CHAPTER 434: SURPRISING PAIR

As the evening hours approached, Coco patiently waited outside the library, knowing that Alhai would soon be finishing his shift.

The sun was just beginning to set, casting a warm golden glow over the city square.

Coco leaned against a nearby wall, right in front of the library, her eyes fixed on the library’s front door, eagerly awaiting Alhai’s emergence.

She had kissed the mediator without thinking.. All because she wanted to know what Alhai is to her.

However..

That kiss only made me feel happy.. Which is weird.. Because I shouldn’t feel happy, right? Coco thought, her eyebrows furrowing as a puzzled expression settled on her face.

With her hands shoved into her pockets and a pensive expression on her face, she patiently waited for the moment he would exit the library, marking the end of his workday.

"Coco!"

Unexpectedly, Coco’s quiet waiting was suddenly interrupted by a familiar voice calling her name.

She turned her head towards the source of the sound, her eyes falling upon Kairo’s figure jogging in her direction with a look of disbelief crossing his eyes.

Kairo’s face was filled with a mix of relief and surprise, his expression shifting as he noticed her waiting outside the library.

He came to a halt in front of her, slightly out of breath from the impromptu run.

Coco pushed herself away from the wall, her eyebrow arching in surprise as she regarded Kairo with curiosity because the sudden appearance of the mediator piqued her interest.

"Kairo?" She repeated, a note of surprise in her voice. "What are you doing here?"

Kairo stood in front of her, still trying to catch his breath, his chest rising and falling with heavy breath, glanced at the library behind her before meeting her gaze once more.

"Wait.. Let me catch my breath.." He replied between breaths.

"Okay.."

Kairo took a moment to catch his breath before finally answering Coco’s question, his voice slightly steadier now.

"I just got off work." He explained, his gaze flickering across them to the library entrance. "Me and your husband, who’s working here.."

Kair paused before he continued, gesturing towards the library, "I mean, Alhai.. Decided to agree on walking back home since we get off work at the same time.. He suggested that it would benefit the two of us."

His words hung in the air, the casual mention of Alhai’s job at the library taking Coco slightly by surprise.

As far Coco knows, Alhai wouldn’t have mentioned his work to Rey or Kairo, but he did— she arched an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing slightly as she processed this unexpected revelation.

However, being suspicious of Kairo wouldn’t help her, would it?

As Kairo’s words sank in, she felt completely startled because who would have thought that Alhai and Kairo were on friendly terms and were about to walk home together?

She blinked a few times, her surprise mirroring her thoughts.

Sure, the idea that Alhai, the mediator who was usually quite cold and distant, was friendly enough with Kairo to walk home together after work seemed almost absurd, but Alhai had shown shocking sides of him lately.

"That’s.. A relief.." Coco said, sounding more like a question than a statement.

"Yeah.." He replied, a small smile playing on his lips. "He actually talked to me about it this morning.."

He watched her closely, noticing the flicker of surprise in her eyes, the gears turning in her mind as she processed this new information about Alhai’s unexpected friendliness towards Kairo again.

Coco froze, a forced laugh escaping her lips as the library door suddenly swung open, Alhai emerging from within.

Alhai’s eyes landed on the two of them, taking in the sight of Coco and Kairo standing together outside the library, his gaze flickering from Coco’s face to Kairo, then back to Coco, a puzzled expression crossing his face as he observed the strange tension in the air.

Alhai’s frown emerged as he took in the unusual sight before him.

"What’s with you two?" He inquired, his gaze darting between Coco and Kairo before he moved quickly to Coco’s side, wrapping his arm around her waist and positioning himself in between her and Kairo.

His gesture was clear, possessive and protective, his body language a clear statement to Kairo— Coco was his.

Kairo couldn’t help, but roll his eyes, understanding the possessiveness in Alhai’s gesture.

If Coco was his wife, he knew he would act similarly, protective and careful around anyone expressing interest in her.

He shook his head slightly, responding to Alhai’s protective stance with a calm explanation.

"Relax." He mused, his tone casual, as a reassuring smile crossed his face in an attempt to diffuse the tension. "Nothing’s going on.. I just happened to arrive here before you got out."

Alhai scrutinized Kairo for a moment, his gaze filled with lingering suspicion, before he began leading the way back to their house.

His grip on Coco’s waist tightened, a subtle gesture that spoke of his protective instincts.

His words were reluctant, his trust tinged with a hint of doubt.

"If you say so.." He said, a flicker of uncertainty in his voice. "I’ll trust you on that one, Rogue."

Kairo shot Alhai a grateful smile, his eyes expressing his sincerity. "Thank you, Alhai.. I mean no harm to you or your wife. I simply want to be on friendly terms with you."

His words were honest and open, without a hint of any hidden agenda, and Kairo’s expression was genuine, his gaze steady as he hoped to diffuse any suspicion or tension that lingered in the air.

Alhai’s expression softened, his initial suspicion slowly melting away as Kairo’s sincere words sunk in.

"Likewise, Rogue.." He responded, a small nod of his head signaling his acceptance and understanding. "Likewise."

He relaxed his grip on Coco’s waist for a brief moment, his possessive stance loosening slightly because it was a subtle gesture, a small acknowledgement of the olive branch that Kairo had extended.

"Let’s go home." Alhai said, leading the way once again.