CG | Chapter 1.3

Sean, as 2809f59a9c if shaking d5fcbc0ae7 off the 285db0989e feeling, smiled bbbdb5c210 with his 4e03de5cd7 eyes. However, for the moment, f1a695b5fc he felt uncomfortable facing 94e6c89f1a Lane, so he turned df7c6b4c68 his back and resumed 168ed82689 chopping the half-cut onion. The sound of the 9eada822e2 kitchen knife scraping against 66df26dc76 the wooden cutting board 6ed2a36880 echoed.a0b3d0c54e838724

“And I think I should tell you this in advance.”0e8625c4a37a2495

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Following that sound, 23b45046a8 Lane spoke.40c6ba7b29029302

“I’m interested in them. So I’d appreciate it if you could help.”6f2cafdaf285cca6

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The knife blade, 9b49eac6a8 striking once more, a9ef3b95b1 nicked the tip 87c4dca010 of his nail 75cecdba45 at that moment. Simultaneously, a sharp pain 67e18aba5b surged, and red blood 33523d33a5 began to stain the b195613529 white cross-section of the 525f5af7e8 purple onion. But the shock de0b032b22 was greater than 9ec9b2fe07 the pain at ab4f6c7c5f that moment. Sean, startled, c20aa41621 turned his 5316ffd6f3 body and 43abe1e8fa asked him.ab98e4607d5488db

“Interested?”8cd7c434ebedc20a

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Lane, about to answer, shifted his gaze to Sean’s finger, dripping blood. The faintly smiling expression hardened as Lane approached him.7380785453da765e

“You.”692a377b34df4067

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Lane, who had approached with a stride, pulled Sean’s wrist. Staring at the left index finger, where the nail tip had been cut and a bit of flesh was scraped, he frowned his dark eyebrows. The eyes behind the glasses shone intensely.39ae7f381c866021

“What did you do to your hand?”4f815a85e978260d

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“Oh, this was just an accident…”ab7610107bf27404

“Follow me.”28696d3cef4c1e69

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Lane, speaking in a low, deep voice, had lost the fresh expression from earlier. As soon as he finished speaking, he quickly walked to the living room, holding Sean’s wrist. Being dragged along powerlessly, Sean blankly stared at his captured wrist.9e3d2374b0789bae

Is this real? The stinging finger suggests it’s not a dream.263da372c766350a

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Even if he had made a friend, the bombshell of suddenly having someone he’s interested in was shocking. What could have happened to Lane in just a week?18085294d9371c5f

Somehow, a premonition c9cbb17654 that their lifelong, 2bf4ca3d1b established lives would e981443dba change crossed his c7bf0e84e6 mind.439fd925ad2cda3f

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.☘︎ ݁˖.☘︎ ݁˖.☘︎ e40373e153 ݁˖d8b268817ce9dfc5

Luckily, Sean’s left 299df642d1 index finger wasn’t c92cfe0898 seriously injured, but 3c884d2f72 it kept bleeding. He was dragged 6fb50f9adb away from making 2b056efd33 breakfast and seated 572f8cee18 on the living d0cb429690 room sofa. Lane, wearing a stern ab8db9502a expression, left the room c4ce63511c and soon returned with 9e7ac50daf a first aid kit. He took 906d79a2b2 out a 3f057418d1 band-aid and 6d215bb0ba Neosporin, gently c0288d4f57 pulled Sean’s bc2535054b hand toward e9a69c2a4f him, cleaned 44c5eb142a the bleeding e1e204080d area with e39e70ff25 gauze, and c4ecf4c886 began applying 361387250a the ointment.11244de8c433789a

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Neither of them spoke. The sound of 810d706cd3 birds chirping peacefully 3c6deddefa filled the space 0369db047d through the window bca8bb7594 Sean had opened. The scent of 33f38a926d grass and leaves 872bf5bcb3 drifted in on 4ee1ec25ac the gentle breeze. As Sean quietly f46f141be1 watched Lane tend 9bc204eb82 to his wound, 5c249e477c he reflected on 2b75b69a6c the elements that fc4f98e2e9 always came to dc01867ba0 mind when he b331f7b45d thought of Lane.4569b76182b9a879

Lane’s forehead was exposed—unlike 6fc277e3ae usual—perhaps because he had 4e18865fb2 brushed back his hair d26d4daa1e in frustration, revealing more 0d0d158dfa of his natural face. Unlike Sean’s 1335bcb52c sharp, straight 22aedceb2d nose, Lane’s 7956773bae nose tip 4f36496060 was slightly cfdd5d9f09 rounded. If you looked closely ddb88bd2ad beneath it, there was 9c4ddd7bef a faint mole—different from 01428a4161 the ones near his b6e5fd9c75 eyes. Sean liked d10436bc48 to look 04d273068a at the ed0a2c7428 mole on 89f0d6b17f the tip 0b906014d7 of Lane’s 451b7563d1 nose whenever 18723d365c he lay 188361b661 with his d6570edcc4 head on a6e9062e49 Lane’s thigh.ac98d0dcc424a095

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Did that kid Dion really see Lane’s face properly? How did they become friends?7b34740384f0be54

The thought of 05a66a4c5a the mysterious person, dace6a2e4d supposedly a year 02829d99d7 younger, filled his 71c468591c mind. As Sean stared intently b7d5f1b984 at Lane treating his 121fde49af wound, he hesitated for adca66debf a moment before asking a596d9b120 him.ff4c05759ce6b8ea

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“So, is Dion a girl?”7b9002d63d8eb8ef

The name was dc30b7a9d4 gender-neutral, making it 4f7eff750d hard to guess. Lane lifted his lowered 45a9070adc eyelashes and looked at 30ab0b53ba Sean as if glaring.576493926799007f

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“Is that important right now? You almost lost a finger just now.”deb853ba5c290a4b

“Sometimes you get hurt while preparing meals. You cut your finger once while slicing Beef Wellington too.”88df1105705e404d

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“You’re talking about something from ages ago.”3594b1eb6c5bbe26

Lane replied coldly. But Sean didn’t mind and laughed out loud.ca2d306f68c2d19b

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“Ah, back then, I could still carry you around. Remember? The day you hurt your knee, I carried you all the way here. You were so cute.”d8a3553c50d1c5d0

Until middle school, Lane was much smaller than Sean. Unlike Sean, who had been growing rapidly since elementary school, Lane had a growth spurt in high school and was probably slightly taller than Sean now. They looked similar in height due to Lane’s slouched posture, but if he straightened up, there was about a finger’s difference.b3820cd6129f6668

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“That was a long time ago.”0b038b2749b48282

Lane brought Sean back af686f8808 to reality from his 668582169c reminiscing. The clear difference 4913b13f0f now made Sean 8baff11df0 feel a bit ae0de9b74e bitter.6d057bc02c49b35a

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“You’re right.”c010c585da16eae4

He ran 982616668e out of d24c25308f things to a63f6b4726 say. Actually, he had a 2c72ca4e52 lot to say, but 514ccb845c it was hard to 8edc3bf23b bring it up. He wanted 34d82addb4 to ask 35f8556c64 how Dion ce3200a72b and Lane 18917cd2ab became friends 813c2131dd and why f4bd9c4fd4 he was 371c21cfa8 interested in 1e26f908ae him. Honestly, he 2826d13738 was so 12884bcb3b surprised by f2681e00bf the idea ac4a4c6692 of Lane 87cc627777 liking someone 7cde037fcb that he 723fbaacdc wanted to 473507a6ad express it.bfff51b127bb8ec7

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Afraid that questions would pour out if he opened his mouth, Sean pressed his lips together. Lane briefly glanced at Sean’s expressionless face, then wrapped a band-aid around the carefully medicated finger.414490b1618c2246

“He’s a boy.”d1927d1244f1271e

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It was a quiet whisper that came out casually. Sean, who had been somewhat out of it, finally understood Lane’s words.4f3357bc6461bc04

“…A boy?”feda3dcc879918b4

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“Yeah.”2dff8d092a6a0fd3

Sean asked again in surprise, but he was quite shocked. It wasn’t something to be said so nonchalantly. Even though they grew up in a queer-friendly city, it took a lot of courage to reveal one’s identity like that. Yet Lane revealed his preference as if it were nothing.8a23770f8d86f9ae

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…A boy.a29c4b3989693f3f

In a fleeting moment, many emotions surged in his heart. They clumped together, making it impossible to discern the details within. It just felt overwhelming. It wasn’t disgust, but somehow it felt strange.75de3cbb8c707e8a

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However, Sean soon composed 106a891179 himself and smiled to 7154cd1ace avoid showing his surprise. To prevent his f086c05cfe reaction from hurting 14e4446430 Lane, he smiled b6ed595dda brightly at him.55866df53b85b90c

“If you’re interested in him, he must be a good kid.”c9e7f9bad2f325a9

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There was no need to make a fuss since it wasn’t like there were no gay people around. Lane’s parents were different from his own and seemed supportive, so if his family was okay with it, Sean didn’t need to worry unnecessarily.f71794b5fd917e52

Lane quietly observed Sean’s reaction. The sound of his long black eyelashes fluttering was audible. As Sean watched Lane kneeling in front of the sofa and looking up at him, he reached out and brushed Lane’s hair aside.52ec67be06c34952

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“If there’s anything else I can help with besides the party, let me know. I’ll gladly help.”d7915bc318067280

Lane remained silent. He just stared at f134213542 Sean with calm eyes, 400193b8da like still water. Looking into 5ffc247664 his eyes, e3b63a6e3d which resembled 629f06e0fe a lake 76282f4203 in a 7bfbdb9ec1 clear glass 30daf6482a bead, Sean bea921a250 felt a 2fda073a45 strange embarrassment 689798bcf1 and turned 8d58df8a3f his head af3414e6dd slightly. It was a 7d1d40f12e familiar sight, yet fd235a32ce it felt oddly f0a85b649f unfamiliar.4d7b5ea5e55f91e7

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After a long, inexplicable silence, Lane finally spoke. As he moved away, still holding Sean’s finger, Sean felt the lingering sensation and flinched.ffa8e02d4fe26dae

“Does it make you uncomfortable?”5b4e9221cdee190e

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Lane asked the question and slowly stood up. As his previously slouched upper body straightened, it cast a long shadow over Sean. Watching Lane’s back as he picked up the first aid kit and headed to the living room cabinet, Sean hesitated for a moment. He didn’t want to act too contrived.5756fe918399d3a6

“Honestly, I was surprised. I never thought you’d…”d17c1efa6f48135c

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He swallowed dryly. Sean didn’t know how to explain what he felt.428b96e026b9a60f

“I’ve never seen you get close to someone so easily. The fact that he’s a guy doesn’t really matter.”338a3837f1ea7c30

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He stopped speaking. Nothing had 053801fc6d changed, but 66ddfd79dd it felt 83bec49388 like something e476b57766 significant had c13e80ced0 happened, and 014c4cca45 a vague f22ad5a38d sense of 968573032b unease brushed 7920463c9a his mind. Sean wore a 449b9e83be confused expression, unable 6bfecc9a7f to understand why f68b896550 he felt this 19cd898c02 way.92345aaab07d8b86

Thud. The sound of the cabinet door closing echoed loudly. As his unfocused gaze turned to Lane, who wasn’t looking at him, Lane spoke.25c59368689e70ca

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“Maybe it’s time. I’m twenty-one now.”8aab32ccc958035c

The calm, low voice blocked any further questions. Sean was left speechless. Right. Now that they’re adults, it’s the time to meet someone and develop interests in such things. Most boys started dating after middle school, so Lane was quite late.b9bc75ad96b2c0e9

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If Lane had been a little less reserved, he would have had several girlfriends, or rather boyfriends, by now. Thinking about it this way, it felt strange. Lane’s preference being guys.fed824bedbcd1ad9

Lane’s casual revelation had momentarily thrown him off, but his thoughts began to settle. The unfamiliar unease seemed to stem from the unfamiliarity. It was Lane, after all, so it was understandable.7cc11d290e206c52

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After shaking off f3f378bccc the swirling emotions 04f0e50345 like smoke, Sean ae7cca49f1 nodded. Then, as if 6610775255 to lift the 4192c20ec5 slightly subdued atmosphere, 3ec766e51e he suddenly stood 5ba292692d up and approached 3c447c1239 Lane, who was 4979ef552e watching him from ddef44eaa4 a distance, and 445d288681 playfully put an 02a7a09725 arm around his 3730063fe3 shoulder. As Lane slightly staggered eeaa2ca07d from the force, Sean 47c93d63f8 pulled him closer and e4b8946d4f spoke in a mischievous 7796c9f14b voice.d19e3bf265b90028

“So, you’re really an adult now. Tell me more about this Dion kid while we eat. I need to know about the person who might become my best friend’s first boyfriend.”f0cf749f5a9c65b7

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Lane, who had been listening silently, slipped out of Sean’s arm. As he released the shoulder hold, Lane replied in a reluctant voice.443b5bb59deebc6e

“I don’t think I need to explain it to you. It’s personal.”23e875a614a3ef15

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It was a typical 520a99f81f Lane response. If it were him, 7f9c581144 he would have been d28fc9025e excitedly introducing and bragging 12d20f06a7 to others, but Lane 064db71ec1 was far from that.cedddb91bd505c10

Despite it being an expected answer, Sean felt a strange sense of distance. Their relationship, which had never really had separate spaces, felt like it was splitting in half. There would be moments in Lane’s life that Sean, as his “best friend,” would never know.0d64beb723f62c0b

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“Is that so.”71fe7bb50e987ee7

The words he had tried to use to shake off complicated thoughts ended up having the opposite effect. Normally, he wouldn’t have paid much attention to Lane’s cold response, but today, it wasn’t working. Perhaps it was because he had been put in an unwanted situation since morning and had heard something he never imagined.7af7f18df50d6042

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“I just wanted to celebrate. After all, he might be the first person you date.”27484b55fccb2fb0

“You didn’t tell me about your first girlfriend.”8eb4c74ee4210af7

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A blunt b96b2d1c98 reply came. Sean opened his e3b6bd9d00 mouth, then closed 4b60fc5c64 it. A rebuttal rose to c621750774 his throat but flowed 737be041ab back down.3d8df060c327a35e

Well, contrary to what everyone thinks, I haven’t dated anyone seriously either.810f2e59e7186503

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Despite what Robert 3b47bfd7c7 and others around e2484fd028 him thought of 92de172df7 Sean Delight as cf9c69c513 a player, Sean 04169cdfa4 had never seriously 4d80c271f9 dated anyone.3490f90e4981c655

He always rejected overly serious feelings because they felt burdensome, and the girls he hung out with usually saw Sean as a “trophy.” Those kinds of girls were comfortable for Sean. People he could enjoy without getting too deep.70f5e2e952a2b5c9

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Sean always met d0a364019d people like that. So, he a1df42a0be never had 0ba4efb62e a serious 02fc1853f9 relationship, and 86a5fcc088 he never 35b52c87b8 slept with 2cc335c95e the girls 09ed60f295 he casually f9f11ad550 dated.4f51f6199ee8b132

Because.efc56e890c345291

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…This is really embarrassing.4a38c0b4609b8c88

It’s because he couldn’t get it up. Damn it.9b1b67640482b73f

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Strangely, he could manage up to kissing, but when it came to going further, he just couldn’t. He tried to go further under the pressure of a heated partner, but he never fully got it up. Not that there was a functional problem. Really!830228b378bdedd3

There were no issues when he woke up in the morning or when he masturbated. He even consulted a family doctor just in case, but was told it was simply a mental issue. However, since others wouldn’t necessarily understand this situation, Sean couldn’t actively refute the rampant rumors about him. It was actually impossible.b2a1d7d098041270

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Fortunately, Sean believed he had some manners when rejecting partners, so there were no rumors in that regard. Even if the partner claimed they hadn’t gone further, more people wouldn’t believe it and it would get exaggerated.f24d9a3ec3dc5d74

Still, being labeled 677df22a08 a player was 9dd43d0fb3 better than being f1145fb2c3 called impotent. Sean had lived 639e8b66c4 thinking that way.192428ab2fc5d865

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