By Zephyria 
“What?”
Ashley’s face twisted at the unexpected words. Koi clenched and unclenched his fists, continuing in a trembling voice.
“If you really cared about me, you would have taken me to a restaurant that suits my circumstances. Not go to a restaurant that suits your level and manipulate the price tags.”
Ashley stopped moving for a moment. Only his shaking eyes moved. Koi stared straight at him and poured out his emotions roughly.
“You’ve told me so many times that you love me, but you’ve never proposed. It would have been different if I were from a good family like the woman you were going to marry. You just had enough feelings to have sex with me and say you loved me. But you’d marry someone who matches your status, and I don’t qualify.”
“What nonsense…”
“Don’t deny it, that’s your true feeling. You probably didn’t know. But this is right. You just didn’t realize it, but this is the truth hidden inside you. You never think about accommodating me. You only try to make me fit you. If you really had even a little bit of feeling for me, you wouldn’t act so arrogantly, as if you were giving me charity.”
Koi stopped there. His shoulders heaved with intense emotion. He bit his lip to keep from crying and added one last thing.
“And all you do is self-harm to get revenge on me? Why can’t you do anything else? Did you want me to pity you? Is hurting me like this your way of loving me? Blaming everything on me and resenting me because I abandoned you?”
He wanted to grab his collar and ask what the hell he had done. He couldn’t hold back the anger that surged up in his upset heart. But the response he got was still cold. Ashley, who had clenched his fists so hard that his knuckles turned white for a moment, loosened his hands.
“What do you know?”
Cool purple eyes fixed on Koi. He said with a faint sneer.
“You still don’t know anything.”
“Then explain it to me, so I can understand.”
Koi didn’t back down. Ashley was speechless at the strong eyes that were directed at him, without being intimidated or shrinking back at all. He seemed to be lost in thought for a moment. Just when he was suddenly afraid that he might have another mental problem, Ashley opened his mouth.
“Why should I bother to match your level? I’m going to forget everything anyway, and you’re going to abandon me again.”
Ashley smiled as he watched Koi’s face distort in dismay. He raised the corners of his mouth and put on a very thoughtful smile, but even Koi could tell that it wasn’t genuine. Eventually, Koi couldn’t hold back his tears.
“Why are you doing this?”
He rubbed his eyes violently and spat out quickly.
“Why do you only say such mean things? I know there’s something wrong with your head. But you should still be able to tell the difference between what you can say and what you can’t. Or are you doing this on purpose? You weren’t like this before…”
Sweet memories tormented Koi even more. The thought that he wished he could forget like Ashley flashed through his mind when Ashley said emotionlessly.
“Forget the old me now.”
With a face as expressionless as his voice, he stared at Koi and continued.
“This is me now. If you can’t accept it, there’s nothing I can do.”
Ashley concluded to Koi, who was just listening silently.
“Go back to the West, Koi.”
Koi just stared blankly at Ashley. Maybe Ashley wanted to say this. Koi also wavered, but soon he regained his composure.
I mustn’t weaken, that might also be Ashley’s calculation.
He will hurt Koi and prove that his words are correct. He would say this as he watched Koi leave, unable to bear it any longer.
See, you’re abandoning me again.
I will never do that.
It’s Koi’s fault that Ashley is like this. If he hugged Ashley here and covered everything up, it would be over easily. But Koi chose the other option. He must first resolve Ashley’s deep-rooted distrust of him. Like back in high school, when Ashley picked him up when he was cornered and burst into tears, trying to give up everything while practicing at the ice rink at Ashley’s house. This time it was Koi’s turn to reach out to him.
Koi, who had clenched both fists under the table, resolutely raised his head and stared straight at Ashley.
“No.”
Ashley frowned. But as if he had expected this much resistance, he soon relaxed his brow and opened his mouth without any change in attitude.
“If it’s because of the child…”
“That’s not why. Of course, the child is also a reason, but.”
Koi cut him off. He thought that this problem could be easily solved with his overflowing money, but he was wrong. Koi had been poor all his life, and living without money was just like everyday life for him. Because of that, money was not an option for him.
“I told you, I’ll never abandon you again.”
Koi took care to put strength into each word.
“But I won’t tolerate you hurting me like that. Even if you can’t feel emotions, I can.”
Ashley’s brow furrowed again. When Koi gained a little confidence as he saw the wrinkles deepen a little more this time, he opened his mouth.
“So what are you going to do?”
Of course, Koi didn’t have anything in mind yet either. Koi also didn’t expect this situation.
“I have to think about it from now on, what we need to do to be together in the future.”
When he answered honestly, Ashley sighed as if he was dumbfounded. Koi looked at his profile, which had turned away, and said.
“Anyway, I’m not giving up. Sorry if you’re disappointed.”
Ashley still turned his head and only turned his eyes to him. Koi added as he met Ashley’s gaze.
“You want me to leave and prove that you’re right, don’t you?”
Ashley didn’t answer. It seemed to prove his deep-rooted distrust of Koi. Koi quietly took out cash from his pocket, put it on the table, and stood up.
“I’ll pay for my share. We’re not on a date right now.”
Koi, who straightened his back, declared for the last time.
“Call me if you change your mind or think of a good way. I’ll do the same.”
He was about to leave when he stopped and said, “Oh, right.”
“You broke the door, so I can’t stay in that house anymore. I’m going to be staying at El’s house for the time being, so you know. And don’t misunderstand.”
With Ashley’s frowning face as the last thing he saw, Koi really left the place. A woman was seen talking to him outside the store through the front window. She seemed to be giving him directions, and the conversation got a little longer. Koi smiled and shook his head, then walked away again. Ashley sat there and watched the woman sigh and continue on her way.
\ \ *
“Koi!”
As soon as Koi entered the house, Ariel rushed to greet him.
“What happened? What did that bastard say?”
Koi gave a bitter smile to Ariel, who was swearing without hesitation, and asked for her understanding first.
“Can I wash up and talk about it?”
“Ah, yeah. You should. Sorry, I was just curious.”
Koi smiled as if he was okay and left the place. Fortunately, Ariel hadn’t found a housemate yet, so Koi was able to find a place to rest.
However, that’s only until the end of this month. Koi added his money, but it was only enough for one month’s rent. If they don’t find a suitable person by the end of the month, not only Koi but also Ariel will no longer be able to live here.
It will be repaired by then.
After washing up roughly and going outside, Ariel was waiting. Koi, who was sitting across from her at the table, briefly talked about what happened with Ashley. He didn’t tell her everything. Ariel would definitely get angry, and there was no point in complaining to her.
He simply told her that Ashley’s condition wasn’t good because of pheromones, that he told him to go back to the West, and that he ended the conversation with the resolution that he would definitely stay here and be by Ashley’s side. Ariel nodded and made a serious expression. Koi naturally changed the subject in response to her reaction, which was looking for something to say.
“Anyway, that’s me, how are you and Bill? Did you two meet?”
“Oh? We did.”
Ariel nodded. Knowing that it was her turn this time, she sighed first.