Ch.152One Step Forward, Three Steps Back! (4)

#152

Today, Dexter and Jessie, who had left work early, were preparing dinner after hearing that Himena would be coming over to eat.

“Ugh… my head is throbbing.”

As Jessie, who was cutting ingredients on the cutting board, groaned in pain, Dexter looked at her with puzzled eyes.

“What’s wrong? Did you catch a cold?”

“No, the engineering department head keeps telling me I need to study engineering books because it’s essential for the maintenance department.”

“Who?”

“You know, the head of the Science and Technology Department.”

“Oh, Tandy?”

“It’s so annoying, seriously. She’s always on my case whenever she sees me.”

Jessie wasn’t one to complain about work-related matters, even during her time in prison. For her to express dissatisfaction meant she was angry enough to potentially turn the maintenance department upside down soon.

However, while Dexter didn’t know Tandy well, she didn’t seem like someone who would deliberately harass Jessie, who wasn’t the type to avoid work.

“It’s probably because you’re the only female mechanic in the maintenance department. She might be doing it because she doesn’t want people saying she’s favoring you because you’re both women.”

“I guess… but still, it’s frustrating… I really didn’t study much when I was in school.”

“Like anyone else did.”

Dexter chuckled as he spoke.

He hadn’t studied much before being abducted into space, and while in space, he had only picked up things that would benefit him.

“Should I get you a learning device?”

“What’s that?”

“It’s like a headband, a memory machine. You scan the book content, wear it on your head, and it makes you ten times more efficient than usual.”

“What? That sounds amazing! Get me one of those.”

“Sure, I can contact Eliya. She’ll probably send one right away. I’ll ask her to include it when she sends the information.”

At Dexter’s words, Jessie grinned and kissed him on the cheek.

“Dexter, you’re the best.”

“You’re just realizing that now?”

“Well… I guess I’ll need to prepare to study after dinner.”

Jessie smiled at Dexter while swaying her hips suggestively.

“I’d like to study other areas too.”

“…Your look seems impure. I don’t think you’re talking about regular studying, but rather studying health education on the bed.”

“Hee. You know exactly what I mean.”

Jessie narrowed her eyes and began to gauge Dexter’s reaction.

There was no point in struggling against Jessie, who had already gotten a taste. If he refused, she would keep making subtle requests while lying next to him in bed.

‘Might as well suffer for an hour or two.’

Though he called it suffering, Dexter was certain he would also have a good time, making it a win-win situation for both of them.

As Jessie and Dexter were looking at each other, creating a subtle atmosphere, the front door suddenly burst open.

“Ah, I’m dying…”

With a tired face, Himena trudged toward the kitchen, gave Jessie a hug, and then hugged Dexter as well.

“I thought work would decrease when the special investigation team arrived, but why does it feel like there’s more?”

“That’s because you’re the only agent stationed there. Ask them to hire some office staff.”

“I’ve been requesting that. But no one wants to come because it’s just me and you.”

“Why?”

“They don’t trust a team with just a rookie agent and an honorary agent who hasn’t been around long. It’s ridiculous, really.”

With those words, Himena plopped down on the sofa with a pouty face and threw off her suit jacket.

“I never imagined OSA would be such a conservative organization, seriously.”

“Well, it’s an institution that’s been around for over 60 years. Even Katy Perry will probably cover her entire body with clothes to hide her skin when she’s 60.”

“The OSA I imagined was a group of secret agents who defeat alien villains threatening Earth, and who work tirelessly in the shadows without receiving applause from citizens… I guess imagination and reality are different.”

“If we’re just talking about the Chief Commander incident, that’s half true, isn’t it?”

As Dexter kept making comments that seemed like objections rather than agreement, Himena furrowed her brow and said:

“Are you going to keep doing that?”

“You don’t like anything I say, and I seem nitpicky? Go take a shower and come back in comfortable clothes from Jessie’s closet.”

Instead of responding with affection, like saying that wasn’t his intention and giving her a warm hug, Dexter made an unusual request, causing Himena to ask:

“…Why?”

“Stay over tonight.”

“But why?”

Dexter, who was stirring the food in the frying pan, glanced at Himena and said:

“It’s because I’m not around. Sleep next to me tonight.”

“…Huh? Then what about Jessie?”

Bewildered, Himena pointed at Jessie, who had started pouting in disapproval as soon as she heard Dexter’s words.

“Jessie will sleep next to me too.”

“You mean all three of us sleep together in the bed?”

“Yeah. Is that not okay?”

Dexter shrugged.

“Will the bed size work?”

“It’s a large king size, but if it doesn’t work, we can bring in the mattress from the guest room and put them together. That one’s a queen size.”

“…You’re not suggesting we do it as a threesome, are you?”

“Do what as a three… hey.”

Realizing that Jessie was having inappropriate thoughts, Dexter slapped her bottom and said:

“Ah!”

“Are you making this suggestion because you can’t forget the time with Emily? Nothing like that is happening tonight.”

“Hey, when did I ever say I couldn’t forget that time…”

“Ahem. Anyway, both of you will sleep quietly in my arms tonight.”

“You’re talking to me like I’m Aisha?”

“Oh my, our Jessie. Won’t you fall asleep in big brother Dexter’s arms tonight?”

As Dexter picked Jessie up and patted her bottom while speaking, Jessie looked at him with a flustered face and said:

“P-put me down. Seriously.”

“Look at you blushing.”

After putting Jessie down, Dexter turned his attention back to the frying pan and said:

“Understood? Himena, go wash up, change clothes, and come back.”

“Jessie, is it okay if I do what Dexter says?”

“…Yeah, it’s fine. But I’m not sure if my clothes will fit you. Oh, and what about underwear? They definitely won’t fit.”

Though Jessie didn’t mean it maliciously, Himena glanced at Jessie’s upper body and then looked down at her own.

For the first time in her life, Himena felt the gap in wealth.

More precisely, it was the first time she felt inadequate.

‘I’m not even that small…’

Seeing Himena hanging her head without saying a word, Jessie just blinked. Himena quickly raised her head again, smiled lightly, and said:

“I have some spares in my car. I’ll go get them quickly.”

While Himena went to get her clothes and underwear from the car, Dexter was finishing up dinner preparations.

When Himena returned after washing away the day’s fatigue with a shower, wearing Jessie’s shorts and t-shirt, Jessie, who was placing food on the table, smiled brightly.

“It suits you well!”

“But the top is a bit loose…”

As Himena slightly lifted the top she was wearing, Jessie, who hadn’t heard Himena’s quiet voice properly, blinked.

“Huh?”

“Nothing, it’s nothing…”

Dexter, who had been watching all along, immediately understood the situation and merely raised one corner of his mouth.

Soon, the three sat at the table and began their meal, starting with light conversation.

“My father keeps calling these days. When I was at home, he was always too busy to meet, but this year, he seems to call at least once a week.”

“You’re an only child, right?”

“Yeah, I’m an only child.”

“Well, that might be natural. After all, his daughter, whom he lived with for almost 20 years, suddenly left home and is living alone. It’s understandable that he’d be worried.”

“Still, it’s strange when someone who never worried before suddenly starts showing concern.”

Indeed, in Himena’s mind, her father was always a stern-faced man whose face she rarely saw clearly.

In severe cases, it was difficult to see him even once a month.

To Himena, her father approaching her now felt like someone pretending to be close.

Dexter understood Himena’s feelings, but he also knew the truth behind that behavior.

“It means he loves you that much. Besides, your father is one of the most prominent businessmen on Earth.”

“It’s awkward, that’s what I’m saying.”

“Even if it’s awkward, he’s still your father.”

Dexter was smiling as he said this, but to Jessie and Himena, it seemed rather melancholic.

Knowing the past hidden behind Dexter’s cheerful demeanor, Jessie and Himena sensed the subtle shift in atmosphere and quickly changed the subject.

“Dexter, do you want to go to Ohio sometime?”

Jessie took the lead.

“Ohio?”

“Well, they’re not really like family, but I thought you should meet them at least once.”

Come to think of it, while Dexter had heard about what Himena’s parents did, he had never heard about Jessie’s parents’ occupations.

‘No, we’ve never talked about it at all.’

He had been curious but never found the right timing to ask.

Rather than bringing it up directly, Dexter just gazed at Jessie as she ate her mashed potatoes. Jessie chuckled and said:

“They’re just losers. One’s a drug addict, and the other is an old pimp.”

“Hmm.”

Jessie spoke casually, as if it didn’t bother her at all.

“The woman called my mother always served frozen food for dinner, and the man called my father just sat on a worn-out sofa doing drugs. I hated seeing that household, so I lived at the repair shop, eating, sleeping, and learning maintenance while earning pocket money.”

“And that’s when you got into street racing?”

“That’s right. If I hadn’t been skinny back then, I might have ended up as a prostitute under my mother. I consider that fortunate.”

Jessie looked at Dexter and smiled brightly.

“Otherwise, we wouldn’t have met, right?”

“That’s true.”

As Dexter grinned in response, Himena wore a slightly apologetic expression.

“My concerns weren’t even real concerns.”

“What do you mean? Everyone has their circumstances. Me, Dexter, and Himena, we’re all the same in that regard.”

Surprised by the unexpectedly philosophical statement from Jessie, Dexter remarked:

“Oh, did you become a Buddhist after being in prison?”

“Shut up.”

Jessie pouted at Dexter’s teasing.

“Well, they’ve probably died from drug use by now… but I still think it might be good to see them once and then cut ties completely.”

“Alright, let’s visit them sometime.”

“Can I come too?”

“There’s not much to see in that town. No famous places either.”

“I want to teach them a lesson if they say anything weird to Jessie.”

“Aww.”

Touched by the sentiment of concern for her, Jessie exclaimed in admiration toward Himena.

“Okay, let’s go together later.”

“I’m looking forward to it!”

After a few more conversations, the three finished their plates and started discussing work-related matters over tea.

“I’ve already talked to Eliya, so information about the Gaijin Empire should arrive in a few days.”

“What kind of information did you request exactly?”

“Since Anna’s husband is from the imperial family, I thought it might be related to the imperial court. So I asked her to focus on investigating the imperial family.”

“That’s good. Make sure to show me the documents when they arrive.”

“Of course.”

Feeling that the tea he was drinking wasn’t enough, Dexter took out a bottle of cheap whiskey from the cupboard, poured some into his tea, and said:

“Let’s wait a few more days.”

After taking a sip of the whiskey-infused tea, Dexter smirked.

“Whatever they’re hiding, we’ll be able to uncover it all.”