"Cough.

" Bastion coughed lightly.

Esmi freed Ryder and walked back.

"Is there anything that I should know about?

" Bastion asked, shifting his attention between Ryder and Esmi. That hug was pretty intimate and didn't appear ordinary.

Esmi looked at Ryder, wondering if he was going to accept something. She wasn't going to put him on the spot.

"Yeah. There is something that I do want to tell you. And I've decided to get everything off my chest so I could live my life the way I want to,

" Ryder said, glancing at Esmi.

He stepped closer to her, placing his hand on her cheeks.

"I'm dating Esmi, and I'm going to marry her.

"

"You what?

" Bastion's jaws dropped open at the announcement. What did he mean they were dating and going to marry?

"Are you messing with me or something?

"

"Nope. It's not a joke. As I said, I'm not going to keep any feelings in my heart. I'm taking what I want!

" Ryder stated.

"I said what I said.

"

"H-how long has this been going on?

" Bastion asked, still overwhelmed.

"It's been quite some time,

" Ryder replied.

Bastion looked at Esmi, who nodded.

"He's telling the truth.

"

Bastion turned around, scratching the back of his head.

"And I had no idea all this while. Wow!

"

"Where are you going?

" Esmi called out to Bastion, who was walking away.

"Nowhere, just trying to think. Give me a minute!

" Bastion responded as he left the mansion.

"I'll go check up on him,

" Ryder told Esmi.

"He'll be fine. I can see that much.

"

Esmi nodded, but she didn't let Ryder leave. She held his hand and pulled him closer.

"I'm so happy that you accepted me openly.

"

She placed her lips on the lips of Ryder, giving him a tight loss. Ryder also wrapped his arms around the slim waist of Esmi.

"Alright, now I should seriously check up on him. After that, I have something important to talk to you about regarding the future.

"

"Hmm.

" Esmi nodded, watching Ryder leave.

Ryder left the mansion to find Bastion standing in the garden.

He stepped closer to Bastion, stopping behind him.

"You should've told me before, man. I mean, if it was serious, I shouldn't have opposed it. It sucks that you two kept that a secret for so long,

" Bastion said without looking back.

"What would you have done if you were in my place?

" Ryder asked.

"Would you have said it?

"

"Oh, hell no. I'm not crazy.

" Bastion rolled his eyes.

"But it's not about me. It's about you, and I have a right to be upset.

"

"What do you want me to do to make up for it?

" Ryder asked.

"I want you to do two things.

"

"What two things?

" Ryder asked.

"First, I want you to promise me that you'll keep her happy. She has always been there for me when I needed her. If being with you makes her happy, I won't stand in the path. But I need to be sure that you'll keep her happy, and it's not a short term fling.

"

"I promise I'll keep her happy to the best of my abilities,

" Ryder replied.

"What's the second thing?

"

"Second, I'll be the wedding planner.

" Bastion declared.

Hearing the second demand, Ryder was momentarily surprised.

He ultimately burst into laughter.

"Deal, my friend. Now shall we go back? She must be worried.

"

"Yeah.

"

Bastion went back inside the mansion with Ryder and told Esmi that he was fine with everything.

"Anyway, you guys have your privacy. I need to meet someone. I should be back in a few hours.

" Bastion left the mansion again, this time taking his car.

After Bastion left, Esmi looked in the eyes of Ryder.

"So, he'll be out for a few hours. I wonder what we can do in a few hours. Do you have some suggestions?

"

"I have one in mind,

" Ryder replied before pulling Esmi into his arms, kissing her lips. She picked her up and went upstairs to the bedroom.

...

"I missed it so much.

"

Esmi was lying on the bed with Ryder. There was no piece of clothing on her body that was completely bare, just like Ryder's body. She was lying on the bed, sticking close to him.

"Me too,

" Ryder replied.

"Now that we're done with the important thing, we can get back to the other thing. So what were the things you wanted to talk to me about downstairs?'

"Ah, that's right. I forgot about that entirely. I wanted to tell you about Alice.

"

"Alice? That girl who lives with you?

"

"Yeah. I wanted to tell you that I love her.

"

"What?

" Esmi stood up, frowning.

"Then what about me? What was it downstairs? Why did you say you wanted to marry me?'

"Because I love you too? I can't leave you. And I can't leave her. So I've decided that I'll...

"

"That you'll marry two of us?

" Esmi looked at Ryder weirdly.

"I mean, some people do it, but that's soo... That's like living your entire life in a threesome. It's great for guys, but it'll be awkward for me and Alice?

"

Ryder also stood up.

"I know it's not something common, but there's nothing I can do about it. I don't want to give up anything dear to me. I want you both. But I won't force you. If you want, you can say yes. If you don't want to, then you can say no. In any case, I can't leave Alice.

"

He started getting dressed.

"I know I'm putting you on the spot, but I already thought a lot about it. And certain developments in my life have given me a new perspective about life, and I don't want to lose it.

"

"You can take your time. Tell me your answer any time you want.

" He left the room, leaving stunned Esmi behind.

...

Leaving the house, he went back inside his car, going back to the mansion.

"Am I doing the right thing?

" Ryder muttered to himself, sitting inside the car.

"I mean, it's normal for Chaos and Gods. Since I lived your life and his two, I can take it as ordinary, but the ladies have grown up on the earth, and this is weird for them. I wonder if they'll say yes.

"

"It's better to be honest with them about what you want. If not, you'll always keep running from reality, and you won't ever grasp reality. The faster you tell the inner feelings of yours, the faster everything will be over. If they accept, then fine.. If they don't, then they'll make a choice for you,

" the Ancient God inside Ryder replied.