You Are Hot Then You Are Cold

Vol 2 - Week 7 (3)

This is definitely his first time giving a gift to someone. In the past two months, there have been so many firsts, which is a little ridiculous to emphasize again, but it's the truth anyway.

Technically, it's not his first foray into gift-giving. Even before his debut ceremony at 16, Karlyle had consulted his parents about suitable gifts during visits and such.

Gifts are prepared in the same way when attending events or commemorative events. Various gifts are exchanged with business partners and with countless work-related patrons.

However, in terms of giving a gift to someone with sincerity, today will be Karlyle's first time.

It is Saturday afternoon. He had decided to see Ash at around three o'clock in the afternoon. After they started exchanging text messages every day, it has become a little bit more natural for them to interact now. In addition to setting dates for meetings, they also talk about trivial things. Since the day he procured the painting, Karlyle has pondered whether or not to mention it in advance several times a day.

He is overflowing with worries. They start with how to give Ash the painting, what should he say, what date is okay, what kind of expression he'll make, whether it's all enough, and whether Ash'll like it.

It is so hard to concentrate on work because his head is going all over the place. He is even more nervous than he was the moment he signed the most prosperous contract in his life.

It was when Karlyle started graduate school, at the time, he was already involved in his mother and father's business and had to sign important contracts through many projects at the age of 25 to prove his ability. That's just how it was at that time.

It doesn't show on his face at all, but Karlyle is always rolling with nervousness whenever he does things to live up to his family's expectations. He has been training his whole life to perform adequately and honor the Frost family name without being distracted by other things, and he is afraid his mother or father would feel disappointed at him.

Karlyle's value is linked to himself. Above all else, he doesn't want to see his mother or father sad because of him. Kyle isn't ready to lead the business by himself, so he shouldn't cause things adding to his brother's anxiety. Until Kyle becomes the successor, it is Karlyle's duty as the eldest son to not tarnish the family's reputation.

During those stressful times, Karlyle suffered from insomnia and gastritis. They only happen at times like this, and his family and peers don't notice since it doesn't happen that much, so Luther was only able to diagnose him much later.

Karlyle suffers from mild insomnia whenever he has to so much as think about gifts. Although it is not enough to cause the dreaded stress gastritis, the tension itself is already intense unlike other things.

Despite having decided to confess, Karlyle intimately knows just how risky it is.

In the wake of his confession, the relationship between them may sour. He knows sometimes a relationship should remain unchanged till the end and then end as it is. He has never been in a relationship, but he knows this to be the case based on Aiden's various trysts and stories he has heard.

Even though he is trying not to be too greedy for Ash, after the eighth meeting, Karlyle won't be able to meet him anymore, right? To be honest, Karlyle doesn't want to make things worse after confessing.

But the words from his father Jonathan come to mind. Same as the day when Karlyle agonized over whether he should meet Ash again, Jonathan said that sometimes people have to take risks to achieve what no one else can. And Ash is worth the risk.

Moreover, Karlyle's confession today is not a groundless gamble. He has accumulated data.

Of course, there is a strong possibility that the "signs" from Ash are just Karlyle's own delusions. Love is a field he has no knowledge of, so that is just an assumption he has made with little credibility.