sidetrack 5 part4

Translator/Editor: Qiuqiu-chan

Mason’s bitter laughter made Noah furrow his brow and then sigh.

"… get some sleep, we're going home." he whispered softly and covered Mason's eyes with his hands.

When the faintly spinning world turned dark, Mason who had been barely holding on, fell asleep as if hypnotised. Noah looked around at everyone as he held the unconscious Mason in his arms. Noah's cold eyes made everyone draw in a sharp breath.

"No… that is…because…" Gloria was flustered and exclaimed incoherently, " We did it… he said to…" she tried to make excuses, while Vick just stared at the ground and pretended to be somewhere else.

“Ah. Is that so? Yes, it must have been." Noah, who felt Mason's hot body temperature, laughed. Just because an actor said he could and would do something, didn't mean that they should just leave it. The sarcasm from Noah made everyone unable to lift their heads from shame. Actually, even if it was the first take, everyone knew that filming the scene was too unreasonable.

"Without a doubt, the director was too much." Chase, who was in front of the monitor standing out of the way, muttered. Noah glanced at him. Chase glanced at Mason, who was being held in Noah's arms, and showed a look of regret that he could not help.

"Carrying him must be heavy, do you want me to help? Perhaps, a stretcher……"

Instead of answering, Noah slightly wrinkled his brow and stared at him. Vick furtively reached out and firmly grabbed hold of Chase, Noah turned towards Vick and said, " Mr. Vick Procter."

"…Yes. Mr Raycarlton."

Vick was unable to meet his eyes and lowered his gaze. As if it wasn't enough that he made Haley's body come to that state, he had also hugged him and confessed to him, "My love, my muse, let's film movies together for the rest of our lives. Haley, please!" Letting Noah hear those proposal like words, he had only himself to blame. Even though Noah wouldn't have any strange misunderstandings, it didn't mean that he felt good about hearing it.

"When is Haley's next schedule?"

"…………four days……no, one week later,……no…"

While looking as if he would cry, Vick tried to sweet talk. Noah stared at him with frigid eyes and said, "Contact me once an exact schedule has been decided. I will be the one to let Haley know."

At Noah's order to first report to him, Vick's lips trembled while he made a face as if he had been struck by lightning. Because of his greed,¹ Haley might not be able to shoot for 2, maybe even 3 weeks. No one could know the correct schedule that would satisfy Noah.

"Then, from now on, I'll be carefully watching."

After saying that, Noah turned his gaze towards Chase and then gave Gloria one last glance. Everyone shut their mouths and looked down like sheep, as if there was something valuable on the floor. Noah sighed briefly, then re-positioned Mason in his arms again.

"Excuse me, will you be taking him to the hospital?"

Tony hastily asked from behind and Noah stopped abruptly and stared at him.

"Ah, at the hospital the paparazzi will…."

"Going home."

Noah said coldly. Tony wanted to ask again if that home he was talking about was Noah's house or Haley's house, but Noah's expression was that of someone who would not answer.

“Wait."

Tony stopped Noah and ran to a chair that was behind the cameras, with the name 'Haley Lusk' written on it. He brought the bag that was lying on the chair and offered it to Noah, despite the short distance² he was out of breath.

"This is Haley's bag…… he carried it around with him."

"……"

Noah looked at the black bag that Tony had and furrowed his brow. It was because he knew what type of bag it was. It was a bag that Mason could easily carry along his valuables and take care of. This bag, he was still carrying it around… Noah glanced at Mason who was being held in his arms. Mason's attitude of being ready to move where he stays whenever, really made Noah feel as if he had enough. He let out a small sigh and took the bag that Tony was holding out. No, he tried to take it.

"…..? What, why….."

'Flop' Noah retracted the hand that was reaching out to take the bag's strap and the bag fell to the wet floor. Startled, Tony tried to grab the bag before it got wet and immediately dropped it in surprise while yelling, "Ouch!"

"Wha… what is this?"

¹- Because of his greed (in wanting to continue filming),Haley might not be able to shoot […] ↵

²- […] despite the short distance (to the chair) he was out of breath. ↵