It's so strange.
In more than thirty years of life, I should have been tired of seeing men's bodies. There have been similar situations before, but for some reason, when facing Blake, I feel extremely ashamed.
This kind of reaction is really strange indeed. Why am I so shaken? It must be that I'm overthinking. Speaking of which, what am I overthinking about?
"Ben? Are you okay?"
I notice the hand waving in front of me and look up to see a worried expression emerging on Blake's face. When I see the hair strands sticking to his cheek, I come to my senses. If this continues, my body, which is wet from the rain, will catch a cold.
"Sorry! Dry your hair properly too. Put the clothes you took off into the basket over there. After changing your clothes, come out from here. The door on the right is the living room. Go there."
After speaking these words in a rush, I hurriedly run out of the changing room.
"So hot."
I slam the door shut forcefully, lean my back against the door, and fan my face with my hand. The heat is concentrated on my face. It's extremely hot.
I glance at Blake's body. Although he is not the muscular type, there isn't an ounce of excess fat on him. The faintly visible abdominal muscles are very beautiful and firm.
Thinking that he always hugs me with a body like that, my face flushes all the way to my ears in an instant. My heart is beating extremely fast, and my body starts to squirm.
Just seeing Blake's naked body makes me like this. I think I'm really strange. Speaking of which, what's different about him compared to others?
No, now is not the time to think about these. Hurry up and change my clothes first. It's too dangerous to leave Blake alone there.
I quickly change my clothes and walk towards the living room. As expected, Blake is already there, surrounded by my mother and sister. However, in addition to the two of them, there is also an unexpected person there.
"Why! Why are you here?"
He sees my face, grins widely, and then waves his hand at me and puts his hand on Blake's shoulder who is sitting beside him.
Blake looks down at that hand, shows a confused expression, and looks back at me.
"Ben?"
"Don't touch Blake! Carl, move over there!"
I quickly approach, resolutely brush Carl's hand aside. Then I point to the opposite end of the six-person dining table. Carl narrows his eyes in response to my reaction and pouts in dissatisfaction.
"What's wrong with you, Ben. You're too cold. Then you sit in the middle, and I'll sit here."
He makes an empty chair, sits beside again, pulls my arm, and makes me sit in the position where he was just now.
"Anyway, why are you here in someone else's home as if it's the most natural thing?"
It's too unexpected. I can't wrap my mind around it. Why is Carl here, and everyone is drinking tea in harmony. I should not have received any notice that he would come here today.
"Why, Bella invited me over for tea."
"Ah?"
Hearing Carl's words, I widen my eyes and look back at Bella who is sitting opposite Blake.
But she shrugs as if saying "What's the big deal" and takes a sip of the tea in her cup.
"You're making so much noise as soon as you come back, Ben. Carl is on consecutive days off and back home. Since we haven't seen each other for a long time, I just struck up a conversation with him."
"Don't do that! Speaking of which, having the leisure to strike up a conversation here... Were you dumped again?"
My second elder sister Bella, who is two years older than me, is still single and lives at home. I don't think she is ugly, but she speaks very directly and is very assertive. Her boyfriends are often scared away by her. This time it seems that things aren't going well with the boyfriend she started dating half a year ago either.
However, maybe because this straightforward personality meshes well, Carl often plays with her since we lived here. But even so, I still want to say don't casually strike up conversations with other people's friends like this. Having said that, my friendship with Carl is also very long, feeling a bit like family.
"It's so annoying. Speaking of which, why are there all good men around you? Introduce one to me."
"That's too much, Bella. You strike up a conversation with me and still say such things."
Carl is annoyed by Bella's sister's muttering and pouts. Carl hides his sexual preferences from both his family and mine, so he always jokes like this. But Bella points at his face and narrows her eyes.
"But I think Carl is definitely not good. Although he is a good man, he won't stay in one place and is always wandering around, right?"
Unexpectedly, Bella's powers of observation are quite keen. Normally, if Carl isn't in a relationship, he is like this. And since his relationships are short-lived, he spends more time wandering around.
"I'm actually very loyal. Want to give it a try?"
"No way, no way. Carl is suitable as a boyfriend. And if I have to say, I prefer the type like Blake."
Bella says this and turns to Blake. Blake shows a wry smile for an instant and then smiles ambiguously. He seems not to know how to handle it and looks very troubled. Blake is clearly very liked by Bella. Although it's not his fault, a feeling of depression wells up in me again. I want to say that it's ridiculous for me to be jealous of my sister, but I also want to say that Blake is mine. Don't touch him.
"By the way, Ben."
Blake, in order to escape from Bella's gaze that has been staring at him with a constant smile, suddenly turns to me.
"... What?"
"Ah, sorry."
Because I'm feeling depressed inside, when he suddenly talks to me, I reflexively answer him coldly. But for some reason, Blake apologizes to me instead, and I can't help but tilt my head.
"Ben has a scary expression on his face. Blake must be frightened, right?"
"Ah?"
My mother, who has stood up without me noticing at some point, smiles and puts a steaming mug in front of me.
Yes, indeed, suddenly being unhappy without warning like this will make people confused and only puzzled. I feel very sorry. I pull Blake's T-shirt hem a little. He shows a slightly surprised expression but immediately shows a gentle smile again.
"Right, right. Let Blake stay overnight here today."
My mother sitting opposite suddenly says something unexpected again. Why are there so many unexpected things happening today, or things outside the plan?
"Ah? Why?"
"It's okay to drive him to the station too, but since it's rare for everyone to be together, isn't it good to have a meal together?"
My mother smiles happily at my confused expression. Yes, my mother loves a lively and crowded atmosphere the most. In normal days, there are only two people in the home. With so many people gathered together today, her strange switch must have been turned on. Carl also shows a meaningful smile along with my mother's smile.
"Are you also going to stay overnight? Your home is so close. Go back."
Carl's home is about a five-minute drive away. In this rural area, it can be said to be a very close neighbor. I don't think it's necessary to stay overnight specially.
"What's wrong with you? You've been so cold since just now, Ben."
I ignore Carl who is pouting and look at my mother, but she says something unexpected.
"It's too crowded for three people in Ben's room. There is a guest room. Carl and Blake can rest there."
"Absolutely not."
I can't help but loudly oppose my mother's suggestion. My reaction makes everyone present look at me in surprise.