The good news: no blood was shed today.
Which, considering the earlier misunderstanding about babies and the number of sharp tools lying around, was a miracle.
In fact, the baby-making consultation started and ended without a hitch. Heads were still attached to shoulders. No parents were sent to the dical bay. And best of all, Elder Pao Xi confird that the animals were indeed of breeding age. Once their heat cycles ca, he’d try pairing them up.
It was great news.
...Though Ollie, who had now entered his soft era of empathy, felt compelled to whisper sweet nothings to Queen Lulu and her fellow cows.
"Stay strong," he murmured, patting Queen Lulu gently. "Don’t let him bully you. You all deserve love."
The ’him’ in question was their shared husband. Because apparently, these cows would share one guy. Just one.
Ollie’s worldview was shaken. But when Elder Pao Xi explained that raising multiple bulls was impractical, Ollie could only nod slowly...like soone who knew the difficulty of managing just one husband.
Which—of course—earned him a look.
From the not-yet-husband.
Kyle’s expression was mild. Barely there. But Ollie, who was suddenly sensitive to anything and everyone, wanted to hide, for he felt like he wouldn’t be able to make it if he stayed close to him.
Because just a simple glance from that guy got him straightening his back like soone caught doing sothing suspicious.
And he was innocent. He was just looking!
Innocently!
So why did it feel like the air was charged again?
He shifted closer to Jax, who was practically everyone’s emotional support human. And felt like it would be okay since Mr. Zen would usually be around anyway.
But the bad news ca like a slap.
Jax wasn’t going ho.
He was staying behind to study the animals’ temperants to prepare his lesson plan. And there was no stopping him. For the devoted redhead kept reassuring everyone that he wouldn’t be able to sleep with how excited he was anyway!
What?! B-but—!
Ollie was so shocked, he lost all control of his body. And by the ti he recovered, he was already in his original dorm with Kyle.
And the man was just calmly packing his clothes and necessities.
It was the sa stuff they had unpacked before, when he ca back to stay here because of the exams. This ti, they were just doing the opposite of it.
His slippers, most-used toiletries, and his uniforms were packed. And Kyle was even tidying up the bedding and the shared spaces, as he usually did. But then, from where he stood, he saw it.
Ollie’s soul montarily left his body when he saw Kyle pick up the shirt he’d actually hidden under his pillow. That shirt. The one that Kyle had lent, and the sa shirt Ollie didn’t think he’d actually use. The very sa one that had to withstand a bit of torture for the last how many days!
Okay. Maybe more than a bit.
Before Kyle could fold it, Ollie lunged and snatched it away, stamring as he hid it behind his back.
"I-I’ll just get you a new one!"
Kyle raised a brow. "Why? What’s wrong with this one?"
"It’s—it’s been stretched! You shouldn’t wear it anymore!"
Kyle humd. "It’s loungewear. It’s fine if it’s stretched."
"No! It’s dirty! I’ll just buy you a new one!"
"I could just wash it, you know?" Kyle said slowly, clearly amused.
Ollie’s soul continued evaporating. "T-Then can’t you just give it to ?!"
That made Kyle pause.
"?"
Then, very calmly, he stepped forward, trapping Ollie against the wall.
"Hmm...I can do that," he said softly. "If you tell what’s really wrong with it."
Ollie’s breath hitched. His grip on the shirt tightened.
Then he cracked. Because, anymore and Kyle’s face would be so close, he wouldn’t be able to handle it.
"I kept using it," he confessed, face red. "And I cried on it. And drooled. But I didn’t wash it. And even at that state, I graduated to wearing it."
His voice dropped. "I’m a degenerate."
Kyle turned away and covered his face with one hand.
Not to hide his disgust. Because, for so reason, he wasn’t one bit disgusted about that.
But because he was trying very, very hard not to laugh.
Oh, his poor little mop. If Ollie were one, he would have to be one of the most innocent "degenerates" in the galaxy.
But him?
He was the real nace here.
Ollie, still panicking, looked up. "You’re mad, aren’t you?! I told you, I’ll just get you a new one—!"
"No," Kyle said gently, finally eting his gaze. "You can do whatever you want with it. I understand."
His hand landed on Ollie’s head. Soft. Comforting.
"You’ve had a hard ti these past few days, haven’t you?"
Ollie’s bottom lip trembled.
In reality, it’s been beyond hard for soone like him who understood his privileged upbringing.
He certainly didn’t experience suffering comparable to those in actual dire straits, but for soone who apparently had it easy, the last how many days were eye-opening.
Beyond hard.
Ollie actually wasn’t sure how to explain the kind of suffering he’d felt back then.
And it was only after being deprived of it that he realized just how many perks he’d been enjoying without ever fully noticing.
Like how Kyle always seed to be ready with things he didn’t know he needed. Or how everything he reached for would be right there, as if they had magically been placed.
Apparently, they had been.
Because when he was by himself?
Nothing.
He couldn’t find a single thing.
Even his slippers had vanished.
And he was always late. Always groggy. Always in a rush. Because there was no Kyle gently nudging him awake a few minutes earlier than necessary, just to ease him into the day.
Without even realizing it, he’d developed a routine, a rhythm—and Kyle had been the conductor all along.
But more than that?
It was the comfort.
The absolute, unshakable comfort of knowing that if anything ever went wrong, Kyle would be there.
When that quake happened, it hit him.
If Kyle hadn’t co for him...
Would he even still be here?
Heck, he didn’t even know he’d be that bad until such things actually happened. Apparently, he’d just been lucky all along. But with Kyle around, he felt secure, much like he did when he was under the protective wing of his parents.
But he realized it wasn’t exactly the sa. Kyle certainly didn’t feel like a parent even when he kind of acted like one.
But then—
He frowned.
Isn’t that bad, though? Because his parents wouldn’t get rid of him even if he was a ss, but what about Kyle?
Maybe Lyka wasn’t completely wrong.
Because what did he bring to the table?
Guests brought gifts, but all he ever seed to do was take.
Kyle’s ti. Kyle’s energy. Kyle’s food. And even the man’s shirt.
His poor shirt!
He started to pout. Quietly. But his eyes were stormy.
Kyle, who had been adjusting his bedding, looked up.
"...Why the long face?"
Ollie didn’t respond right away. His expression was still thoughtful—his brows furrowed, lips turned downward, eyes distant.
Finally, he muttered:
"Kyle, I think I’m kind of useless."
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