"No, I'm not leaving you here. Tell me your home address," Kyle insists, voice laced with a firm kind of concern after Ashen casually suggests that he can be dropped off in town.
He says it lightly, trying to wave Kyle off so he can just go on and meet his friends.
But Kyle doesn't budge. Maybe it's because every time Ashen walks away, there's always this gnawing thought that clings to his mind, the persistent wondering if Ashen ever makes it home safely.
Ashen lets out a small, sheepish breath, hesitating before speaking. "I didn't want to say this because I didn't want you to think I'm some kind of manipulative brat or anything… but the thing is, I promised my parents I'd be home yesterday, and I wasn't. So I kinda want to buy something that could help me divert their minds from that. Even if I'm sure I'm still going to get scolded."
