Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 100

Even during his part-time job, his face showed no sign of cooling down. Koi learned for the first time how embarrassing it was to buy condoms. Of course, it was natural since he had never had the opportunity to buy them before.

Ash must have a lot of experience, right?

“Ah.”

Koi, who had thought that far, belatedly had another thought cross his mind.

Wouldn’t Ash already have condoms?

“Of course he would!”

He shouted involuntarily, tearing at his hair. Ashley had dated several girlfriends before Koi. Of course, he would have experience, and if so, condoms were an essential tool. It was unthinkable that someone as well-mannered as Ashley would do anything without condoms.

“No, still, a guy should prepare them first.”

Koi repeated the advice the old man had given him when he bought the condoms. What if Ash doesn’t have condoms? I mean, there’s that jinx where you never have them when you really need them.

And wouldn’t it be a bit weird to use condoms he bought for other girls when he’s with me?

Hope briefly raised its head. But the next moment, he frowned and muttered.

“It would be better than being embarrassed, wouldn’t it?”

Ugh, ahh, a scream escaped him again, and he clutched his head. No matter what excuse he made, it was still a foolish thing to do. It was a good thing he went to the next town; if he had bought them here as he first intended…

The CCTV was directly above the counter, so it would clearly show what Koi was purchasing. It was really a good decision to change his mind about buying them at the part-time job store and wake up early to go to the next town.

That much was a decision he wanted to pat himself on the head for.

Anyway, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.

Koi comforted himself, bringing his hand to his pants pocket. At the touch of the small, bulging box, his face flushed again, and his heart began to pound.

It’s finally happening.

Thinking that, he couldn’t calm down. He fidgeted and flapped around nervously, when suddenly his phone rang. He checked the caller ID and saw it was the store owner.

“H-hello.”

He hastily answered the phone, and a curt voice came from the other end.

– What are you doing alone? You’re making a racket.

It seemed he had been watching Koi on CCTV. Koi involuntarily looked up at the camera, then quickly lowered his gaze.

“J-just… gymnastics. W-what’s up?”

He hastily stammered, and the owner soon continued indifferently.

– This Thanksgiving. You’re working, right?

“Huh?”

He asked back involuntarily, and the owner pressed again.

– You don’t have much to do anyway. Of course you’ll work, right? Huh?

His words weren’t exactly wrong. Koi always worked during these times, so it was natural for him to assume he would this time too.

However, this year was different.

“I, I have plans.”

– What? Plans?

At Koi’s words, the owner paused and asked again. To the visibly flustered owner, Koi puffed out his chest and replied.

“Yes, I’ve been invited to a friend’s house.”

My boyfriend, though.

Koi’s face involuntarily flushed as he secretly added that. He unconsciously smiled, and the owner, who had been silent for a moment, stammered and asked.

– T-then, you’re not going to work that day? Really?

“Yes, I’m going to rest.”

The owner was silent for a while. Just when the silence felt burdensome, he asked in a reluctant voice.

– …Even if I pay you more?

Koi was surprised by the unexpected offer. He had never received an extra penny for working overtime, and this was the first such offer.

“Uh…”

Koi wavered for a moment but soon steadied himself. Ashley was more important than money. With the scales so clearly tipped, Koi put strength into his voice and said.

“It’s okay, I’ll rest.”

– Haa…

The owner sighed deeply, then soon spat out in a sharp voice.

– You’re really self-centered and ungrateful.

He cursed and then hung up the phone. Koi looked down at his phone in embarrassment, then changed his mind. There’s nothing I can do. There’s something more important than that right now.

He stroked the condom in his pocket again, comforting himself. Just think about the good things. There will be so many fun things ahead.

Just think about Ash.

Thinking of him automatically made his lips curve into a smile, and a sense of calm settled in his heart. He planned to tell his father beforehand that he would be staying at a friend’s house.

Recently, his father had become softer than before. He didn’t say kind words to him, but he drank less alcohol, and when he encountered Koi, he would gruffly ask if he had eaten or how his day was. Of course, Koi was still afraid of him and only spoke briefly, saying “Yes,” “No,” or “I’m fine,” so the conversation didn’t last long. But even this much was immense peace for him.

This is all thanks to Ash.

Since he started dating him, only good things had happened. He must be a gift God sent to Koi. Koi smiled broadly, found the calendar on his phone, and checked the remaining days.

Soon.

He placed his phone on his chest and took a deep breath. It was the most exciting and anticipated Thanksgiving he had ever experienced in his life.

Until an unexpected call came from Ashley.

“Going to your family home?”

At the sudden news, Koi involuntarily shouted in surprise. A deep sigh came from the other end of the phone.

– I’m sorry, Koi. You must have been looking forward to it a lot.

“I-it’s okay.”

Koi hastily comforted him.

– Thanksgiving should be spent with family. It’s okay, I am. Really.

“Haaah…”

Another sigh, as if boiling up, escaped Ashley’s lips. He felt like his stomach was twisting, leaving Koi alone with that father. Especially since Koi must have been looking forward to it so much.

More than anything, he felt disgusted with himself for making Koi look forward to it first and then canceling.

However, he couldn’t disobey his father. He had to realize the frustration he had felt countless times since dating Koi, once again.

I’m still a minor.

Ashley had no choice but to endure the helplessness that came with having no power or rights. If he disobeyed his father’s orders, he didn’t know what his father would do. Perhaps that’s why he had removed Ashley from the team.

To show off his power and crush Ashley before he could resist.

The effect was clear. Ashley had completely lost the will to resist him. On the one hand, he also thought about just appeasing him until graduation. Once he became an adult, he could do whatever he wanted. In the worst case, even if he gave up on college, he had to graduate high school. For Koi’s sake, too.

– I’m sorry, Koi.

He comforted himself and apologized again, and Koi repeated, “It’s okay.” He couldn’t forgive himself for making Koi feel even lonelier during a time like Thanksgiving. But the most hateful person was still that man.

– Koi, this year only. From next year, let’s definitely be together, every year.

“…Okay.”

Koi soon replied.

“I’ll look forward to it.”

– Okay.

Ashley nodded and changed the subject, asking.

– Nothing’s happening on Thanksgiving, right? You promised me.

“Uh… yes.”

Koi hesitated, then agreed. If I had known this, I would have said I’d work part-time… Regret belatedly flooded him, and his heart felt heavy. Ashley, sensing the mood, asked.

– What’s wrong?

“Huh? Oh, um.”

Koi hesitated, then replied as brightly as possible.

“The owner of the part-time job store asked me to work on Thanksgiving too, but I refused. It’s okay, I’ll get some rest for once…”

He spoke as if nothing was wrong, and Ashley, who had been quiet for a moment, suddenly suggested.

– Then, why don’t you work part-time at my house?

“Huh? Your house?”

He asked in surprise, and Ashley said, “Yes,” and continued.

– From Thanksgiving onwards, there are a lot of holidays. People often take time off. How about you work instead? It’s not that difficult, just removing foreign objects floating on the pool surface or cleaning one designated room each day.

Koi, who had momentarily imagined cleaning the entire massive mansion and felt overwhelmed, soon came to his senses.

“One room a day?”

– Yes. You can do that much, right?

“Uh…”

Of course. But the problem was that it was too easy.

“Does that even count as a part-time job…?”

To Koi’s careful question, Ashley readily said.

– Of course. I don’t want dust to accumulate in the house when I come back either.

Of course, that would be true. Considering the grand mansion that was always sparkling clean with many people cleaning it every day, his words were very reasonable.

“Um, then… when are you coming?”

When Koi asked again, Ashley was silent for a moment. He paused as if confirming something, then he returned.

– They say it’ll take about ten days.

“Ten days…”

Koi, who had mumbled unconsciously, hastily cleared his throat.

“Um, then where are you going? If it’s your family home…”

Huu, after a sigh, Ashley replied.

– I’m going East.