Chapter 98

"Ah, Dane."

At someone's sudden words, Greyson turned his head. Dane was standing at the entrance to the locker room, looking at him. As Greyson turned his body, Dane's gaze also moved. Noticing that his gaze was following his back and then losing track and wandering, Greyson smiled brightly and greeted him.

"Hello, Da..."

"Let's talk for a moment."

Before he could finish speaking, Dane abruptly blurted out, then turned around first and walked away with large strides. Greyson tilted his head, then soon put his shirt back on and followed behind him, bouncing along with a hummed tune.

* * *

"What happened? That."

Once they were alone behind the building, Dane immediately got to the point. Greyson scratched the back of his head and answered.

"I met a robber..."

"Where did you meet this robber?"

Once again, Dane cut off Greyson's words. Greyson looked down at him with his hand still on the back of his head. Dane's reaction now was a bit difficult to understand. What did that expression mean?

'When it's hard to understand, just bring up another topic.'

"How is Darling doing?"

Following the teachings from his childhood, Greyson tried to change the subject. Bringing up the easiest topic that Dane might fall for. But Dane instead frowned and made an unpleasant expression.

"Just answer the question. Where did you meet the robber?"

At the repeated question, Greyson closed his mouth. This time, Dane didn't bother to wait and concluded.

"You were attacked in the motel parking lot, weren't you?"

Greyson didn't answer this time either. He just blinked and looked at Dane. At his behavior, which was clearly trying to figure out the intention behind the question, Dane lowered his head with a deep "ha" sigh.

"That's why I told you there's no need for you to drive me home every time. I'm not a woman who needs an escort."

The latter part sounded irritated. This too was an unfamiliar reaction to Greyson. This was the first time he had actually had an accident while taking someone home, but he had pretended to have accidents before. To gain the other person's attention. They had all been worried and tried to take care of Greyson, not showing such a sharp reaction and displaying displeasure.

Why is he angry?

Greyson, who had been puzzled, soon reached a plausible answer. Dane has a strong sense of responsibility, so he might think this happened because of him. If so, he's probably getting irritated because of guilt.

"I'm fine."

"I'm not fine."

Dane, who had thrown Greyson's words right back at him, frowned and seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, then soon muttered as if to himself.

"Now there's no reason for you to come there anyway..."

"Me? No reason? Why?"

Suddenly, Greyson caught his words and asked. Dane, who had been rubbing his forehead, stopped his hand and looked up at him. This time, it was Dane who had a puzzled expression, as if he didn't understand.

"I told you that while we're dating, I won't go to clubs anymore and won't meet anyone else, right? So now there's no reason for you to come to my motel."

"I'm going to."

At the nonchalant answer, Dane hesitated, and Greyson added brightly.

"I can't send you alone to such a dangerous place. I'll go with you every day when you get off work."

"Didn't you hear me say I don't need an escort?"

Irritation began to mix into Dane's voice. He wasn't used to such a clingy relationship. Others might call this dating, but Dane just found it bothersome. That's why he had never formed deep relationships with anyone until now.

"But I want to take you home."

At Greyson's stubborn words, Dane finally exploded.

"Are you saying you're going to monitor whether I meet someone else or not, is that it?"

When he lashed out roughly, Greyson immediately shook his head.

"Of course not, I know well that you're a person who doesn't break promises."

"Then what?"

If this bastard considered him someone who needed protection, he was ready to make him realize with his body how wrong his thinking was. As he clenched his fist and waited for an answer, Greyson, who had been scratching his cheek, showed an unexpected reaction. Avoiding Dane's gaze, he hesitated a bit as if troubled, then opened his mouth.

"I just... want to be with you a little longer, that's all."

At the unexpected words, Dane hesitated. Is this bastard lying to me again? He looked at him without hiding his suspicion, but Greyson just continued to stare at him, blinking his eyes blankly.

An awkward silence flowed. As this was a first for him, Dane couldn't respond immediately.

"...Why?"

To Dane, who had only spat out that word with a frowning face, Greyson tilted his head to one side and pulled up the corners of his mouth.

"Because I'm happy when I'm with you?"

As if he wasn't sure himself, his voice slightly rose at the end. Dane stared at him, furrowing his brow. As if to say, what does that mean? Greyson made an "umm" sound, dragging out his words, then answered.

"So... my heart pounds, my feet keep lifting like this, my fingertips tingle, and I want to be kind to everyone in the world, that kind of feeling."

Greyson, who had listed each sensation he felt one by one, smiled brightly.

"Isn't this happiness?"

...Huh.

Dane blinked in surprise. For the first time, Greyson's smiling face didn't feel awkward. He had always felt that Greyson made expressions that didn't match the situation or smiled artificially. But now, it was as if...

Doesn't he seem like someone who truly knows happiness?

Even while thinking that couldn't be possible, Dane couldn't be confident in his own belief. Was it really true that this man couldn't feel emotions?

"...Similar."

Probably, he added inwardly. In fact, how could he speak with certainty about what it was when he himself didn't know what happiness was?

I really can't be a good teacher.

Dane recalled bitterly. Suddenly, a headache came over him. Anyway, Greyson getting hurt was his fault. Strictly speaking, he wouldn't be responsible since he had repeatedly told him not to follow him around in the first place. But he couldn't ignore the nagging feeling.

Even if I tell him not to follow me, this bastard will shamelessly cling to me.

Now the only way to get rid of this guy was to wait for the three months to pass. Though it was only about two and a half months left.

Then rather...

Haaaa, he let out a deep sigh before making his decision. He suddenly realized that he had been sighing frequently since colliding with Greyson Miller, but he couldn't stop it. After taking in and letting out another big breath, he finally opened his mouth.

"Alright, let's live together."

For a moment, Greyson inhaled sharply like a scream. Before he could pour out words, Dane coldly added, as if preemptively blocking his excitement.

"I'll move into your house. But only for the remaining time. When the three months are over, we end this completely."

"Understood."

"And don't follow me around."

"Of course I'll do that."

Greyson answered without hesitation in succession. He's sticking to me like chewed gum right now, can I really believe those words? Dane had a bit of uneasiness left, but for now, he had no choice but to believe him.

As he turned around first to go inside, a thought suddenly occurred to him, and he hesitated and looked back at him.

"You, tell me the truth. How did you find me every time?"

Greyson, who had been following, immediately answered with a bright smile this time as well.

"I attached a tracking device to your car."

"Huh."

Dane let out a dejected sigh, but that was all. Shaking his head, he started walking again, and Greyson followed behind him with excited steps.

Surely that bastard didn't harm himself on purpose, did he?

Dane quickly dismissed the thought that suddenly came to mind. Surely he wouldn't go that far. For now, he had no choice but to believe that.

And it was late that night when Dane, along with Darling, entered Greyson's mansion.