Define The Relationship Novel - Chapter 70

Water dripped from his freshly washed hair, pooling on his thighs. Karlyle quietly raised his eyes and looked at Ash’s room, which felt like their room. There were traces everywhere of Ash letting Karlyle into his space.

He still didn’t know a mountain of things about Ash’s past. He didn’t know what Ash was like with his previous partners. To be honest, he didn’t want to know. It was clear he would childishly feel jealous of everyone and suffer. But whether it was just his own delusion or not, he didn’t think Ash had been like this with all his lovers. Ash had waited for Karlyle. He had also confessed his genuine love to him.

So, wouldn’t it be okay to at least ask for his opinion?

It seemed like the polite thing to do. Ash had sought Karlyle out, trying to become a part of his life again. Even if he ended up going alone, it would be better to hear from Ash that it wasn’t the right time to meet, and then go alone.

After reaching a conclusion and hesitating for quite a long time, Karlyle left a message for Ash. A reply arrived while he was drying his hair and getting dressed in his own clothes, which were placed next to Ash’s shirt.

[I’ll go with you.]

There was one more message.

[I don’t want to send Lyle alone. We’re definitely going together. Okay?]

As soon as he saw the grateful reply, a huge sense of relief washed over him. A feeling of reassurance, which he had never felt before, pleasantly enveloped his body. What would people call this emotion?

Karlyle couldn’t think of a word to express the feeling he was experiencing. The feeling of not being alone. Karlyle quietly rolled the phrase around on his tongue. It seemed he would need to think about it for a while to find an answer.

Karlyle arrived at Ash’s company precisely at 5 PM. Parking his car in a nearby private lot, Karlyle re-encountered the company sign that read “Unexpected.” He thought he would be fine, but seeing it again, his stomach felt a little sour.

When Ash asked if he should come to Karlyle’s location, Karlyle, as in the past, said he would come to pick him up. There were three reasons: he didn’t want to trouble Ash, it was the right thing to do timewise, and lastly, his last memory associated with that place wasn’t good. The latter was the most important reason.

Karlyle thought he might frequently visit this place during his time dating Ash. Visiting or picking up his lover from work were both new experiences, and Karlyle wanted to do it as much as possible. So he wanted to overwrite the bad memories. From now on, coming here would only be enjoyable.

Of course, his resolve didn’t perfectly match his feelings. His expression was very calm, but Karlyle was quite nervous as he entered the lobby. Although it had been quite a while, he didn’t think the staff would have changed. Someone would surely remember their awkward atmosphere and Ash’s words that they were “nothing.”

“Oh?”

Karlyle’s prediction immediately came true. The same staff member he had seen before was at the reception desk in the lobby. She seemed to recognize Karlyle at once.

“You were here before… Are you here to see the Director?”

At her words, Karlyle slowly exhaled.

“That’s right.”

Then panic set in. Did he need to add more words? Karlyle wasn’t usually someone who spoke much to others. But somehow, the situation seemed to demand it.

Mr. Jones will be down shortly. By the way, I’m Karlyle Frost, who is dating him. No, the latter part definitely doesn’t need to be said. It’s just a little personal bias mixed in. Ash seemed popular with everyone at the company at first glance, so he wanted to make it clear…

“Lyle. You’re right on time, aren’t you?”

Ash appeared like a savior. Karlyle’s face brightened without him even realizing it. Ash, who had just gotten off the elevator, walked purposefully towards Karlyle, looking only at him. Again, several designers leaving work were behind him. All eyes immediately turned to them.

“Yes.”

Karlyle replied briefly. Ash stood in front of him and smiled broadly. Karlyle’s face slowly relaxed. A faint smile unconsciously formed. Karlyle didn’t notice Ash’s expression subtly stiffen.

“I missed you.”

It was a small whisper, but someone seemed to have heard it. After a moment of silence, a question popped out from someone.

“Oh my god. Director, do you have a lover?”

The person who spoke with a very surprised voice was a man. At a glance, he seemed like a Beta. Karlyle flinched and looked at Ash. His gaze wavered uneasily. He knew Ash wouldn’t say they were “nothing,” but that day kept coming back to him.

But Ash immediately ended his anxiety by taking his hand. Their fingers intertwined, digging in. Karlyle saw Ash turn to face his colleagues.

“Yes. This is my lover.”

Ash’s brightly smiling profile was visible. Karlyle’s heart felt like it stopped, and he closed his mouth. His ears were hot.

“But last time you said you were nothing!”

Someone uttered the words Karlyle had feared. He felt Ash squeeze his hand tightly.

“That was before I confessed. We couldn’t have rumors spreading strangely before we even started dating, could we? It would be rude to my lover.”

Ash deflected the question with an unexpected remark. Karlyle listened blankly. His gaze shifted sideways, then down, repeatedly. He was too embarrassed to make eye contact.

“See? I told you they weren’t just ‘nothing’.”

“Introduce us too!”

Two women, called Mikaela and Julie, added their voices. The lobby instantly became noisy. In the atmosphere surrounding them, Karlyle tightly squeezed Ash’s hand back.

Ash had called him his lover. His heart felt incredibly at ease, and at the same time, euphoria surged. Looking at the people asking for an introduction, Karlyle put on a smile, just as he would during work. But this smile, unlike then, was a little more genuine.

“My name is Karlyle Frost. I expect we’ll meet often, so please take care of me.”

A graceful smile formed on his sculpted, cool face. It was slightly different from the smile he gave Ash, but it was clear that this smile greatly changed Karlyle’s impression. In fact, those who only met him in business settings often thought Karlyle was a sociable person.

The lobby was quiet for a moment. After a brief silence, people swarmed them with exaggerated voices. Ash’s gaze landed sharply on Karlyle’s cheek. Karlyle, still smiling, looked at Ash and deepened his smile. Ash, rubbing his eyebrow slightly with an expression that seemed both pleased and displeased, then shook his head decisively.

“Everyone is too interested in my affairs.”

And then, he abruptly pulled Karlyle into his arms. Karlyle was flustered by the sudden embrace. He liked it.

“We have to go now, so let’s talk later.”

“Wow, are you trying to monopolize him now? Director, you weren’t like that before, were you?”

“It’s so hard to meet handsome people! Stay a little longer. Let us feast our eyes, please?”

Despite their repeated pleas, Ash smiled and very firmly brushed them off. “Let’s go,” Ash whispered in his ear, leading him away. The old Karlyle Frost, who used to say he was uncomfortable with public displays of affection, was gone. Karlyle was extremely satisfied with the current situation. Because of that, Karlyle followed Ash out without a word.

He thought about turning back to say goodbye, but Ash shook his head sharply. Karlyle followed Ash out of the company. Ash walked quite quickly even after leaving the building. Only when they reached the secluded parking lot did Ash stop.

“Lyle.”

Ash’s hands cupped Karlyle’s cheeks. Karlyle, who had returned to his expressionless face, nodded.

“Yes.”

“Do you usually smile like that?”

Ash looked truly displeased. Specifically… towards people other than Karlyle.

“You only smiled for me before, didn’t you?”

“No.”

Ash seemed angry about something, but Karlyle didn’t know why. He re-evaluated his actions. It seemed right to make a good impression on his lover’s acquaintances…

“Did I make a mistake?”

His voice dropped slightly. Ash shook his head.

“No, no. It’s not that…”

Ash’s fingers gently massaged Karlyle’s lips. Heat rose to his cheeks as he remembered the morning’s events.

“Something this beautiful should only be seen by me, but other people saw it.”

Ash’s lips lightly touched and pulled away.

“Only smile for me. Like you always have.”

Their lips touched again.

“If you don’t smile often… I’d appreciate it if you did that.”

Twice more in quick succession. Karlyle looked around at the series of quick kisses, then finally smiled.

“See? No smiling in public.”

“Understood.”

In that case, Karlyle also had something to say. In fact, he had been thinking about it for a long time. Back then, he wasn’t in a position to demand such things, so he didn’t dare to voice it. But now it was different. Karlyle Frost was originally a negotiator.

“In that case, I’d appreciate it if Ash also didn’t smile often.”

That meant he wouldn’t accept the condition for free.

“Me?”

“Ash… smiles at everyone, doesn’t he?”

Ash, being inherently kind-looking and gentle, had too many people around him. While he couldn’t help the people who already knew him, he disliked it when Ash smiled casually at someone he met in a restaurant or on the street. Because every time, eyes would stick to Ash.

“You didn’t like that?”

Ash smiled deeply, as if he had heard something very cute. His fingers brushed Karlyle’s cheek.

“…It’s not good.”

It was extremely, utterly disliked.

“If Lyle doesn’t like it, I won’t smile.”

Even as he said he wouldn’t smile, Ash’s smile only grew wider.

“I’m serious.”

“Really. Promise. Don’t you believe me?”

Of course, he believed him. …He believed him.

“I don’t think you can change it instantly…”