Desire Me If You Can [Novel] - Chapter 75

Kwang, another loud noise reverberated. Dein looked up anxiously towards the direction of the smoke. It seemed like bombs were being detonated inside the building, as smoke was rising from the same place a second time. People who had been working near the crowded street, not too far from there, were seen covering their mouths with handkerchiefs or outerwear as they ran out. Dein immediately called the fire department.
“There’s an explosive device, please respond immediately. The address is…….
He then requested the deployment of a bomb disposal unit in anticipation of more bombs before abruptly hanging up. Just as he was about to rush into the building,
Suddenly someone grabbed his arm from behind. Caught off guard by the forceful grip, Dein staggered and was pulled back. Turning his head, his face contorted in anger. A man with a pale face was breathing heavily and looking down at him.
“What are you doing, are you crazy?”
Dein looked at Grayson Miller’s face with a furrowed brow. What is this man doing?
“Let go.”
He tried to shake off the hand, but it was no use. After several attempts, Dein, unable to conceal his irritation, said harshly,
“Let go, what are you doing, you?”
“What are you doing!”
Grayson yelled back. The sudden shout made Dein’s ears ring, and just as he was about to retort, Grayson quickly continued,
“There’s an explosive, what are you thinking going in there now?”
His face was ghostly pale, as if Dein might be blown to pieces right before his eyes.
Dein, silently watching Grayson, finally spoke,
“Someone has to do it.”
“Why does it have to be you, wait for the bomb experts to arrive…”
“I have to do it.”
Dein cut off Grayson’s subsequent words. Grayson paused momentarily,
“What?”
After a beat of silence, Dein continued,
“I’ve handled explosives before. Did it several times in the military. So let go, it’s my job.”
Grayson tried harder to hold on to his arm, now painfully tight. As Dein grimaced in pain, Grayson hesitated but did not loosen his grip.
“Why does it have to be you?”
Grayson couldn’t understand. Isn’t it obvious? The building continued to explode and burn, and he wanted to go in there alone?
 “Why would you do that, you could die!”
Despite repeated warnings, Dein’s expression remained unchanged. He simply looked back as if to say, what are you trying to tell me? Eventually, Grayson faltered.
“Aren’t you scared of dying?”
Hesitantly, Dein answered calmly,
“I’m scared.”
“But why…!”
As Grayson was about to continue, he sighed heavily and covered his face with his hand. The situation was incomprehensible. Confused, he just stood there, watching as Dein finally spoke,
“You have a large family, right?”
“…siblings.”
Grayson reluctantly answered. What did this question mean? As he pondered, Dein’s face entered his line of sight. A faint smile appeared on his usually indifferent face. Surprised, Grayson stared blankly as Dein whispered,
“People like you shouldn’t die, so I’m doing it.”
Grayson was speechless, his hand frozen. Dein gently freed his hand. This time, it came off easily, and Dein smiled, a calm smile he had never shown before. Turning away, he left Grayson speechless,
“I’m alone, so it’s okay.”
“De…”
Grayson tried to call out his name, but Dein had already turned away. He disappeared quickly into the building. Grayson could no longer hold him back.
Explosions continued. It was unclear whether it was the sound of bombs exploding or the building collapsing. Amidst the terrifying noise mixed with people’s screams, Grayson just stood there, dazed.
What had happened?
Despite his best efforts to think, it was impossible. His mind was a jumble, unable to make any clear judgment. The smoke-filled sky blurred the passage of time, and he couldn’t even tell how long he had been standing there. He just watched. The people in uniforms rushing by, the people shouting as they passed.
…Dein Striker, who still hadn’t come out.
How could he do such a thing?
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand. Knowing he might die, yet he ran in? Voluntarily?
Even though he wasn’t on duty. It wasn’t a situation where he had to go in because of work, risking his life for nothing? Why?
This was the second time he had seen such behavior. Joshua Bailey had risked his life for Grayson’s brother Chase. Despite no guarantees.
But they were lovers. Grayson could somewhat accept that, a love willing to sacrifice life itself, even if he didn’t understand it.
But this was different for Dein. There was no lover inside for Dein. Not even an acquaintance. Going into that building for complete strangers? Risking his life?
It made no sense; such things should not be possible…
Grayson was still in turmoil, just staring at the burning building. The black smoke turned into a giant cloud, covering the entire sky.
It was hours later when Dein came out of the building. His hair singed and his face smeared with soot, he was breathing heavily but fortunately was unharmed as another firefighter supported him.
“It’s lucky there were no more bombs.”
Ezra spoke in a light admonishing tone.
“What were you thinking running in there barehanded? What could you have done?”
Dein answered nonchalantly to the obvious question.
“There might have been office supplies like cutter knives or tools, or at least I could have helped locate the bomb.” “Stop doing dangerous things.”
Ezra smacked him on the back loudly before hurrying him into the back of an ambulance. Left alone, Dein coughed occasionally as he drank the water provided by the paramedic. He sat there, continuously hydrating his throat, which felt raw. After finishing one bottle and about to open another, a shadow loomed overhead. Dein looked up and chuckled.
“Have you not left yet?”
Grayson looked down at him with an expressionless face. It was a very strange reaction considering he usually just joked around. Puzzled, Dein blinked slowly as Grayson finally spoke after a long silence.
“… You ruined the date.”
The quiet voice was a stark contrast to his earlier shouting. Dein felt strange.
“Yeah, sorry.”
As usual, he apologized promptly and soon smiled nonchalantly.
“Let’s do it again. When should we?”
Grayson was silent again. What was he thinking? Suddenly, Dein remembered. Was Grayson Miller always such
an enigmatic man?
“…Later.”
I took a while for Grayson to respond.
“Later, when I want.”
I was a simple promise. Dein shrugged and replied,
“As you wish.”
Grayson stared at Dein for a long moment before turning away. Without a goodbye, he walked away heavily. Dein watched his receding figure for a moment before shifting his gaze and drinking more water. Beyond the rising smoke, the sun was setting.