By Zephyria Ariel was dumbfounded. What is this bastard saying to me right now?
“Liked? Koi? Still?”
Even the word order was a mess, but she ignored it.
“But you were spouting nonsense about making Koi happy and then letting him go? Did the Pheromones mess with your head?”
Ashley chuckled, as if such criticism was nothing to him. Ariel was annoyed by his reaction, but there was something more important to address.
“What on earth are you thinking, Ashley Dominique Miller?”
Ariel called him by his full name, putting on a serious face. Of course, she did it knowing he hated it, and she felt a little better when she saw one of his eyebrows twitch.
“If you really like Koi, I can’t understand why you’re thinking like that. You should either try to make things work with Koi, or give up. What are you even trying to do? What do you want?”
Ashley didn’t answer Ariel’s prodding, as if he had no intention of telling her that much.
This bastard.
Ariel didn’t hide her rising disgust as she asked, “Don’t tell me you’re trying to play games with Koi?”
Suddenly, Ashley laughed out loud. It was a short laugh, but it contained many meanings.
“Goodness, Al. We’re not teenagers anymore.”
He spoke as if even thinking of such childish ideas was ridiculous, but Ariel wasn’t embarrassed at all and said, “Then what are you doing? Are you perhaps suspecting Koi of something?”
Unexpectedly, Ashley answered Ariel’s question cheerfully.
“I trust him.”
He looked at the paused Ariel and continued in a still relaxed manner, “Koi probably likes me, of course. As much as he can.”
“Then what’s your problem?”
This bastard had already noticed that Koi liked him. Ariel felt sorry for Koi, who had tried so hard to hide his feelings, and she was furious at the situation. As she pressed him, Ashley chuckled unexpectedly. Shaking his head, as if he were a spectator who had seen the end of a ridiculous play, he said with a dumbfounded expression, “Al, whether Koi’s feelings for me are genuine or not doesn’t matter to me.”
Ariel wanted to strangle him right then and there, but there was no time. Koi had returned.
Forced to look up at the sound, Ariel paused. Koi’s face was completely different from before. Ariel’s expression hardened, while a look of satisfaction slowly spread across Ashley’s face. Seeing Koi awkwardly sit down on the chair, one of his thighs felt heavy and hot.
“Koi, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”
Ariel asked first. Koi shook his head urgently, but it was clear to anyone that something was wrong. Of course, only one person besides Koi knew the reason for this. Unfortunately, the problem was that he was the one who had caused this situation.
“I-I’m okay. I’m just a little… uncomfortable.”
“Suddenly?”
Ariel frowned. It was a very natural question, but Koi couldn’t explain. He was already embarrassed and ashamed and wanted to run away, so how could he say it himself?
Leaving Koi, who was just bowing his head and shaking it, the man who was the root of all evil leisurely raised his hand. Ashley spoke to the employee who quickly came over.
“Another bottle of the same.”
“You’re drinking more?”
Ariel frowned and made a disgusted face. Koi also turned pale and looked at him. He was relieved that all that was left was dessert, but now he was drinking more alcohol? In contrast to their reactions, Ashley replied in a calm voice, “Opportunities to drink good wine don’t come often. Don’t worry, I’ll pay for the wine.”
He smiled at Koi as if to reassure him, but Koi’s face was flushed, and he couldn’t say anything.
*
“Are you really okay, Koi?”
Ariel asked worriedly even as they were parting ways. She couldn’t help but feel concerned about Koi, who had been restless ever since he came back from the restroom.
“If you’re not feeling well, should we go to the hospital?”
For some reason, he kept paying attention to other things and couldn’t concentrate, and his walk was somehow awkward. He must be feeling unwell.
But even with her dear friend’s kind heart, Koi found it difficult to accept her kindness. That’s because he wasn’t acting so awkwardly because he was sick. Koi forced a smile at his friend, who was looking at him with a worried face.
“I’m okay, I’m just tired… I’ll feel better if I go home and rest.”
At the word ‘home’, Ariel glanced at Ashley. He was standing behind Koi with a face that wasn’t much different from before, confidently holding Koi’s waist with one arm. Ariel thought it was unsightly, but even if she pointed it out, Ashley would definitely spout shameless nonsense. He’d probably say something like he was holding Koi because he seemed unwell.
Leaving Ashley aside, Ariel had a lot to say to Koi, but the timing wasn’t good. Ariel hid her true feelings for now and held Koi’s hand tightly.
“Okay, go in quickly. I really enjoyed the meal today.”
“Yeah, bye, Al.”
A look of relief flashed across Koi’s face as he said goodbye. He must have felt relieved at the thought of being able to go home now. Ariel felt sorry for him and patted his arm a few more times before letting go of his hand.
Even as she got into the driver’s seat and started the car, Ariel waved at Koi, who was still standing there. She glanced at them getting further away in the rearview mirror before turning her gaze back to the front.
What on earth is that bastard up to?
It was all just incomprehensible. He wasn’t like this in high school, so has he changed? Or was he originally such a sly guy and everyone was being fooled?Besides, his behavior towards Koi today was strange. Ariel didn’t drink because she had to drive, but even though Koi didn’t have to, Ashley wouldn’t let him drink alcohol. Because of that, Koi had to drink juice or soda, and he couldn’t even have a drop of the wine that was added at the end.
He praised how good the wine was, but he wouldn’t let Koi drink it.
Something’s up.
Ariel couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling. She thought she should call Koi out soon and have a deep conversation, and she sped up the car.
*
Ashley, who had been watching the receding car, pulled Koi closer, tightening the arm around his waist. Ashley whispered over Koi’s head, who was caught off guard and hugged tightly by Ashley.
“Did you do as it said on the card?”
The answer was obvious from Koi’s awkward behavior, but Ashley asked on purpose, and as expected, Koi reacted as expected. He was startled, then lowered his head and didn’t know what to do, finally nodding slightly and mumbling, “Yeah.” Seeing him like that, Ashley felt his penis, which he had been trying to calm down, harden and swell.
“……Hic!”
Suddenly, Koi made a gasping sound. It was because Ashley had lowered his hand and grabbed his butt. He was already going crazy with awkwardness down there, but when his flesh was grabbed, he became noticeably flustered.
Regardless of Koi’s frozen reaction, Ashley leisurely massaged the small butt in his big hand and asked.
“Shall we go back now?”
Koi couldn’t even answer and nodded urgently. He wanted to go home quickly and take this off. Without realizing that the night was just beginning, Koi rolled into the car door that Ashley opened for him.
Haa, haa, he barely managed to catch his breath in relief, and Ashley, who closed the car door in front of him, walked around the hood with a relaxed gait and sat in the driver’s seat.
“Koi.”
“Uh, yeah.”
Koi was startled and turned around at the sudden call, and Ashley smiled and said.
“Show me when we get back.”
This time, he couldn’t even swallow his breath and just opened his mouth. Ashley turned his gaze away from Koi and started the car, looking straight ahead. Koi couldn’t say anything and just sat there anxiously, feeling like the car was going faster than usual.
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