By Zephyria Ashley gently sucked on Koi’s neck once before lifting his head.
“What are you talking about? What smell?”
Ashley’s expression as he looked down at Koi didn’t change much. His voice was also the same as usual, so Koi was inwardly relieved but hesitated to answer.
“Well, something happened…”
Ashley suddenly picked him up, seeing Koi hesitating, unsure of where to start.
“Ah!”
Startled, he hurriedly wrapped his arms around Ashley’s neck, and Ashley strode over and sat on the sofa in the drawing room.
“Now, tell me.”
Koi felt relieved and his lips naturally loosened at the sight of Ashley comfortably sitting him on his lap with a smile.
“Well, actually… I’m doing some work, you could say a part-time job.”
When he leaned his head on Ashley’s shoulder and started talking, Ashley casually asked, “So?” as if it was nothing. He subtly checked Ashley’s reaction, wondering if he already knew, but there was nothing particularly unusual. After a short pause, Koi told him what had happened, however briefly. Ashley, who had been listening silently, opened his mouth after a few seconds of silence.
“I want to say something first, Koi.”
“Yeah.”
Ashley continued, speaking to Koi, who had unconsciously tensed up.
“Didn’t you promise me? To take a taxi.”
“Oh…”
Koi belatedly realized and answered, feeling embarrassed.
“Well… taking a taxi costs too much…”
Ashley frowned as Koi trailed off.
“You’re working because you need money? Not as a hobby?”
With those words, Koi realized two things. One was that Ashley did know he was working, and the other was that he thought he was just doing it as a hobby to relieve boredom.
It doesn’t matter if he thinks that way…
He might not like it if he knew I was working to buy him a ring. And on top of that, this happened…
“I have somewhere to… use it…”
Koi hesitated, then made up his mind and finished speaking.
“I don’t think it’s reasonable for me to live here. If I get my own place…”
The arm holding Koi’s shoulder suddenly tightened. Koi paused and looked at Ashley’s face, but there was no particular change in his expression.
“Koi, this is your home. Where are you going?”
Ashley’s voice was so sweet, but that made Koi feel guilty.
“But… I’m a burden to you if I’m here…”
“Koi, have you forgotten? That we’re getting married.”
Ashley cut him off as he confessed in a fading voice, unable to meet his gaze. Koi was startled and quickly shook his head, answering.
“No, of course I remember. Of course, I remember…”
That’s why I’m saving money to buy a ring.
“But I can’t let you be embarrassed because of me…”
“Koi, I’ve never been ashamed of you, not even once.”
Ashley said firmly, unlike before, when Koi reluctantly revealed his true feelings.
“I’m not ashamed of the work you’re doing either. What’s wrong with fixing houses? Anyone can do their best in their field, right? Why would that be embarrassing?”
“Oh… yeah.”
Koi’s face flushed red at Ashley’s strong words. He felt embarrassed in another sense, as if he had unnecessarily revealed his inferiority complex.
“Thank you, Ash.”
He whispered, his ears turning red, but he still carefully brought up the question that was still bothering him.
“But the people here don’t really like me coming and going…”
“‘People’? Has that happened before?”
Ashley never just brushed aside the words he had said without thinking. Koi thought, “Oh no,” but it was already too late. He hesitated, but he had no choice but to be honest.
“It’s happened a few times before… not as bad as today… just staring or frowning…”
“Since when?”
Ashley asked again.
“Is it recent, or has it been happening for a while?”
Now that it’s come to this, I have no choice but to tell him everything. Koi took a deep breath and answered.
“Before, when I first started living here… there were some people who looked at me strangely. I thought I was being too sensitive, but once someone asked me where I lived…”
Ashley didn’t say anything. Koi hurriedly added, sensing the unusual silence.
“Security must be more of a concern since you live in such a nice place. I don’t look like I live here.”
He laughed awkwardly, but Ashley remained expressionless. Koi’s laughter faded, and he soon muttered with a dejected look.
“Sorry, I guess I wasn’t paying enough attention…”
“It’s not your fault.”
Ashley spoke to Koi, who had become discouraged.
“Koi, you’re Conor Niles, and that’s enough for me. Wear what you want. I don’t care.”
“…Thank you, Ash.”
Koi was sincerely touched and looked at Ashley. Seeing the face of his lover, who was shining with affection, Ashley couldn’t help but smile and kissed him. Their lips, which had touched lightly, soon overlapped deeply, and their tongues naturally intertwined. Koi gently licked and caressed the inside of his mouth, then lightly rubbed his tongue, and smiled shyly when their lips parted.
“Hey, I really don’t smell, do I…?”
Koi asked just as he was about to kiss him again. Ashley tilted his head, brought his face close to Koi’s neck, took a deep breath, and said.
“Soap. Soap smell.”
The heart that had momentarily sunk immediately returned to its place. Koi sighed in relief, stroked his chest, and smiled brightly.
“Thank goodness, I showered three times…”
“It’s not good to wash for too long.”
Ashley frowned and warned him, and Koi nodded obediently. Ashley smiled bitterly at the sight.
“You listen so well, why don’t you listen when I tell you to take a taxi?”
Koi’s face flushed red and he didn’t know what to do. Ashley chuckled briefly and then took Koi out of his arms.
“I have something to show you.”
“Huh? What is it?”
Ashley, holding Koi’s hand, who was puzzled, walked ahead and got on the elevator. They headed to Ashley’s private parking lot. Passing the cars parked on both sides, Ashley stopped in front of one car.
“Here.”
He said, taking out a smart key from his pocket and handing it over.
“It’s your car.”
“Huh?”
Koi belatedly widened his eyes in surprise, taking the key in a daze. Ashley said with a smile on his face to Koi, who was just looking back and forth between the car and Ashley, feeling dazed by the unexpected gift.
“You never take a taxi no matter what I say, so I bought you a car. Is this okay?”
“Huh?”
Koi repeated the same exclamation again. Bought a car? My car? Koi, who was just blinking, carefully examined the car in front of him and then looked up at Ashley in surprise.
“It’s a Jaguar!”
“Yeah. The one you like.”
Ashley’s face was full of satisfaction. He looked forward to how Koi would react, but Koi was just looking puzzled.
“I like Jaguars…? Do I?”
The smile disappeared from Ashley’s face at the unexpected reaction, and disappointment flashed across his face.
“…You said so.”
Oh no! Koi was flustered, not knowing what to do, seeing him clearly disappointed. But Ashley soon changed the subject as if nothing had happened.
“Drive this from now on. I put a card in the dashboard, so use it if you need to spend money. Is that okay?”
“Oh… oh, yeah.”
Koi nodded quickly. He couldn’t refuse after he had gone this far.
I just have to buy the ring with my own money.
With that thought in mind, Koi hugged Ashley’s waist and tried to kiss his lips on tiptoe. But Ashley suddenly tilted his head back, and Koi accidentally brushed his lips against his neck. Ashley looked down at Koi, who was quickly embarrassed, and said.
“You’re just going to get away with a kiss?”
“Huh?”
Koi inadvertently made a blank sound and then hurriedly answered.
“No, no. I’ll do anything. What do you want? Ash, anything I can do…”
At those words, Ashley hugged Koi’s waist. He smiled, holding him tightly so he couldn’t run away.
“Koi, would you like to try on an apron?”
“Huh? Oh…”
It was almost dinner time. Did he want him to make it himself instead of having the food cooked and brought up on time? Assuming that, he nodded, and Ashley narrowed his eyes and added.
“Completely naked inside.”
* It will be serialized every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 6 PM.
(Please understand that it is difficult to post a formal notice due to the platform system as it is a completed work.)