Across Time | ThymeKavin

13. APPRECIATE YOU

"Such a disgrace to the family." he said, "Lock him until he calms down. This is his new phone, so let him know all his activities are being monitored."

"Why would you do this?!" I dashed through the doors in rage, launching at my dad and grabbing his collars.

"If you contact him even once, you won't even have time to imagine what I would do to him. So stay out of trouble, Thyme," he pushed me back in rage and walked towards the main door. Then he stopped in his tracks and turned back to me, "I know you are sad about losing your childish crush, but I bet you don't want to lose your position as my son to your cousin."

Day after day, my expression grew cold, and I got into drinking and smoking. This continued for months until Kavin's birthday. I checked the official Twitter account of the Parama group, only to see a comment on a random post from Gorya.

Maybe Kavin hated me for leaving without a word and for the bullying, but I knew I still had the chance to change things and make things correct. I had the chance to grow up from my immature self and be a loving alpha to him. And that process didn't involve alcohol or cigarettes on cold nights.

I called my dad's secretary that night, "Book an appointment with him tonight. I have things to discuss."

Present time

We walk along the long midnight street. I didn't expect our date to be extended this far. My intention was to drop Kavin off at his bakery at a decent time, like a decent man. But our plans changed. After having lunch, we went to a modern food exhibition, which I assumed he might like, which he really loved. And then I took him for seal watching.

That's how we ended up walking along the blocked path near the beach.

"Is it legal to keep a seal as a pet?" Kavin suddenly asks, pointing towards the ocean.

I laugh at his words, "Can't be legal."

"They are so fricking cute."

Not as cute as you.

"And so cuddly and innocent."

"So are you."

"Huh?"

"Huh."

Kavin quickly covers his face and looks at the ocean, whereas I smile to myself, totally losing my cool within a day of being with him. I mean, I wanted to be the 'cool dude' he would fall for, but some habits never change.

I stand next to Kavin and look at the night sky ahead of us, filled with a few blinking stars and a moon covered with grey clouds. The sea waves crash against the rocks beneath us, an eerie atmosphere at midnight. I should probably take him home now. He might be tired.

Just as I look at Kavin, he holds my sleeve and tugs at it, looking a bit bothered.

"Did you really call me.. after you left?" he asks.

I nod at his words, instantly remembering those memories again, memories that I don't want to live again. Even the thought of a repetition hurt my heart. How bad the feeling is when you don't know when you are going to return, and the person you want to see hates you.

"I- I thought your father was strict with you." he lowers his voice.

"I byhearted your contact number."

Kavin's brows furrow, a pained expression followed by, "I lost my phone on the same day you left. So I called you on Gorya's phone, but you never answered. And- and I thought maybe you cut ties with everyone."

"Cutting ties with everyone, I did. But I byhearted your number, called you a hundred times-" I hold both his hands so that his attention moves to me, "I thought you hated me- and blocked every unknown number that called you-"