"...Huff!... Huff!... Huff!..."
"It's alright to stop if you're already tired."
"... ... ... Thanks..."
I'm sorry.
That's what Luel wanted to say in response to Amy's understanding, but that would make him even more pathetic than he already was, so he at least tried to save himself some dignity—whatever was left of it.
This isn't how I thought it would be.
Different from what it seems, or how Luel imagined everything would go after the bus service suddenly stopped—making Amy unable to return to Central City—Luel is now on the verge of having an anxiety and panic attack in front of her.
---
After arriving at the bus station and seeing the notice that the bus service had stopped due to mechanical maintenance, Luel and Amy went back to his house.
It's not because Amy decided to stay at Luel's house until the bus service resumed. Rather, Amy had requested Luel to give her a ride to Central City.
The Central City to which Luel's neighborhood belongs is only about an hour's drive from his house. Since Amy noticed the car in the garage while at Luel's home, she assumed Luel could drive.
Of course, Luel can drive. However, the question isn't whether he can drive or not, but whether he's still capable of it. After all, just looking at the inside of a car—even from the outside—is enough to remind Luel of the accident that turned his life upside down.
But still, Luel didn't want to disappoint his beloved Idol, so he gathered his resolve to face the horrifying feeling he always sees as a nightmare.
After returning to his house, Luel opened the garage and looked at the small convertible Mini Cooper that his parents had left in his care.
Just looking at the car was enough to make his hands tremble. That's why, to lessen his nervousness, Luel retracted the car's cover hood, thinking it wouldn't feel as suffocating once he sat in the driver's seat.
Amy sat in the passenger seat at the same time Luel got in the driver's seat. They could've gone anytime, but as Luel was about to insert the key and start the engine, his hands began trembling even more.
Luel began having trouble breathing—just like when he was trapped under the wreckage of his car. Even if he wanted to get out, Luel couldn't move, like when he was pinned down, dying and unable to call for help.
His heart started beating so fast and loud that his ears rang in pain, and his vision blurred, unable to comprehend the distance between himself and anything around him.
Luel was about to have another anxiety and panic attack—until Amy held his trembling hands and told him it was okay to stop.
---
With no way to return to Central City, Amy decided to stay the night at Luel's house—along with the threat of court and jail time if Luel even tried anything on her.
"We're about the same height, so this should fit you, Ms. Amy. Also, these are all new, so you don't have to worry—I haven't worn them."
"I'm the one borrowing clothes, so I'm not really concerned if they're new or used. But thank you anyway."
As they had agreed, Amy was going to use the guest room on the ground floor of Luel's house. She also requested a change of clothes because she wanted to take a bath and wear something more comfortable—like what Luel was wearing.
What Luel gave her was a simple set of pajamas: a shirt and sweatpants he hadn't used before.
He didn't have any hidden motives, but seeing his beloved Idol wearing the same type of clothes as him was really exciting for Luel.
He truly didn't have any hidden motives—but Luel still wondered why Amy only asked for a pair of clothes and didn't ask for any undergarments. Not that Luel had anything to offer that Amy would find comfortable or acceptable to use.
Amy only had a small shoulder bag with her when she arrived at Luel's house, so maybe—as Luel guessed—there was a pair of undergarments inside.
Do girls carry undergarments in their shoulder bags when traveling?
"Stop it! Don't think of anything weird! I still need to make something for dinner!"
---
For dinner, Luel decided to prepare something a bit fancy—or rather, the most enjoyable and easiest choice when you can't decide what to cook for the person you like.
Yakiniku, or grilled meat.
Luel set up the open grill flame on the balcony where he usually ate breakfast and lunch, and brought out all the marinated meat he had, along with other food for grilling.
While Luel was preparing dinner on the balcony, he heard the bathroom door open. The next moment, Luel's heart skipped a beat upon seeing his beloved Idol fresh out of the bath, wearing the same clothes as him.
Amy noticed Luel staring, dumbfounded. Realizing that her looks and attire might have enticed him, Amy's face turned red, and her ears blushed.
Seeing Amy's bashful and modest reaction was enough to convince Luel of one thing.
"So I really am hallucinating while dying?"
"I don't know what your deal is, but stop assuming everything isn't real!"