Surrounded by good-looking people, I don't understand why I am so popular. I am an ordinary person with almost no outstanding qualities.
"Someone like you, Ben, is quite popular."
Carl muttered to himself as he looked at me. Seeing me tilt my head, he sighed.
"Although the importance of appearance varies from person to person when it comes to beauties and cute ones. But your frank and simple nature, Ben, makes it easy for both men and women to like you. Being with you makes people feel at ease. And you are much cuter than you think."
"..."
"Ah, I'm different. I've always wanted to be friends with you and never looked at you in that way."
Seeing me narrow my eyes, Carl hastily waved his hands in front of his face exaggeratedly. Well, I knew that without him saying it. When we were in high school, he said he wanted to be friends with me forever and then came out of the closet. I still remember the shock at that time.
"So, are you troubled by Daniel now? Well, it shouldn't be him. You don't care about that guy at all, right. It must be that handsome guy in the rumors."
Carl casually said, thinking that guy was just a supporting role at most, while grinning.
"Um..."
The topic suddenly turned to myself, and I couldn't help but be at a loss for words. I didn't really know how to explain it. I did care about Blake, but it was not just that. "What kind of person is he? If Daniel is serious, he must be a great man."
"Mr. Daniel, serious?"
"Yes, he was surprisingly excited. I told him to give up, though."
Carl recalled while smiling, and leaned forward enthusiastically. I frowned. "Did you break up again?"
"Ah, you noticed? That's right. Why does everyone leave me?" Carl hugged his arms and tilted his head, and I had a headache listening to him. When Carl was single, he played around a lot. Now that he was interested in the outside world, it was evidence that he was single. However, once he had a lover, he would immediately become stable and devoted. From the perspective of others, his devotion was really surprising.
However, no matter how devoted Carl was, his relationships always ended quickly.
"Unsatisfactory sex life or something? Well, it's really important. Do I need to practice more? My love is deeper than the ocean."
"... Carl, stop talking about this."
I interrupted Carl's endless words, and he looked at me with wide eyes instantly. Once he started talking about his breakup, he would never stop, which was really unbearable sometimes. Although he was serious and pitiful when talking about it, the listener would feel embarrassed and uncomfortable, with mixed feelings.
"Ah, right. What kind of person is that handsome guy?"
Carl's interest returned to Blake, and I couldn't help but regret stopping him just now.
When Carl was single, he was like a scavenger. The devotion during his relationship seemed to disappear, and he was really careless in other aspects. Honestly, it was frustrating to watch.
"Introduce him to me next time."
"No. I will never introduce Blake to you."
Carl's smiling face looked suspicious. I definitely didn't want to introduce Blake to Carl at the moment. Although I thought he definitely wasn't Carl's type, I still didn't want to.
"Why is there such a big difference between the types of people you date and the ones you hang out with, Carl?"
Most of Carl's partners were petite, quiet, and cute girls. But the people he saw when he was single were completely different every time. If I had to say, most of them were handsome and straightforward types like Mr. Daniel.
I even suspected that they were dating. But they both strongly denied it, saying that it was impossible even if the earth turned upside down. In a sense, they were quite compatible.
"Well, when it comes to having fun, I still need to find someone who knows the boundaries, otherwise it will be troublesome. It's annoying to be pestered when I have no intention. Just have a good time for one night."
"That's ridiculous."
"Don't make such a scary face."
Carl's answer made me look gloomy. I could roughly understand what he said, but I still couldn't imagine the feeling of having fun like that, and I couldn't understand his feelings.
"Don't worry, I have no intention of doing anything to your boyfriend."
"What are you talking about!"
I threw the wet towel at Carl, and he didn't dodge, catching it with his face and laughing even harder.
"What are you laughing at."
"Oh, it's rare to see Ben so excited. Your boyfriend must be a great man, and I'm really interested."
"I'm not dating him."
Carl's words made my face flush. I mumbled as I drank from the almost empty cup, and Carl turned around, waved his hand grandly, and then a new drink was brought to me.
For some reason, everything I said tasted bland. I wondered why.
"Well, it's okay to worry, but don't play with that poor boy too much."
"Hey?"
Carl's words made me frown. When did he say I played with others - it was so annoying. But Carl just shrugged helplessly at me, who was unconvinced.
"If you really have no intention, don't keep entangling. Let go decisively. The other person is at that age and is serious, right. It's very risky for a heterosexual to like you. And you might end up like father and son."
"Who would be father and son with him!"
I kicked Carl hard under the table, and he raised his foot with teary eyes and rubbed his calf.
It's true that we have a more than ten-year age gap, but we wouldn't be like father and son. And it's impossible in another four or five years. But no matter how I think about it, Blake and I could never be father and son. I definitely hate such a childish kid.
"Well, I was just kidding just now. Ben is really slow in love."
"You've been talking nonsense since just now."
I said with a pout, and Carl laughed even more like adding insult to injury.
"This is the truth, right. It's also the same with Daniel. You haven't noticed it until now. Ben, you are really slow."
"Hey? How can you tell that Mr. Daniel likes me. He is like that with everyone."
I sighed as I looked at Carl, who sighed even louder and shrugged.
"You have no awareness of men, Ben, but you must also find it strange that he is so affectionate towards you every time."
"It's nothing."
It's true that every time we met, he would hug me, kiss me, have frequent physical contact, and say sweet words like he missed me and was lonely, and invite me to various places every time - um? Eh?
"You must have noticed it a little bit."
Carl looked at me, who suddenly froze, and took a sip of his beer. His eyes were helpless and indifferent.
"But Mr. Daniel is like that with everyone."
Under his indifferent gaze, my voice became softer. Mr. Daniel has a cheerful personality and is relatively enthusiastic towards everyone. So it's hard to tell whether he is joking or serious. It's not just because I'm slow, right.