By Zephyria Koi was momentarily flustered by the sudden situation, but soon the car stopped at a traffic light. Only then did Koi feel relieved and say, “Ah.” He must have been doing that because he was driving. Ashley’s hand quickly relaxed, and soon he calmly responded.
“So-so.”
“I see. It must have been nice to see them after a long time.”
Ashley was silent for a moment. Seeing him looking back and forth on both sides of the road, Koi just thought he was paying attention to the traffic light. Ashley, who had deliberately scanned the empty road here and there, looked forward again and opened his mouth.
“My Father found out that I Manifested, so he called me to have me checked out. I needed that too. …While I was there, I visited a few universities and stuff.”
“Universities?”
The inside of his head, which had been vaguely soaked in dreams until now, suddenly cleared. Koi felt like he had been having a pleasant dream and was suddenly grabbed by the ankle and forcibly dragged back to reality. He remembered something he had completely forgotten.
“You said you were going to college on the East Coast…”
Koi muttered softly, as if talking to himself. So he was really leaving. As soon as he thought that, the remaining time felt impossibly short. Ashley asked Koi, who had been dazed for a moment.
“Koi, what happened with you saying you were going to take the college entrance exam again?”
“Huh? Oh…”
Koi belatedly came to his senses and stammered. Seeing him like that, Ashley smiled nonchalantly and said.
“It’s okay, we can see each other again next time. There’s still time. You applied, right? If you haven’t, let’s do it together. I’ll even take you to the test center this time. We can go on a date after it’s over, right?”
“Oh, yeah.”
Koi hesitated and then opened his mouth.
“Actually… I did pretty well. So I don’t have to take it again.”
“Really? How well?”
Koi became embarrassed and lowered his head, answering in a barely audible voice.
“…The same.”
“What?”Ashley asked again. Koi gathered his courage, braved his embarrassment, and whispered in a voice as small as a mosquito’s.
“Same as you. The score.”
“…Ah.”
Only then did Ashley break into a bright smile, release Koi’s hand, and instead wrap an arm around his shoulder, pulling him close.
“You did great, Koi. Really great! I knew you would, you’re my boyfriend, after all!”
Koi’s heart brightened with Ashley’s cheerful laughter. Hearing his unchanging laughter, he finally felt like he had truly returned.
Koi, emboldened, pulled Ashley closer and kissed him. It was just a peck, a baby kiss, but still. Ashley smiled, then cupped the back of his head and kissed his lips again.
Koi gasped softly without realizing it and closed his eyes. His heart pounded like crazy, and his fingertips tingled. The breath and thick tongue that entered his mouth completely stole his senses.
Ash.
He wanted to say his name, but the tongue that licked the inside of his mouth immediately brushed against his fluttering tongue, preventing him from making a sound. Koi couldn’t control his trembling body and just held onto Ashley’s neck tightly.
The tongue that had wrapped around Koi’s tongue and pulled him closer returned to his mouth. They were completely absorbed in the kiss. Lost in each other’s body heat and passion, they couldn’t think of anything else.
“…Hah.”
As their lips parted, Koi involuntarily exhaled the breath he had been holding. Ashley’s breathing was also ragged. They stared at each other for a moment, just breathing, before Ashley gave a wry smile.
“I wish we weren’t in the car.”
“Yeah.”
Koi nodded and looked up at him.
“…I missed you, Ash.”
When he spoke with sincerity, Ashley looked at him for a moment before opening his mouth.
“…Me too.”
Ashley whispered in a subdued voice.
“Me too.”
After speaking, he lowered his head again. Koi closed his eyes before their lips even touched. The soft sensation and warm temperature reaffirmed that this was real. He suddenly felt like crying.
“What’s wrong, Koi?”
Ashley broke the kiss and asked, hearing the sob-like sound that had escaped him. Koi forced a smile and replied.
“We, uh, just kissed for the first time since we got back together.”
Ashley was silent for a moment. Koi emphasized once more at his blank face, as if he had been shocked.
“The first time since we got back together.”
“…I see.”
Ashley paused before speaking.
“You’re right.”
Their lips met again. Koi closed his eyes happily and opened his mouth. Every time their tongues gently touched, a sigh of relief escaped him.
It’s real.
His heart pounded again, beating against his chest.
Ash is really back.
By the time they finally stopped kissing, the traffic light had changed several times. Ashley burst out laughing as he watched the car behind them change lanes and drive into the next lane.
He finally started the car, and as before, he held Koi’s hand with one hand. Koi squeezed his hand tightly, their fingers intertwined. The atmosphere was completely different from before. Koi opened his mouth casually, as if nothing had happened.
“Which school are you going to? The same one as Father?”
Recalling what Ashley had said in the past, he asked, and Ashley nodded briefly.
“Probably.”
The university Ashley aimed for was exactly the one Koi had expected.
“Since you said you were going to be a lawyer, I thought it would be that one.”
At those words, Ashley frowned, thought for a moment, and then asked with a puzzled expression.
“…Did I say that?”
“You did, when we first met to do the assignment together.”
Koi puffed out his chest, feeling strangely proud.
“You don’t seem to remember, but I remember everything.”
At those words, Ashley’s eyes widened in admiration, and Koi tilted his head back with confidence. Seeing that, Ashley asked warily.
“You weren’t really my stalker, were you?”
“No, I wasn’t!”
If he hadn’t been driving, he would have playfully hit his arm or something, but he couldn’t. Instead, Koi pouted with a flushed face.
“I just have a good memory.”
“I know, I know.”
Ashley laughed out loud again this time. Koi blushed again, puffing out his cheeks at the fact that he was teasing him. Ashley lifted Koi’s hand that he was holding and kissed the back of it with a smack, then asked.
“What about you? Where do you want to go?”
At the realistic question that immediately followed, Koi couldn’t answer right away and lowered his head.
“I just…”
He took some time to find the right words, then put on a light tone and answered.
“I don’t know yet.”
“Is that so?”
He glanced at him nervously, but fortunately, Ashley brushed it off casually.
“Well, it’s good to be careful.”
Koi felt relieved, but Ashley continued.
“It’s cool that you’re thinking about what you want to do, Koi.”
“Ah… yeah.”
He answered absentmindedly, but Koi was inwardly embarrassed and didn’t know what to do. I’m sorry it’s not such a cool reason, Ash. I’m just ready to run anywhere with tears of gratitude if they give me a scholarship.
Of course, he couldn’t say that honestly.
Before he knew it, the car stopped on the street where he always dropped Koi off.
“Thanks for the ride, Ash.”
Koi got out of the car and stood on the sidewalk, waiting for Ashley to take the bicycle out of the trunk before opening his mouth.
“It would be nice if you walked me home…”
Ashley trailed off with a wry smile. Of course, he had assumed that they would part ways here. Just like they always had. But today, Koi decided to be brave and take another step forward.
“Um, it’s okay.”
His voice cracked, probably because he was nervous, so he quickly cleared his throat. After calming his breathing, Koi finally looked up at Ashley and opened his mouth.
“It’s okay. You can walk me home.”
Ashley’s eyes gradually widened as he waited silently for him to speak. Koi became embarrassed at the reaction and quickly added.
“Don’t be disappointed when you see it. Whatever you’re imagining, it’ll be less than that.”
“Okay.”
Ashley nodded readily. Is it really okay? Koi became suspicious, but Ashley readily slung the bicycle over one shoulder and held out his remaining hand to Koi. Koi looked back and forth between his face and his hand, then smiled and took his hand.
It’s okay.
He thought as they started walking together.
It’ll be okay, for us.