By Zephyria As if noticing that Koi was feeling an emotion that he dared not feel, Ariel suddenly looked at him. When their eyes met, Ariel raised her eyebrows, and Koi flinched, shrinking back.
“Bill.”
Ariel subtly called him and pulled on his shoulder. Bill, who had been talking to Ashley, blinked as if belatedly realizing, Ah. Soon after, Ashley looked at the two of them alternately and gave a strange smile, and Bill, realizing the meaning, quickly waved his hand.
“No, Ash. We’re not like that.”
Bill hastily denied it and glanced down at Ariel.
“Not yet.”
Ariel didn’t deny or affirm the words, but looked at Ashley.
“We were just talking about you.”
“I have no objections to you two dating.”
Ashley said, raising both hands. Koi was newly surprised by the atmosphere, as if he would not hesitate to give a congratulatory performance if given the opportunity. Of course, it had been several months since Ashley and Ariel broke up, so it might be natural for them to meet someone new. They were completely different from a loser like Koi.
But what about an ex-girlfriend dating your best friend?
Koi thought.
Ash said that Al was also his friend…
When he thought that far, Ariel said.
“Of course. No one has the right to tell me what to do with whoever I date.”
She snapped, as if feeling upset, and swept her long hair behind her shoulder and continued.
“You came at the right time. I have something to tell you, is now a good time?”
Ariel’s gaze was blatantly directed at Koi. It was as if she was saying, ‘Can you get out of here?’, and Koi flinched and stepped back.
“Okay, Koi!”
Ashley, who had readily answered, immediately turned his head and called Koi. Surprised, he stopped, and Ashley asked.
“I’ll be right back. Do you have anything else to do?”
“Uh, no.”
Koi hurriedly shook his head.
“I was on my way home.”
“Okay.”
Ashley said with a smile.
“Can you wait for me? I’ll be right back.”
“Uh…”
Ariel and Bill were waiting for him. Ashley waited for Koi’s answer in front of them. Feeling a sense of pressure and overwhelming emotion at the same time, Koi nodded.
“Yeah, I will.”
“Good.”
Ashley also nodded and turned back to Bill. Koi stood there, watching them walk away.
They stopped at a distance and talked. Koi still couldn’t believe the reality of the situation.
Am I dreaming? Koi, left awkwardly, kicked the floor with his foot for no reason, looked at the kids who were rioting, and fiddled with his neck for no reason, killing time.
How has Ash been doing?
When Ashley wasn’t around, there were so many things he was curious about, but when he saw him in front of him, it didn’t matter anymore.
Ash is back.
It was when he was blankly looking at Ashley again. He turned his head and looked at Koi. When their eyes met, a bright smile spread across Ashley’s face. In that moment, Koi’s mind went blank.
Koi.
When he recalled the sound of him calling his name, Ashley turned his head.
Koi, watching his profile as he started talking to Ariel again, felt embarrassed for some reason and quickly turned his head. Naturally, his gaze turned to the kids who were immersed in the car crash and were smashing the car.
Watching the car crash turn into a mess made him laugh. He had never been interested in this kind of thing before. The heart that had been filled with worries and anxieties about Ashley was now so light, and seeing the mess made him laugh, probably because…
Koi glanced at Ashley. The flames rising from the wrecked car reflected on his face, turning it red.
I like you.
Koi suddenly thought.
I like you, Ashley Dominique Miller.
His heart was beating faster than ever. The shouts of the children were heard faintly in the distance. His vision was filled with only one person.
Only Ashley Miller.
Koi took a trembling breath and stared at him blankly.
*
“Koi!”
Ashley, who had finally finished talking, called his name and ran over. He had only moved his feet a few times, but he was already standing in front of Koi, and he continued.
“Did you wait long? Sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
Koi managed to smile. His heart was so full that it was hard to speak.
What should I do?
He thought, staring up at Ashley in a daze.
I feel like I’m going to cry.
Ashley tilted his head and said.
“Koi?”
“Yeah?”
When he answered as if possessed, Ashley gave a bitter smile and stroked his chin awkwardly.
“No, you seem a little dazed… are you okay?”
“Ah, yeah, uh-huh.”
Koi nodded absentmindedly. But Ashley still seemed to think that he was out of his mind. Koi opened his mouth to Ashley, who was puzzled.
“It’s just, I like you so much.”
“What?”
Ashley was surprised for a moment, but then smiled brightly.
“Me too.”
And he hugged Koi tightly first.
“I love you, Koi. I missed you.”
Ashley’s heartbeat was faintly heard in his ear. Koi, who had been hesitating, carefully raised his arms and hugged him back. The warmth and thick body that he felt with both arms made the tears that he had been holding back well up.
“Ash…”
When he called his name in a sobbing voice, Ashley said, “Yeah,” and hugged Koi even tighter.
“I’m sorry, for being late.”흐윽, 흑, Koi eventually started sobbing in a small voice. Ashley, embracing Koi, stood silently. The sound of cars crashing and children cheering echoed faintly.
*
They didn’t say a word while driving to Ashley’s house in the Cayenne. However, as before they parted, they held hands tightly as Ashley drove.
Koi had calmed down to some extent, but his heart was still racing. He struggled to suppress his excited feelings, thinking of the things he was curious about one by one. There was so much he wanted to hear from Ashley.
“You haven’t had dinner, have you?”
As always, Ashley asked as he parked the car in front of the garage. Koi nodded absentmindedly, and Ashley let go of his hand first and got out of the car.
“Let’s eat first and then talk. Come on in.”
“Oh, okay.”
Before Koi could feel disappointed, he was about to get out of the car when he suddenly noticed the dolls in the back seat.
The dolls Koi had given him were sitting in a row, wearing seatbelts as before. Seeing that, Koi’s eyes welled up again. He hurriedly wiped away the tears and followed after Ashley.
They didn’t talk much until they finished eating.
Koi desperately tried to hold back from speaking first, focusing on eating. Finally, after finishing the meal and sitting face to face in the tea room, Koi took a deep breath and prepared to talk.
“Did you wait long?”
Ashley smiled as he placed the dessert cake and tea he had brought on the tea table. Koi smiled back absentmindedly, then felt a strange sense of unease. The excitement he had felt until now had disappeared, replaced by anxiety and nervousness.
Ashley’s expression as he looked at him wasn’t much different from before. He was much thinner and paler, but still had a kind smile.
…But.
“Koi, what’s wrong?”
Ashley asked from across the table. He frowned as if worried, looking into Koi’s face.
“What’s the matter? You don’t look good.”
Koi couldn’t answer right away and just looked at Ashley’s face. Tears welled up before he could even speak. Seeing Ashley’s surprised expression, Koi opened his mouth.
“…Ash.”
His breath scattered like a sob, and he took a deep breath before finally asking.
“Are you tired of me?”
“What? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
Ashley reacted immediately. Seeing the obvious look of bewilderment on his face, Koi couldn’t help but raise his voice.
“Then why…”
Before he could say the next word, he had to suppress his feelings first. Ashley saw resentment in his eyes for the first time. Koi took another breath and complained in a listless voice.
“You haven’t even kissed me once since you came back.”
Ashley was momentarily speechless. Silence fell between them. That reaction solidified Koi’s doubts.
“…You’re going to tell me to break up, aren’t you?”
Was this how it was when Ariel broke up with him? As he suddenly recalled the news of their breakup, Ashley suddenly jumped up and grabbed Koi’s arm. Ashley, who had pulled Koi up in surprise, hugged him tightly and opened his mouth.
“How can you say that?”
How did I get here?
He barely swallowed the rest of the words. His trembling voice and irregular breathing were definitely not a lie. But Koi couldn’t understand it even more.
“Then, why.”
“Koi.”
Ashley cut him off. Ashley’s arms around Koi tightened even more, and Koi unknowingly contorted his face.
“Don’t ever say that again. Break up? If you abandon me, I…”
Ashley’s voice was shaking violently. Koi was struck by the unfamiliar fear and anxiety he felt from him. Then, as if exhaling, Ashley confessed.
“I’ll die.”
Koi couldn’t say anything. He just hesitated before raising his hands and hugging Ashley back. Ashley was holding him so tightly that his whole body ached, but he endured it.
“I won’t leave, Ash.”
He managed to say, squeezing his vocal cords as if he was suffocating.
“I won’t break up with you either.”
Ashley was silent for a moment, then nodded and hugged Koi even tighter. Koi felt like he was going to faint. Leaning on him and closing his eyes, he vaguely wondered.
What on earth happened, Ash?