The Ugly Truth

“…”
Theron, who had taken no more than two puffs, put his cigar on the ashtray and suddenly stood up.
He went to a nearby bookshelf, took out a book, and when he opened it, a black-and-white photograph fell to the floor.
As he bent down and picked it up, a vast vineyard unfolded beyond the colorless paper.
This vineyard was the goal he had set for himself to escape the memory of his mother, from whom he had long been estranged, being in an accident in his place.
For that goal, he had run without rest.
While thinking it was truly futile, Theron knew that he could not live a normal life if he did not sever this ambiguous guilt towards his mother.
A fool who pretends to be fine on the outside.
No matter how old he got, he would be tormented by a sense of lack, unable to escape the memories of his violent father and incompetent mother, and would stumble.
Although he might be able to find a way to move on by negotiating something other than a vineyard if she, who was lying in a vegetative state on the bed, were to wake up one day, such a miracle would not happen.
Although her condition had improved recently, realistically, the probability of a person in a vegetative state miraculously waking up one day was slim.
So, his priority was to escape from the crappy memories of the past.
For that, he needed this vineyard.
Just as the piano was the priority for Selene, this was just his priority, so if he thought selfishly, there was no need to feel sorry for her.
And yet, when Theron closed his eyes, the moment at the salon concert when Selene looked at him, the moment he looked at her, came to mind, and he found himself biting his lip again and again.
As if to spur on such a Theron, the “Waltz Under the Moon” that Selene had played faintly echoed in his ears.
On top of that, Selene’s voice, which had sounded somewhat gentle, was layered.

“Yes. The reason I decided to sleep with you might have been just for the piano. But I don’t regret it. Theron Cox, because of that, I got to know you better.”

The corners of Theron’s mouth twisted fiercely.
He was so excited by a single word from Selene, spoken without any particular meaning, that he couldn’t sleep, so how could he leave that woman in his heart as a hypocrite who had bribed the judges?
It was indeed cowardly to avoid facing the truth and his own feelings out of fear.
And it was an act of ignoring Selene, who must have put in a bloody effort for the piano.
‘That doesn’t make sense.’
In the end, Theron decided to go out, something he hadn’t planned.
The place he headed to, driving his car without any word to Gary, was Colonel Orlando’s private residence.
That old man would clearly tell him the truth about the competition victory.
He might have to wait for a long time since he was visiting unannounced, but it was better to be there, taking up a seat, than to be receiving Gary’s pathetic looks.
Theron, holding the steering wheel, looked up at the dry sky.
‘Come to think of it, there’s not a single breeze today.’
He wasn’t the type to believe in superstitions, but it was not a good omen.
A day that felt quiet and eerie, separate from being clear.
It felt as if a crow would fly off with a caw, along with an explosion from somewhere.
In fact, on a day like this, it was easy for a fire to start because it was dry, regardless of superstitions.
However, contrary to his worries, Theron arrived safely at Orlando’s private residence without any accidents.
“I’m Theron Cox. The Colonel will know if you tell him I’ve come to see him on business.”
Theron said perfunctorily to Orlando’s adjutant who was blocking his way, and not long after, permission was granted.
“He says you may come in.”
He was lucky.
The Colonel, who seemed to be staying at his private residence, let Theron in right away.
As he entered the office, he saw the Colonel right away.
He was sitting at his desk, wiping the barrel of a revolver.
“We’re seeing each other often these days.”
“So you’re not happy to see me?”
Theron sat in a chair and crossed his legs, unbuttoning his jacket.
Even at his arrogant behavior, Colonel Orlando smiled as if he were watching the antics of a young nephew.
“I’m happy. You and I are in a close relationship, having shared our intentions.”
‘Then you should put down that dangerous-looking revolver.’
As if he had heard his inner murmur, Orlando finally put the revolver in the holster at his waist and looked up.
“Of course, you’ve come to talk about Selene, right?”
Theron gave a slight nod.
“What else is there to talk about between us but Selene?”
“Are you here to tell me that Selene has finally agreed to your proposal?”
“That’s a bit early.”
Theron answered as if he were relaxed, but he felt his throat tighten a little at Colonel Orlando’s question.
Lately, whenever marriage or a proposal was mentioned, Theron would become like this.
“Then? What did you come here so suddenly to talk about?”
“It’s nothing much, I just have a question.”
“Speak.”
Theron took a deep breath.
“Did you interfere with the judging of last year’s Velora Piano Competition, Colonel?”
“Why do you ask?”
Orlando’s smile gradually faded.
“Because I happened to hear something like that.”
“I don’t think you misunderstood my question. I asked why you are asking that.”
Theron regretted not having a cigarette in his mouth.
Then he would have been able to buy some time to think of a suitable reply.
“Because I’m curious.”
“So, why.”
“…”
“Is this question also related to your previous warning not to touch Selene?”
“…”
“Did you start to like Selene or something?”
The sharp question pressed down on Theron’s pounding heart.
“I just don’t want to misunderstand.”
“It seems that whether you misunderstand Selene or not is so important.”
Orlando’s sharp gaze, which seemed to see through him, made Theron freeze.
However, unlike his gaze, Orlando crossed his legs with a gentle curve of his lips.
“Theron Cox. I’ve lived a much longer life than you. I’ve had countless experiences and seen a variety of people.”
“…”
“So sometimes I can see it. How things will turn out. The same goes for a young man like you falling in love with a pretty woman. You asserted to me that you would never do such a thing, but it’s a natural flow that cannot be resisted.”
‘No. I have to say no.’
Even as an alarm bell was ringing in his head, Theron couldn’t say anything, as if the gun in Orlando’s holster were aimed at his neck.
“But it’s not important. I know it’s not a lasting emotion. For people these days, what remains in the end is not a romantic feeling, but the material things that will fill their stomachs. Similarly, what will remain for you in the end will be the vineyard and money, not Selene.”
“What are you trying to say…”
Theron clenched his jaw.
He had not come all this way to have his feelings judged by the Colonel.
As he listened, anger welled up and his head grew hot.
“No need to be angry. I was just trying to say that it’s not a problem even if you like Selene. The reason you fell for her is probably because of her pretty face, but funnily enough, there’s nothing that gets old faster than a pretty face.”
Theron opened his closed lips and retorted.
“I was not attracted to Selene simply because she is pretty.”
“Then the piano? Well, Selene seems to be quite serious about it, but to others, it’s just a tool to make her shine.”
“A tool to make her shine?”
Even at Theron’s fierce tone, Orlando chuckled.
“Are you going to say no? Then are you trying to make the absurd claim that you fell in love with Selene’s soul?”
Theron wanted to refute Orlando’s sneer, but he fell into a deep irony for a moment.

“You mean you fell for me because my face is pretty?”

Just as Selene had once asked him, he didn’t know exactly when or how he had come to like her.
Perhaps it was because he had experienced everything for the first time.
Even though he had slept with countless women so far, the emotions, feelings, and sensations of the moments he shared with Selene were all new and unfamiliar.
So, he had no memory of how he had fallen for her.
He just saw her once and his gaze was drawn, he saw her twice and wanted to see her again, and he saw her three times and couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“No need to think too deeply. Just dismiss it as a temporary feeling of attraction simply because her face is pretty, and you’ll be fine.”
‘No, I don’t want to.’
Although he couldn’t explain the reason for it, this feeling was not a light emotion that would be blown away by the wind.
But the reason he couldn’t refute it at length was because there was no evidence to explain the reason.
It would be impossible unless Selene were to die in an unfortunate accident and he showed his devastated self.
Of course, he hoped that would never, ever happen.
As Theron remained silent, Orlando smiled as if he had won this insignificant conversation.
“Let’s put this conversation aside and go back to your first question. You said you were curious if I had bribed the judges of the competition?”
Theron, though resentful, decided to give up on refuting.
There was no need to fight with him here anyway, and it was wise to find out what he wanted and leave this place as soon as possible.
“…Yes, I did.”
“I bribed them.”
Colonel Orlando answered clearly, without any embellishment.
Theron’s brow furrowed at the answer, which was completely different from what he had expected.
“What did you say…?”
“I said it’s true that I bribed them. That child, Selene, begged me. That she had to win that competition. That she had to.”
‘A lie. This is definitely a lie.’
But contrary to that conviction, Orlando was calm, without a hint of hesitation.
Orlando pulled his chin up as if to end Theron’s confusion and said again with certainty.
“It’s true that Selene has excellent skills, enough to be chosen as a strong candidate for the winner, but anxiety is another matter.”