LMI 93

“O-okay.”

Koi stopped shaking his head and fixed his gaze on Ashley. Ashley looked straight into his eyes and urged him.

“If your Father threatens you for any reason, contact me immediately and come to my house. Got it? I’ll take care of the rest.”

He couldn’t back down on this, no matter what. Ashley had to get a firm answer from Koi no matter what.

“Huh?” At Ashley’s repeated urging, Koi blinked for a moment, then hesitated and nodded.

“Okay.”

Koi couldn’t help but promise again under Ashley’s intense gaze.

“I will.”

“Good.”

Only then did Ashley nod and relax his expression. He was relieved that Koi had agreed. Koi thought so too, but he couldn’t agree with Ashley’s solution.

“Ash, but saying that I dumped you…”

“Koi.”

Ashley cut him off as he carefully spoke.

“It’s already decided, there’s no other way. If you don’t like this, then suggest an alternative.”

Koi seemed to think for a moment, then his eyes lit up and he asked, “What if you dumped me?”

“I confessed, remember?”

Koi was speechless at the immediate rebuttal. Ashley chuckled and said, “If I confessed and then dumped you, I’d be a real piece of trash, wouldn’t I? That’s even worse, right?”

“Uh…”

When he thought about it, that was true. Koi’s face turned red and he apologized softly, “Sorry.” Ashley found him so cute that he kissed his lips again. When he gently pulled away from their softly touching lips, Koi looked at him with dazed eyes.

Ashley smiled and licked his lips slightly.

Koi trembled all over and closed his eyes. In Ariel’s case, he had been at fault, and it was ridiculous to correct it, so he had just left it alone, but now that he had to go around telling people that he had been dumped, he thought it was quite unsightly. But looking at Koi’s face now, it was worth it.

*You know, Koi? I’m only doing this for you.*

After playfully nipping his lips, Ashley asked with a serious expression this time.

“Koi, have you ever thought about reporting your Father?”

Koi’s dazed expression immediately returned to reality. He seemed to think for a moment, then shook his head.

“Then I’ll end up in a facility.”

He wouldn’t be able to continue studying, and he wouldn’t be able to go to college. More than anything, he didn’t want to break up with Ashley.

Ashley could understand his thoughts, so he couldn’t force him any further.

The thought of putting the most precious person in the world in such a precarious situation broke Ashley’s heart.

*If we were adults, I’d take you and run away right now.*

But no matter how much he pretended to be, Ashley was just an ordinary high school student. He just happened to have a rich Father, but wealth and power couldn’t be his.

That’s why this was the only thing he could do.

Just tell him to call and come to his house.

Ashley realized how powerless he was and fell into self-loathing.

“I’m sorry, Koi. For not being able to protect you.”

Koi immediately denied it when he muttered in despair.

“No.”

He looked at Ashley with the utmost sincerity.

“You’re all I need.”

Even though it wasn’t the right situation at all, Ashley laughed. Ashley whispered with a self-deprecating smile.

“Me too.”

This time, Koi closed his eyes before their lips touched.

Ashley tried to push his tongue into his mouth as he pressed his lips against his, but he failed again. He had no choice but to lift his head and wipe the saliva from Koi’s lips with his thumb as he asked.

“Koi, is the reason you can’t smell because of your Father? …I mean…”

Koi shook his head at Ashley’s careful choice of words.

“No, it’s not because I was hit by Father.”

“Then…”

Ashley stopped himself from asking further. He wouldn’t pry unless Koi spoke first. Perhaps that was Koi’s biggest wound.

If Ashley hadn’t Manifested, and if he hadn’t decided to stay by his side, Koi might have kept that fact hidden until now.

Determined not to make the same mistake as before, Ashley let him go.

“We should go back now, Koi.”

He said in a somewhat calmer and subdued voice.

“If it gets any later, Father will find out. …Right now, you’re covered in my Pheromone scent.”

“R-really?”

Koi was flustered and brought his arm to his nose. He reflexively sniffed, then lowered his arm again when he realized he couldn’t smell anything.

“Well, then… I’ll go.”

“Okay.”Koi glanced at Ashley one more time before opening the car door. Ashley got out of the driver’s seat, following him as he exited the passenger side. Ashley faced Koi, who had stopped on the sidewalk, looking puzzled.

“This time, I’ll be the one watching you.”

It was always Koi’s job to watch Ashley’s car disappear into the distance. But this time was different. Koi hesitated for a moment at Ashley’s words, then nodded.

“Okay.”

Ashley would watch him go. The thought filled his chest, and his face brightened involuntarily.

“Then, Ash.”

“See you, Koi.”

Ashley raised a hand and waved lightly. Koi grinned and turned away.

He realized for the first time how reassuring it was to have someone watching over him.

Just knowing that Ashley was standing there made Koi’s steps lighter than ever.

He took a few steps, then turned back to see Ashley still in the same spot.

His smiling face seemed to say, “Don’t worry.” Koi turned away again, only to look back after a few more steps.

Watching him, Ashley was reminded of a video he had seen once. It showed the release of an injured wild animal. It was just like that.

He smiled, thinking of the baby animal that kept looking back at the person who had cared for it. Then Koi stopped again and turned to face him. This time, too, Ashley smiled at him, as if to say, “Go on, you’re safe.”

But this time was different. Koi seemed to hesitate for a moment, then suddenly turned back. He ran towards Ashley with all his might. Ashley, surprised, straightened up from where he had been leaning against the car.

“Why…”

He opened his mouth to ask what was wrong, but before he could speak, Koi reached him and leaped up, throwing his arms around Ashley’s neck and kissing him on the lips.

Ashley was uncharacteristically flustered. He had never imagined such a situation. Koi kissing him first? And running all the way back to jump on him?

He felt his brain shutting down for the first time in his life, and he simply stared, wide-eyed. Koi pressed his lips firmly against Ashley’s, then stepped back.

As his feet touched the ground, his arms loosened, and they stood silently facing each other.

Koi’s face quickly flushed crimson. Realizing what he had done, he turned abruptly and tried to run away.

At that moment, Ashley grabbed his arm and pulled him back. Koi was pulled into Ashley’s arms, and Ashley kissed him again.

Ah.

Koi arched back as Ashley leaned in, and his lips parted involuntarily. Ashley seized the opportunity.

“…Ugh.”

A moan escaped through their locked lips. Ashley’s tongue invaded his mouth, roughly stroking and licking his tongue.

Koi squeezed his eyes shut, furrowing his brow and tensing his entire body. The slick sensation of saliva mixing in his mouth made him lose his mind completely.

Rough breaths escaped him, and his shoulders and chest heaved.

Ashley caressed his tongue with his own, then reached down and grabbed his buttock. Koi tensed instantly.

If Ashley hadn’t been holding him tightly around the waist, he would have collapsed.

“I love you, Koi,” Ashley whispered, his lips close to Koi’s lower lip. His breath was as hot and feverish as Koi’s.

Koi hesitated, then carefully brought his trembling hands to the back of Ashley’s neck.

“Ugh…!”

The moment Koi wrapped his arms around Ashley’s neck, Ashley suddenly tightened his grip on Koi’s waist, pulling him close.

He thrust his tongue back into Koi’s mouth, which had opened to stifle a moan. Their tongues tangled, and their lips met perfectly.

Pressing his entire body against Ashley’s, Koi was lost in the kiss.

This is, really, a kiss.

In his daze, he barely realized how much Ashley had been holding back, and that if he wanted to, Ashley could devour him whole.

The thought sent a shiver of fear down Koi’s spine, but at the same time, he felt a thrill of anticipation in his heart.