Chapter 136: AN OFFER.

Chapter 136: 136: AN OFFER.

The two of them arrived at the washroom. Ryan stood there with both arms folded as he turned to Kael, who closed the door and made sure no one else was inside.

"Why are you acting so secretive, as if we’re about to have sex or something?" Ryan casually asked.

"And how do you know we’re not about to?" Kael said as he walked up to him. He stood close to Ryan, far too close, to the point where leaning in would lead to a kiss.

But Ryan was unfazed. His expression remained cold, his arms still folded as he stared at him. "Hurry up. I have more important things to do."

Kael cleared his throat and stepped back, seeing that his flirting wasn’t working on Ryan. He looked around before saying, "Let’s make it quick. Let’s make a deal." He turned to Ryan.

"What deal?"

Kael sighed. "Be my Guide."

Silence.

A long silence followed before Ryan casually burst into laughter, leaving Kael confused and surprised.

"What? What’s with the reaction?" he demanded. "What’s so funny about what I said?"

Ryan laughed for some time before forcing himself to stop. He smiled as he said, "Sorry, the joke was so funny that I almost took it seriously."

"...."

Kael blinked.

"Don’t mind me. I’m serious now. So let’s get down to business. What’s the deal?" Ryan inquired.

"..." Kael stared at him. "But I’m serious..."

"...."

Ryan blinked. "Oh. You’re serious." He bit his lower lip.

Kael cleared his throat and folded his arms. "Yes, I am. I want you to be my pair. My Guide. Let’s form a permanent pair."

Ryan tilted his head. "I suppose it worked for you..." He smiled, adjusting his glasses. "Well, too bad I’m just an F-rank..."

"Doesn’t matter at all," Kael said, almost desperately.

Ryan stared at him. "But I thought you hated F-rank trashes?"

Kael closed his eyes, running a hand through his hair as he gathered himself before speaking.

"I’m sorry..."

"Eh?"

"I’m sorry for whatever I did to your friend. I..." Kael inhaled and exhaled before continuing. "I was desperate, so..."

He hesitated before adding, "...You know my condition. And, well, it was... It was getting worse, so I was desperate. And seeing how his powers were unique and all, I... I thought I’d get his help."

Ryan folded his arms. "Well, that’s certainly not how to ask for help..."

"I know. So I’m sorry for... being a jerk." He had swallowed his pride, so to speak.

"Well, I guess you’ll have to apologize to June. He was the one you hurt," Ryan said.

"...."

Kael stared at him. "So, do you accept? Be my Guide?"

Ryan ran a hand along his jaw. "I understand what you gain from this partnership... but what do I get from it?"

Kael hesitated, deep in thought, before he ran a hand through his hair in a stylish manner.

"You get to hang around a handsome C-rank Esper?"

"....."

Ryan’s cold expression said it all.

Kael bit his lower lip. "I guess that didn’t work..."

He glanced around before looking back at Ryan. "Then make an offer. What do you want? I’ll do it... just... agree."

Ryan stared at him. He could tell Kael was desperate, and he understood why he would be. For someone who had finally found a solution to a lifelong problem, doing anything for it seemed reasonable.

But Ryan wasn’t about to make things that easy.

"I don’t need anything. And I don’t think I’ll need anything from you soon. Just take our guiding session as temporary group work. I already have an Esper, and so do you have a Guide. So let’s stick to that, okay?"

He smiled as he turned to leave, but Kael grabbed him by the hand and pulled him back.

"Please..." ℯℯ𝑙.

He didn’t know when the word had escaped him, but he stood there, staring into Ryan’s eyes.

"I’ll speak to the authorities. We’ll repair and have a compatibility test if it may be... just... agree. Please."

Ryan never expected to hear those words from him.

Please.

He never expected that Kael of all people could use such a word.

But then again, he couldn’t let him have it that easily. And so, he casually smiled as he said, "I’ll think about it. Within this period, your performance will also determine how it goes."

He turned and walked off, leaving Kael alone in there.

Kael stood watching him leave as he ran a hand through his hair.

"So... like a trial?"

---

While chatting online, Nyx had asked June out on a date during the weekend.

It wasn’t an official date, according to him.

[It’s been a while since we saw each other. Why don’t we grab some meal together this weekend?]

But June had immediately read it as a date.

At first, he told himself, "It’s just a meal, nothing much. I’ll just go and eat, and that’s all." He shrugged the thought off.

But on the day of the date, June found himself standing in front of the full-length mirror in his room, trying out a hundred different outfits for the casual outing.

Raymond suffered for it, standing by his side as June changed into different outfits in a matter of minutes.

"Hmmm, this looks like I’m being too desperate."

"No, I think this makes me look like I’m being nonchalant. Probably rude."

"I look like I’m begging to be loved."

"I look like a mushroom in these."

And so Raymond stood there, watching him change through countless outfits while wondering what he was even doing there.

Finally, June picked the perfect clothing. A perfect soft pink outfit for the occasion.

And so, he set off to meet Nyx, who was already waiting for him at the destination.

"Young Master, are you sure you don’t like him?" Raymond asked for confirmation while they were in the car.

"Me? Like him? You’re overthinking... I’m just... going to eat with him. Nothing much. Just an acquaintance meal and stuff. Catching up on school days. Nothing much. You’re overthinking. You need to stop watching all those dramas. They’re messing with your head."

He added, "Besides... I don’t date younger guys."

Raymond blinked, staring at him through the mirror before shaking his head.

"Okay, then..."

As soon as June arrived, he excitedly got down from the car as if he wasn’t the one who had called it a casual meeting a while ago.

He slammed the door shut as he turned toward the restaurant where they were supposed to meet. But his smile instantly faded at the sight.

Nyx was standing at the restaurant’s entrance, with a girl eagerly holding onto his arm while smiling excitedly at him.

And Nyx was smiling back.