Chapter 142
The once-chaotic detention cell fell into a strange stillness. The guys who had been glancing around nervously, watching Nelson for cues, now looked around at each other in confusion. “Connor Niles?”, “Who’s that?” — the whispers rippled through the room. Koi swallowed hard without realizing it.
The officer had unmistakably called his name. And the eyes fixed on him confirmed it. From behind, he could hear Nelson stammering, blinking in confusion.
“Connor Niles? Who the hell is that...?”
Nelson's disbelief was clear in his voice, but Koi couldn’t fully register it. His gaze was locked in one direction. Just like the other person’s.
Ashley came here for me.
He couldn’t believe it. That they would meet again in a place like this, under these circumstances, had never even crossed his mind. Yet among all these people, Ashley had found him in an instant. That fact alone was undeniable. Ashley had spotted Koi before even the officer did, and his gaze hadn’t wavered since.
Even though I’ve changed this much.
Suddenly, a long-buried memory resurfaced in Koi’s mind, followed by a small breath of astonishment escaping his lips.
It had always been like this. No matter how many people were around, even when his shorter-than-average height made him easy to lose in a crowd, Ashley would always find him. He’d walk right up to him without hesitation and reach out his hand.
And even now, nothing had changed.
Realizing that made something ache deep in Koi’s chest. He inhaled sharply, trying to steady himself. The officer called his name again. That finally made Koi rise awkwardly to his feet and respond.
“Y-Yeah.”