The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]
Chapter 175: Valentines, Yes, But...

Chapter 175: Valentines, Yes, But...

The next day, Lane drove his - Oscar’s, that is - car to the cheap district on the outskirts where Damien lived. Dressed in khaki chinos, a white shirt, and a burgundy sweater on top. He didn’t have time to go shopping, but luckily, Oscar’s fashion sense was acceptable, so Lane could put together a decent, flattering outfit. Even if he was still annoyed by how bulky the body he currently possessed felt.

He arrived ahead of time, so unlike himself, and climbed the staircase. It seemed much cleaner than last time... Was it that the building management improved? Or rather, was it... Damien’s effort? Since he knew Lane was coming?

Either way, it was still rather unpleasant, so Lane quickly went up the stairs, and knocked on Damien’s door.

And he paused, completely stunned, when Damien opened the door.

Damien was wearing a similar, if not the same, outfit as he did when the two of them went out for drinks a few months prior. Probably the only ’elegant’ outfit he had... Except that at least two sizes too small! It was true back then, and so was it now! Of course, that’s not to say it looked BAD... Rather, the tightness of the clothes highlighted Damien’s muscular frame... So much so that Lane couldn’t help but instantly feel aroused.

Was Damien aware of what he was doing? Probably not!

Lane cleared his throat, averting his gaze. It was still too early for that!

"It’s a bit cramped here. I’m sorry for the mess," Damien said with a hint of embarrassment, letting Lane in.

’Excuse me, what mess?’ Lane couldn’t help but give Damien a side-eye. The place was pristine! The only ’messy’ thing about it was the state of the studio, with the floors, the walls, and the furniture having seen better days, but it wasn’t Damien’s fault. Those were just things that came with living in such a hole in the wall.

He didn’t comment on that out loud, not wanting to embarrass the man, and just said, "It’s fine, it’s fine. It seems alright to me!" as he took off his shoes and walked in.

He had only been in Damien’s tiny apartment once before, when bringing the man home after getting him drunk... And the place was even smaller than he remembered. Or was it just that he was in a bigger body now, so it seemed that way? Either way, it was totally unacceptable! Something should be done about it... But it’s not like he could ask Damien to move in with him or anything!

"Make yourself comfortable. Dinner will be ready in a minute," Damien said, as he returned to the kitchen.

Lane hung his jacket by the door, and stepped into the living room... Or rather, simply deeper into the room. Because that’s what the apartment was, just one big room, with just a separate bathroom! But the kitchen, living room and bedroom were all combined in one, with the furniture squeezed on the old linoleum flooring. And while Lane wasn’t so out of touch as not to be aware that plenty of people lived in worse condition... It really was annoying, when he thought about the clothes Damien’s father had been wearing... His single outfit probably cost more than Damien’s rent!

His emotions must have shown on his face, because Damien paused for a moment, looking at him. "Sorry. Maybe we should have met somewhere else..."

"Huh?" Lane blinked, lifting his gaze. "Ah, no, no, I’m glad you invited me!" he quickly reassured, taking a seat on one of the chairs. It wasn’t here last time, if he remembered correctly...

He really was glad, though. Tight and poor as it was, it was still where Damien lived. So coming over to visit felt... exciting. Kind of intimate. And the mouthwatering scent of homemade food drifting in the air made it even more appealing!

Soon, Damien brought over the plates with food. Steak with potatoes roasted with herbs, and Caesar salad on the side. And served with wine!

"I don’t know much about alcohol, so I asked for some recommendations... I hope it’ll be alright." Damien popped the cork, and slowly poured the dark red liquid into two wine glasses. Likely also a new addition to his apartment, as Damien didn’t drink at all before Lane!

Lane swirled the wine in his glass, before taking a sip. "Mn, it’s good!" Although he wasn’t much of a wine connoisseur - he usually drank beer at home, or sweet cocktails when going out - he could tell that the wine Damien got clearly wasn’t some cheap supermarket one.

And it complemented the meal very well! As Lane bit into the meat, it was so tender it seemed to melt in his mouth! Every bite was overflowing with juiciness, with hints of smokiness, as well as buttery garlic sauce, highlighting the flavor of the meat without overshadowing it. The potatoes were just as great - crispy on the outside, but soft and fluffy on the inside, sprinkled with rosemary and thyme, with a bit of chili. The salad on the side balanced it all, with its fresh, zesty crunch.

It wasn’t like a meal at a restaurant, it was much better! For Lane, who wasn’t used to home cooking - did it count as ’home cooking’ when all the meals were done by a professional chef employed by the Allen family? - it was a completely new experience. He polished the plate clean, and sighed with satisfaction.

Dating Damien came with even more benefits than he initially expected!

"So, was that the surprise? What’s the occasion?" he asked, sipping his wine, once they finished eating. "Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, is that it?"

"Hmm," Damien let out a low hum, as if thinking about something. "Valentines, yes... But..."

"But?"

"Hmm, wait a moment. There’s something else." Damien stood up, and went to the kitchen. Only to return with a large strawberry chocolate cake (homemade, of course!)... With lit candles on the top.

"I’ve never got to ask you... But when is your birthday? The real one, I mean."

Lane paused, with his glass lifted up, resting against his lips.

Ah, so there it was. He had an inkling that there was more to Damien’s asking him out on the day BEFORE Valentine’s.

It was so that he could ask about Lane’s birthday... On Lane Allen’s birthday.