By Zephyria Suddenly, the surroundings became quiet. Koi was breathing heavily, looking at Ashley. Seeing the tip of his nose turn red, Ashley regained a little reason.
“Al is a friend.”
“Whitney is my friend too!”
Ashley’s momentum, which had been confidently cornering Koi like catching a rat, suddenly died down. He turned his head to look forward, then looked down, then looked back, stroking his chin and mouth, then turned his gaze back to Koi and asked in a much calmer voice.
“…What exactly did he drop?”
“Chanel!”
As Koi shouted as if he had been waiting, Ashley hesitated. Frowning, he repeated what Koi had said.
“Chanel?”
Koi shouted again in frustration.
“Yes, Chanel! Chanel! Cha! Nel!”
Eventually, Koi burst into tears. He had never felt so wronged. He was okay even when he experienced all kinds of unfair things while working part-time, but why was he so sad?
It’s because of Ash.
Koi thought, wiping away his tears. He couldn’t stand Ashley misunderstanding and scolding him, even if it was anyone else.
Because I like him.
Koi realized. It’s because I like him that I don’t want him to misunderstand me.
Only Koi’s sobs echoed in the quiet car for a while. Ashley looked at him, not knowing what to do, and finally turned off the hazard lights and started the car.
For a while, the two didn’t say anything. Ashley glanced at him, but Koi silently lowered his head and sniffled. The tears seemed to have stopped, but his nose was still bright red. Sniff, Koi sniffed again and suddenly wiped away his tears with the back of his hand. Surprised by the sight, Ashley hurriedly asked.
“Are you crying again?”
Koi replied in a voice full of sadness.
“I couldn’t even finish my Coke.”
He was hungry, but he felt like he was going to die because he wasted the remaining Coke. I should have just not come. I came along for nothing, wasted money, and fought with Ash.
Ashley, who had been silent for a while as he continued to wipe away his tears, opened his mouth.
“Dinner? Did you eat?”
Koi shook his head slightly, still drooping. Haa, Ashley sighed and made a U-turn on the empty road. This time, Koi’s body swayed, but not as violently as before.
The two didn’t say anything while driving on a new road. Breaking the silence that had been going on for a long time, Koi asked, still sniffling.
“…What is Chanel?”
Ashley replied, still looking forward.
“A person’s name.”
“Huh?”
He became even more confused. Koi looked at him, bewildered, and asked cautiously.
“Hey, are you teasing me?”
He often did that at other times, but he was not in the mood at all now. Ashley replied bluntly.
“I’m serious. You can find out if you search it up.”
“…Oh, okay.”
Koi hesitated and took out his cell phone and started searching. S…
“C.”
Ashley immediately spelled it out. Koi quickly deleted the S and pressed the Alpha벳 one by one as he called out. Soon the screen appeared, and Koi began to read the information that came up diligently.
“He’s a really old person?”
“Not really.”
Koi tilted his head. Why is he suddenly looking for a dead person there…? Ashley seems to be misunderstanding something.
Or maybe Whitney is into some kind of cult?
The moment he became scared, he saw a 24-hour fast food restaurant in the distance. It was late, so this was the only place to eat something. Ashley, who headed to the empty drive-thru, asked Koi before ordering.
“What do you want to eat?”
Koi still sniffled and slyly raised his head. It was full of expensive hamburgers that he could never have imagined eating normally. He didn’t know which one to choose and was flustered, but Ashley, who glanced at Koi, said.
“I’m going to order a bacon cheeseburger with a double patty, do you want to try it too?”
“Uh…”
His mouth watered just imagining it. It’s already an expensive place, but a double patty. Ashley, seeing Koi’s expression, smiled for the first time. Seeing that face, Koi also relaxed. In a much softer voice, Ashley asked.
“What about side menu?”
“It’s okay, ah.”
As Koi answered, Ashley suggested a drink this time.
“There’s no Mango Cola.”
“Um…….”
Koi asked cautiously.
“Can I have a milkshake…?”
The only thing he, who was insensitive to taste, could feel the most was sweetness. In addition, the softness of the milk was added, making the milkshake Koi’s favorite drink. But it’s so expensive that he hardly ever buys it.
Ashley nodded and asked again.
“Don’t you need anything else? Don’t you want to add toppings to your hamburger?”
Then Koi found the words ‘All toppings free’ written in small letters at the top of the menu. His expression brightened and he replied.
“I’ll do it, tomatoes and onions. Cheese too.”
“Okay.”
Ashley, who readily said that, pressed the button and started ordering. Just listening to the menu he rattled off made his mouth water. While waiting for the ordered food to come out, Ashley moved the car. Forgetting that they had just fought, Koi was in a great mood. Anyway, it seemed that Ashley’s misunderstanding had been resolved. A girl kissing Corner Niles, he must know now that such a thing could never happen.
……That’s right.
Just as he suddenly became depressed, the hamburger and drink came out. Ashley, who received the plastic bag containing the food, handed it to Koi, and Koi’s eyes sparkled.
“Thank you.”
To Koi, who said it with sincerity, Ashley silently took out the milkshake. Koi peeled off the paper wrapped around the hamburger one by one, full of anticipation.
When the hamburger, which was thicker than he had ever seen before, came into view, Koi was mesmerized by its enchanting figure for a while. Carefully opening his mouth and barely dividing the hamburger, which didn’t fit all the way, into two, top and bottom, and biting into it, his eyes widened at the much softer and crispier texture than expected.
How nice would it be if I could smell it.
Koi felt regret for the first time at this moment. Then I would feel the taste even more, right?
Putting the hamburger, which was definitely several times more delicious than what he was feeling now, into his mouth and chewing, Koi was very sad that he couldn’t fully realize this joy.
“How’s the taste, is it okay?”
Ashley asked before eating his hamburger. Koi nodded with his mouth full of hamburger. He wanted to answer, but he couldn’t open his mouth, so instead he gave a thumbs up, and Ashley quietly smiled and started eating his hamburger.
For a while, the two just ate without saying anything. After eating the hamburger, onion rings, french fries, and cheese sticks, Koi felt like he was going to explode. He even thought that he wouldn’t have to eat anything for the next three days.
Then I can save money on lunch.
He suddenly felt better. Looking at Koi, Ashley thought.
Can he really not smell?
There would probably be very few people who would tell such a bad lie. Unless it was a villain like his Father. Of course, Koi was definitely not such a piece of trash.
How did that happen?
It could be congenital or acquired. If it was acquired, did he have an accident? What kind of accident?
There were many things he was curious about, but it was not easy to ask. Ashley realized once again how ambiguous their relationship was.
I can’t just keep waiting for Koi forever.
I have to come to a conclusion soon. Either make Koi admit his feelings, or kidnap and imprison him.
After the meal, Ashley collected the trash in the bag that had contained the food and put it on the floor in the back seat.
“Fasten your seatbelt.”
Following Ashley’s words, Koi hurriedly fastened his belt. Ashley didn’t say anything on the way to take Koi home. The car was filled with the scent of Pheromone, but Koi had no idea how nervous he was right now.