Chapter 232: Side story- A bitterness brewed for too long
Casper hated the way he looked at him shyly, coyly, begging entry into a home that if he wasn’t so stubborn he’d have free entry to at any moment. Putting on a brave, unreadable face, Casper stared at the man who made his heart race daily.
But in private. Since he clearly didn’t want to know how much Casper cared for him. Still cared for him.
Sighing, since Gunther had said the one thing that would let him into his apartment, Casper forced his face into a neutral expression before he stepped back, letting the man in. Gunther had a small smirk on his face, and Casper’s grip on the door tightened. This man thought he’d won just because Casper let him into his home. He was wrong.
Very, very wrong.
Casper scowled at his back once he had stepped in, feeling even more slighted when the man didn’t even take off his shoes as he entered his apartment. Did the man grow up in a barn?!
He watched as Gunther looked around the space, and Casper realised that this was the first time that Gunther had ever entered his home. Usually, if they ever had any issues, they dealt with it in the privacy of a guiding room at the Tower, or at Gunther’s place which was close to the Tower. Never at Casper’s place.
Casper realised that that thought hurt him more than it should have.
Crossing his arms to protect himself, Casper tried to take comfort in the soft, warm sweater he was wearing. Glad it was covering his body. He didn’t need Gunther also nagging him about neglecting his body. If he was added to the group, he wasn’t sure how he would take it.
"Your place is...nice. Very you. Is that...a giant fish tank?" Gunther asked, a curious tone to his voice. Casper sniffed.
"It was. But then the fish all died, and I haven’t had time to replace them." Gunther nodded, and Casper could tell he was holding back laughter. He narrowed his gaze. "You can laugh. It’s fine. I know it’s funny." Gunther looked back at him, taking in how angry Casper was, and flashed a smile.
"No, I’m not going to laugh. You’ll use that as a reason to kick me out if I do." Casper’s shoulders stiffened, and Gunther’s smile grew. "See? I knew it. I’m barely in the door and you already want me out. That’s mean, Cas." Casper hated that he called him that.