Ren’s mouth did that fish thing again before he could get himself to say, “N-no, no, no—you don’t have to—”
“It’s fine. Tell me.”
“You really don’t have to—it’s too far!”
Just then, the next station came into view. He hurriedly tapped Rhys’ shoulder. “Look, over there, you can let me off—”
But Rhys showed no sign of wanting to slow down his bike. In a fresh panic, Ren was practically slapping his shoulder now. “Stop, stop, seriously, stop!”
Knowing he shouldn’t try to push for it again, Rhys finally slowed down and veered his bike to the side of the road, then braked just a couple of meters away from the station’s entrance.
Ren heaved an audible sigh and got off before Rhys could have any more ideas. He then started to remove his borrowed helmet, but his cold and stiff hands were ha
