LMI 193

“Koi!”

“Al!”

As soon as they saw each other’s faces, they embraced and shared their joy, hugging each other tightly once more before letting go. Koi looked down at Al with a bright face and opened his mouth.

“How have you been? Sorry I couldn’t contact you.”

“It’s okay, I’m the one who’s sorry for calling you for something like this.”

Al apologized, furrowing their brow, and let Koi into the apartment. She stopped in the living room and waited for Koi, then sighed and continued.

“No matter how hard I try, I can’t fix it. You were the only person I could ask.”

“It’s okay, I’m glad if I can help.”

Koi smiled as he readily spoke, and Al smiled back with an apologetic expression before heading to the kitchen. Koi looked at the sink she pointed to, turned on the water to check the drainage, and then opened his mouth.

“It’s not severely clogged, I think I can disassemble the bottom and unclog it… it’ll get a bit messy. Do you have any old towels or clothes I can use? Can you give me some?”

“Oh, just a moment.”

She quickly went inside and came out with a pile of rags. Al sat down on a chair at the table, watching Koi spread the towels around the sink and start working. Seeing Koi’s quiet yet skillful movements, she suddenly thought he was cool.

Get a grip, they’re your sibling.

Al scolded herself inwardly and gave a self-deprecating smile. She was always drawn to men who were professionals in their fields. Thinking that Garrett was the same, she soon felt bitter.

“When Garrett was here, he would have done all this… it’s a bit of a shame.”

“Where did he go?”

Koi asked without much thought, assuming he had gone on assignment, and Al answered calmly.

“We broke up, we did.”

Surprised, Koi stopped what he was doing and looked back at her. Al continued to speak as if nothing was wrong.

“When you live together, there are bound to be things that don’t work out. He took all his remaining belongings last week, so it’s completely over.”

“Oh, I see.”

Not knowing what to say, Koi hesitated and only managed to say that. Al smiled as if to say not to worry and replied.

“It’s nothing, people meet and break up, and then meet new people. I’ll meet someone good again.”

Of course, she would. Al always had a boyfriend, and there would be plenty of men in the world who would welcome her being single. Koi nodded in agreement, and Al sighed and said.

“The problem is the rent. When I split it with Garrett, it was manageable, but I can’t afford to pay the rent here alone.”

At those words, Koi inadvertently looked around the house. The apartment with three rooms and two bathrooms was quite large and had good transportation, so it was quite expensive. Living alone in a place like this would require a tremendous amount of money. Seeing the worried expression on Koi’s face, Al casually added.

“Don’t worry, there are many ways, like having a house share. More importantly, how are you? You seem to be doing very well with him?”

At the sudden change of topic, Koi was startled and widened his eyes. He quickly blushed and looked away in confusion, and Al said nonchalantly.

“I knew as soon as I saw you, so don’t be so surprised. His Pheromone scent is overflowing from you. If it weren’t for your eye color, people would think you were an Alpha. Was it okay on the way here? I think Omegas would have reacted.”

“Uh…”

Koi hesitated and answered.

“It was okay. Um, the front desk prepared a taxi for me, so I came in that…”

So you’re living together very naturally.

Al frowned, thinking of Ashley’s arrogant face. She was sure that the sly fox had used some trick to make Koi fall for him and things had progressed haphazardly. She couldn’t figure out what he was thinking at all.

It’s a relief that Koi seems to be doing well…

In the meantime, Koi finished the job. He reconnected the pipes, ran water to check, and nodded in satisfaction. Al was also happy and held his hand tightly.

“Thank you, Koi. You finished so quickly.”

“It wasn’t too bad.”

Seeing Koi being shy, Al smiled and continued.

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, do you want to stay longer? I’ll prepare some tea and snacks.”

Soon after, she glanced over Koi once and added.

“Do you want to wash up? Your clothes are dirty, and I have a shirt that Garrett left behind. He said I could throw it away, so I’ll give it to you.”

“Oh, sure. Thank you.”

Al led Koi to the bathroom, handed him the shirt, and then returned to the kitchen. Left alone, Koi inadvertently sighed in relief. If Al had seen his naked body, she would have been horrified. He looked around at his body, which was covered in bite marks and hickeys, and quickly washed up and changed into the shirt.

When he came out, Al had finished preparing. She was making tea and smiled at Koi’s face as she asked.

“This is my favorite tea these days. Do you want to try it? Or should I give you something else?”

“It’s okay, I’ll have this too.”

At Koi’s answer, she readily poured him a cup and set the table. Al put out the snacks and sat across from him, finally getting to the point.

“Now tell me, how are you doing with him?”

“Huh? Uh…”

Koi’s face quickly turned red. It’s common for friends to ask how they’re doing with their partners. Al had talked about breaking up with Garrett as if nothing was wrong, so she might be curious about how Koi was doing. However, it was unfamiliar to him, so he felt awkward.

“I… I’m doing well, very well.”

Koi stopped looking at the teacup and answered quietly. His face was getting hotter and hotter, and he finally confessed, feeling a heart-pounding sensation as if it was about to explode.

“We… we liked each other.”

Al’s hand, which was about to bring the teacup to her lips, stopped in mid-air. Koi still couldn’t lift his head and continued.

“I, um… somehow, I said I liked him. And then Ashley…”

Seeing him too embarrassed to say more and bowing his head, Al slowly put down the teacup. She was anxiously waiting to hear how that detestable bastard had used his silver tongue, but Koi barely managed to open his mouth.

“He said he had loved me all his life, and that he would only have me in the future. He said he had always loved me.”

Wow, that scammer.

Al was speechless and her mouth dropped open. Seeing Koi sitting across the table, blushing and not knowing what to do, made her even more dumbfounded. He had seduced and devoured the innocent Koi. She was so dumbfounded that she couldn’t speak.

Perhaps it was already foreseen. Al was most responsible for telling Ashley that Koi wasn’t being paid.

It’s like running from a fox and meeting a tiger.

Al was at a loss as to how to handle this situation. Many thoughts swirled in her head, but she couldn’t bring herself to say them. Koi was smiling so happily, blushing.

Al knew how hard Koi had been struggling all this time. Would it really be right to break the happiness of a friend who had always looked pitiful, now that he was finally happy?

Ashley had a woman he was going to marry and went to Pheromone parties every week.

Al struggled not to say what she knew. How hurt would Koi be if he knew this?

Maybe he would think it was okay because it was in the past. But human reason always works separately from emotions. Koi would definitely be bothered by it, and he would never be as happy as he used to be.

He said he was sincere about liking Koi.

Al tried to convince herself. Whatever Ashley’s intentions were, that much was true. Could that also be a lie? She felt anxious for a moment, but soon denied it. There was no reason for Ashley to go that far with Koi. Why would he go to such trouble for something that would bring no benefit?

But if that feeling is still the same…

She couldn’t ignore Ashley’s ominous words. As Al was wavering, Koi continued to speak.“So, um… Ash said he’d introduce me to some work, but I don’t know when that’ll be, so I was thinking of getting a part-time job.”

“Huh? A part-time job?”

Koi replied, flustered, as Ariel snapped out of it and asked.

“I want to buy a ring.”

“A ring?”

Koi, still embarrassed by Ariel’s repetition, declared confidently.

“I’m going to propose to Ash.”

Ariel’s jaw dropped.

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