By Zephyria Everyone cheered and emptied their drinks. It was then, as Ashley finished his cola, leaving only ice, and set down his empty glass, that—
“Ash, the fridge is empty!”
Someone shouted as they walked out of the mansion. Ashley, who had been lying on the beach chair, sat up and pushed his sunglasses up onto his forehead.
“Empty? Completely?”
“This is all that’s left.”
He pointed with his chin at the cans of drinks he was holding in both arms as if to show off. Ashley sighed and stood up.
“Alright.”
“Let’s go together, Ash!”
Ariel, who had been lying on the beach chair over there, called out. Ashley waved his hand.
“It’s okay, I’ll go alone.”
He left his noisy friends behind and headed straight for the garage. It was only after he got into the driver’s seat that he realized he was only wearing loose surfer trunks, but he didn’t really care. He was just going to buy some drinks nearby.
Thinking that, he drove out of the mansion, but while waiting for the light, he suddenly changed his mind and turned the steering wheel.
*
“So why the hell don’t you have it, you son of a bitch!”
Koi fidgeted, trying to stop the customer who was cursing and causing a ruckus because he was drunk out of his mind.
“I’m sorry, we haven’t gotten our shipment yet… I’ll make sure to have it next time…”
Koi apologized, flustered, but the man, who had lost his reason, wouldn’t listen to him. Eventually, he shoved Koi roughly.
“You little shit, do you think I’m a joke?”
“Ah!”
Koi stumbled and fell on his butt. Then the man slapped him hard across the cheek. Before he could even come to his senses, Koi’s vision went blurry again from the blow.
“Ah, augh…”
As Koi sat there clutching his aching cheek and groaning, the man cursed at him again and swung his fist, but he was too drunk to land a proper hit.
“Ptoo, ptah!”
The man swung his fist in the air and vented his anger on his own before leaving the store. Finally alone, Koi staggered to his feet, then winced. His ear was ringing. His throbbing cheek would probably be swollen tomorrow.
He felt like he was about to cry a little, but he held it in and took a deep breath instead. He didn’t have time to cry.
As he was walking around the store organizing the inventory, the bell jingled. Koi turned his head without thinking, then his eyes widened.
“Oh.”
Ashley, who had stopped in his tracks, uttered the exclamation that Koi had been about to make. Koi stood there blankly, then belatedly put on a bright smile. But it was only in his mind.
“Ow!”
His throbbing cheek hurt, and he let out a short cry without realizing it, and Ashley immediately approached him.
“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
Koi, who had been clutching his cheek without realizing it, looked up at Ashley, who was now standing in front of him, and stammered.
“Oh, no, it’s just…”
Koi hesitated, then replied,
“There was a bit of an, accident.”
“Looks like you got hit?”
Ashley didn’t beat around the bush. Stung, Koi avoided his gaze and muttered quietly.
“Just… a drunk customer was, causing some trouble. That’s all.”
“What…”
“But what brings you here? Did you come to buy something?”
Koi asked first, before the conversation could go on any longer. At his suddenly brighter tone, Ashley was reminded of the face he had seen last time. His sparkling eyes and voice full of happiness were all the same. Except for one cheek, which was red and swollen.
“Seriously…”
Ashley stopped himself from saying more. It was clear that Koi didn’t want to talk about it anymore. And in fact, it wasn’t his place to say anything. He had just come to buy some more drinks.
Thinking that far, Ashley suddenly saw Koi. Wearing a dirty, crumpled uniform and with obvious marks on his cheek where he had been hit, he looked utterly pathetic and insignificant.
“…Where are the drinks?”
“Huh? Oh, this way.”
Koi hurriedly opened the door to the refrigerator and asked,
“What can I get you? How much do you need?”
Ashley, who had been about to reach for a drink without thinking, paused. If this refrigerator was emptied, Koi would have to refill it again. Thinking that, he quietly lowered his hand and said,
“I’ll take a case. Where are they?”
“Huh?”
Koi blinked and asked.
“They won’t be very cold, is that okay?”
“It’s okay.”
Ashley replied as casually as possible.
“I put ice in it anyway.”
“Haha, ow.”
Koi tried to laugh at the not-so-funny joke, but quickly winced.
“Just a minute, I’ll get it for you right away. What kind do you want?”
At Koi’s question, Ashley answered vaguely.
“Anything.”
“Alright.”
Ashley soon followed him as he quickly turned around and walked away. Koi opened the door to the back of the store and looked around at the stacked drinks, then chose mango cola.
“Oh.”
Just as he was about to lift the box full of cans, a long arm suddenly reached out from behind and took it away. Surprised, Koi turned around to see Ashley standing right behind him. And it didn’t end there. Ashley took out three more boxes of mango cola and carried them outside. Koi, who had been staring blankly, belatedly followed him out and asked,
“Is that enough?”
“Yeah, ring me up.”
Ashley placed the boxes on the counter and handed over his card. As Koi swiped the card through the card reader, he said,
“Having a party, huh.”
“Something like that…”
Ashley mumbled. Seeing Koi working while getting slapped across the face made him feel guilty for some reason about coming all the way here wearing only his surfer trunks.
Why does this guy look so pitiful every time I see him?
Ashley felt a bitter taste in his mouth as he looked down at Koi’s head, waiting for the receipt to print. His thick hair looked fluffy. He was staring at it intently when Koi suddenly lifted his head. Their eyes met for a moment, and Ashley flinched for no reason. Koi smiled, crinkling his eyes.
“Sounds fun. Have a good time!”
“Ah, yeah.”
Ashley nodded vaguely, took the card, and picked up the boxes. He tucked two under one arm and held one in his other hand, but suddenly Koi picked up the remaining one.
“I’ll carry it for you.”
“It’s okay.”
“I’m the one who’s okay.”
Koi tried to smile again, but winced. Even though he had repeated the same experience several times, he made the same mistake every time. Ashley felt sorry for him, but he also felt like laughing for some reason. Every time Koi tried to smile and then said “Ow,” realizing his mistake, his face would scrunch up, but his ears would still perk up, expressing his overflowing joy.
“…Do you, like, like me that much?”
At Ashley’s question, which he had asked without thinking, Koi’s eyes widened. He didn’t answer, but his expression alone told him everything. Seeing that, Ashley couldn’t help but laugh.
Oh.
As Koi looked at him in surprise, Ashley raised his empty hand and stroked his hair. Koi was mesmerized by his softly smiling face. His big hand touching his head felt so good, his gaze toward him was so warm, and above all, the face smiling at Koi made his heart flutter.
Ashley suddenly narrowed his eyes. Still with a slight smile on his face, he lowered the hand that had been stroking his hair and cupped Koi’s cheek.
Thump, it felt like his heart was pounding. The slow beat continued to echo in his ears. Koi was looking at Ashley without even blinking. He wanted to capture him in his sight for as long as possible, as much as possible.
Even the warmth of his hand touching his cheek and the sound of his heart beating so desperately.
Ding-dong, a faint bell rang from behind. The magic was broken. Koi had to go back to the store, and it was time for Ashley to return to his world. Inevitably, Koi whispered,
“…Goodbye, Ash.”
With difficulty, Ashley also said,
“Goodbye, Koi.”
It was then that his hand fell from his cheek. Koi watched Ashley’s hand move away from him and felt a sense of emptiness in his heart.
“Go inside.”
Ashley said as he opened the back door. Seeing him put the two boxes he was holding on the back seat, Koi hurriedly held out the box he was holding.
“Thanks.”
As Koi watched Ashley take the box from him and stack it on the back seat, Koi exclaimed in surprise.
“Ellieping!”
“Ellieping?”
As Ashley looked back in confusion, Koi pointed to the doll that was securely fastened in the back seat.
“That doll, did I give it to you?”
“Ah, yeah.”
Ashley nodded, then belatedly frowned.
“Ellieping, you say?”
“Yeah.”
Koi looked up at him with sparkling eyes and replied.
“It’s a pink elephant, so Elephant, Pink, Ellieping.”
When did he come up with that name?
Ashley wondered for a moment, but there was something even more shocking.
“This, it was an elephant?”