<Chapter 126>
#14. The Calm Before the Storm (8)
At Melty’s murmuring, a deflated sound escaped through Calix’s lips. He wanted to say no, but the temptation was too great. Holding Melty tightly in his arms, Calix murmured.
“Who made you into such a ball?”
He had thought it when he saw the shadow, but Melty was so plump from being well-wrapped in clothes that he looked like a ball.
“My brother.”
“I thought so.”
Calix burst into laughter at the answer that came without hesitation. The weather had definitely gotten colder, but it wasn’t cold enough to need to wear as many layers as Melty was wearing. Exaggerating slightly, Melty’s appearance was such that at a glance, one would have to wonder if he was a ball or a person.
“That’s why I lost my balance and fell over earlier.”
“Oh, was that it? I thought you were deliberately trying to surprise me.”
With his head buried in Melty’s nape as Melty grumbled complaints, Calix let out a soft laugh. The warm heat transmitted from where they touched and the chattering voice made him feel at ease.
“You didn’t move an inch when I sniffled.”
Melty pulled at Calix’s hair, showing his annoyance. He added that if he had known Calix would come out so quickly when he accidentally fell, he would have fallen earlier. Finally turning his head to meet Melty’s eyes, Calix frowned.
“I was about to come out even if you hadn’t fallen.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Stop being grumpy. Why are you out here again instead of sleeping? Usually you go right to sleep after eating…”
At Calix’s words, Melty’s eyes sank gloomily. As Calix became serious in response to his sudden change in expression and was about to ask a question, Melty stretched out his arms, wrapped them around Calix’s neck, and mumbled with his cheek resting on Calix’s shoulder.
“I can’t sleep without Calix-ssi.”
“…What?”
“Won’t you stay with me until I fall asleep?”
A deep smile spread across Calix’s lips at Melty’s childish question. At any other time, he would have showered kisses on his face and cheeks, but this time Calix restrained himself.
“You usually sleep just fine, so why?”
“…I wonder. Maybe I’m worried about Calix-ssi.”
With his head buried in Calix’s neck, Melty mumbled and once again asked, “Are you really sure you’re not sick anywhere?” At his question, Calix smiled and gently ruffled Melty’s hair as he said.
“I’m fine. I don’t have a single place that hurts, and there are no unusual symptoms at all. I’m more worried about you.”
“Why about me? I’m robust.”
Melty, who had replied curtly, tapped Calix’s shoulder with his curled hand. Whether it was a gesture to express his annoyed feelings or to make up for worrying him today, Calix burst into a small laugh at the non-threatening gesture.
“Your sleeping time has been getting longer lately. I don’t think I’ve heard that hamsters hibernate,”
“I’m a hamster beast-person, not an actual hamster, you know?”
“Looking at your behavior, there doesn’t seem to be much difference?”
“Then Calix-ssi is…!”
Melty had opened his mouth to retort something, but closed it when nothing came readily to mind. Having hesitated while contemplating what to say, Melty, frustrated by Calix’s relaxed smiling face, shot back.
“Calix-ssi is…! Is that why you’re so long, because you’re a snake?”
“I am rather long, yes.”
Melty’s mouth fell open as he looked at Calix, who calmly responded. His face was filled with the expression ‘How can you so readily admit something like that!’ A look of puzzlement appeared on Calix’s face, who had assumed Melty’s reference to “long” was about his height.
“What? Weren’t you talking about my height?”
At Calix’s question, Melty, realizing the situation, blushed. He had blurted it out in irritation, but as Calix questioned, he hadn’t been targeting something so innocent. Melty quietly buried his head while subtly tightening his arms around Calix’s neck.
“What is it? Tell me the right answer.”
Curious about Melty’s sudden blushing, Calix stroked his back and urged him. After hesitating for a moment, Melty took courage from Calix’s casually uttered words: ‘What secrets could there be between lovers!’ Then he whispered softly in his ear.
“Not up there, but down below.”
Down below? What’s there?
Calix’s gaze, which had been attentive to Melty’s whisper, went downward. And he finally realized what “long thing” Melty had been talking about and doubled over with laughter.
“Eek! Stop, stop laughing!”
“Hahaha. My, my stomach hurts.”
Calix wiped away the tears that had formed in the corners of his eyes and exhaled a deep breath. He felt like laughing more, but he had to restrain himself, if only because of Melty’s fierce gaze, which was transforming from embarrassment to ominousness.
“Why is your mind filled with only such things?”
“Is this my fault? It’s because I do it with Calix-ssi every day.”
Calix easily accepted Melty’s excuse that wasn’t really an excuse. If there were an investigation into who pounced on whom first, it would surely come out as 50-50, but he couldn’t escape responsibility since he was the one who taught the once-naive Melty one by one, opening his eyes to the world of sexuality. Of course, if it was this kind of responsibility, he could always gladly and willingly bear it.
“You’re right. It’s because of me.”
“…Let’s just share the responsibility half and half.”
Melty, who had been blaming Calix just moments before, seemed to have been pricked by his conscience and distributed the responsibility equally. Calix’s lips deepened into a smile at the whispered answer.
“Haah…”
I want to kiss him.
It was better when he was just looking at the shadow. Rubbing his lips on Melty’s soft hair, Calix sighed deeply. Melty, who had been secretly gauging his mood, carefully said.
“Um… Calix-ssi. My brother isn’t such a bad person.”
“Hmm?”
“He’s just worried about me a lot. Among our family members, Malek hyung took care of me the longest when I was sick. It’s not exactly accurate because it’s what my brother said, but he taught me how to walk when I was little.”
Calix quietly smiled at Melty’s question. He wasn’t affected by talk about Malek, but Melty seemed to have been bothered nonetheless. Calix nodded readily as Melty explained that his brother was a good person and had become a bit rough only out of concern for him.
Chattering away about his childhood stories, Melty glanced at Calix’s reaction. A smile frosted Calix’s lips as he recognized what Melty wanted to say.
“I know. I wasn’t upset at all.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah.”
There was no way he could have been upset. Calix shared the same feelings as Malek regarding Melty’s safety. Rather, if Melty were as sturdy as Malek, capable of returning alive even if sent to a battlefield, he wouldn’t be worried…
‘…No, I think I’d still be worried.’
Melty’s ears twitched happily, perhaps pleased that Calix had said he was okay. Following the movement of those ears with his gaze, Calix confirmed his thoughts.
Even if Melty were a master capable of killing people with just one finger, he would definitely still be anxious about his safety just the same as now. Seeing Calix burying his face in Melty’s hair and taking a deep breath, Melty blinked and asked.
“What is it?”
“…Nothing. Just realized I like you too much.”
“What’s that supposed to be.”
Melty burst into laughter at the words that were sweet just to hear. Tightly gripping Calix’s clothing, Melty spoke with a bashful face.
“Hey. Calix-ssi.”
“Yes?”
“Will we continue to be separated for a while?”
“I suppose we have to. You never know.”
Calix whispered, gently patting Melty’s back. He knew well that even being this close could be dangerous, but at this point, he didn’t want to be apart from Melty. Calix convinced himself with the thought, ‘It’s just for a very short time, this much should be fine.’
“Then…”
“Yes?”
“Then when can we kiss?”
“……”
Ah, this was dangerous.
Calix, who had frozen in place, sorted out his breathing. Melty was always pretty, but after becoming lovers, his aegyo increased and he became more proactive, making it terribly harmful to Calix’s heart. Calix, who had already been swept by the urge to kiss him several times, was now in agony.
Having to stay apart from a lover with whom he had joined bodies without missing a single day was torturous.
“Then… not even a peck on the cheek?”
“…Tell me honestly. Are you deliberately doing this to torment me?”
At Calix’s question, Melty, meeting his eyes, tilted his head with an innocent face as if he had no idea what he was talking about. Contrary to his intent to snap back grumpily, a smile appeared on Calix’s lips again. Melty’s glossy cheeks were not just tempting but mouth-watering.
‘Maybe a kiss on the cheek would be okay.’
‘We should be careful just in case’ and ‘A kiss on the cheek should be fine’ clashed violently in his mind. Just as Calix, who had been agonizing, was about to place his lips on Melty’s cheek.
“Melty!! You said you were going for a short walk! You! You bastard! Put my brother down right now!”
The guard had arrived.
***
With a sulky expression, Melty clung close to the window. Through the window, he could see Calix riding a horse. Although Calix and Malek had explained several times how serious the situation was, it didn’t really resonate with him.
There was still no contact from Johaim, but Melty’s vague belief that Johaim, who had taken various herbs from Padrian to find a cure, would have successfully achieved a complete cure also greatly reduced his anxiety.
“He’s not looking this way at all.”
Melty blew his breath on the window, making it white, and moved his finger to rub a heart shape around the area where Calix’s face was visible. Through the whitened window, only Calix’s face was clearly visible.
“Hehe.”
Just then, Calix, who had cast a glance toward the carriage, smiled brightly. Melty covered his reddened cheeks with his hands and swung his feet. It was a fresh realization, but Calix was handsome.
Since they had been together every day after becoming lovers, he had developed a sort of immunity to his face. However, after being caught by Malek that time when he had been secretly staying with Calix, they had to stay apart “for safety’s sake,” which only intensified his yearning heart despite being together.
‘But it’s almost been three days now, and they say we’ll arrive at the mansion soon.’
It was around the time when Melty was peering out with his head pressed flat against the window, hoping for a quick arrival. Someone came riding a horse from the direction of the mansion. After having a conversation with the person who approached Calix with seemingly urgent movements, Calix’s expression hardened.
After giving instructions to the gathered people, Calix roughly rode his horse toward the mansion. Melty, who was in a daze at Calix’s figure that disappeared in an instant, hurriedly lowered the window.
“W-what’s happening?”
In response to Melty’s question, Angel, who had been riding a horse closest to the carriage, opened his mouth with the serious expression he had been wearing.
“A riot.”
