LMI 175

“H-hello.”

His voice cracked, and as he quickly cleared his throat, Ashley asked.

– Are you okay?

“Huh? Yeah. My throat’s just a little hoarse.”

After a pause, Ashley spoke.

– I meant, are you feeling alright?

“Ah.”

Only then did Koi grasp the meaning, and he blushed with embarrassment as he replied.

“Uh… yeah, I’m fine. Thank you.”

Koi pounded his forehead with his palm. You idiot! Why did you say thank you! Hearing the slapping sound, a suspicious voice came from the other end.

– What’s wrong? What’s that sound?

“Uh? Uh, no, it’s nothing. Really, it’s nothing at all.”

As he repeated the same words and denied it, Ashley didn’t press further and changed the subject.

– I’ve finished talking with the boss. He said he’d contact you directly, did you get it?

“Ah, I got a message. Thank you.”

This time, he gave a proper answer. As he spoke, he remembered that he had consulted with him about his salary just yesterday. And even if Ashley had taken care of this as soon as he came to work today, it had only taken a few hours.

“It was resolved this quickly…?”

Koi muttered to himself without realizing it. The words “the best lawyer in the East Coast” suddenly flashed through his mind. As did the fact that his fees were enormous. At Koi’s dazed voice, Ashley replied.

– It’s just a matter of making a phone call.

Even with the laughter in his voice, Koi was still dumbfounded. Something that had seemed so daunting to him was so simple and easy for Ashley.

“So that’s why everyone calls you the best…”

In contrast to his dazed voice, Ashley spoke clearly.

– I’m a lawyer. Persuasion is my job.

At the relaxed man’s voice, Koi felt his heart thump loudly.

“You’re so cool, Ash.”

As he spoke in an unconsciously enraptured voice, Ashley laughed out loud on the other end. Seeing that he was in a good mood, Koi felt relieved. Still with the lingering echo of laughter in his voice, Ashley continued.

– Have you eaten? There’s a sandwich in the fridge. If you need anything, just press the intercom and tell the desk, they’ll bring you anything you want.

“Ah, yeah. Thank you. Um, what about you? Have you had lunch?”

It was already afternoon. Koi glanced at the clock on the wall and asked, and Ashley replied.

– My secretary is preparing it. I’m going to eat while I’m in a meeting.

“Ah…”

Ashley had called Koi during a short break in the meeting. Koi felt sorry knowing that Ashley had called him several times to let him know the results despite being busy.

“I’ll let you go, you must be busy. Thank you for taking care of me.”

– You’re welcome. I just wanted to check if you got the message.

Ah, right.

At Ashley’s words, the memory he had briefly forgotten resurfaced. As he was about to finish the greeting and end the call, Ashley called him.

– Koi.

“Uh, yeah.”Ash hurriedly brought the phone back to his ear, and Ashley continued.

– I’ll be home early tonight. Just bear with it, even if it’s boring.

“Yeah, don’t worry. …Hey, around what time will you be here?”

Koi glanced at the clock and asked cautiously. Ashley replied casually.

– I don’t know, around 8?

That’s a relief. That should be enough time. He was about to say goodbye when Ashley added.

– Koi, don’t go out today, just rest at home. Can you do that?

Koi said yes and ended the call. He sighed and checked the messages again. Ashley had just asked him to stay home, but Koi couldn’t follow that request.

I need to handle this myself.

He didn’t waste any more time, got up from his seat, and quickly prepared to leave.

〈Can you do that?〉

Just as he pressed the elevator button, he suddenly felt strange. Why did he ask, ‘Can you do that?’ He tilted his head, and just then, he heard the sound of the elevator arriving. Without thinking too deeply, Koi got on the elevator.

* * *

Retracing a path he’d only taken once wasn’t easy. He reluctantly called the boss to get the address again, changed buses and subways several times, and even hitchhiked before finally reaching his destination.

[I’ll give you the money. But first, bring back the truck you abandoned. Otherwise, I’ll deduct the value of the truck from what I owe you.]

Koi took a deep breath, recalling the boss’s message. The mansion standing before him was no different from the last time he saw it. Even the sight of several cars parked haphazardly in front of the mansion was the same. However, the company truck Koi had been driving was nowhere to be seen.

Koi steeled himself and rang the bell. A thin, monotonous ring echoed. After waiting for a moment, the door opened, and a man who appeared to be an employee came out.

“What is it?”

Seeing the man’s suspicious expression as he scanned him from head to toe, Koi said,

“Hello, um… I came here for repairs before, and, uh, there was an accident, so I went to the police station. I left the truck there, so I’ve come to get it now.”

As he spoke the words he had prepared, the man tilted his head and stepped back.

“Come in for now. I’ll check on it.”

Koi thanked him and entered the mansion, stopping in the hall. The man quickly disappeared from sight. Left alone, Koi anxiously looked around. He checked the time on his phone and realized he was much later than expected. Ashley wouldn’t worry if he got home before he returned.

‘Can you do that?’

Ashley’s words came to mind again, making him impatient. Then, he heard footsteps approaching from afar. He swallowed hard and turned his head, and as expected, he saw the face he had anticipated. It was Nelson. He was wearing a dressing gown over his pajamas as if he had just woken up, and his already sparse hair was a mess. Koi felt his expression harden as he waited for him to approach.

“Hey, Loser.”

Nelson called him with a sneering face. The man who had followed Nelson confirmed that Koi knew the owner and quickly excused himself. Koi glanced at his retreating figure and then turned his gaze back to Nelson, who smirked and continued.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve, don’t you? How dare you show up in front of me?”

“I, I just came to get my, my truck.”

His words stumbled against his will, and his body trembled. Even though he was looking down at Nelson, he couldn’t muster any courage. He desperately encouraged himself, instantly reverting to Corner Niles, who had been constantly beaten by him, and clenched his fists tightly. But to Nelson, he was still just a classmate who was nothing more than his punching bag.

“Hey, you pathetic bastard.”

Nelson immediately kicked him in the shin. Fortunately, he was wearing slippers, so the impact wasn’t significant, but Koi was caught off guard and stumbled. Nelson grinned with satisfaction as he watched Koi.

“A guy who handles sewage, how dare you spout nonsense? Don’t you know who I am?”

“I, I know.”

Koi mumbled, awkwardly rubbing his shin. Nelson looked down at him and continued with a satisfied expression.

“You should have groveled if you didn’t want to get beaten. Huh? I should just…”

At the sight of him raising his hand as if to show off, Koi instinctively cowered and covered his head. Nelson let out an irritating laugh, “Kyahahahaha.” Nelson, who was clutching his stomach and bending over with laughter, tapped Koi’s leg with his foot and said,

“Hey, get on the ground.”

“Huh?”

When Koi hesitated, he spread his legs wide and ordered.

“Crawl, on all fours. Oink like a pig.”

It was something he had been forced to do several times in high school. It had been ten years, but the memory was vivid. Koi’s face quickly lost its color, but he couldn’t refuse. His body stiffened and wouldn’t move as he wanted, and he was afraid that he wouldn’t get his truck back if he offended him.

I have to get back soon.

It’s different from last time. Now that it’s just Nelson and him, Koi won’t be beaten like before if he makes up his mind.

But he couldn’t muster the courage. Rather than betting on the impossible, Koi chose the sure and easier path.

What’s the big deal about crawling between his legs?

Koi forced his stiff body to move and placed his hands on the floor. Nelson was watching him with great interest, his mouth splitting into a wide grin. Koi got down on all fours like a dog and moved forward, one step at a time. One step, then another.

Just as his head was passing between his legs, Nelson burst into laughter and said,

“Seeing you hanging out with a loser like you, Ashley must be a Loser too.”

Koi paused for a moment. Nelson didn’t notice at all and continued to babble on his own.

“No matter how much he pretends to be cool, he’s a moron. How much of a Loser do you have to be to hang out with you? Does that bastard crawl around like a pig too? Like you?”

Nelson snickered, making pig noises, “Oink, oink.” Koi, who had been frozen in place, clenched his fists. Nelson’s laughter and pig noises mixed together in his ears. He couldn’t stand it any longer and grabbed Nelson’s leg, pulling it hard.

“Ugh?”

Nelson staggered, making a strange noise. Koi, who had quickly gotten to his feet at the sight of him falling awkwardly, spat out,

“Don’t insult Ash!”

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