“You should tell him not to be angry; if anyone should be angry, it should be me,” Julian said with a look of grievance.
“Alright, alright, Ashy didn’t mean to, he did it for me, and so did you. Having friends and lovers like you makes me too happy to complain. Let’s not be angry,” Aurora pleaded.
Aurora felt helpless as both had good intentions, yet their actions had backfired. “Is saying ‘he didn’t mean it’ supposed to solve the problem?” she questioned.
“How can I calm down then?” Aurora asked gently, knowing that no matter how tough a man might seem, deep down, they are like children.
Julian pointed to his cheek, and obediently, Aurora kissed it, saying, “Does it hurt less now?”
“And this side too.” Julian, feeling slighted by seeing Asher and Aurora hugging earlier, was not content.
“Enough, enough. If it’s that bad, I’ll let you punch me back,” Asher, who had traveled a long way, didn’t come just to see them display affection.
“I wouldn’t dare. You are Little Bunny’s most trusted person, she’d hate me if I hit you,” Julian said childishly, as if he were a kindergartener.
“Let’s all stop this now. It’s late, Ashy, you must be tired after such a long flight, and Julian, you must be exhausted from staying by my side. You both should rest,” Aurora suggested.
Seeing both men looking weary, all for her sake, made Aurora feel sorry for them. “How are you feeling now?” Asher finally asked about her illness.
“It’s just a little cold. The fever has gone down, and I think I’ll be back to normal by tomorrow. Don’t worry about me. You both look tired, there are spare beds here, rest now, and we can talk tomorrow,” Aurora arranged.
“Good, I’m exhausted,” Julian said as he kicked off his shoes and lay down next to Aurora. “There’s a smaller bed over there; you sleep there.”
Aurora saw the man who had quickly snuggled into the bed, gripping her waist as if afraid someone would steal her away. The bed she slept in was a 1. 5-meter double, spacious enough for two, but the spare was only 0. 8 meters, cramped for Asher’s tall frame.
“Isn’t it too much to make him sleep in such a small bed after he came all the way from the US?” Aurora said reluctantly.
“I didn’t ask him to come. Or do you want us to switch places, me on that bed and him next to you?” Julian raised an eyebrow.
“Why not? We’ve shared a bed before. If the little fox doesn’t mind, then neither do I,” Asher chimed in.
Back then, Aurora was also sick, and they were too poor for a hospital visit, managing only with some medicine. Asher, caring about her, stayed by her side all night. Despite his feelings for her, he had never taken advantage of her vulnerability.
Asher had later wondered if he had been shameless like Julian from the start, maybe he would have won Aurora over sooner. But then, he remembered how fragile she was at that time, like a shattered porcelain vase he had painstakingly pieced back together. Any further distress could have broken her completely, and no one who truly loved her would want to see her hurt again. Given another chance, he would still choose to stay by her side like this.
He watched her find the person she loved. Even if the one by her side in the future wasn’t him, as long as she was happy, that was enough.
“You wish! Dare to make a move on her again, and you’ll be the one sleeping outside,” Julian held back his anger as the man dared to share a bed with his Little Bunny.
“Stop arguing, I have a solution.”
“What solution?” Both men brightened up, hoping Aurora would take their side.
Aurora pulled back the quilt, “I’ll sleep on the small bed. You two are too tall, it’d be uncomfortable for either of you.”
“No!!!” Both shouted in unison. Asher went straight to the small bed, “I’ll sleep here, it’s been years since I last slept on such a small bed, I kind of miss it.”
“Are you sure that’s okay?”
“Oh, come on, you know me. We’ve been through tough times together, just relax,” Asher said gently.
“Then have a good sleep.” Aurora, too, was tired and lay back down.
“Are you hungry? I can get you something to eat.”
“I’m not hungry, I’m just really tired, I’m going to sleep first.” Aurora closed her eyes.
“Alright, then sleep. I won’t disturb you.” Julian turned off the light, and Aurora, exhausted, fell asleep right away.
In the darkness, Julian gently caressed Aurora’s weary cheek, his eyes somber.
The next morning, Aurora quietly opened her eyes and first saw Asher’s calm sleeping face, a big man curled up on a small bed with the blanket fallen on the floor.
Clearly, he was exhausted, and the jet lag was affecting him; he was sleeping soundly.
Turning to see Julian still deep in sleep, she quietly got out of bed and covered Asher with the blanket.
These two men were the most important people in her life, and seeing them getting along was all Aurora could hope for.
After washing up in the bathroom and feeling much better, she decided to go out and buy breakfast for them.
Julian habitually reached out for the person next to him, but his hand found only emptiness. He suddenly woke from his dream.
“Little Bunny?” He scanned the room; Aurora was nowhere to be seen.
“What’s all the noise so early in the morning?” Asher, still adjusting to the time difference, could barely open his eyes.
“Little Bunny is gone.”
“What? She’s missing?” Asher was instantly alert, and they both hurried to put on their shoes. Just then, Aurora came through the door.
“You’re awake?”
“Little Bunny, where did you go?” Julian’s heart settled when he saw her.
Aurora, puzzled by the fuss, asked, “I just went to buy breakfast, it’s not like it was a life or death situation, what’s wrong?”
“I was just worried something had happened to you.”
“Did you think I’d get abducted by aliens while buying breakfast? Let go, the food will get cold.” Aurora said with a smile.
Only then did Julian let her go, and Aurora couldn’t tell if it was her imagination, but Julian seemed even more cautious around her than before.
As if she were some fragile vase that might break at any touch.
It was just a small cold, and yet he worried so much, Aurora chuckled.
A nurse knocked on the door and brought in a bowl of herbal tea; Julian quickly took it, “Little Bunny, drink your medicine first, then you can have breakfast.”