The Story Of Bunny And Fox

Vol 4 (Side Story 1): The third day (2)

"Why are you doing this? It's not like you. You can't imprint with an Alpha, you can't relieve your rut, either."

Tears well up in his large eyes. Perhaps it's the double eyelids or the delicate lashes framing his eyes, but he looks remarkably pitiful. Hazel's words contain the time he and Ash had together. How their bond was, Karlyle doesn't know.

"You have never chased me away, Ash...."

His voice is so faint that it could easily sway even the most fortified heart. But the moment Karlyle hears that small voice, for the first time in his life, he truly feels angry at someone. He's never felt so angry towards a total stranger, he struggles to tamp down the rage in his gut. He has to hold it back. He must.

It's not his place to intervene.

As soon as that thought comes up, Ash opens his mouth.

"There was a time when I was attracted to you as an Omega. But that was in the past. Now tell me, sunbae. You have come all the way here yourself, so you should at least be able to answer this much."

At that, the man's face falls. Karlyle can sense Hazel's lingering attachment to Ash in that face. Unconsciously, Karlyle takes a step forward, as to guard Ash. There is a sense of vigilance that rises inside him like an instinct. Ash looks at him for a moment, then speaks again.

"Have I ever talked about marriage with you?"

Hazel is silent. His soft, pink lips quiver. Karlyle holds his breath and waits for the answer.

"Hurry."

Ash urges the man in a completely indifferent, stoic tone. He sounds angry. The man looks like he is about to cry, then finally answers.

"No, you never did."

His voice, neither high nor low, trembles anxiously. Such a pitiful sound. But Karlyle feels indescribably relieved at that voice.

"What about the imprinting thing? Did we try to imprint?"

Ash does not stop there, he's even going as far as to bring up imprinting. Hazel looks up at Ash, then lowers his eyes gloomily.

"No."

"And why was that?"

"Ash, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have come...."

"Yes, you should have."

Ash seems like a completely different person. It's the first time Karlyle has seen Ash getting angry. Ash used to show his displeasure at Karlyle's words before (when Karlyle said Ash and Nicholas had no relationship at the end of ss1), but that moment feels like nothing compared to now. Ash's pheromone is cold, there is no smile on his face.

"If you left me for someone else and even went all the way to America, did it not occur to you that you ought to disappear from my life for good? Did you think I would just accept you if you begged? "

Karlyle opens his eyes wide at those words, surprised. Their eyes meet. Ash closes his mouth, he squeezes Karlyle's hand tightly again.

Those words seem to have finally engendered genuine guilt from the man, Hazel bursts into tears. Tears roll down his cheeks, his doe-like eyes shimmer with his sorrow. Karlyle softens a little. Not because he feels sorry for Hazel, but because he's never seen Ash so cold.

"....S-sorry."

Despite his sniveling, Ash never reaches out to Hazel.

"You should have apologized earlier. It's not like I magically got a lover today. Have I ever asked for anything from you? Why we broke up, I didn't even question it, and just let you go. None of my acquaintances knows why we broke up. Since I never said anything."