CG | Chapter 1.11

After placing the order, the two settled in the living room. Sitting in front of the large TV that took up the entire wall, Sean started to carefully choose a movie with the remote. Let’s see. What movie would Lane not find too childish?747b2923dc6f02ee

His fingers 40b855e66b on the 629a8a001e remote felt 752c6a2de4 indifferent. He had been excited 5aedec590c just a moment ago, 49c5acd91f but his mood had f5b4384866 changed. As Sean quietly 530eef8f3c selected a movie, 01cc1a520a he pondered for b338df5ee7 a few seconds 3996181cc9 before asking Lane, ed12d35d7b who was sitting 00d7f52751 next to him. His gaze remained fixed d2a1890d7b on the TV.a118d5a5d1c04a9d

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“You must have talked for a long time to forget about grocery shopping.”108cb7fb0e8a69f6

Then, an unnecessary question slipped out without him realizing it. He swore he hadn’t meant to ask such a thing.493b7d61c3bede97

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Embarrassed by his own words, he lowered his head. He didn’t know why he acted like that, and the tips of his ears turned slightly red. As he clutched the remote tightly, wondering how to handle the situation, fortunately, Lane answered.9327dbb0d00880ce

“We just ended up talking for a while.”5ba8eca664b735cd

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Thankfully, there was a40dc3dd4d no scolding about 5a8ccc066f why he was b292a065b9 so curious. Sean nodded and 286616ff7f quickly tried to f480235025 change the subject 4dc5a07a29 by focusing on b10b43dbea the TV screen e085722283 to pick anything. The problem 88692898c1 was that b0ef83d0b0 nothing on 0e250ec4a0 the screen dc3d87d186 caught his 6430674b1a eye.5735ef5614f61b11

We’ve never chatted on the phone like that before.df3faf27f45ce6d6

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Well, we did see each other often and were always at the same school, so there wasn’t really a need. Even if we knew each other well, there wasn’t always something to talk about, and there would be different topics with someone you want to date, so it couldn’t be the same as with me.b511faeb6d110797

Even though he understood it in his head, he couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Relationships between people are only known to those involved, so it’s not about who is more important.6d4d1d6c39d09e3d

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Sean Delight, 4616a67b6d you idiot. You decided d755fb1c67 to purely 13c4a99426 think of ece06f05fc Lane in 391d636af2 the forest 982674a81c earlier. Stop these 8f3ab5e4aa thoughts right a782afb18a now.8025464dfcdbd971

He must have become too arrogant until now. Since Lane’s social circle had only been him, he couldn’t get used to this situation. By this point, Sean started to worry about Friday’s party. He couldn’t take back the suggestion he made, but he wasn’t sure if he could act nonchalantly when he saw Lane with Dion.a57474af815efbbc

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Why am d61c2ec2e2 I like dba35e2d6e this?5f5c55a09b26d1d3

It’s awkward to say it himself, but Sean was someone who didn’t cling to people coming or going. He had felt disappointed with Lane at times, but he had long since learned to let it go. So he had always believed he wasn’t someone who would cling.6b019aaa951a7f21

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Sean, who had been moving his lips, finally lifted the corners of his mouth. When he found it difficult to express the words inside, he always smiled out of habit. If he didn’t take heavy things too seriously, they usually passed by smoothly. After all, people generally do what they want, so no matter how much he said, nothing would change.b13c8554f7f73540

“Sounds good. If you’re talking on the phone like that, you’ll probably start dating soon, even if you haven’t gone on many dates. Actually, come to think of it, you might not even need to date. Everyone can see you’re attractive and a good person just by being around you.”f730740320934f07

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After choosing his words carefully, Sean spoke sincerely. Feeling disappointed was one thing, but he genuinely hoped his friend’s first romance would go well.b309924ad1330913

“…Didn’t you say earlier that you should date?”298b58bbe7db1621

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Lane asked back, sounding confused. It seemed like he was bewildered by Sean’s inconsistent attitude. Sean steadied himself and turned to meet Lane’s eyes.d4547c8fdaf8fd1b

“That’s the standard way.”f847acf214f58e89

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“How many times?”69d15361dedb923f

“Um… If it’s obvious you both like each other, once. If it’s confusing, three or four times?”c5b81e8ff9ff6a90

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Silence followed. Lane leaned back 127193b906 on the sofa f3a8a6ba58 and ran his 90550b06ce fingers through his b25c662fb1 hair. His forehead was revealed, 504ad96c50 showing his pale face. He looked slightly 0f8cbab1e7 tired.b762f4a52fb0756a

“It’s difficult.”daa6de23b75b94a0

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“I agree.”8dfbd3494acd6f6c

“You have people who like you just by smiling.”dcc66b9658867083

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Sean burst into laughter.831344edbdfaa26b

“You care about that? You’re the one who doesn’t even bother with whoever comes near you. Honestly, Lane. If you just tidied up your bangs, people would flock to you.”895946ba9ee88ced

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“I’ve had enough of that when I was younger. What I want is…”bcf848f21c057b4c

Well, Lane wasn’t always someone who rejected people and hid his appearance. Though he didn’t know the details, he heard from Lane’s mother that they left France for England because Lane was severely harassed by people around him when he was young, and then moved to the U.S. due to his father’s business.059d01a80833ee7c

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“For the person I like to like me back. Not for someone I don’t want to want me.”8128812c25b861db

For some reason, those words touched Sean’s heart. It was true. The people Sean had met so far were those who wanted him, not those he had wanted himself.9334d614e27a8f9f

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The only person he had ever moved first to get closer to in his life was…0f1a3141a8fb70ae

“The delivery must be here.”b1f02a9472f57afa

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The doorbell rang. Lane let out a 8b93486d06 tired sigh and got 72e76ab7f2 up to walk to c8acbdbd90 the door. Sean, who had been 2373cb866a staring blankly at his 36d13701fa back, snapped back to 1b148c54a7 reality and returned to 685861371d choosing a movie. He picked the edc746fd60 latest one from 0bfe32566a what seemed complicated.53776bedfe06e14a

The movie was a sci-fi film about a battle between AI and humans. Seeing a familiar famous actress as the protagonist, it didn’t seem like it would be the worst.9971880e34a85dca

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“Should we watch this?”e5477ce1a64eb158

Sean asked Lane, who 8c893060a1 had returned with the 35e8eec87d pizza. Lane glanced at the 5d6bfe8244 TV screen over his da7f4e1e9d glasses and nodded.9798bcb71b01886d

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“You put in some effort.”b45e46334b746d98

“Anything with Jennifer Lopez is usually decent.”7c06bdca9902c5f0

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Responding thoughtlessly, Sean took the pizza from Lane and set the food on the table with familiar hands. Since he repeated training and classes, he didn’t have time to cook in the dorm, so he often ordered delivery and was used to it. When he opened the large pizza box, a freshly baked deep-dish pizza with glossy cheese appeared.e2438ae21d57721d

He immediately 2742fe4460 wanted to 34a764fd7b eat it 274fc15486 and reached 50e51ede78 out, but 4c4a090e41 Lane lightly 0b35ff8c96 tapped the a7bd761167 back of b97ab87f83 his hand. When Sean looked 72018d78a5 at him with 95142c8353 a dissatisfied expression, b6a54fb55d Lane gestured toward e15008cda2 the hallway with 54d715d9b7 his eyes.9413830d1573c4d8

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“You need to wash your hands.”8bd0894c744779f8

“Right.”c6457e81f6ea15ab

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His hunger had ce01c7276f clouded his reason, 628118782d and he had fbea1ed4ae momentarily forgotten. Putting aside his dissatisfaction, 3f55d1f174 he quickly ran to f7ce236b5c the hallway, washed his 1c460a8210 hands, and returned to 781d36662a find that Lane had cb27039067 already served the pizza 4e54aea2e8 on plates and poured 3575fbe8ca drinks into glasses. The trash was e428aeb528 already disposed of, 623d601870 and the coffee d77fdc6dbb table in front 54ef3b9bc3 of the sofa 5846ec35ce was clean.5a1cc21b63074470

Seeing that, Sean realized anew how meticulous Lane was. Once someone entered Lane’s circle, no one would want to distance themselves from him, just like Sean.f0be4700ab88734f

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“Thanks for setting it up.”22051efb0ca3b006

Smiling, he quickly sat next to Lane, who nodded. Taking the remote Lane handed him, Sean started the movie. After the familiar ‘N’ logo appeared, the opening began immediately. Skimming through the slightly chaotic opening, Sean focused on the pizza.3687e2020f348820

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Whether it a5b6c9ede0 was thick 0d6b9ff955 or thin, aea821d057 Sean always 969053eccf folded the 156e5936b5 pizza in ec8c4bcb31 half and ccdc57fbd9 took a 2767d5c0aa bite. Driven by hunger, 0a63c98334 he took a 08542794e2 big bite, and 7b85789912 the chewy cheese fa1e95ae4f and marinara sauce 037888c747 flavors spread in 68886467f0 his mouth. With a 7679b48244 serious expression, e2fda87bbd he chewed 7d5f543b93 thoroughly, and d36d3d4ef9 after two 95dfaf311a bites, one af06f8e33f slice was f0071dee4f already gone. Only then 26f5380223 did his e53af85c9b reason return, 8b964681b2 as if 04361f52a2 he had a7dfb7e06d put out 2e45a3dd9e a fire.161303413553ef05

“It’s always delicious.”9ef6895fdeed049a

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Turning his 1b2d97f92a head with 6e0cbeb67d a satisfied fd26c3705e sigh, he 90d04bd15b found Lane 118d2d6bf7 staring at 5fcd665b56 him intently.126b095dc6d2dc92

“Why? Did I get something on my face again?”8aa86c3d0e86e26e

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“No.”38f58658e3c0f052

“Then why were you watching me?”5f2d6070552ae2a8

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“I was curious.”f46c0e40f30af62a

Lane seemed 7cd70fbb78 unwilling to 3736913ef2 say more 97492a8658 and picked dc29a1d139 up his bb9da7bb02 pizza. Unlike Sean, he placed 9c834e75eb the plate underneath and 987b8f99d0 silently took a bite, 0fb778f49a looking elegant and pretty. Picking up his share 1315af491d of the vegetable pizza, 948d3453b5 Lane tasted it and 82ce26c750 nodded in satisfaction.492e8ae32afa866d

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“Rona Pizza is indeed delicious.”8b7025f9eb933302

“Right? I don’t know about anything else, but when I move, not being able to eat Rona Pizza anymore is the biggest regret.”a300ee553a362cdf

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“Why can’t you eat it anymore? You can have it whenever you come to my house.”42755aca9c47393a

“I’d love that. But I don’t know if you’ll have time. Once the semester starts, I won’t have many reasons to come here, and you’ll be busy on weekends, won’t you?”b6f30cf71cba4645

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Lane questioned as if ffe98b9efc he had heard something 163dab2c3a absurd.00c7640d6d907df9

“Why would I be?”58923542827ee952

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“You’ll be hanging out with Dion. If you’re sure you’re dating, you won’t have time to see me, right? It’s the best time. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying this because I’m uncomfortable, but because you’ve never dated anyone, so I’m explaining.”2a092ce2bff133e3

Sean continued 011bde0e18 to bring d5adefd965 up the 7aa67ecdc1 topic of 238a2ec654 Dion, as 2e05b1d39d if half-brainwashing f8f2c789bc himself. To prevent 1d190fb33d himself from b26858e078 feeling upset 2da2a0be99 like a 787c620c23 child losing 3b68c1c957 a friend, 739c24f8b9 he thought 1e8060fa16 it would 0fecbd0f83 be better 928b17e471 to engrave fd5329f111 this fact 1a5cf9fa62 into his cd5ebb3846 mind.48765ccaa3ef87c1

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Lane, who was about to refute, stopped and listened to Sean’s words, then asked a piercing question after he finished speaking.eef1f0603182a38e

“When you had a girlfriend, you spent most weekends with me. Your actions and explanations seem different.”bb46498e15defb44

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“That’s because…”a392c20f98ecc23c

He usually seemed uninterested in what Sean did, but apparently, that wasn’t the case. Sean felt both happy that Lane noticed and, beyond pure joy, a sense of embarrassment. This topic was already uncomfortable, but it was even more so with Lane.a7f10c8d23860140

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“I…”b120312501a62568

Lane stared intently 48ed912fb6 at Sean, who 258cd29598 was stammering. His eyes, 30166054f4 usually hidden, 0bf8b250d5 seemed particularly 6ff9419b1b visible today. The pressure blocked his cfac496a65 throat.53c529980cd10f87

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It’s because I’ve never had a girlfriend.255f21956be74698

But there was too much to explain to tell the truth. Regarding this topic, he had always denied it to Robert and his friends, saying he wasn’t dating, and he had also denied it to his twin sister every time, but strangely, he felt uncomfortable bringing it up in front of Lane.abab8290fe80aa1d

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That’s why, even at school, when he saw Lane, he would turn his body and go elsewhere with the girl he was with. He had this strange thought that his behavior might seem disrespectful and that Lane might be disappointed.2345a632f891570d

“I made a lot of time during the weekdays.”3000a8c5e14208b3

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“Didn’t you go home with me after school?”24823db77f0b141c

“That was in the evening.”62ddb16d8a75b73a

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Seeing no way 9639870793 out, Sean finally 582087b5b8 revealed a part 9ab05270b4 of his non-dating ba25505e3b history for the 0ec9b6ee02 first time.d62ea046c55ba6a1

“I met them a lot at night.”5fc3cf366954a9c5

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Lane remained silent. Since Lane was inexperienced in this area, Sean hoped he wouldn’t understand the implied meaning in his words, waiting like a criminal awaiting judgment.3e2901453cd9bc9e

Unfortunately, Lane wasn’t that naive.db12e7d84422b44b

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“So the rumors I heard were true, then.”c1fe79c1c212d877

With a voice 127d5b714a that sounded quite 348b46f3b0 disappointed, Lane averted fe214f8ec7 his gaze. Feeling a sense 932bd5eb70 of distance, Sean 43cbd4c8a9 asked, shrinking back.5cdd782a43e74298

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“What rumors?”067dde7154badd96

“That you’re amazing at night. I heard that since middle school.”73744ae67a5f81fe

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“That’s not true.”985986f09e64db35

Lane didn’t respond. He turned his gaze to the TV, focusing on the movie that had moved past the opening and was now showing machines.20ad8d01e50f85da

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“You don’t need to explain. I don’t care. It’s your private life, just like with Dion and me, so it doesn’t concern me.”6a3fdfd3a29cc0a0

It was a clean response that was hard to argue with. Sean had nothing more to say as he witnessed a line being drawn in front of him, indicating that he shouldn’t interfere in such matters in their relationship. He wanted to tell Lane that he wasn’t as cheap as he thought, even if he wasn’t curious.0c0b2066fcf5a732

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Come to think of it, from Lane’s perspective, even lightly dating and kissing girls could seem frivolous. Swallowing a pointless excuse, Sean forced a hollow smile.d1b495c1c7a021f5

“That’s true. Anyway, Lane, since you haven’t been interested in dating more than others, I was trying to give advice in that sense. You said you’d like my help. But if it bothers you, let me know. I won’t interfere anymore.”841a717a5ea1cb80

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Carefully observing Lane, he 87d4138893 saw him nod slowly.e176bfa12e49e4f0

“Got it.”ee3a8004626d602b

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“So I can help you?”ec8a884fa0b98cb1

“You’re definitely more knowledgeable than I am, so yes.”0b3c596e1efe930a

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“Great! Feel free to ask me anything you’re curious about. I’ll try to be as helpful as possible.”4235e1cd8150aff2