By Zephyria Ashley’s car arrived at the school, the exam site, 15 minutes earlier than the scheduled time. Koi, who was sitting in the passenger seat, pale-faced and panting, finally came to his senses when Ashley snapped his fingers in front of him.
“We’re here.”
“Huh? Uh-huh.”
Koi blinked belatedly and said hastily.
“Th-thank you. We really made it on time……”
He was impressed, but also worried.
“Are you okay? That’s, um.”
He was careful, wondering if he had overdone it because of him. As if seeing through Koi’s mind, Ashley joked.
“My body? The car?”
“Both.”
Ashley gave a nonchalant reaction to Koi’s serious answer.
“I might get a few tickets.”
“What about your body? You still have a cold.”
Ashley, who subtly avoided the hand that was trying to touch his forehead, said.
“Just go in. I’ll wait here.”
“Wait?”
“Yeah.”
Ashley added casually.
“Don’t worry about me, I’ll just kill some time.”
“Okay……”
Koi hesitated and got out of the car. He left his cell phone with Ashley.
“Um, should we meet here later?”
“Yeah. See you later.”
“Okay.”
After hearing Ashley’s answer, Koi hurriedly turned around and ran towards the exam site. Soon after, the horn sounded from behind, and Ashley started the car.
……I think I’m getting a fever again.
As soon as he was left alone, fatigue suddenly washed over him. The medicine must have worn off. After all, it had been over 12 hours since he had taken the medicine Koi had given him. He slowly drove the car, looking for a nearby pharmacy. He needed to take some medicine and get some sleep.
Ashley, who had thought that far, soon realized. That he was still in his pajamas.
“……Haa.”
After letting out a deep sigh, he changed the car’s destination. First, he should go home and change his clothes.
As he drove the car, the list of things to do grew one by one. First, take a shower, change clothes, eat something, and see if there was any medicine at home…….
The more things he had to do, the heavier his body and mind became. He wished someone was by his side at times like this. He didn’t need them to do anything for him. Just to be there with him.
Suddenly, Koi’s face came to mind, and he quickly shook his head. This was just because he still remembered Koi taking care of him the day before. It didn’t mean anything special. He turned the steering wheel and vowed to himself.
Absolutely not.
*
I’m screwed.
Koi walked out, his head empty. He couldn’t even remember what he had seen. All he could think about was Ashley during the exam.
Is he okay? His cheeks were flushed. He must still have a fever, right? Come to think of it, his focus was a little blurry. I should have just told him to go and rest. I could have walked home after it was over. Snap out of it!
Oh, snap out of it. This is not the time to think about that. I need to focus. Ashley went through the trouble of bringing me here while he was sick, what would happen if I messed up the exam? Snap out of it!
……Maybe he’s still outside right now?
Snap out of it, Corner Niles!
Could he have collapsed or something?
Corner Niles, take the exam first!
Ashley, just go home and rest.
Corner Niles!
All day long, his divided self tore at each other’s hair, and the exam was over. Koi walked out, feeling completely burned out.
The outside was full of cars. Parents had come to pick up their children after the exam. As planned, Koi was supposed to pass them and ride his bicycle home. As always, alone.
But this time it was different. Koi walked along, looking around at the rows of cars with a mixture of anxiety and excitement.
Is Ashley not here?
He felt disappointed, but also.
It’s better for him to rest since he’s not feeling well.
He felt relieved, but also.
It’s okay, I’ve always been alone.
He felt lonely, but also.
Ash will be waiting for me when I get home, right?
He felt happy, but also.
The emotions that came and went so often were like a roller coaster. It was the first time he had felt so many different emotions at once.
But that unfamiliarity was only a small part of it. The moment Koi found a familiar Cayenne among the densely packed cars, his heart swelled beyond words.
Ah.
The gloom of messing up the exam flew far away. All he could think about was Ashley.
Ash, Ash, Ash.
He repeated his name in his mouth and hurried his steps. The busy footsteps gradually quickened and soon turned into a run. His heart was pounding like crazy at the thought of seeing Ashley. His excited heart wouldn’t let him stop. Even though it wasn’t that far, he was impatient and couldn’t stand it.
Huffing and puffing, Koi barely reached the car, but hesitated for a moment without opening the door.
What if it’s a different car?
He hesitated with unnecessary worries and carefully leaned his face against the car window, and paused. He wasn’t wrong. The car was Ashley’s. However, that Ashley was sitting in the driver’s seat, leaning his head against the headrest and sleeping.
Koi stood there and looked at him for a while. An unknown complex feeling confused his mind. He felt sorry for him, sorry, grateful,
And even loved.
Huh?
It was when he paused at the sudden thought. Ashley seemed to flinch and opened his eyes. He rubbed the back of his neck as if he was tired and sighed, then turned his head. At that moment, Koi, who was looking from outside the car window, met his eyes.
For a moment, the two just stared at each other. Ashley stared blankly at Koi. It was a few seconds later that he realized the reality.
“Ah.”
Ashley, who let out an exclamation, reached out and opened the passenger seat door. As expected, Koi, who had come to his senses, hurriedly got into the car.
“Did you wait long?”
As soon as he got in, he asked, and Ashley answered a little. He was wearing a comfortable shirt and jeans. Seeing that, Koi smiled and asked.
“Did you go home?”Ashley started the engine, ready to leave, and replied.
“I came in my pajamas.”
“It’s okay, you still look cool.”
Koi said sincerely, and Ashley burst into laughter.
“Don’t you like me too much?”
Koi was embarrassed but didn’t deny it. In fact, Ashley always looked cool, but even in just a simple t-shirt and jeans, he looked so amazing. Maybe because he was sick, his hair, which he usually waxed and perfectly slicked back, was messily down, scattered haphazardly over his forehead, but Koi liked it either way.
“How was the test? Did you do well?”
Ashley asked as he drove onto the road. Koi vaguely mumbled an answer.
“Well, so-so…”
He quickly changed the subject.
“More importantly, how are you feeling? Did your fever go down?”
“Well, so-so.”
Ashley repeated Koi’s words exactly. Koi remembered something similar happening before and couldn’t help but laugh.
“Why do you keep copying me?”
“Do I?”
“Yes.”
Ashley laughed at Koi’s laughter. His cheeks were still flushed, but he looked better than the day before. That’s a relief, Koi thought.
Before he knew it, the car arrived at the Country. If he had come alone, Koi would have been on his bike among countless cars, waiting for a long time before barely managing to call Ashley, confirming he was a visitor, and finally being allowed in. But coming with Ashley’s car made entry ridiculously easy and simple.
Koi was amazed as they passed the rows of cars and quickly entered the grounds through the residents-only gate. “Wow, it’s over this quickly?”
“Because I live here.”
Ashley said casually, as if it were obvious, and continued driving.
He hadn’t had time to look closely when he came up the mountain last time, and he was too preoccupied with the test this morning, but as he drove slowly through the grounds in Ashley’s car, he saw that each of the scattered mansions was unique and magnificent. The mansions were so big that even the slightly smaller ones seemed moderately cozy.
But even then, the biggest one was still the mansion where Ashley lived. Buying such a huge house to live in alone, Koi thought Ashley’s parents must really care about him.