Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 110

As if Ariel had noticed Koi feeling an inappropriate emotion towards her, she suddenly looked at him. Their eyes met, Ariel raised an eyebrow, and Koi flinched, shrinking his shoulders.

“Bill.”

Ariel subtly called him and tugged his shoulder. Bill, who had been engrossed in conversation with Ashley, belatedly realized and blinked, saying, “Ah.” Soon after, Ashley looked at both of them alternately and gave a strange smile, and Bill, realizing its meaning, hurriedly waved his hands.

“No, Ash. We’re not like that.”

Bill, who had hastily denied it, glanced down at Ariel.

“Not yet.”

Ariel neither denied nor affirmed the remark, simply looking at Ashley.

“We were just talking about you.”

“I have no objection to you two dating.”

Ashley said, raising both hands. The atmosphere suggested he wouldn’t even mind a celebratory performance if given the chance, which surprised Koi anew. Of course, it had been several months since Ashley and Ariel broke up, so it might be natural for them to find new partners. They were completely different from a pathetic outcast like Koi.

But what about your ex-girlfriend and your best friend dating?

Koi thought.

Ash even said Al was his friend…

Just as he thought that, Ariel spoke.

“Of course. No one has the right to tell me what to do, no matter who I date.”

She snapped back, seemingly offended, then swept her long hair behind her shoulder and continued.

“You came at the right time. I have something to tell you, do you have a moment?”

Ariel overtly directed her gaze at Koi. As if she was saying, ‘Would you mind stepping aside?’, Koi instinctively flinched and stepped back.

“Alright. Koi!”

Ashley, who had readily answered, immediately turned his head and called Koi. Koi flinched and stopped, and Ashley asked.

“I’ll be back in a moment. Do you have anything else to do?”

“Uh, no.”

Koi hurriedly shook his head.

“I was on my way home.”

“Okay.”

Ashley smiled and said.

“Could you wait a moment? I’ll be right back.”

“Uh…”

Ariel and Bill were waiting for him. Ashley waited for Koi’s answer, with them in front of him. Feeling both an inexplicable burden and a surge of emotion, Koi nodded.

“Yes, I will.”

“Good.”

Ashley also nodded, then turned back to Bill. Koi stood there, watching their retreating backs.

They stopped some distance away and talked. Koi still couldn’t believe the current reality.

I’m not dreaming, am I? Left awkwardly alone, Koi idly kicked the ground, watched the rowdy kids, and fiddled with the back of his neck to pass the time.

How had Ash been doing all this time?

When Ashley was gone, there were so many things he was curious about, but now that he was right in front of him, none of it mattered.

Ash is back.

Just as he was staring blankly at Ashley again, he turned his head and looked towards Koi. As their eyes met, a bright smile spread across Ashley’s face. For a moment, Koi felt his mind go blank.

Koi.

When he recalled his voice calling his name, Ashley turned his head.

Watching his profile as he started talking to Ariel again, Koi suddenly felt embarrassed and quickly turned his head away. His gaze naturally went to the kids who were engrossed in the car crash, diligently smashing the car.

Watching the car crash turn into a mess made him laugh. He had never been interested in something like this before. His heart, which had been filled with worry and anxiety about Ashley, felt so light, and seeing the chaotic mess made him laugh, probably because…

Koi subtly shifted his gaze to Ashley. The flames rising from the smashed car reflected on his face, coloring it red.

I like you.

Koi suddenly thought.

I like you, Ashley Dominique Miller.

His heart pounded faster than ever. The cheers of the children sounded distantly. Only one person filled his vision.

Only Ashley Miller.

Koi let out a trembling sigh and just stared at him blankly.

“Koi!”

Finally, Ashley finished talking and called his name, running towards him. He had only taken a few steps, but he was already standing right in front of Koi, and he continued.

“Did you wait long? Sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

Koi barely managed a smile. His chest was so full that words wouldn’t come easily.

What do I do?

He looked up at Ashley, his mind racing.

I feel like crying.

Ashley tilted his head and said.

“Koi?”

“Huh?”

When he answered as if possessed, Ashley gave a wry smile and awkwardly stroked his chin.

“No, you seem a little dazed… Are you okay?”

“Oh, yeah, mhm.”

Koi nodded in a daze. But to Ashley’s eyes, he still seemed out of it. To a puzzled Ashley, Koi opened his mouth.

“It’s just… I like you so much.”

“What?”

Ashley was surprised for a moment, then smiled brightly.

“Me too.”

And he was the first to hug Koi tightly.

“I love you, Koi. I missed you.”

Ashley’s faint heartbeat was heard near his ear. Koi hesitated, then carefully raised his arms and hugged him back. The warmth and solidness of his body filling his arms made the tears he had held back well up.

“Ash…”

When he called his name in a choked whisper, Ashley said, “Yeah,” and hugged Koi even tighter.

“I’m sorry I came late.”

“Hmph, hmph,” Koi finally began to sob softly. Ashley stood silently, holding Koi. The sound of the car being smashed and the children’s cheers echoed distantly.

They didn’t say anything as they drove to Ashley’s house in the Cayenne. However, just like before they parted, they held hands tightly throughout Ashley’s drive.

Koi had calmed down somewhat, but his heart was still pounding. He tried to force down his excited feelings and recalled his curiosities one by one. He had so much he wanted to hear from Ashley.

“You haven’t had dinner, have you?”

As always, Ashley asked as he parked the car in front of the garage. When Koi nodded in a daze, he let go of his hand first and got out of the car.

“Let’s eat first, then talk. Come on in.”

“Oh, yeah.”

Before he could feel any regret, he followed to get out of the car, when his eyes suddenly fell on the dolls in the back seat.

The dolls Koi had given him were sitting neatly in a row, buckled up, just as before. The sight made his nose tingle again. He hurriedly rubbed his tear-filled eyes and followed Ashley.

They didn’t say much until they finished eating.

Koi desperately suppressed the urge to speak first and focused on eating. Finally, after finishing their meal and sitting across from each other in the tearoom, Koi took a deep breath, ready to talk.

“You waited, didn’t you?”

Ashley smiled brightly as he placed the dessert cake and tea he had brought onto the tea table. Koi smiled back in a daze, feeling a strange sense of unease. The excitement he had felt earlier had disappeared, replaced by anxiety and nervousness.

Ashley’s expression as he looked at him wasn’t much different from before. He was much thinner and paler, but his smiling face was still gentle.

…But.

“Koi, what’s wrong?”

Ashley, sitting across from him, asked. He furrowed his brow in concern and looked at Koi’s face.

“What’s wrong? You don’t look good.”

Koi couldn’t answer immediately and just looked back at Ashley’s face. Tears welled up before he could even speak. Seeing Ashley’s eyes widen in surprise, Koi opened his mouth.

“…Ash.”

His breath scattered like a sob, and he took a deep breath before finally asking.

“Are you tired of me?”

“What? What are you suddenly talking about?”

Ashley reacted immediately. Seeing his visibly flustered expression, Koi couldn’t hold back and made a sound.

“But why…”

Before he could say the next words, he had to suppress his feelings first. Ashley saw resentment in his eyes for the first time. Koi took another breath and complained in a drained voice.

“You haven’t even kissed me once since you came back.”

For a moment, Ashley couldn’t answer. Silence fell between them. That reaction further solidified Koi’s “no way” feeling into certainty.

“…You’re going to say goodbye, aren’t you?”

Was it like this when he broke up with Ariel? Just as he recalled the sudden news of their breakup, Ashley suddenly stood up and pulled Koi’s arm. Ashley hugged Koi tightly, who had risen in a daze, and opened his mouth.

“How can you say something like that?”

How did I even get here?

He barely swallowed the rest of the words. His trembling voice and irregular breathing were certainly not a lie. But Koi understood even less.

“Then, why?”

“Koi.”

Ashley cut him off. He tightened his arms around Koi’s body, making Koi unconsciously contort his face.

“Don’t ever say that again. Break up? If you leave me, I’ll…”

Ashley’s voice was shaking wildly. Koi felt an unfamiliar shock from the fear and anxiety emanating from him. Then, as if exhaling, Ashley confessed.

“I’ll die.”

Koi couldn’t say anything. He just hesitantly raised his hands and hugged Ashley back. Ashley hugged him so tightly that his whole body ached, but he endured it.

“I won’t leave, Ash.”

His breath was constricted, and he barely managed to squeeze out the words as if straining his vocal cords.

“I won’t break up with you either.”

Ashley was silent, then nodded and hugged Koi even tighter. Koi finally felt his vision go black as if he was about to faint. Leaning against him, he closed his eyes and vaguely recalled.

What on earth happened, Ash?