You Are Hot Then You Are Cold

Vol 4 (Side Story 1): The third day (2)

"Did you come all the way here just to leave?"

Ash says. Before Karlyle can say anything, Ash has already grabbed his wrist, totally ignoring Hazel standing behind them. It takes him off guard. His grip is tighter than a manacle, as if he's afraid Karlyle would run away.

"Are you going to misunderstand things again? You're driving me crazy..."

Ash's eyes gleam sharply. His hair is disheveled, it seems that he had run down in a tizzy. Neither his pheromones nor his expression are the same as usual. Like he is being very angry.

"Ash, wait...."

Before he can finish his sentence, Ash pulls him aside. The two are now standing facing Hazel. His big soft green eyes, wide with shock, dart between Ash and Karlyle, gauging something.

"Say hi, sunbae*. This is Karlyle, the person I love."

*Ash calls Hazel "sunbae", which means a senior/ someone who is older (at school, at work,....)

Ash's tone is too sharp for an introduction. Karlyle is starting to realize the conversation he observed inside the studio was very different from what he had originally thought.

"....Hello."

Ash calls him sunbae, so that must mean Hazel is older than both of them. With a youthful face that doesn't match his age at all, the man greets him in a small voice. Hazel looks wary, his face shows no welcome. His gaze briefly sweeps through Ash's hand clasped over Karlyle's wrist.

"Lyle, this is Hazel. Someone I used to date in the past."

Ash also introduces Hazel to him. Karlyle doesn't greet him back. It is foolish, but he's so engulfed with hate that he can't even feign politeness. Hesitantly, Hazel takes a step back. Perhaps he has sensed Karlyle's poorly masked hostility towards him. Karlyle feels weary, though he's not a dominant alpha-he's certainly the sort of alpha nobody would dare to look down on. And now he feels like he's bullying someone weaker than him. He turns to Ash.

"Are you done with your work here?"

And Ash answers without missing a beat.

"Yes."

Hazel looks up at Ash. After a few seconds of silence, he speaks in disbelief.

"I didn't know that you have a lover now."

He stares carefully at Karlyle. There is a faint astonishment in his green eyes.

"I heard that you started dating Alphas, it....must be true."

Alphas dating amongst each other is more common now, though it's a small minority. It's rather uncommon for an Alpha to become attracted to another Alpha due to the friction of their traits. That's probably why Hazel is so taken aback, he can't believe that Karlyle is an Alpha.

"I don't think that is something you need to care about, sunbae."

Ash replies in a cold voice. Hazel flinches at the sharp tone. Karlyle is also startled. Running his hand through his hair, Ash lets out a long sigh.

"Do you think I'll treat you nicely like I did in the past? We are no longer in that kind of relationship."

At that sentence, Karlyle unconsciously grips Ash's hand tighter. His heart beats nervously. Ash looks down at Karlyle's hand, then turns his eyes to Hazel again.

"I won't see you ever again. That's my answer. I have Karlyle now."

"However....!"

Hazel exclaims. Was this the topic of their conversation in the studio? Karlyle's eyes turn ice-cold. However, unlike before, this time Hazel doesn't waver in the face of Karlyle's glare. He speaks desperately.