By Zephyria “How are the flowers growing?”
Koi asked while waiting for the next course after eating the appetizer. Oh, Ariel replied with a look of regret.
“I’m sorry, I guess I’m just not good at growing things.”
“Oh, no. It’s okay, I gave it to you because I couldn’t handle it either…”
Koi sincerely meant it. Seeing that nothing like that had happened since then, it seemed that the flower scent was indeed the cause. It was a shame that the flowers had died, but it would be a bigger problem if Ariel were to be in a difficult situation because of the flowers, just like Koi had been, so maybe it was for the best. He didn’t think much of it and brushed it off.
Meanwhile, Ariel was thinking something similar. She had been briefly worried that Koi might have Manifested, but the same symptoms hadn’t appeared since then, and the scent was still gone. Above all, if it were Pheromones, Ashley would have noticed it first, but his attitude hadn’t changed at all.
I guess it was just a cold.
A smile unconsciously appeared at the thought that she had been worrying for nothing, and she pretended to drink water to hide her expression. Until then, Ashley hadn’t said much. Ariel, who had been happily talking to Koi, couldn’t shake off her suspicion at his suspicious silence.
What is that sly bastard up to this time?
“Thank you for helping me. Thanks to you, it worked out well, thanks to both of you for trying.”
Koi happened to express his gratitude. Ariel frowned and grumbled.
“Why did you let it get so delayed in the first place? You should have demanded it sooner.”
At the obvious point, Koi mumbled with an embarrassed face, “At that time, people quit all at once, so the boss was having a hard time too… I thought I could hold out for a few weeks.”
He thought he would be okay because he had saved up some money. Ariel sternly scolded Koi, who had paid a harsh price for underestimating the murderous cost of living in the East.
“Most people, Koi, would sue or quit their job if their wages are delayed by even a week.”
“That’s right.”
Unexpectedly, Ashley, who hadn’t said much until then, also agreed. They were at odds with each other, but at this moment, they were of one mind.
“You’re only hurting yourself by being so kind.”
Ashley took over Ariel’s words.
“It’s not good to be too nice.”
Ariel glanced at him and added, “You have to know how to be bad sometimes. You’re too bad.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
So they were on good terms after all.
Koi was thinking something completely different as he watched Ashley and Ariel bickering and exchanging sarcastic remarks. Ariel, who constantly spoke ill of Ashley, and Ashley, who didn’t seem to like her very much, got along so well when they were together. Of course, it was because they had a common topic of scolding Koi, but Koi didn’t care at all. How happy he was to have three high school alumni together, especially with his two favorite alumni, spending such a pleasant time.
Seeing Koi smiling contentedly, Ariel frowned.
“That’s not it, don’t get the wrong idea.”
At Ariel’s warning, Ashley said indifferently.
“Leave him alone, even if you and I stabbed each other with knives in front of Koi, he’d think we were joking.”
Ariel frowned, but unfortunately, Ashley was right.
“Surely, you wouldn’t do that.”
Koi shook his head with a smile. His face, looking back and forth between the two of them, asking, ‘Right?’ was even flushed. Koi, who had been blissfully unaware of the atmosphere around him, seemed to have finally become a little aware. Just as Ariel hesitated at the look of bewilderment on Koi’s face, Ashley opened his mouth.
“Of course, that wouldn’t happen. Al might stab me, but I wouldn’t do that.”
“Reeeally?”
Ariel immediately asked, stretching out the word sarcastically. Ashley raised his wine glass and chuckled.
“I’m a lawyer. I don’t use violence in a fight that can be resolved with words.”
Hey, Nelson is in the hospital right now.
Ariel barely swallowed the words that were about to burst out. She was curious about how much Koi knew about the incident, but it was better to just leave it alone, as she might be tricked by that cunning tongue if she brought it up.
“That’s right, Ash doesn’t use violence.”
Koi even chimed in to support the corrupt lawyer. That’s right, he rarely uses his fists. Ariel thought. He just socially kills people in court with that tongue of his.
But for that bastard to beat Nelson up that much.
It was amazing in a different sense. Ariel pretended to drink wine and glanced at Ashley. He still had no change in expression and hardly spoke after that. When he did say something, he invariably mocked Ariel, and Ariel didn’t back down and retaliated. Koi was the only one who happily accepted the gathering of the three of them.
Finally, the meal was almost over, and only dessert was left when Koi got up from his seat.
“Um, excuse me for a moment.”He excused himself to use the restroom, glancing between the two of them. “Okay?” At his lingering gaze, as if seeking confirmation, Ariel smiled reassuringly.
As Koi left the table, a staff member promptly followed. Recalling the employee’s initial kindness in personally guiding Koi to the restroom and even opening the door for him, Koi said he was fine. However, the employee simply smiled and headed towards the restroom.
Koi had no choice but to follow him. As before, the employee opened the restroom door for Koi and then handed him a small shopping bag he had been carrying.
“Mr. Miller asked me to give this to you.”
Koi accepted it with a puzzled expression. The employee explained briefly and then left. Alone, Koi tilted his head and peered into the small shopping bag. Inside, there was a small, beautifully wrapped box and a message card.
‘Wear this.’
“Ah.”
〈I’ll do anything.〉
Remembering the promise he had made the previous day, Koi nodded as he looked at the message card. Curious about the contents, he took out the box and opened it.
The item inside was something he had never imagined. His eyes widened, and he couldn’t even blink. Then, he noticed another message card at the bottom of the box. With trembling hands, he picked it up and gasped.
* * *
Ashley was finishing his second glass of wine. As he brought the last pour to his lips, a loose smile spread across his face. By now, Koi would have seen the contents of the box. Imagining how flustered he must be, Ashley couldn’t help but laugh.
Next time, I want to see him wearing it in front of me.
Initially, his plan had been to have Koi wear it under his pants from the start, but he quickly changed his mind. If he had done that, Koi wouldn’t have been able to enjoy dinner and would have been constantly on edge. He wanted to see that, but being caught off guard wasn’t so bad either.
He had laughed and chatted happily with Ariel throughout the meal, so that should be enough for now.
Seeing him smile as he drank his wine, Ariel narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Why is that bastard smiling to himself? It’s unsettling.
“What are you plotting now?”
With Koi gone, there was no reason to hide anything. At her direct question, Ashley glanced at her, as if to say, “What are you talking about?” Ariel brought up what she had been holding back.
“Do you know that Nelson ended up with a 16-week injury? That was you, wasn’t it? Why did you do that?”
To Ariel, who asked with certainty, Ashley replied in a relaxed tone, “It was self-defense. Nelson hit me first.”
Unexpectedly, he readily admitted it. Ariel blatantly scanned Ashley from head to toe before fixing her gaze back on his face.
“You don’t look that badly hurt.”
At her mocking question, Ashley chuckled.
“What you did hurt more.”
Ariel smiled back, seemingly satisfied, and said, “I could hit you even harder now.”
“I’ll pass. I’ve already been hit enough by you.”
His tone was polite, but dripping with sarcasm. For some reason, she felt better and was responding in a joking manner, but if she were to get upset, who knows what he might do. Ariel also stopped smiling and asked, “What exactly did you do? You’re a lawyer.”
Repeating his earlier words, Ashley smirked. At his chilling cynicism, Ariel paused, and Ashley replied in a low voice, “I’m going to do things by the book now.”
“Do you still have unfinished business with Nelson?”
Ariel asked, sounding exasperated. Instead of answering, he simply smiled. Staring at him in disbelief, Ariel said slowly, “I know you hate me, but you’re being particularly hostile today. Don’t tell me you were in love with Nelson.”
Saying something ridiculous and turning her stomach, Ariel made a bombshell declaration. “You slept with Koi, didn’t you?”
Ashley, who was drinking his wine, stopped moving and turned his gaze to Ariel. Ariel continued as if she had been waiting for this.
“Koi is a Beta. Do you know how shocked I was to hear that you slept with him? You’re such a selfish and self-centered bastard. How could you sleep with a Beta? And Koi is a man, too. If you really cared about Koi, how could you do that?”
Ariel criticized him in a rapid-fire manner, while Ashley simply watched her. At the unusual silence, Ariel stopped talking and glared at him. A look of satisfaction slowly spread across Ashley’s face.
“You don’t know, do you?”
At his whispered words, Ariel felt a chill run down her spine. What is this guy?
“What don’t I know?”
Ariel asked aggressively, but Ashley simply brought the wine to his lips. Staring intently at him, Ariel spoke.
“You beat up Nelson like that because of Koi, didn’t you?”
Ashley frowned. Ariel continued, “Be honest. You were furious because Koi was beaten up by Nelson, weren’t you?”
Ashley remained silent. Silence was a more powerful affirmation than any words. Ariel rebuked him in a strong tone.
“Admit it now, that you still like Koi. So much that you, a lawyer, beat someone to a pulp.”
Ariel added that he should retract the crazy things he had said last time. Ashley, who had been silently watching her, slowly opened his mouth.
“So what?”
“What?”
Ariel frowned, and Ashley said with a still expression, “I’ve never denied my feelings.”
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