Ch.42Discovery! (4)

#042

“What are you doing?”

“Won’t you help me?”

At Himena’s bold words, Dexter laughed dryly and said:

“I told you I won’t be an OSA agent.”

“But are you planning to let your abilities go to waste?”

“Waste? What do you mean?”

Looking at Himena’s expression, Dexter was strongly reminded of his first impression when he met her.

Himena showed behavior that suggested she was desperate to have whatever she wanted, by any means necessary.

‘Positively speaking, she’s proactive; negatively speaking, she’s greedy.’

He had vaguely sensed it when they first met, but now he understood.

Himena wanted to have Dexter under her control.

Having met countless people throughout his life, Dexter disliked those who treated him not as a lover or friend, but as a possession.

With that thought, Himena’s uninhibited demeanor, which had seemed merely cute before, became difficult to face.

“I understand how you think of me, but I just want to rest now.”

“What?”

“I’ve been moving like crazy for 15 years. Truly. I’ve come all this way without looking back. And now you’re trying to force work on someone who just wants to rest.”

This was something Himena already knew well.

The fact that Dexter had worked hard to save money for a spaceship to come to Earth, and that he was still heavily in debt.

That he had gone through countless hardships and trials incomparable to her own to get where he was.

She knew it intellectually, but couldn’t understand it emotionally.

“But this is a problem we can solve together… I still have a lot to learn, and if you work with me, you could be of great help to the OSA…”

Great help to the OSA.

“……”

Dexter felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

Seeing Dexter’s changing expression, Himena sensed that things were not going well.

“Ms. Himena.”

Dexter placed his hand on Himena’s shoulder, patted it once, and then headed toward the elevator of the OSA headquarters without looking back, saying:

“Don’t let yourself be swayed by momentary emotions and cause more disappointment.”

Dexter politely but sincerely rejected Himena’s premature request.

Having only heard stories about Dexter without truly understanding him, Himena had made a mistake.

With a genuinely bitter expression, Himena could say nothing as she watched Dexter walking further away.

A male staff member who had been in the CCTV room next to the interrogation room approached Himena, who was standing still with her back turned, and said:

“Wow, that’s harsh. Our department is much better than being a prison guard, right? Don’t you think, Ms. Himena… Ms. Himena, are you crying?”

As the male agent became flustered, other agents nearby began to gather around Himena.

Himena didn’t respond to the agents’ consolations, just shrugging her shoulders and covering her face with both hands.

If Dexter had shouted in anger or shown a cold response, Himena could have understood.

But Dexter’s reaction was one of ‘resignation.’

A resignation mixed with disappointment, as if saying, “So you’re that kind of person too,” like he had experienced with many others before.

This didn’t feel right.

“I… I’m sorry, but I’ll be leaving for today. I’m sorry…”

“Oh, Ms. Himena. Wait a moment!”

Himena began to rush out of the OSA headquarters.

* * *

“Maybe I was too harsh.”

Dexter said while looking at his phone.

Himena hadn’t called or texted him since then.

Worried that something might have happened, he called the OSA headquarters and was told that she was working normally as usual.

Though concerned, he didn’t reach out further.

“She needs to reflect a bit. Who tries to possess another person?”

“What are you muttering about?”

Judy, sitting across from Dexter, was eating glazed carrots from a plate.

“Huh? Oh, nothing. Please help yourself, Ms. Goswell.”

“Why don’t you just call me Judy?”

“Well, it feels a bit too casual.”

“I really don’t mind! You’re helping me with exercise, I’m so grateful.”

When Judy smiled brightly, Dexter smiled back.

“That’s right. I didn’t expect you to create such a detailed exercise plan for me. Now I see why it took so long.”

Judy said, pointing to a yellow folder.

“It wasn’t that difficult. It just took time to research various options because your basic physical fitness is quite poor.”

That wasn’t wrong.

He had asked Rose, the infirmary nurse, for women’s exercise methods, and added more from several books Rose had recommended.

“For now, let’s build your basic fitness with the exercises I showed you, and then we can work out together.”

“Thank you.”

When Dexter first met Judy, he thought she might be bold like Himena, perhaps because she played pranks.

But she turned out to be more like a gentle herbivore.

‘Even eating carrots.’

“Oh right, you mentioned wanting to become a police officer, didn’t you?”

“Wow, you remember well.”

“Why specifically a police officer? Someone like you could have done well in other professions.”

Dexter, who remembered that Judy had always ranked first in written exams, had always been curious about this.

“If I recall correctly, you majored in biology in college.”

To Dexter’s question, Judy cut a glazed carrot in half and said:

“That’s right. Who’s been spreading that information?”

“Probably Senior Marsha?”

If Marsha, who works at the prison’s entrance and exit facility, says just one thing to a passing guard, every guard ends up knowing about it.

That’s why there’s an unwritten rule in the prison not to discuss secrets in front of Marsha.

“…She sounds scary. I’ll have to be careful with my words from now on.”

Judy looked at Dexter with her big eyes as if genuinely frightened, making Dexter chuckle before asking:

“So, why did you want to become a police officer?”

After checking that no one was nearby, Judy lowered her voice and said:

“You know, that crime investigation drama set in Las Vegas.”

“Ah, that drama.”

It was a long-running drama that even Dexter, who hadn’t been on Earth long, knew well.

Set in Las Vegas, it followed a forensic team using scientific investigation techniques to catch criminals.

The drama quickly became famous and spawned other seasons set in different American locations like Miami and New York.

Dexter occasionally watches reruns when flipping through TV channels.

“You wanted to become a police officer because of that drama? Really?”

“The captain in that show was incredibly cool.”

Seeing Judy’s eyes become slightly dreamy, Dexter smiled.

He remembered that character had a warm impression that would likely be popular with women.

“So I studied biology at UCLA and even got citizenship.”

Dexter, who never imagined someone would move from England to America because of a crime drama, nodded and replied:

“You put in so much effort but couldn’t become a police officer in the end.”

“…That’s right.”

Judy sighed deeply.

“Now that I’m a correctional officer, I won’t dream of being a police officer anymore, but I still regret it…”

“Because of insufficient physical fitness?”

“Yes, exactly. If I had better physical fitness, I would have gotten better grades at the police academy…”

Judy sighed with regret.

Feeling sorry for her dejected appearance, Dexter smiled and said:

“Call me whenever you need help. I can help you when I’m not busy.”

“Really? Is that okay?”

Seeing Judy’s bright smile, as if she had never been sad, Dexter nodded and said:

“Of course. We’re colleagues, it’s only natural.”

“I don’t know how to thank you… I already feel bad about it.”

“It’s really fine, don’t worry. Actually, should we start today?”

The unexpected offer seemed to catch Judy off guard, but she smiled affirmatively and said:

“Really? I happen to be free today…”

“Then I’ll wait for you in the parking lot after work.”

“Okay. See you soon?”

As Judy got up first and headed toward Building 1 of the detention facility where she was assigned, Dexter stretched his back and said:

“I seem strangely busy these days, but I can’t complain since I chose this.”

Though he didn’t particularly have a hobby of creating work for himself, somehow he was working even after hours.

While not physically tired, he felt mentally exhausted and wanted some healing.

‘After my shift ends today, I have two days off, so maybe I’ll talk with Jessie for a while.’

It was perfect since they were always together anyway under the pretext of cleaning supervision.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Dexter also got up and headed toward Building 1 of the medium-security detention facility.

* * *

In an empty counseling room in Building 2 of the medium-security detention facility.

Jessie, holding a broom to sweep the floor, was glaring at Dexter who was staring blankly at her.

“You’ve been acting strange lately.”

“Huh? How?”

“Are you secretly seeing a woman?”

Dexter pointed at Jessie with his finger and said:

“You. I’m secretly seeing you.”

“Damn it. I mean another woman!”

“No?”

Just as he was about to say he wasn’t seeing anyone secretly, he suddenly thought of Himena.

Noticing Dexter’s subtle eye movement, Jessie put her hands on her hips and said:

“You definitely have something going on.”

“What do you mean by ‘something’?”

“I’m saying ‘something’ because I don’t know what it is.”

“Well, you have a point there.”

Jessie wrinkled her nose and said:

“I’m not going to complain about you seeing another woman. You can two-time if you want, but if you start liking that woman and dump me, I’ll really cut off your dick.”

Jessie made a scissoring motion with her index and middle fingers, opening and closing them, making Dexter snort and say:

“…That’s brutal. But don’t worry, I’d be very hesitant and awkward if that were the case.”

“What? So there really is someone?”

“No, there isn’t!”

As Dexter shrugged, Jessie glared at him again.

Unable to bear it any longer, Dexter immediately approached Jessie, cupped the back of her head with one hand, and kissed her.

After enjoying Jessie’s dazed expression from his surprise kiss, Dexter pulled away, revealing Jessie’s softened expression.

After momentarily losing her composure, Jessie shook her head vigorously to regain her senses, then pointed at Dexter and said:

“…Don’t use such tricks.”

“But your body is so honest.”

“Sh-shut up. Be quiet.”

Jessie pouted her lower lip and said:

“…Anyway, I’m not joking. If something like that happens, tell me anytime.”

After hesitating briefly, Jessie continued:

“…Just don’t abandon me.”

Seeing this, Dexter vigorously ruffled Jessie’s hair and said:

“Awww, was our Jessie that worried?”

“I’ll kill you, seriously!”

Seeing Jessie growling, Dexter continued:

“I told you when we started dating. Whatever happens, I’m in this sincerely.”

Dexter gently kissed Jessie’s forehead and said:

“There’s not the slightest chance I’ll abandon you. So don’t worry.”

“…Okay.”

Dexter firmly grabbed Jessie’s buttocks.

“Eek.”

“Well then, shall we get back to cleaning?”

“Fine. And… if you’re going to grab my butt, tell me first.”

“Sure, sure.”

Dexter stroked Jessie’s hair again and said:

“Damn. Why does this guy like touching my hair so much?”

“It’s my habit. Can’t help it.”

“Then fix that habit. It ruins the reason for styling my hair.”

As Jessie glared at Dexter again, he grinned and left the counseling room.

‘I feel much better now.’

Jessie seemed to be pure stamina that gave Dexter vitality.