The Story Of Bunny And Fox

Vol 3 - Side Story 1: One day (2)

The first emotion that comes is disappointment. Karlyle silently fiddles with his phone. There’s no way his grandfather doesn’t know what he has done. Even if his parents didn't tell him, the investigation would have been done the moment the engagement broke. Arthur has known Ash’s name, then he must have grasped his identity as well.

Sighing, Karlyle asks the time. Judging from his grandfather’s personality, he will call them whatever time he wants, regardless of Ash’s working hours. However, Alex tells him to come at 6 P.M. Maybe his grandfather is trying to keep the minimum morality. Off work time is 5 P.M, so the time is right.

But will Ash be okay with this?

Karlyle is worried. It will definitely not be a pleasant experience for Ash. Seeing how his grandfather treats his father Jonathan, Ash will be treated the same. Moreover, Karlyle showed a pathetic sight the last time, including fainting. Hanging up the phone with a simple “I understand”, he sits down on the bed and ponders for a long time. It’s quite lucky that Ash has gone to work first.

His conclusion slowly leans towards going alone. This is his personal matter. It’s his family’s circumstances, so it’s right to handle it alone without bringing Ash in. Moreover, they have only started dating recently. Regardless of how much he loves Ash, all of this will be a burden on Ash.

Water drips from his freshly washed hair and pools on his thighs. Raising his head quietly, Karlyle looks around Ash’s room. This feels like their room now. Traces of Ash bringing him into his space appear everywhere.

There are a lot of things he doesn’t know about Ash’s past. He doesn’t know how Ash was with his ex. To be honest, Karlyle doesn’t want to know. Because he’ll get meanly jealous of everyone, and the person suffering will obviously be him. However, this may be his own delusion, but he doesn’t think that Ash treated all of his past lovers the same way he treats him. Ash has waited for him. He has also confessed that he loves him.

So, maybe it’s okay to ask Ash’s opinion.

That is mannerism. When getting back with him, Ash has once again tried to become a part of his life. Even if he goes alone, it’ll be better to go alone if Ash says that he isn’t ready to meet Arthur yet.

After hesitating for quite some time to come to a decision, Karlyle sends a text message to Ash. After drying his hair, the reply comes while he is taking out his clothes next to Ash’s shirt and dressing up.

[Let’s go together.]

There's one more text.

[I don't want you to go alone, Lyle. We will definitely go together. Okay?]

As soon as he sees the grateful reply, he feels a great sense of relief. A feeling of reassurance, which he has never felt before, wraps around him pleasantly. What do people call this feeling?

Karlyle can’t think of any words to describe this feeling. He is not alone. That sentence quietly rolls on his tongue. He may need more time to think before he can come up with a definite answer.

****

At exactly 5 o’clock in the afternoon, Karlyle arrives at Ash’s company. Parked in a nearby private parking lot, Karlyle encounters the company sign <<Unexpected>> again. He thought he would be okay, but when seeing that sign again, his stomach hurt a little.

Ash asked whether he should go straight to Karlyle’s place, but Karlyle said he would pick him up, like in the past. There are three reasons for this. First, he doesn’t want to trouble Ash. Second, the timing is right. And lastly, his last memory about this place is not good. This is the most important reason.