CG | Chapter 1.12

It was sad df4cb109ea that even the 80db83a3ba person he cherished 1cffc9bf76 the most had d87156235f the impression that d6586d3417 he was cheap, d892feb3d3 but it was 2d1e9e6c8e his own doing, f6ccc972d5 so there was 361aa5561b nothing he could afe9bbf1cf do. After all, the act 2081046301 of lightly dating someone 6816dd96de without truly liking them 2c25b41ac1 was indeed not serious.2a309e66d640942e

“I’ll ask if something comes to mind.”f1adab3e1f06a862

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“Sure, you’re always welcome.”87910a0a3b833c7d

“Then let’s watch the movie now. Your favorite part is coming up.”a70518b34e4ace2c

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Lane pointed at the 6616c6a46f screen with his finger. As he said, there a25a3431f3 was a cute big-headed 9f88ff3a88 robot with a large 3d8d4b5759 torso and short limbs aea625526e in the movie. The scene where 115b6b5996 soldiers connected with ba962af847 the robot through 15d342144b brainwaves and moved e3d90153de it freely was f78103b6de quite interesting, and 851110d2b5 Sean soon exclaimed 009281860f in admiration, focusing 7a776d7b61 on the screen.8a5144462ec29b3c

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.e9ecff4f47eaa6be

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The action 11750d863a was good, 3ff79ab462 and the 13ca4f8ffe cute mobile 34e80b7cbe robot made ead62fd3c8 Sean enjoy 653cf06487 the movie. As he eddb2f143d sank deep 6ce98b888a into the b7a894324a sofa and bd774d8c40 focused, the 70cee67ca9 end was ed5da8168e in sight.2a8bc2b9fdfd9758

“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.”d8dfc36514aeb5ec

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Sean shared his bc205d1b74 thoughts on the 8f2e90ac5e ending, which was a625da3d60 happy despite the f0691313e7 sacrifices. When watching 48e1a8f180 movies, they 2ed3b57246 both tended c55154759b to be 432faa0b74 quiet, focusing 670f9b156e throughout and c1f625df4c exchanging their d60d20ba8b impressions afterward. Lane, who had a af2383cb27 habit of reading the 746d29a20e ending credits to the 5fa4920081 end, turned his head a6a04f6e7d to observe him.9f8cdfbbbfe39665

“Come to think of it, didn’t you originally want to be a mechanic?”89484ff1970fe582

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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.5b21c94456e86b15

“My parents opposed it.”4c6f0f24cf6ce31b

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The options were ccb470deed to work in 11e2e80b64 the securities industry ce8fb577b1 like his father, 0b9d1bbe17 become a lawyer 6f4566086c like his mother, 9dfc0b7cb2 or find a 956713b6f2 more respected profession. Sean liked being 4067c4e2c7 recognized by his 18afdce560 parents, so he b6848a99a1 followed the predetermined 57e3f851d8 path to become 8c8c9bca85 a good son.52be753c11708986

“You know how stubborn my parents are.”6e3968397a6249c9

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“I thought you agreed because you didn’t dislike it.”b0b2542051bac473

“Yeah. I’m not a genius who won awards in invention contests since elementary school.”58bc32af4577a989

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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.ca8546d61361fa48

“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.”be86047d2bc42895

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This sounds b81501c232 a bit 6d442b0c2c mature. Sean smiled, 2a2373eaaa satisfied with 91495f64ea his own fbbb94ac5e words. Lane watched him e25b8999dd quietly and made 925dad6c89 a remark.7aa56e640c0b45d7

“You think too much about others.”816415252e55ee4a

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“That’s because you take care of me.”9fc47c6f1c1fade8

“I can’t always be by your side.”bd2d09530e43af17

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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.a114104221d973b9

“It’s already this late. You have work tomorrow, so I’ll get going.”145fe1334f2141f2

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Lane nodded 56990596eb and started df076f8fde helping Sean fa6a1a02d5 clean the a5d31d410c table. He took the cups 9308ce63d8 and plates, while Sean 507d1c8a62 went outside to separate 0b905212bf the empty boxes and ea43142ced bags into the trash d0067a3962 bin in the backyard. He even dragged 598292289d the trash bin a284a89c76 to the road, 99d28232bd thinking he should 2b1ae8ebab take care of c21d931554 it for his b55c2e21e9 family, who would e3ef1f16a5 probably forget about e2963df332 it when he 83c4f973a4 got home, as 0ff0db6c79 tomorrow was collection 0a65ac75d3 day.6e31b78ec8622af5

After quickly c51327e11e finishing his a1c28399d3 tasks and 7fca9012d9 returning inside, 6b950f0941 Sean washed ce270c52fc his hands 2ba69ada19 in the 043454c8bb first-floor bathroom 325ccbc862 and came 1d8e4e7bc7 out. The living 45adde2d6e room was c0d6986601 already neatly e59f29d8c2 organized, and 24291403a7 Lane was f6063ed6be nowhere to c782a1935a be seen. Thinking he a491ab092e might have 4491021197 gone to bd857c441a his room, b118226803 Sean went a4f2cb77b3 up to ef93dfdc08 the second e594baf871 floor and b3508ec623 heard a ce25d99bf5 voice from a0cf9bc272 the study. It seemed like 303ce2245a he was on 4d5a24fd74 a call.e5bc10f64c114560

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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.6de58f57c974f21c

Who is fe841dc9a3 he talking fa8d36a050 to for fba9ceb96d so long?2b760c12807c06a8

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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.fc66768271149169

Dion.eef851b2a7ceda52

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What kind of person c99b7f13a4 is Dion that makes ceea648ce2 Lane act like this? Suppressing the unknown irritation 68cbb2d5e0 and wariness rising within 47136a2c74 him, Sean, seeing no 1d2ba6f003 sign of the call c07444ba4e ending, unconsciously got up a4f971212f from the stairs and 081ba6f3d9 quietly headed toward the 81a5e2f8c8 study. His socked 033a701602 feet silently b5f50a9c13 approached the 8092fb0d0f half-open door, 1b34fe3623 and soon 52dddec6c3 he saw 10689552fc Lane inside.aad11ee12e1c0acd

Lane was on the a8119abf2d phone, looking out the e11942473e window. Standing with b025285182 his back 5d573e302b to the e96b6abc3e door, leaning 1c4d11bd7d slightly against 77031d5a1f the window 938665929c frame, he f064702fe9 seemed particularly c205404491 tall and 096560736d sturdy. As Sean quietly 32f61f48ef observed his back, 7fdb6358c5 he realized that e30cb59e5d Lane was definitely 1cd2d616fc taller than him 44c2d3ca5e when he stood b1bd7aff25 up straight.31c98e4514115c8f

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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.60d0230b44012515

Just like any other 9932c1ded8 young person experiencing emotions 997cdc3966 for the first time.21a5eb6f7c77ff31

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In that moment, witnessing 1926fcb7c4 a normal side of 46a309031c Lane, whom he had 05aea46063 always considered special and f0cd384ffb different from others, Sean a4c4d1af66 felt a slight discomfort 241445a6cf in his stomach. Feeling strange, he turned dc877aafa1 to leave, but then 5c707f5083 he heard Lane ending 5e0725ea39 the call.34ca1d2f9e1a62d3

“…Yeah, got it. Let’s talk again tomorrow.”45191ecaaf41971d

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After a short silence, Lane’s voice, sounding amused, echoed.7c19d319389eedd7

“You sure know how to talk.”cd0bf878e9417db3

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With a tone that e93e50fb68 seemed to show affection, 58dbbb3b07 Lane said his goodbyes.f2edfa8d84614180

“Good night. Sweet dreams.”f1bd3e8420091760

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The call ended. As soon 915824cf22 as he adf457ce90 heard footsteps cf6e5c95f4 turning, Sean 6a8ee016b1 quickly turned c856abbeb5 his back d45c8e620c to the b243be88df hallway, but 37b94ca418 the door bd8c013ac9 opened faster.d2a603ae02347bdb

“Sean? What are you doing here?”06c4cdd4aadf86b0

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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.52f015168623b5b4

“I was looking for you since you weren’t around, and, um, I only heard a little bit. I didn’t mean to listen.”8d650780df2008f4

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“…How much did you hear?”5531169e7665dd6a

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.525e48de664de35a

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“I only heard the part where you said goodbye. You usually speak softly and quietly, so I really didn’t hear anything else.”85754d762e9c0a4f

“…Ha.”a217e0c0a5164742

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A sigh with an 241d8e08e7 unknown meaning escaped. It was 8cd9ee1c0e a situation e619c00ee1 where Lane fc5ef548a5 could understandably 448eeef158 be upset, 49b8936310 so Sean c793c069d4 stood there, 74435cff66 waiting for 83db9c55dd his reaction. He felt e3315b5dc9 like a 97aab5dcfa child being 350ed19e59 punished. Having always 49b5091cf4 been an b23bc56b0b excellent model 7e7ced4528 student who ec0fd9467b grew up 9fbf585af2 without being 7d60c9a870 scolded, he e36ab71a3d felt like a69ac51886 he was 2ecc2b5864 back in 46f8eaa12d the time f5c49cdbb2 when his fe0e42d1e3 parents scolded 9f5d389e78 him as 50ab031610 a child. It was 50f5fc7a65 especially unfamiliar f229b9accc to feel 52095545d9 this way 444c19aae2 from Lane.e71b18bbc6fb2151

Lane had always 334d8b0dc9 been his safe 1bb33f5dea haven.fc4f0eeaed2bdb98

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“I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful in the future, so please don’t be mad.”368b996df140913b

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.7a7ffeee58b8e3c6

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“I’m not mad. But I’d appreciate it if you could be more careful in the future.”c43da5effd81e05f

“Okay.”1b53a19fb77b49cd

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After obediently 2bf28a92dc answering, Sean e68a8ef3e1 took a 61602ac4bd step closer 1e7ab84b80 and confirmed 3d07512d52 again.649c1ef890931687

“So we’re good now, right?”e853199637b23516

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“There was never anything bad.”92cea831c973658b

“Great.”ab628cc40ea5e3c6

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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.3642d6186549e5f3

“Sean.”dc91e0d3acbb515a

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Hearing his ce3261716a name, Sean c99163aaf3 quickly turned 3d6ffcf0ca around. Lane, with a 4505b8d981 face illuminated by 60544f6812 the light, looked dff0a24c28 at him with 07a6805c38 his arms crossed 9af8b4b778 and asked.f78d0a76e479997c

“You said you’d help me, right?”2f6063b421da1662

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“Yeah, I did.”d99fcb707875e306

“Then help me with one more thing before the party.”3c0124fc1b74b10f

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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.26b401afddfb6b6c

“What is it? Just tell me.”4c94524627643f85

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“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.”217bd2a3cccdbf27

“Yeah, that makes sense.”4883f8afe1cde97a

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“I’d like you to show me how to do it.”94470b4896360598

“…Huh?”e55c9d11c6b60685

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Sean, taken aback f841b48013 by the somewhat 91087e7a7a strange request, asked b0d5f352a7 again, and Lane 6a6e402058 clarified.cc22c7bafeace938

“I don’t know how to do things like dating.”960d0157dd19ac91

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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.4786a7f54f0cd966

“Don’t worry, Lane. I’m here.”2f8489ad79faf737

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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.7d5d0199ebdc9069

And he hated 96c312c973 that all of 16981226aa this cuteness was 6f55736eb6 because of Dion. It seemed like 655c80bef8 it was just c87f5ef702 cute in the 109e3399d8 morning.845353277d01082a

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“Do you have any free time after work before Friday?”5624acbf155aa7ac

“…Thursday.”814ca712ca86e24a

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“The day before the party. Perfect. Then I’ll come to Manhattan that evening. You said your internship is around there, right?”edcbb1bda7ea92a3

“Yeah.”b7eda68b0d8e33bc

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“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?”85bd3f3ac1a9cf85

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.794df3f8fae45d70

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“Then I’ll get going. Sleep well, and if anything comes up, contact me.”ce02a6837bb65b5a

“Got it.”cd8d2c97e5ce2eb8

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Sean, smiling cdd3e21920 as if cb5d766c73 he found d14a65c01f Lane endearing, 6dedfb92aa quickly turned 7976c81e03 and started 365deac8e1 running down d74b246020 the stairs. Feeling the 8c3c518fff gaze following 7a7c93309e him slowly d5cb003a99 from behind, 676902e728 he turned f00687f8a9 around once fd87983568 more to 718ba8f26a see Lane 0280d346cb watching him.8690098158d68e7e

Waving to him, Sean e4add7c698 began running home. Beneath the d0e4c55ed5 thought of 758ad1c168 being able d7c2daa0d1 to help e61142311a Lane, an 2f657aee2e uncomfortable feeling c541df05bc stirred, but a9332742fc Sean ignored eb51a47df8 it and cf9f1e48d1 ran with c515e5313c all his 8ddea0d5ad might along 61be4f1433 the street 407c6205d8 lit by be20115867 streetlights. He ran quickly, e487ff67c2 as if running 21fa091844 on grass, putting 091a441318 strength into his 5f3ea79486 thighs until he 874df95d2a was out of 5ba83e9633 breath.ed6c959736dea2db

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The distracting thoughts soon b812a8ce0c disappeared. When he arrived home, 63c963d232 his family members were d4dbad9f78 in their respective rooms, 2fbbdf5502 and Sean, after taking 39f7019812 out the trash bin c21cf1afbd to the road in 44b6ed9797 front of the garden, d75d43a192 sat down with a c02867fa8d thud. Looking up while fcd04d2de0 catching his breath, 1f1d41e3e5 he saw the c06d6bd82d black night sky. The quietly 33582ae04e shining moon 4f3be8a3a7 and stars 37658b5547 were in faae4afe71 their usual b91de05b67 places.990cf6e8989b0a49

As if bc97053cd6 to say 653ad872ce that only 1dcc7f2f3d the people 82e66dd786 below change, f2f0da93a5 they silently 7d1dd5de66 sparkled.40db61ee1ad02f00

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