Desire Me If You Can-Chapter 94

The world seems like it’s about to collapse any moment now. Perhaps tonight is humanity’s last day. I should call my parents and tell them I love them. Today, I’ll confess to her. If I had known this would happen, I should have only subscribed to the OTT for a month instead of the full year!

Amid mixed feelings of resolve and regret, every gaze in the fire station was fixed in one direction. At Dein, leaning against the window frame with a furrowed brow, and Grayson, who stood behind him, tightly holding him and repeatedly rubbing his face against his head.

“U-um... Miller.”

The pale-faced person who spoke up was none other than Ezra. He cautiously stepped forward and alternated pointing at the two of them with his finger.

“Wh... what’s going on? Why... why are you doing this...?”

Grayson only smiled lazily, like a cat basking in the sun, without bothering to respond to the stammering question. His lips twitched as if he wanted to say something, but deliberately refrained, leaving everyone watching speechless and dumbfounded. Now, the only one who could provide an answer was Dein, but he just kept smoking, showing no sign of answering. Eventually, Ezra spoke up again, this time addressing Grayson.

“It looks like... there’s something good happening, huh? Could you tell us? ...And why, exactly, are you doing this?”

Unable to put it into words, Ezra only pointed with his finger, and Grayson let out a breathy laugh, as if it were a soft sigh, and then sighed in satisfaction. Finally, he opened his mouth, a proud expression on his face, as he drew out the vowels.

“We... we decided to start dating.”

The bombshell statement left everyone, who had been holding their breath and listening intently, frozen in silence. After a few seconds of heavy silence, Diandre was ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) the first to break the silence.

“Did that bastard just say what I think he said? I must’ve misheard something.”

That comment started a wave of denial from the others.

“Hahaha, hahaha. Looks like Miller’s finally gone crazy.”

“We’ve been out on too many calls lately, haven’t we? Guess the fatigue’s built up, and we’re all hallucinating. I think we’re seeing things we shouldn’t.”

“Hey, did you see the stocks drop today? What’s with all that endless blue...”

Each of them threw out different comments, desperately trying to ignore reality. Of course. Dein? Dating someone? Not just a one-night stand or sex, but an actual relationship? That’s impossible. Dein Striker?

With Grayson Miller, no less?

It’s insane. Our eyes and ears must be wrong! Between those frantically exchanging the addresses of their local optometrists and ENT specialists, only Ezra bravely confronted reality.

“Hey, Dein. What exactly did Miller just say? I don’t quite get it...”

Dein didn’t even look at him. Even though he had clearly heard him. The ones who had been spouting nonsense until now suddenly fell silent. In the midst of the cold tension, it was Grayson who finally answered.

“We’re dating from today. I’m saying I’m Dein’s boyfriend.”

Then, as if to add to his point, he rubbed his face against Dein’s shoulder, and with one hand that had been holding Dein’s waist, he moved it to squeeze his chest. Immediately, veins began to protrude on Dein’s temples, and for the first time, he reacted.

“Get off, you fucking perverted bastard!”

Yelling, Dein grabbed Grayson’s head and tried to push him away, but Grayson kept laughing, still hanging on to Dein’s waist with one hand, massaging his chest. Seeing this, Ezra’s face turned pale, and he staggered. At the same time, the others, who had been trying to ignore reality, screamed and shouted at the fire station.

Puffing out a long stream of smoke, Dein stood leaning against the fire station wall, and upon sensing a presence, he reflexively turned around. When he saw who it was, he immediately relaxed.

“Dein, you’re here.”

Ezra spoke awkwardly, smiling, and Dein glanced at him without responding. Sensing the meaning behind his gaze, Ezra spoke again.

“I’ve shaken off Miller, don’t worry.”

Only then did Dein pull his gaze away and bring the cigarette back to his lips. Ezra, having seen his troubled expression, stood quietly beside him, carefully gauging the mood. After a long drag, Dein exhaled the smoke before finally speaking.

“Hey, Dein. What’s going on? I’m still in shock... everyone’s worried about what’s happening.”

“Worried?”

Dein asked back as though he didn’t understand why. Ezra nodded.

“As you know, this situation isn’t exactly normal, right? Something’s wrong, isn’t it? If there’s anything we can help with...”

“There’s nothing,” Dein firmly rejected his words. Was he implying that there was no problem, or that there was nothing they could do? Ezra was momentarily flustered, but he didn’t back down.

“Is... is it hard to talk about?”

Ezra asked cautiously, but Dein continued to stare off into the distance, only smoking his cigarette, repeatedly inhaling deeply. Seeing this, Ezra asked worriedly.

“Did Miller threaten you or something?”

“No.”

Dein answered shortly, clearly unwilling to elaborate. Ezra, who had yet to leave his side, didn’t seem ready to back off, and finally, with the smoke, Dein spoke up.

“He just asked if we could try dating for three months as an experiment.”

Ezra froze in place, unable to respond immediately. It wasn’t just surprising that Dein had accepted the offer, but how such a conversation had even taken place was beyond him.

“You weren’t blackmailed, were you?”

Before Ezra could bring up his doubts again, Dein cut him off. He took a drag from the cigarette and coldly added.

“It’s because he saved Darling’s life. I couldn’t refuse. He even promised to disappear if I still felt the same after three months.”

“Disappear? What does that mean?”

Ezra asked, shocked. Dein briefly explained.

“He said if my feelings didn’t change after three months, he’d quit the fire department and never show up in front of me again.”

“...Is that really true?”

Ezra asked, still in disbelief, keeping his distance. Dein continued to look elsewhere, responding half-heartedly.

“For now, I have to believe it. If he changes his mind, that’s something to deal with when the time comes.”

“Yeah... I guess so.”

With a slightly unclear response, Ezra glanced up at him.

“What? If you have something to say, go ahead.”

With that, Ezra scratched his cheek awkwardly and muttered as he turned his gaze away.

“Well, you might change your mind, right...?”

“Ezra.”

Dein cut him off without mercy as he mentioned even the slightest possibility.

“I’m satisfied with my life as it is. Why would I complicate things by dating someone? Why would I bother with such a hassle?”

“Sorry, if I upset you.”

Ezra hurriedly apologized, feeling he had annoyed him. But this only made Dein more irritated. All of this was because of that perverted bastard, and yet he was taking out his frustration on Ezra.

But he couldn’t tolerate owing anyone anything. No matter what, he had to repay the debt to Darling’s life. If it meant enduring that guy for three months, it was a small price to pay. Darling’s life was far more precious than that.

“There’s no way I’ll change my mind. I have no intention of getting serious with anyone.”

“...Yeah, that’s true.”

Ezra backed off a little, agreeing with his words, and then smiled as if nothing had happened.

“Well, I’ll head in first. I hope Miller doesn’t catch you.”

With a casual addition, Ezra left, and Dein raised a hand lightly as a greeting instead of saying goodbye. Hearing Ezra’s footsteps fade away, he brought the cigarette back to his lips and took a long drag. As he slowly exhaled the smoke, something suddenly came to mind.

“...Huh?”

Suddenly, a forgotten memory resurfaced. Why did Ezra’s words, which he hadn’t understood back then, suddenly come back to him now?

“...I’m so glad you’re not involved with Miller.”

Dein froze, not even blinking, and stopped moving. The lingering smoke swirled around him for a while before dissipating helplessly.