Chapter 8 - The Crack in the Armor
Back at the Gene Estate, dinner had concluded, and Alex invited Ify and Pretty out to the expansive glass terrace overlooking the glowing coastline. The night breeze was cool, carrying the distant scent of the ocean.
Pretty stood by the railing, staring up at the stars through her round glasses.
Alex walked over, holding a warm cup of herbal tea, which he handed gently to Ify before standing a few paces away from the little girl.
“Do you like stars, Pretty?” Alex asked softly.
“They’re nice,” Pretty answered without looking away from the sky. “They’re very far away, but you can always see them if you look in the right place. Even when the city lights are bright.”
Alex looked down at her profile. The moonlight caught the sharp, innocent line of her cheekbones.
“When I was your age,” Alex said, his voice barely above a whisper, carrying a vulnerability he hadn't shared with a living soul in decades, “I didn’t look at the stars much. I was too busy looking at the ground, making sure I didn’t trip over the next obstacle.”
Pretty turned her head to look at him. Her eyes were serious, devoid of childish mockery.
“That’s because you were scared,” she said simply.
Alex blinked. “Was I?”
“Yes,” Pretty nodded. “People who only look at the ground are either looking for money they dropped, or they’re afraid someone is going to push them. But you can’t see where you’re going if you don’t look up sometimes.”
Ify clutched her teacup, her heart racing. How can she talk to him like that? she thought in sheer terror. Does she have a death wish?
To Ify’s utter astonishment, Alex let out a low, genuine chuckle—a sound so warm and relaxed that even Kang-dae, standing near the doorway, looked like he was witnessing a miracle.
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“You’re right, Pretty,” Alex said, a profound sense of peace washing over his usually tormented mind. “I spent my whole life looking down. Maybe it’s time I started looking up.”
For the first time, the heavy burden of the Gene Syndicate didn't feel quite so crushing. The chilling loneliness that had defined his existence began to melt away, replaced by the warmth of an unexpected, impossible connection.
