, it was a groundbreaking one. And while it didn’t concern many people before, the appearance of the black gate in the middle of the green-zone brought back the concern over whether or not it was caused by something in the Deathzone. So now, even those who did not participate would be tuned in on this project.

"Do you change your rooster at all?"

"Just a bit," Zein nodded. "And it might change again in the future, depending on their training result."

"Ahh...the torture," Abel smiled deeply, deviously, almost as if Zein and Alice had managed to corrupt this kind-hearted guide.

Must have been the wedding stress. It was good then that the announcement happened before the wedding, so Abel didn’t have to be stressed out about the result in the middle of his important event.

Just then, the office door opened and Han Shin’s black hair peeked out through the crack. "We’re having executive lunch and viewing party upstairs, wanna come?"

Zein and Abel looked at each other, and, after a shrug, stood up to follow the healer to the twelfth floor’s lounge, which had been converted into a buffet. Bassena was already there, sitting on an armchair in front of the large TV screen they dragged out of a meeting room, while other executives who were already there spread out in the room, making small talk while waiting for their lunch.

Zein slid into the armrest of Bassena’s chair and wrapped his arm around the wide shoulder. All of those articles about them made him miss the esper--or it was probably because Bassena cooked Zein’s favorite meal for breakfast this morning.

"Hey," Bassena looked up, grinning like a kid waiting for praise. "I heed your words and hold back from going to your floor."

"You did good," Zein chuckled, recalling their conversation yesterday in the department store. He retracted his mask and kissed the esper lightly.

"Ugh--get a room."

Han Shin rolled his eyes and groaned in disgust, even though he should have already gotten used to the view. But it was just weird for him to see Zein make the first move and everything. He missed those times when he could make fun of Bassena for chasing Zein around.

Not only he couldn’t make fun of Bassena anymore, but now he also had to suffer the magician’s smug face. Like now. Now--that smirked and wriggling brow.

Zein shook his head at this cat-and-mouse relationship between them, which he still couldn’t understand even now. "Have you heard from your brother these days?" he asked the healer.

Funnily enough, Bassena was still tensing a little bit when Zein picked up a conversation about Han Joon, even though Zein had already said the man wasn’t his type. Unfortunately, Han Shin picked up on Bassena’s expression, and was delighted to get a new source of teasing.

"You mean my hyung who you think is hot?" the healer tilted his head innocently.

Bassena twitched, and Zein had to pat the esper’s cheek gently. He couldn’t help but find it cute though, that no matter what, Han Joon was Bassena’s biggest weakness after Zein.

"Do you have any other brother?"

Han Shin grinned and shook his head. He also shook his head at Zein’s question. "No, and I haven’t heard from him since the New Year too," he leaned back and pursed his lips in contemplation. "He usually gives me a message at least once a week on the weekend--you know, so I know he’s alive and stuff. But sometimes, he’d gone completely off the radar if he was on a mission."

"A mission..." Zein muttered, wondering if was that why Radia couldn’t get ahold of the man. But then, if it was Radia, he should have known about that already.