Slightly hesitant, Jackson accepted the pudding. He did not understand Alicante’s sudden change of attitude.

But what surprised him was when he found Alicante put his pudding beside him and even took the initiative to approach him.

Jackson brushed off the remaining sand that was apparently still stuck to his face using his thin hands, although he could still see the man’s body shaking as he approached him.

As if Alicante himself wanted to fight his fear as he drew near to him, signaling to him that the man in front of him was now trusting him.

His eyes could see the remnants of the bruises that had filled Alicante’s arms, which made him ask if he was also the contributor to the wounds and bruises on Alicante’s body.

He didn’t want to hear or know the answer. He was not ready to hear about the stupid things he had done in the past.

He didn’t dare to know it. Not at all.

“I don’t know what made you change overnight, but promise me you won’t do anything stupid like that again,” Alicante said as he wiped his face with a towel. He sat down and ate his pudding with a smile. “Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes?” he asked, confused.

“I mean, when you hugged me tight earlier while crying …,” Alicante said worriedly, obviously surprised by him. “Is there anything you want to share with me, perhaps?”

He did not expect he would hear Alicante, who was asking him in a worried tone like he was hearing right now.

“No, nothing. I’m good,” he lied, pretending to be interested in the pudding Alicante handed him and avoiding Alicante’s gaze still on him.

He always wanted Alicante to be by his side. He always wanted Alicante to worry about him or sit near him. Just like what Alicante did right now.

He couldn’t tell Alicante that his attitude change was due to regret from the past, nor that he was the future Jackson. 

He only dared to look at Alicante a few moments later.

“Don’t worry about me,” he continued.

Alicante just shrugged his shoulders in response to his answer just now, turning his attention to the pudding earlier and unwrapping it enthusiastically.

He still did not intend to eat the pudding in his hand. All he did was keep his eyes fixed on Alicante, who seemed happy to enjoy the chocolate pudding. 

As if eating pudding was something Alicante rarely did.

He still could not believe what was in front of him right now was real, not one of his fantasies. 

Before he used forbidden rituals and went back in time, he spent his time mourning Alicante’s death in his room every single day.

He did not even step out of his bedroom. Guilt enveloped him because he couldn’t stop blaming himself.

If only he had not thrown the Alicante’s bag into the river...

If only he could have restrained Alicante before the man ended his life by jumping off the bridge …

If only he hadn’t been so childish and declared his feelings for Alicante right away, not thinking about what others thought of his sexual orientation...

If he could be honest, he actually felt jealous of Alicante. Alicante dared to tell everyone he was gay, but he didn’t dare come out.

He was afraid of what others would think, especially since he was a popular student at school. He didn’t know how his mother would react if she found out he was attracted to men, not women.

No one knew about his sexual orientation.

Without thinking about Alicante’s feelings, he took all his frustrations out on Alicante.

Now he found out that it was all real foolishness. 

He desperately wanted to make up for all his mistakes, make amends for everything.

That was why, when his mother and her acquaintances offered him a forbidden ritual that could transport him back in time, he accepted without thinking.

"Alicante?”

“Hmm?”

He was relieved for the first time when he no longer saw the fear on Alicante’s face in response to his call. “Am I––”

“If you are trying to persuade me to let you feed me as you did in the cafeteria, don’t expect me to allow you to do it.”

He lowered his head languidly at Alicante’s answer. Alicante quickly knew what he had just wanted to do to the man. 

His hands unwrapped the pudding, which was not as cold as when he gave it to Alicante in the cafeteria earlier, and he devoured the pudding.

Compared to the chocolate taste mixed with the vla sauce, like what he was eating right now, he much preferred to eat mango pudding.

Once again, he glanced at Alicante, who seemed happy to have eaten the chocolate pudding he had given him earlier, which made him instantly smile with pleasure.

Well, as long as he could see the smile on Alicante’s face, he thought that would be more than enough. 

It didn’t matter to him if he had to torture his tongue to eat his least favorite food.

“J-Jackson?”

“Hm?”

“C-Can I ask you something else?”

Somewhat surprised, he turned to Alicante, stopping to devour the pudding. “Of course. What do you want me to do?”

“C––can I stay here as long as I want?”

“You mean, until the night?” he asked, confused.

“As long as you can,” Alicante’s eyes looked straight at the tidal waves of the beach that were a little far from where they were currently sitting. “A … At least I don’t have to go back home for a few hours.”

“No problem, really. Anything for you.”

Although he was curious about the reason behind Alicante’s strange request, he decided not to ask Alicante. 

He was better off leaving Alicante alone to explain to him later.

Now, all he needed to do was wait until Alicante would really open up to him.

“Well, if you don't mind the fact that our bags are still at school, I don’t mind fulfilling your wish.”

Alicante shook his head slowly with a very cute expression. “Absolutely not.”

“Then I will gladly fulfill your wish,” he said, shifting his seat into a sitting position with his legs crossed, devouring the half pudding that was now left. “For now, let’s just enjoy the scene here as much as you want.”

“Thanks, Jackson.”

He nodded in response to Alicante’s words, observing Alicante, who was now focusing his attention on the waves of seawater moving repeatedly.

***