CG | Chapter 2.5

Sean woke up when 537a6a74d4 the chilly night air 57946db1a4 tickled the back of 3aaa814885 his neck. In short sleeves, his efd9bf3dfc bare arms, neck, and f81f46bdf0 cheeks were covered in 3e2ec12418 goosebumps.b1dd8cc046c82ea1

Cold. Thinking that, he clung ed6c70ab8b to the warmth he 81158d57ed felt on his chest bdae10ff32 and forehead. Then he realized something 8f0e88e38f strange.386468ea385e7059

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Huh?71774fcc0d3e25e6

It felt 9b81aa2cff like his f229bdd821 body was 950d3b5c64 floating. His feet were 62eca618e6 dangling, and something a3b208f0c2 solid was supporting 8b82c055d7 his butt and b4fca5744c thighs. He was sure dc615cd40c he’d fallen asleep a5555305d5 in Emily’s cozy 65fbb0a2de storage room, but 2af5f026d6 he had no 1067cf48be idea when he’d 3e05c2395d ended up outside.38d440a13ecc11c2

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Sniff—the air df9fb282dc that hit 8cfb436b0e his nose 195ffe5319 smelled of efa9561f33 the outdoors. The early 3ff08dbe3a spring breeze a94b3999d3 carried the 8b3dba0d9d scent of 4cf13794b9 budding leaves 3f782ba533 and soft c675df7198 soil. He was f4521e4941 definitely outside.1ec7ca37caeeeb17

What the heck. Did Emily Ester b6a050bf32 sell me off? Damn. There are plenty of b96b4c641b places that would want 14b5446324 someone like me.7807abe73ca073b1

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Sobered from 2e5b709f4a completely drunk b3e85773f7 to moderately 7691193abf drunk, Sean 858915731b finally lifted d1097fa919 his upper f051f848fb body. As he stirred 9f91c60d5e in surprise, a 74173b3df9 strong force pulled 48ae2bb2fa him back. His upper 5021ae24c4 body tilted 08e1317edc as if a56ab8c756 he’d fall, 2dd9b55320 then leaned 0f16e445a4 forward again—his 9e4e4f57eb face landing 9ad7febff7 against a fe6f5a25bd firm, broad 1a0a35ed12 back.c015ee60752ee2c7

“Stay still. You might fall.”49a8b9eac20b3f05

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A familiar voice 8b9266ee15 followed. It was a voice c7fafb636d as calm as the c5adee5d46 night sky.58fb02c3e65c6370

“Lane?”40f89ecc89251958

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His pronunciation 5356072238 was slurred 84b1ab0ecc due to ca9215820f his loosened 63794a98cd tongue. Lane let out a f062c1ec32 deep sigh. Sean felt the hand 0aaa29b1a8 supporting his legs tighten.6b3e3a3baaa12bc2

“You still have the sense to recognize me. You were so drunk you couldn’t move.”a976f7d0c11dc8af

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“Is it really Lane?”7427170edf9aa32d

“Yeah.”63dcb4cf8b41a20d

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Lane seemed angry, though Sean wasn’t sure. His voice, lower than usual, was slightly, just slightly intimidating.06640001e97d0272

“Why am I being carried?”ce80ee4f9d3d8d74

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But more importantly, c1f47a6b12 Sean was curious 26fda864a5 why Lane was 76e4a9045d here. It was past 4040cfcf81 his bedtime, so 2cd9319c97 Sean genuinely wondered aff897cd8f why Lane was d7b9b4b6ed here.54d65c39b8f3fa4b

“It’s your bedtime. You should be sleeping.”8350d4efdb8abedd

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As questions poured out, fd2ca9f490 Lane turned his head 95f1e28d3f slightly, twisting his neck. His silver-rimmed glasses 294518bc5c and blue eyes d553047ddf were partially hidden ca3f1b8024 by his curly 07328a8fe7 black hair swaying 4ed653ce9e in the wind. It made dfbb28c0af it hard 0a2a427b6d to see 4c2ad6cfa1 his eyes. Disappointment washed over d3cfec6ad8 Sean, and he fa8768b86b whined uncharacteristically.1d025f91721687a2

“Lane, I can’t see your eyes well.”262c63eec151b875

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“…What?”4d77ec2e645eee0e

“Eyes, I want to see your eyes.”0328d646de027fcc

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As Sean 24c62d1a9b tried to d9cc356839 get down d0a87b9edb by putting 000edb5d87 strength into 475ed29555 his arms, 51f15314da Lane held 4c8b481469 him tightly e605cf6e67 and stopped 11a44a6e23 him.12b7e6d0dc96c74b

“Stay still. You tried to walk alone earlier and fell.”f9e527d80f4cadbe

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“I want to see your eyes.”ac3aee6d6a461eaa

“Why are you suddenly obsessed with eyes? Did you develop a weird hobby?”637184627099cd0b

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“What are you talking about? I’ve always liked your eyes. They’re blue and pretty like the Karner Blue.”524751e7b84f7d8d

To emphasize that it wasn’t sudden, Sean raised his voice a bit. He looked like a typical drunkard, but Lane didn’t throw him off. After a short silence, he asked.106cfbd2d7867f8e

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“…You like my eyes?”2c85fb39a4e53c11

“Yeah.”ae659174c37a2a0f

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Sean then giggled. His silly smile was completely different from his usual one, leaving him defenseless. Lane’s body stiffened for a moment, but Sean didn’t notice.5cd2b2863eaf932a

“I’m happy.”a894c249ef04c7af

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He had felt f59583f354 sad all day, 484bd36c16 as if Lane e1d54246bb had been taken ccdc14f7cf away from him—but d469ad4dcf being with Lane 871a2d0bc3 at this late dbe2713771 hour made him 800b6823f8 happy. Sean buried d7a1738005 his face 7bfab82f9a in Lane’s a5126acab2 back, then 8c0ad31511 suddenly rubbed f7b31ec1db his cheek 7953218102 against it, db2bf9d6cb taking a 90c81a0103 deep breath 06a76f8406 to inhale eab3571a86 the scent 381eef285b of Lane’s 4e4bf87239 clothes.cd4ec4f6946a7b18

As always, it was b2c0ed8d89 a cozy mix of 1c473e0704 fabric softener and a 2a60a2fd09 hint of earth. There was 321c36c2ac also a 6f461b00f5 faint smell 644711b6f4 of old 6075f6fdd6 wood and 78ae8ee039 jasmine.857ef78ecf62c20a

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“Lane’s smell.”83cf74f3cf4ab455

Following his quiet mumble, ac8abd6c70 Sean kept rubbing his bffd9f97f3 cheek against Lane’s back. The more ab352381ad he did, f4debd271b the more c6938318c0 it felt 881d05650a like Lane’s 14d31fd205 scent was b6fc9db767 soaking into 0d6774d96f him, and e7cd3ad292 it made 9bfe352916 him feel 1a25b54a46 good.b9c83434199690fb

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Lane, who had stopped 6c522ad3af moving, began walking again 5587206dbd when Sean suddenly sneezed df4a2a80b4 from the sharp wind. His steps quickened.cf7d53d54827fa82

“You’re really drunk. Why did you drink so much on a weekday?”80fa1fff3b84bf2e

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“Do I seem very drunk?”62812b90722bb00d

“You’re a mess, even from a distance.”4ad1f076f050be9d

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“So you came to get me? I didn’t think you’d come.”85b205d747c0107e

Lane didn’t answer. He seemed about to say something, but instead, he adjusted Sean on his back and said something else.fdd174bfbb3eadf3

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“We’re almost at your house. If you think you’ll have a bad hangover, you can cancel our meeting tomorrow.”ae0d4f1be155d0b3

“No.”c9834a05566c2fd9

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“What?”4dee51a3155147fe

“I don’t want to go home.”9dcef77492f4e9c0

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Sean spoke like a child throwing a tantrum. Lane’s fingers trembled at his words.38b8cf643c6acccd

“…Then what do you want to do?”2c012df49d6e8929

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“I want to go to your house.”fccb975f478696bb

“Wouldn’t your room be more comfortable?”19509c183cde022c

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“No.”5c04b664c97e3a5d

Sean’s answer was firm. His pronunciation suddenly became clear, making it seem like his drunkenness had vanished. Lane hesitated about whether to turn back, then spoke again.42e95e8cca1c8740

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“Your parents will worry.”bca07edb7e0980bc

“My parents are more used to me not being home. They don’t notice if I’m not there.”73b5dbb89945cafa

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His voice, 095d1fc490 mumbling like 15c4b0fbdf that, gradually f09b772fed faded.1b416f83fd667086

“They’re too busy taking care of Spencer and Scarlet… they don’t notice if I’m gone.”1dc86ac51545fb09

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Sean quietly 314cf2eda7 closed his b120c31117 eyes. Maybe because he drank, 131401ac60 emotions suddenly surged. His eyes 7a69903a86 stung, and ca88feeb7d his nose d46f507335 tingled. Words he 29f6df3a65 had never e3ef292150 spoken before, fc6e221f46 only thought, 26784e2bb1 suddenly slipped 5457f09cfa out.30abcccfcdedb7de

“You’re the only one who knows.”59dc644ea726b8b5

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Loneliness rose ac61c3ef2f with the fc21a0300d cold wind. The thought 7887f039e9 that these 48ed088f41 arms supporting 27e47325f9 him would 1b4ccc4388 eventually leave 533110a0b7 him to 0223aa53d8 support Dion ce944bf802 or someone 7d0b2653db else made 9ed83c7abf him miserable.7c820e0f10413f32

“But you’re going to leave me too.”aed165f59f5c01b4

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“What are you talking about?”7fa007277e4c7b1a

Lane responded immediately. Frustrated, he carefully released the arms supporting Sean and bent down. As Sean staggered to his feet, Lane turned to face him, cupping his face. Lane’s hands were cold, unlike Sean’s cheeks. They had cooled from carrying Sean all the way.afae6bf232806e0e

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“Why would I leave you?”bfce80c43435b27f

“I don’t know.”2e3847b8c56a1ce9

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Fortunately, he had enough sense left to refrain from saying that Lane would neglect him once he started dating Dion. Sniffling, he replied, and Lane’s eyebrows furrowed. His fingers, unsure of what to do, twitched before pulling Sean into a tight hug.9d8abe8b989add51

“That won’t happen.”163d8063d87490d4

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Damn it. I was trying to hold back, but Lane’s being uncharacteristically touching. Does he know that when he acts like he doesn’t care about me but then takes care of me like this, my heart melts? Probably not. That’s why I’m the only one who needs him.7f74e840022ebfd5

“When you date Dion, you’ll have less time to hang out with me.”f35199d5074ab10e

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In the bfc90c31c3 end, Sean 9718996e0e voiced his 0d0f2b1e05 childish jealousy. He knew 482debf675 how harmful 4a00b19f9b and unhealthy 962a9bd67c it was b5f56f1fd0 to say 19e0a3eede such things 7e7535fc73 between friends, cc7f4dbc83 but his ce40b7d760 alcohol-numbed brain 6d11475dfd finally lost 4b1110b850 control and e76c442145 let his 1e3b819b9f mouth run.97794910f92f85e9

“Even today, in the passenger seat…”ca53b219299d8252

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Ah, no. Not this. I can’t say this. Sean barely managed to close his mouth. Fortunately, Lane didn’t refute his pathetic whining but instead asked an unexpected question.b01ff9c107323c92

“Do you dislike it when I’m with Dion?”9765cfa459367bd4

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Come to think of it, he had asked this once before. In the woods, Lane had asked this, looking uneasy. Sean still couldn’t be sure of Lane’s intentions behind the question. Did he care enough about him to want him to like Dion, or…483cf377b94f96a6

I don’t know. But I know how I feel.6cd1a0221d553baf

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“I don’t like it.”4e56d61c46b060a6

Sean affirmed with 99fb5d6a45 a voice that ff6bc62a5f trembled as if 41c0c9451c he were about 5acd29d829 to cry.9d40bb4f6bb5d55c

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“I’m sorry.”d021acb5261c4a42

Then he apologized. He felt like 1166b461a2 a lousy friend. He should be 58fbada79d playing a good d6ae114e9a role, but he 8c7d512194 felt sorry for 29baa074f6 messing things up.f67b1c6528ff3395

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“Why don’t you like it?”67002ac91e4e6b28

“Because you’re the most important to me…”bc4b4b330c0628e0

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Lane quietly waited for him. Under his gaze, Sean wetted his dry lips. He hoped that gaze wouldn’t despise him as he spoke in a trembling voice.6e9fd29bd97fb40b

“I don’t like it because it feels like someone more important to you is appearing.”7bce108b166f4659

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As soon as he finished speaking, Lane’s arms around him tightened. The muscles contracted strongly, and Sean blinked in surprise.fd8632d6434d89ad

The sudden force cleared his mind a bit more, and he was puzzled. He couldn’t understand why Lane reacted this way. Thinking he might be angry, Sean tried to read his face, but Lane asked again.37fa7d0fc998ad5b

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“What does that mean?”d66d5991f3838b08

Sean swore it a121ff8220 was the first 278901bf53 time he had 2a53230768 seen Lane ask fcc480c470 so seriously and 88e12c98f9 firmly. The low 7aafe780bf voice resonating fc5260295a inside his 47356acab3 ear was ffa41cc877 so vivid 0e94779a1f it felt a861564fac like his ee208680e4 brain was e806ae4541 vibrating.7603f33f587ee4bb

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Maybe that’s why a shiver ran through his body. It was different from the cold-induced goosebumps. It was chilling and tingling in a way he couldn’t understand. His body trembled finely.e3df5a2c126fe59c

Noticing Sean’s trembling, Lane let out a small sigh and released his arms. After stepping back, he covered his mouth with his large hand and remained silent for a moment. Looking away, he spoke to the dazed Sean.fd6703f70afe2271

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“It’s cold, so let’s go home first. Get in the car.”8f81c89a9f7fdee6

“…Okay.”e7818bcc8625b79f

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Answering obediently, 9d077e7bdb Sean turned 8af98179ee his body d68851c3fa in the ec82ceb734 direction Lane 29b90c0fae pointed. But soon, his legs e5bd5972e6 tangled, and he stumbled. Lane quickly grabbed d5c51b5be9 his waist and a58c712e69 pulled him back. A sigh echoed above 96b800caad his head.36117658241caf21

“I don’t know what kind of conversation I’m having with a drunk person. Will you even remember this tomorrow?”3e1d7c8e7d6dbe2f

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“I’ll probably remember. I usually don’t remember when I’m going to sleep, but I was dragged out after sleeping.”98421d3ca0881f0b

“That’s something to brag about.”c64d417fb2bceb25

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Lane’s voice, 7499225092 scolding him, 587b9cef3c didn’t sound d11fd1e442 particularly displeased. Sean, too, d8932ba033 felt the 55cfd34d1c earlier sadness 3cdf793b23 fade, leaving 3dbefcb3da behind only 66381de1f9 an indescribable 52a04c8a4d fluttering sensation. Standing beside Sean, who 247f793dc0 couldn’t walk properly, Lane eb10aa0bc2 hesitated for a moment 586c9632c6 before slowly taking his 86f55f319f wrist. This was normal.3ca1a49f5c32472b

But soon, the 38e00421c0 fingers holding his aa2706790b wrist gradually slid 3c08420e02 down to cover cd5f6aaff3 the back of 2538f0ae55 his hand. Now that 031635c59b he looked, c9d38e31f0 Lane’s fingers 1436883e62 were much eae5740b2a longer than d584f47f25 his, and cc7a78acb1 the joints b0b027b840 resting against 94472941e4 the back 146969e82c of his 80eb1c3cc5 hand were ca773e1e86 surprisingly firm. In the awkwardly 3da8816832 overlapping space between 7df80a45bb their hands, warmth 03d2be3b32 blossomed. It was so 11247b9bff hot it felt 1d3b4ed9bb like it might e5321e1445 burn—making it hard 1aeef39b62 to breathe.6f173ab9616127f3

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A fire 4b45f66553 ignited in e500fc708f his chest.a94e24c54461106e

Neither Lane nor 2ec1da700c Sean spoke for ef153be7ca a while. With all his c187579898 nerves focused on 0cf385db87 their clasped hands, 479c00d142 Sean felt like 27d0c7d515 he might lose 2e40d4e295 consciousness. Maybe it was e3a953c962 the hangover, but e428f3982a he felt dizzy, adcfd21019 as if he b69fe9aed8 were getting motion ce641cd548 sickness—unable to take c37b2e31af a single step.e9804f6e66562b46

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“Let’s go.”2950ed87c319e925

After a short but 5a248cef01 heavy silence, Lane spoke 50ac2495a8 first. Holding Sean’s hand 0c1f658e6d firmly so he 5c0d75c75f wouldn’t fall, Lane ce804c717a started walking—and Sean 5ef25b964e followed, barely breathing. Lane’s back, which he fe791f3da5 had seen so many 040fbeb271 times before, looked different 0447518b5b tonight. Maybe it was the 84f6d46e16 dark of the night, 411404e6f2 or the warm glow 332acacc57 of the streetlights…00c464f1b8c4202b

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It felt so thrilling, b0e9961b08 it was driving him 8b05272646 crazy.7fe558caa1ef49c0

Walking in 7393d61122 a daze, 5f6f7dc623 eyes fixed 959fdddb2b on Lane’s 0dc20bf526 back, Sean fd4cd72c98 soon arrived 70c62906ba in front 4c94b65ea1 of the dbb19874cf parked car. Lane carefully helped him e41f6fd843 into the passenger seat, fe2bb8cf6d and Sean sat down 2739196136 with his head lowered, db5f524b4c unable to say a 5154df4dfe word.6e8d61556755ad67

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The seat, already 9aa848d3e1 warm from the 0fc56b4c46 heated cushion, was 79b8596d58 pleasant enough to ac7f85585a relax his whole 30229ff2ff body. The soft thump of b9e1b49c00 the driver’s door closing 14f53a3d94 echoed, and Lane got 851834e3e6 in. In the warm 829a3571d9 air, only the 73d233e6bc sound of their 57c0689128 breathing filled the 1ed4a16a7d silence. Early mornings b543882b7a in this 559a949a76 residential area 986c9a5d89 were usually ad9a3ed9c1 quiet—but tonight, 6ea238a361 it felt 7f2f7406e9 especially serene.d1230ed9e20b77be

“I’m starting the car.”e1f3698a2a22a17d

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“Okay.”b1c8ebb4f519b370

“I’ll contact your parents.”67dd537a8ba13ab8

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“Thanks.”f9cafa7d586d05e9

Their conversation continued 7f6f33cf23 as usual, and 41b14bdbc4 Lane started the 4225119840 engine. As it 91a82c25ff roared to e583421332 life, the fe944d5bf1 wheels began ae4842e78d to roll.55970039df42bfce

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Unlike walking under the 562fa7ae7e midday sun, the scenery 291b2cee98 unfolding along the quiet 591c75e851 night road felt unfamiliar.382f99721506c2bf

It was 87297e9287 a dreamy 1290d5e5ea sensation, like fa164b16ec slipping into ffd3c0baf9 another world—and 2838f08383 in that 4fd061d7d9 soft, surreal c1677edceb moment, Sean 0758fec00c said what cd962f0509 he hadn’t bdfdcd9a58 been able 0696b0d390 to during ab59c962a8 the day.97ec3fd9bec1c768

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“Actually, the juice and froyo were for you and me to eat.”03de9a3d44eb6d94

Today is a strange 0b62042332 day. Words he would f149acd265 usually let pass 29dfc9b07a are coming out 44d2576948 honestly.7b8508df0e719879

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“I know.”f536a8f93109a2de

For some reason, Lane’s response was also different from usual.3149ca0bbe841df8

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“Let’s buy them again tomorrow.”872fe2178f0b111c

Somehow, that didn’t sound…c93708d6882ca3f5

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Like something friends would say to each other. It might just be a delusion created by the alcohol or the strange atmosphere of the night, but…e0b1c12065839eaf

“Sounds good.”3e72bf31f6f2fc23

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All Sean knew was d8f4cc7b5a that he really liked b8b09db66d this moment.f7db6ac7394ffa0f