CG | Chapter 1.12

It was sad that even the person he cherished the most had the impression that he was cheap, but it was his own doing, so there was nothing he could do. After all, the act of lightly dating someone without truly liking them was indeed not serious.

“I’ll ask if something comes to mind.”

“Sure, you’re always welcome.”

“Then let’s watch the movie now. Your favorite part is coming up.”

Lane pointed at the screen with his finger. As he said, there was a cute big-headed robot with a large torso and short limbs in the movie. The scene where soldiers connected with the robot through brainwaves and moved it freely was quite interesting, and Sean soon exclaimed in admiration, focusing on the screen.

The pizza quickly disappeared, and the movie got better as it went on. The protagonist’s mother was a famous scientist who developed AI to a higher dimension, but the AI perceived humanity as a threat, killed the protagonist’s mother, and the world went to war with AI. It was an action growth story where the protagonist, who didn’t trust AI and closed his heart to people, gradually grew.

The action was good, and the cute mobile robot made Sean enjoy the movie. As he sank deep into the sofa and focused, the end was in sight.

“I wish I had an arc like Smith. Machines make me feel good when I look at them. I wanted to work on making and developing parts like that.”

Sean shared his thoughts on the ending, which was happy despite the sacrifices. When watching movies, they both tended to be quiet, focusing throughout and exchanging their impressions afterward. Lane, who had a habit of reading the ending credits to the end, turned his head to observe him.

“Come to think of it, didn’t you originally want to be a mechanic?”

Until the first year of middle school, he used to say that. He wanted to develop cars or, further, create machines connected to artificial intelligence, and he liked robots so much that he collected them as a hobby. However, as he got involved in various sports, including American football, and focused on his grades, Sean’s major narrowed down to three or four options.

“My parents opposed it.”

The options were to work in the securities industry like his father, become a lawyer like his mother, or find a more respected profession. Sean liked being recognized by his parents, so he followed the predetermined path to become a good son.

“You know how stubborn my parents are.”

“I thought you agreed because you didn’t dislike it.”

“Yeah. I’m not a genius who won awards in invention contests since elementary school.”

His parents didn’t oppose him going to engineering school from a young age. In elementary school, they spared no support to back his talent, so Sean also participated in various activities and tried to enter invention contests. But Sean wasn’t passionate about creating things to that extent.

“I don’t have any regrets. I’m satisfied just watching. I like my current major too. Not everyone can carve out the future they want.”

This sounds a bit mature. Sean smiled, satisfied with his own words. Lane watched him quietly and made a remark.

“You think too much about others.”

“That’s because you take care of me.”

“I can’t always be by your side.”

Sean pursed his lips at those words. It was true, but he didn’t want to think about it, so he got up and started cleaning the table. Since it was already night, it was time to head back. For young people, now might be the beginning, but Lane was like a diligent boy who went to bed at 11 PM.

“It’s already this late. You have work tomorrow, so I’ll get going.”

Lane nodded and started helping Sean clean the table. He took the cups and plates, while Sean went outside to separate the empty boxes and bags into the trash bin in the backyard. He even dragged the trash bin to the road, thinking he should take care of it for his family, who would probably forget about it when he got home, as tomorrow was collection day.

After quickly finishing his tasks and returning inside, Sean washed his hands in the first-floor bathroom and came out. The living room was already neatly organized, and Lane was nowhere to be seen. Thinking he might have gone to his room, Sean went up to the second floor and heard a voice from the study. It seemed like he was on a call.

Wanting to say goodbye, Sean sat near the stairs, waiting for Lane. He thought about whether Lane, alone in such a large house, felt lonely and wondered when Lane’s parents would return. After five minutes passed and Lane still hadn’t come out, Sean started to feel a bit annoyed.

Who is he talking to for so long?

If it were Lane’s parents, the call would have ended in less than two minutes. Lane usually didn’t answer calls and preferred to reply with texts, so Sean knew this well. Therefore, there was only one person Lane would talk to on the phone for so long.

Dion.

What kind of person is Dion that makes Lane act like this? Suppressing the unknown irritation and wariness rising within him, Sean, seeing no sign of the call ending, unconsciously got up from the stairs and quietly headed toward the study. His socked feet silently approached the half-open door, and soon he saw Lane inside.

Lane was on the phone, looking out the window. Standing with his back to the door, leaning slightly against the window frame, he seemed particularly tall and sturdy. As Sean quietly observed his back, he realized that Lane was definitely taller than him when he stood up straight.

Lane spoke so softly and quietly that Sean couldn’t hear the conversation, but the way he tapped the wooden window frame with his free hand showed a hint of nervousness.

Just like any other young person experiencing emotions for the first time.

In that moment, witnessing a normal side of Lane, whom he had always considered special and different from others, Sean felt a slight discomfort in his stomach. Feeling strange, he turned to leave, but then he heard Lane ending the call.

“…Yeah, got it. Let’s talk again tomorrow.”

After a short silence, Lane’s voice, sounding amused, echoed.

“You sure know how to talk.”

With a tone that seemed to show affection, Lane said his goodbyes.

“Good night. Sweet dreams.”

The call ended. As soon as he heard footsteps turning, Sean quickly turned his back to the hallway, but the door opened faster.

“Sean? What are you doing here?”

Sean froze in surprise. No matter how he looked at it, he seemed like someone caught eavesdropping, and Lane’s voice didn’t sound particularly pleasant.

“I was looking for you since you weren’t around, and, um, I only heard a little bit. I didn’t mean to listen.”

“…How much did you hear?”

Seeing Lane’s lips tighten, he seemed quite upset. Since Lane had already declared it a private matter, Sean had nothing to say. Trying to convey his sincere apology, he spoke in a small, timid voice.

“I only heard the part where you said goodbye. You usually speak softly and quietly, so I really didn’t hear anything else.”

“…Ha.”

A sigh with an unknown meaning escaped. It was a situation where Lane could understandably be upset, so Sean stood there, waiting for his reaction. He felt like a child being punished. Having always been an excellent model student who grew up without being scolded, he felt like he was back in the time when his parents scolded him as a child. It was especially unfamiliar to feel this way from Lane.

Lane had always been his safe haven.

“I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful in the future, so please don’t be mad.”

It felt like the once seemingly eternal sanctuary was disappearing. Swallowing the bitterness of losing the only person he could confide in, Sean furrowed his eyebrows and smiled. Meeting Lane’s eyes as if to lighten the mood, Lane turned his head and replied.

“I’m not mad. But I’d appreciate it if you could be more careful in the future.”

“Okay.”

After obediently answering, Sean took a step closer and confirmed again.

“So we’re good now, right?”

“There was never anything bad.”

“Great.”

As a gesture of reconciliation, he lightly tapped Lane’s shoulder and waved his hand. Just as he was about to turn and head down the stairs, Lane called out to him.

“Sean.”

Hearing his name, Sean quickly turned around. Lane, with a face illuminated by the light, looked at him with his arms crossed and asked.

“You said you’d help me, right?”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Then help me with one more thing before the party.”

Although he had offered help, Sean hadn’t expected Lane to readily accept the offer, so he quickly returned to him with an excited expression.

“What is it? Just tell me.”

“Taking someone straight to a party seems a bit much, so I think it would be better to have a light date on the day.”

“Yeah, that makes sense.”

“I’d like you to show me how to do it.”

“…Huh?”

Sean, taken aback by the somewhat strange request, asked again, and Lane clarified.

“I don’t know how to do things like dating.”

The voice that added the words quietly trembled slightly, as if embarrassed, and Sean smiled. It wasn’t a smile born out of wanting to smile, but a mechanical, natural reaction.

“Don’t worry, Lane. I’m here.”

When he whispered reassuringly, Lane’s gaze returned to him. Due to the dim lighting, his eyes weren’t clearly visible, but his lips moved slightly, which was cute.

And he hated that all of this cuteness was because of Dion. It seemed like it was just cute in the morning.

“Do you have any free time after work before Friday?”

“…Thursday.”

“The day before the party. Perfect. Then I’ll come to Manhattan that evening. You said your internship is around there, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s practice then. Lane, you have nothing to worry about. If you do as I show you, you’ll be halfway there. Got it?”

Lane quietly nodded. Seeing Lane, who rarely relied on him, lean on him, Sean felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility. It felt like someone was pulling his ankle from the ground, creating pressure, and even though it was Lane’s matter, he didn’t feel happy, only a sense of duty.

“Then I’ll get going. Sleep well, and if anything comes up, contact me.”

“Got it.”

Sean, smiling as if he found Lane endearing, quickly turned and started running down the stairs. Feeling the gaze following him slowly from behind, he turned around once more to see Lane watching him.

Waving to him, Sean began running home. Beneath the thought of being able to help Lane, an uncomfortable feeling stirred, but Sean ignored it and ran with all his might along the street lit by streetlights. He ran quickly, as if running on grass, putting strength into his thighs until he was out of breath.

The distracting thoughts soon disappeared. When he arrived home, his family members were in their respective rooms, and Sean, after taking out the trash bin to the road in front of the garden, sat down with a thud. Looking up while catching his breath, he saw the black night sky. The quietly shining moon and stars were in their usual places.

As if to say that only the people below change, they silently sparkled.