By Zephyria 
nine
It felt like I owned the whole world.
Clouds in the sky, birds chirping in the trees, and the most lovable you by my side…
The love song of a popular singer had a considerable disconnect from the reality of two men riding in a car. If Dane were alone, he would never listen to such a song, but the only reason he didn’t turn it off was because if he rejected this, the goddamn
‘Chest, chest’
would come back, and that would be the worst. This was at least bearable because the singer’s voice was good.
Grayson, who was in the driver’s seat, whistled and occasionally tapped the steering wheel. Dane, sitting in the passenger seat, glanced at him, who seemed unbearably happy, and thought, ‘Well, whatever.’ So he reclined the backrest, stretched out, and simply closed his eyes to rest. There was still a long way to go to their destination.
It was two days ago that he found out Darling’s Pet carrier was torn. There wouldn’t be any need to use it for a while, but he had to prepare it just in case, so Dane decided to go shopping on his day off. And when he came out of the mansion in the morning, he found Grayson waiting at the entrance.
How did he manage to get the day off?
The fire station basically operated on a shift system, so there were more days when the staff’s days off didn’t coincide than when they did. But soon Dane remembered.
He must have stolen my work schedule.
He wasn’t even surprised by this anymore, so he tried to shake off Grayson and get into the car alone. But Grayson blocked Dane, who was about to get into the driver’s seat, and declared,
“If you let me come with you, I’ll buy you whatever you want.”
If Grayson hadn’t confessed his love for Dane, Dane would have seized this opportunity and squeezed him dry. But it was Dane’s principle not to take even a penny from someone who liked him. What if he got caught?
Normally, he would have shuddered and cursed, but Dane only frowned, grabbed Grayson’s nose, and shook it gently without hurting him.
“I told you not to spend money like that, didn’t I? Huh?”
He pushed him away, saying, “Move,” and tried to get into the driver’s seat, but Grayson grabbed him again.
“I have rights too!”
What kind of bullshit is this? When Dane looked at him with a scowl, Grayson spouted nonsense.
“Darling is your cat, and you’re mine, so of course Darling’s affairs are my affairs too. In other words, I’m not spending money on you, but on Darling.”
Dane looked at his face with hazy eyes. Grayson also seemed to know that he was making an absurd claim, and his expression was somewhat awkward. As he tried to get into the car without saying anything, Grayson hurriedly stopped him again.
“Three hours.”
When Dane paused at those words, Grayson immediately added,
“You said you’d spend three hours a day with me, right? Then you can come with me now, can’t you? It applies even on holidays.”
Unlike before, confidence was evident on Grayson’s face. With the certainty that Dane wouldn’t be able to push him away this time.
Dane stared at him silently and closed the car door without saying a word. As if he had been waiting, Grayson immediately ran to his car, which was parked right behind, and opened the passenger seat door. When Dane silently walked over and sat in the seat, Grayson soon went around the hood to the driver’s seat. And they were driving towards the shopping mall.
…Or so he thought.
After falling asleep for a while and opening his eyes, he was speeding through an unexpected place. Except for when there was an accident or fire drill, he never imagined coming here. It was a luxury street lined with shops selling incredibly expensive items that didn’t even have price tags.
“What, why, what.”
Dane was flustered and stuttered. He had been mindlessly looking out the window, but he hurriedly turned to the driver’s seat, but Grayson didn’t care and just whistled.
“Hey, what the hell…”
“We’re here.”
Before Dane could finish speaking, Grayson spoke first and slowed down the car. Soon, the car came to a complete stop on the roadside, and as if they had been waiting, men in suits rushed over and opened the passenger and driver’s side doors.
“Welcome, Mr. Miller.”
“Good to see you.”
“You look great today as well.”
Greetings and flattering remarks continued from all directions. It was a very awkward and embarrassing scene for Dane, who only exchanged trivial jokes or nods with the employees at the mart. But Grayson seemed very accustomed to this, not even looking at them, let alone answering their greetings, and immediately walked towards the Shop.
The employee who was standing by the door handle, like those who had come to greet them, opened the door as he approached and stepped aside. And Dane walked into the luxury Shop that he had always seen from the outside.
“Hello, Mr. Miller. Welcome.”
The manager, who came out with a bright smile, glanced at Dane. Dane didn’t miss him quickly scanning his entire body. Red hair that grew haphazardly, a cheap leather jacket, a stretched-out T-shirt, old jeans torn in places, and sneakers covered in dust. The other party quickly finished the assessment and turned his attention to Grayson, saying,
“It’s been a while. The item you mentioned is ready. Please come inside. What would you like to drink?”
Preposterously, Grayson ordered a sugary fruit drink and then asked Dane,
“What about you?”
Dane’s answer was already decided.
“Coffee.”
At the indifferent words, the manager smiled and asked,
“Yes, what kind of coffee would you like? Espresso, latte, cappuccino…”
“Americano. In a mug, full.”
“Ah… I understand.”
The manager seemed momentarily flustered but soon answered with a smile. The place they were guided to was a reception room inside. Dane sat on the wide, comfortable sofa, crossed one leg in a figure four over the other knee, and leaned back.
A splendid chandelier hung from the ceiling of the room, which was mirrored on all sides, reflecting sparkling light all around, making it almost blinding. When he lowered his gaze, he saw an item occupying one side of the wall. Dane could tell that they were the products prepared for them.
“Thank you for waiting.”
The employee who approached with a bright smile placed drinks and desserts that looked incredibly expensive at a glance in front of Grayson and Dane, respectively. How much would just one of those bite-sized bakeries cost? Dane picked one up and put it in his mouth, thinking. With this one, I could buy a month’s worth of Darling’s food…
The moment he thought that far, a sweet fruit scent filled his mouth. Dane, who had paused, slowly chewed the pastry and changed his mind.
It’s not my money anyway.
As he put the desserts into his mouth one by one with the coffee, the manager who soon returned stood in front of them.
“Mr. Miller, are you raising a cat this time? How is Alex doing these days?”
The face that asked about his daily life in a friendly manner seemed very accustomed to this kind of conversation. Mentioning personal matters to the extent that it doesn’t offend the customer must be ingrained in them. As Dane thought that, Grayson answered.
“Alex is doing well. This guy is raising the cat. I just came to watch.”
“Oh? Ah.”
He let out an exclamation as if he had understood, and turned his head to Dane. With a completely different expression than before, the manager opened his mouth.
“So, you’re the one who came to buy something today?”
“That’s right.”
Grayson readily answered. At that moment, Dane, who was bringing the mug to his mouth, stopped moving. First, his eyes moved, and then his head followed. Regardless of Dane’s gaze, Grayson brazenly said to the manager.
“Show him anything. He’s going to buy it all.”
Is this crazy bastard out of his mind?
The manager’s face brightened, and Dane quickly turned pale and stared intently at Grayson.
111 – 111
“I see. Then, would you mind if I made a recommendation first? We just launched a new cat series this time around…”
“Wait, just a minute.”
Dane hastily cut off the man’s smooth words. He couldn’t just let himself be swept away like this. He felt a jolt of clarity, as if cold water had been splashed on him in a crisis. He tried to maintain his composure and said,
“I need to talk to Miller, so could you give us some privacy?”
“Ah… Yes, I understand.”
The manager glanced at Grayson and then readily stepped back. Soon, they were alone in the room. Dane crossed his arms, tapping one foot rapidly, and stared at Grayson.
“What do you think you’re doing? Seriously.”
Grayson tilted his head as if asking what he meant, in response to Dane’s growled question.
Look at this guy, thinking I’ll just let it go if he bats his pretty eyes.
Dane felt a vein throbbing in his temple from the sheer absurdity of it all, and he tried his best to speak calmly.
“Why did you bring me here in the first place?”
He had been swept up in the moment and hadn’t thought about it. He should have asked this before coming into the Shop. He regretted it belatedly, but it wasn’t too late. Grayson looked puzzled at Dane’s scowling, interrogative face and said,
“I brought you here because you said you wanted to buy cat supplies?”
“I mean, why here?”
Grayson blinked a couple of times and then turned up the corners of his mouth. He repeated a gesture that had become a habit, but he slowly returned to his expression under Dane’s cool gaze. Grayson seemed flustered, as if he didn’t know what kind of expression to make, rolling his eyes and opening and closing his mouth before finally speaking.
“If you don’t like it here, should we go to another Shop?”
“Where?”
“Right next door…”
“Stop.”
Dane cut Grayson off with one word. He was still frowning, but he had figured out the situation. In short, the only Shops Grayson Miller knew were places like this. No matter how trivial the item, if he mentioned it in a place like this, it would be brought to him immediately.
“You said you have a dog, right?”
“Yeah.”
Dane asked Grayson tentatively, who nodded obediently.
“Your dog gets his nails trimmed, right? Where did you buy the nail clippers?”
“Here.”
Just as he thought. Dane was convinced that his guess was right. So that’s why they make ridiculous erasers and pencils and other miscellaneous items in places like this. Because there are customers like this.
“Miller.”
“Yeah.”
Grayson answered immediately and obediently again. Dane patiently taught him about reality.
“Most people don’t just walk into a Shop like this and buy dog nail clippers. You should have asked me if it was okay to buy them here before you brought me in.”
Grayson frowned at Dane’s lesson. He looked like he had something to say, and Dane narrowed his eyes as if to tell him to go ahead.
“But…”
Grayson continued, sounding reluctant.
“I thought I wasn’t supposed to spend money. So how else are you going to buy it?”
Dane’s leg, which had been bouncing up and down rapidly, stopped abruptly. He stared at Grayson with a distorted expression, as if to say, What are you talking about?
“Haa.”
Dane sighed, as he had done so many times before, and ran a hand over his face. It was frustrating, but there was nothing he could do. This was just a difference in thinking that came from having different backgrounds. In situations like this…
“Anyway, I can’t even afford a leash from here, got it?”
“Then I’ll…”
“We’re going to another Shop, one that I know.”
Dane firmly cut Grayson off before he crossed the line again. It would have been easy to just walk out of the Shop. But when he looked at the coffee and dessert they had finished, he felt uneasy. He regretted eating them, but it was too late. Anyway, if you started something, you had to take responsibility.
Grayson Miller had to.
“You.”
Grayson immediately fixed his gaze on Dane when he called him. Feeling a strange sense of watching a well-behaved golden retriever, Dane continued.
“Don’t you need anything? Buy something, since we can’t just leave.”
“We can leave, though.”
Dane furrowed his brow and threatened in a low voice.
“Buy something, anything cheap is fine.”
Grayson frowned deeply and seemed to be lost in thought, but then he got up from the sofa. When he returned, he was holding a small shopping bag.
“I bought something.”
Seeing his grinning face, Dane stood up. He had no idea what he had bought, but he didn’t care. Anyway, he had bought something, so he had paid for the coffee and dessert.
Only then did Dane feel relieved and started walking ahead. They came out of the Shop, escorted by the manager who had followed them out.
“Give me the keys.”
Dane held out his hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Grayson handed him the car keys, and he readily got into the driver’s seat. This time, Grayson was in the passenger seat as the car pulled out onto the road.
Dane headed for a run-down shopping district far from the upscale shopping streets. He parked Grayson’s car next to a ridiculous vehicle that looked like the front of a passenger car had been grafted onto the back of a truck, and immediately got out of the driver’s seat. Grayson also got out of the passenger seat, and Dane locked the car door and tossed the keys to Grayson with his thumb without even looking. Grayson caught the keys that flew through the air with one hand and followed Dane, who was walking ahead.
“Welcome, Dane. It’s been a while.”
An older woman who was cleaning the Shop greeted him warmly. After a light hug and greeting, Dane told her why he had come. While he was looking at the Pet carrier, Grayson slowly looked around the room.
The walls were filled with everything a pet could need, from toys to food. They seemed to carry a wide variety of items, with everything from cat and dog supplies to reptile and amphibian supplies.
He looked curiously into an empty Breeding cage and then turned his head, and this time a fish tank came into view. The fish were swarming to the surface, opening and closing their mouths, as if they had just been fed. He leaned forward and stared blankly into the empty eyes of the fish. And he just stopped there, staring at the fish until Dane called him.
“Miller.”
At the sound of his name, he slowly straightened up and turned around to see Dane looking at him. He tilted his head to one side and said,
“I’m done, let’s go.”
And Dane simply said goodbye to the owner and left the Shop as before. When Grayson followed him outside, Dane suddenly turned around. Grayson blinked, seeing that he looked like he had something to say, and asked,
“Why?”
Dane now knew that the smiling face with raised corners of his mouth was a habit of his. But he didn’t bother to point it out, and instead just silently looked at Grayson.
What were you thinking when you were looking at the fish tank earlier?
Most people would say that they wanted to raise fish or that they were just looking at it because they had nothing else to do, but Grayson Miller was not like most people. Dane was curious, but he didn’t ask. Instead, he held out the item he was holding in one hand.
“Here.”
Grayson looked puzzled and held out his hand. Dane placed the item in his palm and let go. Grayson stared down at the item Dane had given him.
It was a can of dog treats. Grayson blinked at him as if to ask what it was, and Dane said,
“It’s a gift. I heard it has a lot of nutrients that older dogs need.”
“…A gift?”
Grayson repeated what Dane had said. Feeling embarrassed for no reason, Dane scratched the back of his head.
“Yeah, well, you’re doing me a favor anyway…”
He should have put it in a bag or something, he thought belatedly. It was then that Dane, who had inadvertently turned his gaze, stopped and was surprised. Grayson was looking down at him with wide eyes. He soon found out why.
“This is the first time you’ve given me a gift…”
Grayson said in a voice he had never heard before. His faintly trembling voice sounded almost moved. No, maybe that was exactly what he was feeling right now. His sparkling eyes, faintly flushed cheeks, and the vibration in his voice were proof enough.
“Thank you, I’ll treasure it.”
That was ridiculous. Dane frowned and pointed out gruffly,
“Idiot, you’re supposed to give it to the dog. What are you going to do with it?”
Grayson’s expression didn’t change, even though he should have been embarrassed. Seeing his face, Dane felt a little sorry and softened his tone, adding,
“It’s not that expensive, so you don’t have to thank me.”
Even after he said that, Grayson’s expression didn’t change. He was holding the can, which looked so small in his large hands, so preciously. Grayson stared blankly down at Dane, as if he wanted to say something but didn’t know how to say it.
It was then. Grayson’s ear twitched briefly.
Surprised by the unexpected reaction, Dane’s eyes widened. Grayson, realizing that he was looking at his ear, grabbed his ear as if flustered.
“No, it’s… just a habit.”
“Moving your ear?”
Grayson nodded and said, looking flustered, when Dane asked.
“I don’t know why, but it sometimes moves on its own.”
Dane stared at him silently. Grayson’s ear moved again. This time, it was clearly visible. Seeing the movement, he thought he knew. Why Grayson’s ear was moving.
Grayson may not be able to feel emotions, but that man’s ear knew. What was the sensation spreading through his chest right now.
Realizing that, Dane’s heart began to beat slowly and dully. The blush on Grayson’s pale cheeks was like a flower blooming. Dane slowly raised his hand and cupped the flower with his palm.
Dane didn’t stop, even though he knew Grayson was looking at him with surprised eyes. He put his hand behind Grayson’s head and gently pulled him closer. Grayson hesitated for a moment, but didn’t try to resist. Slowly, naturally, the distance between them narrowed.
His eyelids slowly lowered and closed completely. Warm breaths met. Their lips would touch soon. They both knew. What would happen next. But neither of them avoided it.