"I saw you use it last time."
After being reminded by Lionel, Austin remembered that when the two of them practiced walking the last time, he used a handkerchief to wipe Lionel's sweat.
Austin once again sighed at all the attention the man had, then he smiled and thanked Lionel.
"By the way, what's wrong with your feet? Can you step on the ground or floor?"
"Can, but the doctor said I shouldn't rush, I have to do it step by step."
"What the doctor said is true, you have to be careful, the health of your feet in the future is much more important."
Austin's tone and expression were like he was talking to a child. Lionel looked at him and felt he was much more lively and cheerful than in the previous two encounters.
Just as he was about to say something, Austin opened the car door and said, "Lionel, thanks, and good night."
Austin gave a soft and warm touch on Lionel's cheek, and Lionel stretched out his hand to cover the hot kiss.
Lionel watched Austin enter a house, wearing a white shirt and carrying a black backpack. He is tall and straight. Before long, the figure disappeared.
Then Lionel rolled up the car window and whispered, "Go home."
'Austin has not said whose house he lives in yet. It is okay. As long as Austin is comfortable, I will be quiet.' Lionel thought as he realized the house Austin had entered was not the Joneses'.
*
As Austin suspected, Lionel had never been in a formal relationship with anyone but one that did not work out because of a less-than-grateful party at seventeen.
Not long after arriving home, Uncle White finally could not help asking, "Lionel, did something happen?"
After returning home, Lionel sat in the living room uncharacteristically, appearing to be in a daze. However, after a while, he would cover his right cheek and reveal a smile that would make others flustered.
After Uncle White finished asking this sentence, the man immediately said to himself, 'Lionel is in love?'
When Lionel looked up, he saw Uncle White and his grandfather in front of him.
"Lionel, do you really like him?"
Lionel looked at his grandfather with a slight smile but did not speak.
"Since you like him so much, you should propose to him earlier!"
Seeing Mr. Lucas shaking the newspaper in his right hand, Lionel said doubtfully, "Isn't that too urgent?"
"Stupid!"
"Austin is very popular, what if he is taken by someone else?"
After hearing what Master Lucas said, Lionel suddenly felt a crisis in his heart.
*
Anyone who goes to work is probably dreading the arrival of Monday.
Austin did not have to do anything all week, and he finally heard his cell phone ring after his teaching session.
Seeing who was calling, Austin realized he still needed to delete Mark's cell phone number.
He did not hate Mark, and sometimes he even cherished this person, thinking that if it were not for Mark, he might not have known the real cause of his mother's death until now.
Moreover, for someone like Mark, the more Austin showed his dislike, maybe the man would be braver to approach him.
After placing the cell phone on the seat beside him, Austin concentrated on driving the car.
There is a speed limit near the school. Austin was driving out of the school gate and was about to turn right when someone suddenly rushed towards him and stopped the car.
Seeing Mark standing in front of his car, Austin subconsciously pursed his lips straight and stared at him expressionlessly.
Mark has fair skin, sharp facial features like a man of American-Australian descent, a pair of beautiful eyes, and a sharp nose, which makes him look charming.
Austin and Mark were classmates from elementary through high school.
The relationship between the two is neither good nor bad. However, Austin was so into visuals, and he was simple-minded then. Moreover, he still has the illusion of dating handsome men.
So when Mark appeared in front of him like a god and promised to save him from the trouble his parents would make him, Austin was loyal to Mark.
Hearing a knock on his car, Austin opened the window and said, "Is something wrong?"
"Austin, why aren't you answering my calls?"
Mark's expression and tone were a little sad. Austin thought of Alta and only felt that the acting skills of the two were on par.
Even though Mark's appearance was extraordinary, he was a kind of shameful existence wherever he went.
Most wealthy people in New York are very conservative. They paid attention to paternal or maternal origins, so even if Austin had just heard that Mark was the child of an unwanted relationship, Austin could guess how the man was treated in the Black family.
Someone that even his own family despised. In the eyes of outsiders, he was even more worthless, but in Austin's memory, this man always had a bright laugh and smile.
Austin is neutral, not only not hating Mark but sometimes even sympathizing with him.
Perhaps realizing this, even though the two of them did not have much communication with each other, whenever he encountered difficulties, the first person Mark thought of was Austin.
Mark's only strength is his looks. Since he was 15 years old, he has been modeling in the entertainment industry. However, his addiction to gambling and the nightlife made it impossible for Mark to achieve much in life.
Whenever he had no money, he would come to Austin. Austin invited him to dinner and lent him some money. Even if Mark never paid him back, he would not say anything more about it.
Seeing that Austin did not speak, Mark said again, "I have received my salary. Do you want to have dinner together?"
Without waiting for Austin to refuse, Marks opened the back door and got into the car.
Austin knew how stubborn the man was, so he let it slide.
*
The two go to a French restaurant they frequent.
Although born and raised in New York, Mark has always loved European food.
Looking at Mark, who was looking down to order food, Austin only felt memories surfacing.
He had lived with this man for four years, but unfortunately, their relationship started with a scam, so it seemed meaningless no matter what happened after that.
At this moment, Austin was sure of two things, and one was that Mark had already owed money, and the other was that Alta had met the man and made a promise to him.
"Austin, did something happen to you?"
Mark had asked him once on the way, and Austin shook his head. Then now, he replied, "Nothing."
"Don't lie to me, I already know!" he said.
Instead, Mark looked a little angry. Austin looked at him calmly and said, "What's wrong?"