“Huh?”
Koi blinked blankly and asked again. Ashley’s gaze towards him seemed different from before. The thought that he seemed angry suddenly crossed his mind, but Koi soon denied it. There’s no reason for Ash to be angry.
“Koi.”
“Yeah?”
At the sound of his name, Koi raised his head sharply. Ashley faced Koi and commanded in a still-cold voice.
“Explain in detail, one by one, what you mean by clinging.”
“Oh… okay.”
Koi nodded with a nervous face and recalled his memories, continuing his words haltingly. While listening to Koi’s words, Ashley remained motionless, listening with a coldly hardened face. He only reacted when he reached the part where the last employee who was kicked out tried to kiss Koi but failed.
“He kissed you? You?”
“No, he failed. I avoided it…”
When he repeated what he had said earlier, Ashley closed his mouth again. Koi was inwardly nervous at his reaction, which seemed to be lost in thought, and waited for him to speak. Ashley sighed, furrowed his brow, and finally opened his mouth.
“What exactly is that scent? Have you heard anything about it?”
“Ah, yeah.”
Koi nodded and carefully brought up the story about the potted plant he was raising.
“It got to the point where I couldn’t even ride the train or go anywhere, so I gave the flower to Ariel. It’s been okay since then.”
“…Does the flower scent really last all day?”
Koi felt wronged at his incredulous reaction. He became serious and asserted his innocence.
“I’m serious. It’s been okay since I gave the potted plant to Ariel.”
He still didn’t understand, but Koi truly believed it. Ashley rubbed his brow and muttered to himself.
“What did the smell smell like…”
Koi thought he wouldn’t be of much help because he couldn’t smell the scent, but Koi answered as if he had been waiting.
“An employee told me before. It smells like flowers or grass, but it’s very nice, and it makes you feel comfortable.”
Ashley’s hand, which had been rubbing his brow, stopped. He froze in that state, not even blinking, and thought.
That can’t be, Koi is a Beta.
No way, Ashley soon denied. If Koi was going to Manifestation, he would have done it a long time ago. He didn’t Manifestation even when he was with him in such strong Pheromone when Ashley Manifestation, so it doesn’t make sense for him to mutate now.
But all the characteristics Koi mentioned perfectly match Omega Pheromones. So are the reactions of the people who worked in the same company. What else can explain this situation?
But if that’s the case, why doesn’t Koi have any scent now?
If Koi had Manifestation, he wouldn’t have been able to hide his Pheromones. Is he taking Suppressant? Seriously, Koi?
“Ash?”
Suddenly, Koi called his name. Startled, Ashley came to his senses, took his hand off his brow, and stared at Koi. Koi’s face, looking at him with an uneasy expression, was nothing but innocent.
No, Koi can’t hide anything or lie. I would have noticed right away.
Ashley soon denied. But what if he really mutated?
Why suddenly?
“…Okay, I understand for now. I’ll take care of it.”
Ashley said quietly and soon changed the subject.
“Are you done eating? Shall we get up?”
“Huh? Ah, yeah.”
Koi nodded absentmindedly and felt sorry when he saw the remaining food. I could eat this for two days if I packed it…
But Ashley had already finished paying and gotten up from his seat. Unable to bring himself to say that he wanted to pack it, Koi followed him out of the restaurant.
“Hey, thank you for today.”
Koi thanked Ashley’s back. Ashley, who had gone outside first, turned to look at him. Koi didn’t know what to do with his embarrassment and lowered his gaze, continuing his words.
“For giving me advice like this, and even for the meal…”
Koi kept saying something. But Ashley couldn’t hear a word. All he could see was Koi’s lips, which kept moving, the cool breeze brushing his cheeks, and his long fingers awkwardly sweeping back his hair.
What if.
When he felt like he could hear himself swallowing hard, his body moved on its own.
“…Ah!”
Suddenly, Ashley grabbed Koi’s arm and pulled him. Surprised, Koi was caught off guard and was pulled into his arms. His large body wrapped around Koi’s entire body. Thick, sweet Pheromones poured over him like a waterfall.
What if you really became an Omega…
Strong arms tightened around his body, making it difficult for Koi to breathe. But the pressure made him feel relieved, so he closed his eyes and carefully hugged Ashley back. Ashley tilted his head and rubbed his nose against Koi’s ear, then buried his nose in his hair, his neck, and inhaled. A large, deep breath echoed in his ear. Koi felt like his heart was about to burst, so he grabbed Ashley’s body, which he was hugging, tightly.
I don’t smell anything.
After hugging him like that for a long time and pouring out his Pheromones, Ashley reluctantly admitted.
I don’t smell anything.As Koi slowly released his arms from around Ash, a sense of emptiness followed.
What was I expecting, anyway?
“…Ash?”
Koi called his name cautiously. Only then did Ash look down at Koi’s face, staring at him silently for a moment.
Koi had no idea what was happening. Even after pouring out so much Pheromone, Koi didn’t know. He wasn’t affected at all. Ash felt the same feeling he had felt over a decade ago all over again. Overcome with an irresistible urge, Ash hugged Koi tightly once more.
Koi, who had lowered his arms from Ash’s body, was caught off guard and found himself embraced by him again. He blinked, unsure of what to do, while Ash held him silently, barely breathing.
Ash…?
Koi was confused, unsure what his reaction meant, but the moment didn’t last long. Just as he mustered the courage to tentatively bring his hand to Ash’s back, Ash released him.
“…Let’s go.”
Leaving Koi with a bewildered expression at the sudden emptiness, Ash turned away. Koi stared at his back for a while before hurriedly chasing after him.
Ash didn’t say a word during the car ride. Koi was silent as well, but the silence didn’t last long. Koi broke the silence for an unavoidable reason.
“Um, Ash… where are we going?”
No matter how he looked at it, the road Ash’s car was on was far from the direction of Koi’s house. Feeling a sense of unease, Koi kept checking outside the window, and Ash finally answered.
“To my place.”
“Huh? Why, why?”
Koi turned to Ash, startled, but Ash continued to stare straight ahead as he spoke.
“Your place isn’t exactly a safe environment to stay in right now. Your boss might come to your house and cause trouble, and it’s not a safe place in many ways.”
He wanted to say that his boss wasn’t that kind of person, but he couldn’t be sure. Koi hesitated before asking cautiously.
“Even so, would he really go that far…?”
Ash answered without hesitation to his uncertain question.
“He’s about to lose money he didn’t want to lose, wouldn’t he want to vent his frustration?”
Koi still found it hard to believe, but Ash was probably right. He was a lawyer with much more experience in these matters than he was.
“But there’s no need to go to your place…”
“If you don’t like my place, I can get you a hotel.”
“Ah, no, that’s not it.”
Koi shook his head, flustered by the sudden offer.
“It’s not that, it’s just that I feel like I’m relying on you too much… Is this going to be over in a day or two?”
Ash responded indifferently to his cautious question.
“Well, that depends on your boss.”
“Then… staying at your place when we don’t know how long it will be…”
“Koi.”
Ash cut him off before Koi could say more.
“What did I tell you? You have to absolutely follow your lawyer’s advice, didn’t I?”
“Y-yes, you did.”
Koi answered hastily, but he still looked hesitant. Ash glanced at him and spoke.
“Koi.”
“Yeah.”
Ash continued, responding to Koi’s immediate reply.
“Don’t feel burdened. It’s not just the client, but the lawyer also has obligations to fulfill.”
“Obligations?”
Ash added, “Yes,” as Koi repeated the word.
“It’s a lawyer’s duty to protect their client.”
And he headed to his apartment with Koi, who couldn’t say anything more.
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