Chapter 9 The Handshake Between Two Men

As the meal progressed, Blake finally stopped staring at me all the time. I breathed a sigh of relief and leisurely drank the soup, finally beginning to taste it.

"By the way, Blake, are you working today?"

Seeing that the restaurant was getting crowded at noon, I suddenly remembered. If he worked in a restaurant, he should be busy on his rest days, right?

But Blake seemed to read my mind and smiled gently.

"Ah, I'm off today. I almost always rest on Sundays."

"You rest on Sundays. So, how many days do you work a week?"

I asked casually, and Blake tilted his head, paused for a moment, and blinked.

"About five or six days a week? Actually, I haven't paid much attention. Except for Sundays, my rest days are not very fixed."

"Is it because you work too hard that you can't get up in the morning? You're not an office worker."

It's too hard for him to go to school and work five days a week.

I looked at Blake with a helpless expression, and he gave a wry smile.

"Before worrying about others, worry about yourself first. Student burnout is no laughing matter."

"If a teacher said that, I would pay attention."

Blake smiled at me, who was frowning, and shrugged.

But his somewhat evasive movement seemed to hide another side of him.

Blake always smiled gently, giving off an atmosphere that he wouldn't be emotional, but I often felt a sense of incongruity in the details of his expressions, words, and attitudes.

Perhaps there was a side of him that I hadn't seen yet.

"Really? Actually, you might be the type who doesn't take others' words seriously and acts recklessly, right?"

"Who knows."

I was helpless at Blake's vague answer, and if he showed a confused expression.

"Even so, my love for you is not fake."

"..."

Seeing Blake smile a little sadly, my heart ached as if it was being tightly gripped.

I just wanted to tease him lightly, but maybe I hurt Blake, and I regretted it.

"Teacher, you finished all the food. That's amazing."

"... I can't be happy to be praised like this."

While thinking about various things, I started to eat, and before I knew it, I finished the last bite.

Almost at the same time, Blake also stopped and looked at the empty plate with a satisfied smile.

Although we ate slowly, we finished at the same time at this moment.

I glanced at Blake, and he tilted his head slightly.

"Why? It's too wasteful."

I couldn't help but murmur to myself, and Blake tilted his head in confusion.

He was so considerate, handsome, and had a good personality - although a bit stubborn, but generally nice. Why would such a good man like me? I felt a little regretful now.

Really, what does he like about me, a person with no merits like me?

"What's wrong? The way you look at me is like looking at something pitiful."

"... Nothing."

"It doesn't look like nothing at all."

I sighed lightly at Blake, who was frowning. I felt that I couldn't come up with an answer even if I thought about it, so I decided to stop thinking.

"It's about time to go."

Ignoring Blake, who still looked dissatisfied, I stood up leisurely.

When it was time to pay the bill, I forced Blake to step back and wouldn't let him open his wallet. This was my last stubbornness as an adult.

To be honest, as a man, this was a bit petty.

But after all, I was older than him, and considering the positions of a social person and a student, I felt it was natural for me to pay, so I wouldn't give in.

"Thank you for the treat."

But on the contrary, Blake quickly gave in and let me pay. I thought he was smarter and more mature.

"How time flies."

We stayed in the cafe for a long time, and when we came out, it was almost twelve o'clock. There were more people on the street, and it became a little lively.

"It's very close from here. Let's go quickly before the street gets more crowded."

There were relatively few people on the street before noon, but this street in front of the station would be crowded on weekends.

That kind of crowd was really daunting. Blake looked at my slightly frowning face and smiled with narrowed eyes.

I began to somewhat understand the meaning of this expression of his.

"Don't say what you're thinking right now."

I spoke before him and stopped him. But he widened his eyes instantly and blinked.

"Cute."

"I said don't say that!"

As I expected, he said this, and I frowned, while Blake laughed happily.

I walked through the crowd. I didn't like wandering aimlessly, nor did I like walking leisurely.

I looked for gaps and overtook the people in front.

But to stop my steps, my left hand was tightly held.

Surprised by the sudden touch, I trembled and let out a small sigh.

"You're unexpectedly impatient."

I looked up at Blake, who looked at me confusedly.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I got used to it without realizing it."

I looked at Blake beside me, came to my senses, and felt very sorry, lowering my head.

I had always hated crowds and unconsciously wanted to get through there as soon as possible, so my steps would speed up.

I remembered that because of this habit, the girls I had dated before were all very angry and complained to me a lot.

"I don't mind."

"...?"

Blake suddenly muttered at this moment, and I couldn't help but stare at his side profile.

"I won't lose you."

He noticed my gaze, glanced at me, and smiled.

The hand that was held was somehow intertwined with Blake's fingers and held tightly.

I noticed the connected hands and opened my mouth like a fish surfacing.

"In this case, we won't get separated, right?"

Blake kissed the fingertip of my held hand, and his bold move left me speechless.

But I was pulled back to reality by the slightly swaying air around me, and regardless of the gazes around me, I started to walk at a faster pace than before.

This was the moment when instinct overcame reason.

There, I couldn't stop to confirm the situation. I instinctively fled.

"Tea, teacher..."

"Don't say anything now!"

I was almost jogging rather than walking, and Blake seemed to want to say something, but I didn't have the energy to listen now.

Although the street was crowded, it was impossible for two men to hold hands and do such a thing in the middle of the road without attracting attention.

Blake's hand was still holding mine, but at this moment, it was no longer important. Anyway, I wanted to escape from this place.

By the way, if there was a hole, I really wanted to crawl into it.