“I see. Then, would it be okay if I recommended it first? We just recently created a new cat series......”
“Wait, wait.”
Dane quickly interrupted the man’s sly words. He couldn’t just get swept away like this. He came to his senses as if he had been splashed with cold water in a crisis. He tried to maintain his composure and said.
“I have something to talk to Miller about, so please leave the room.”
“Ah...... yes, I understand.”
The manager glanced at Grayson and then quietly stepped aside. Soon, the two of them were left alone in the room. Dane crossed his arms and quickly shook one leg as he looked at Grayson.
“What are you doing? What the hell?”
Grayson tilted his head as if he was asking in a growl.
Look at this kid, he thinks I’ll just let it go if he blinks prettily.
Dane felt his temples throbbing with shock, and continued to speak as calmly as possible.
“Why did you bring me here in the first place?”
It was all in the blink of an eye, so he hadn’t thought about it. He should have asked this before entering the store. He regretted it later, but it wasn’t too late. Grayson looked puzzled as Dane frowned and asked him questions as if he was interrogating him.
“I brought you here because I said I wanted to buy cat supplies?”
“So why are you here?”
Grayson blinked a couple of times and raised the corners of his mouth. He had been repeating the movements that were habitual to him, and he slowly returned his expression to Dane’s cold gaze. Grayson, who seemed to be struggling as if he didn’t know what expression to make, rolled his eyes and opened and closed his mouth, then spoke.
“If you don’t like this place, should we go to another store?”
“Where is that?”
“Right next door.......”
“Stop.”
Dane cut Grayson off with one word. He was still grimacing, but he understood the situation. In short, the only stores Grayson Miller knew were places like this. If you asked him about even the most trivial items, they would immediately put them in front of you.
“You said you had a dog, right?”
“Yeah.”
Grayson nodded obediently, and Dane asked him a test question.
“You’ll trim your dog’s nails too, right? Where did you get the nail clippers?”
“Here.”
That’s right. Dane was sure that his guess was right. That’s why they make ridiculous erasers and pencils and all sorts of other things in a place like this. That’s why they have customers like this.
“Miller.”
“Yeah.”
Grayson answered immediately and obediently this time too. Dane patiently taught him the reality.
“Most people don’t come into a shop like this easily like you and buy things like dog nail clippers. You should have asked me if I could buy it here before you brought me here.”
Grayson frowned at Dane’s teaching this time. Dane narrowed his eyes as if he had something to say, as if telling him to try.
“But.......”
Grayson continued speaking in a tone that didn’t seem to like it.
“I told you not to spend money. Then what if you buy it?”
Dane’s legs, which had been moving up and down quickly until then, suddenly stopped. He looked at Grayson with a distorted face. As if to say, “What the hell is this guy talking about?”
“Haa.”
Dane sighed as he had done several times and ran a hand down his face. It was frustrating, but there was nothing he could do. This was just a difference in thinking that came from living in different environments. At times like this... ... .
“Anyway, I can’t even afford to buy a leash here, okay?”
“Then I.......”
“I’ll go to another store, somewhere I know.”
Dane cut Grayson off firmly before he could cross the line again. It would have been easy to just leave the store. However, he felt uneasy when he saw the coffee and dessert he had finished drinking. He thought he had eaten it for nothing, but it was too late. Anyway, if he did something, he should take responsibility.
Grayson Miller.
“You.”
Grayson immediately fixed his gaze when Dane called him. Dane continued, feeling a strange feeling like he was looking at a well-behaved golden retriever.
“Don’t you need anything? Buy something. I don’t want to just leave.”
“You can go.”
Dane furrowed his brows and threatened in a low voice.
“Buy it. Anything cheap is fine.”
Grayson frowned seriously and seemed to be lost in thought, then got up from the sofa. When he came back, he was holding a small shopping bag in his hand.
“I bought it.”
Seeing the smiling face, Dane got up. He had no idea what he had bought, but he thought it didn’t matter. Anyway, he had bought something, so he had paid for it.
Only then did Dane feel relieved and walked ahead. The manager came out after him and the two went outside.
“Give me the keys.”
Dane held out his hand as if it was a given. When Grayson handed him the car keys, he readily sat in the driver’s seat. This time, the car drove off with Grayson in the passenger seat.
The place Dane headed to was a shabby shopping district far from a high-end shopping district. Dane parked Grayson’s car next to a ridiculous car that looked like the back of a truck was attached to the front of a passenger car and immediately got out of the driver’s seat. Grayson also got out of the passenger seat, and he locked the car door and threw the key to Grayson with his thumb without even looking. Grayson caught the key with one hand and followed Dane who was walking ahead.
“Welcome, Dane. It’s been a while.”
An older woman who was cleaning the store greeted him warmly. After giving him a light hug and greeting, Dane explained his reason for coming. While he was looking through the carrier, Grayson slowly looked around the room.
The walls were filled with supplies for pets, from toys to food. They handled a variety of types, from cats and dogs to reptiles and amphibians.
He looked at the empty cage in amazement and turned his head, and this time a fish tank came into view. The fish had just been fed, and they were swimming to the surface and opening their mouths. He leaned ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) over and stared blankly into the empty eyes of the fish. Then he stopped and stared at the fish. Until Dane called him.
“Miller.”
When he heard the call, he slowly straightened his back and turned around, and Dane was looking at him. He nodded to one side and said.
“It’s over, let’s go.”
And Dane briefly greeted the owner and left the store first like before. When Grayson followed him out, Dane suddenly looked back. Grayson blinked and asked, as if he had something to say.
“Why?”
Dane now knew that the corners of his mouth were raised and he smiled, which was a habit that had become ingrained in his body. However, he didn’t point it out and just looked at Grayson silently.
What were you thinking about when you looked at the fish tank earlier?
Most people would say that they wanted to raise fish or that they just looked because they had nothing else to do, but Grayson Miller wasn’t one of those people. Dane was curious, but instead of asking, he held out the object he was holding in one hand.
“Here.”
Grayson held out his hand, bewildered. Dane put the object down on his palm and took his hand away. Grayson stared blankly at the object Dane had given him.
It was a can of dog treats. Dane said to Grayson, who blinked as if asking what it was.
“It’s a gift. I heard it has a lot of nutrients that older dogs need.”
“......A gift?”
Grayson repeated what Dane had said. Dane scratched the back of his head, feeling embarrassed for no reason.
“Yeah, I owe you something anyway.......”
It was only when he realized it too late that he should have put it in an envelope and given it to him. Dane, who had inadvertently turned his gaze to Grayson, stopped his hand in surprise. Grayson was looking down at him with his eyes wide open. He soon figured 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 like he was touched. No, that must be what he was feeling right now. The sparkling eyes, the faintly flushed cheeks, and the vibration mixed in his voice were proof of that.
“Thank you, I’ll keep it.”
It was ridiculous. Dane frowned and pointed out bluntly.
“You idiot, you should give it to the dog. Why are you keeping it?”
It would be embarrassing, but Grayson’s expression didn’t change. Seeing that face made Dane feel sorry for no reason, so he softened his tone and added.
“It’s not that expensive, so there’s no need to be thankful.”
Even after saying that, Grayson’s expression didn’t change. He held a tin can in his large hand, which looked infinitely small, so carefully. Grayson looked down at Dane, as if he wanted to say something but didn’t know how to say it.
That’s when Grayson’s ears flickered briefly.
Dane’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected reaction. Grayson, who realized that he was looking at his ears, grabbed his ears in confusion.
“No, it’s... just a habit.”
“Moving your ears?”
When Dane asked, Grayson nodded in confusion and said.
“I don’t know why, but sometimes they move on their own.”
Dane stared blankly at him. Grayson’s ears moved again. This time, they were clearly visible. When he saw the movement, he thought he knew. Why Grayson’s ears were moving.
Grayson might not feel emotions, but that man’s ears knew. What sensation was spreading through his chest right now.
When he realized that, Dane’s heart began to beat slowly and dully. The blush that rose to Grayson’s pale cheeks looked like a flower blooming. Dane slowly raised his hand and cupped the flower in his palm.
Even though he knew that Grayson was looking at him with surprised eyes, Dane didn’t stop. He put his hand on the back of Grayson’s head and gently pulled him closer. Grayson hesitated for a moment, but made no attempt to resist.
No. Slowly, naturally, the distance between the two became closer.
Slowly, the eyelids that had been lowered closed completely. Warm breaths met. Soon, their lips would touch. They all knew. What would happen next. But no one avoided it.
