Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 113

As they drove towards Koi’s house in Ashley’s car, they didn’t talk much.

However, just like before, Ashley held the steering wheel with one hand and Koi’s hand tightly with the other. For Koi, that was enough.

He had no idea what had happened to Ashley, but it was clear that he had changed somehow. All Koi could do was watch and wait for Ashley to tell him.

Don’t be anxious.

He reassured himself and adjusted his grip on Ashley’s hand. Suddenly, Ashley intertwined their fingers and brought Koi’s hand to his mouth. After a soft kiss on the back of his hand, Ashley rubbed his lips against it once more, then let go of his hand, glanced at Koi, and smiled. Koi smiled back. Koi’s mind raced, trying to somehow regain their comfortable atmosphere.

“Oh, um, how was the East? I mean… it’s crowded and hectic there, right?”

He asked, recalling the image of the East he had only seen on screen. Ashley looked straight ahead and replied.

“It’s better here, the weather too.”

The conversation continued naturally. Koi asked, delighted.

“Is it very cold there?”

“It snows a lot.”

Ashley smiled again.

“You wouldn’t be able to go outside if you were there.”

“Because of the snow?”

How much did it pile up? To Koi, who was imagining pictures of Russian streets with snow piled as high as a person, Ashley said casually.

“No, because I wouldn’t let you out.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Koi couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Ashley also laughed, and soon a comfortable atmosphere returned.

“What’s your daily routine there? Like, do you queue up for coffee in the morning?”

To Koi, who was revealing his full romanticized view of the East, Ashley thought for a moment, then replied.

“Nothing special.”

“Huh?”

When Koi asked, Ashley, who had spoken indifferently, now explained seriously.

“Really. You just eat bagels in the morning and steak in the evening, that’s all.”

“You just eat?”

“Well, if you’re bored, you honk your horn.”

“Honk?”

Ashley nodded.

“People there don’t take their hands off the horn.”

Koi thought it must be an exaggeration, but he still couldn’t imagine it.

The West, where they lived, was always laid-back, and it was rare for anyone to honk if a car didn’t move when the light changed. Thinking about their daily lives, where cars often switched lanes or waited until the light turned red again, he wondered what kind of place it was, feeling curious and amazed.

“Um, how were your parents? Did you get along well?”

He asked without much thought. It was a natural question, as that was why Ashley had gone there. But at that moment, Ashley’s hand on the steering wheel tightened, and he felt the grip on Koi’s hand also increase.

Koi was momentarily flustered by the sudden situation, but then the car stopped at a traffic light. Only then did Koi let out a sigh of relief, “Ah.” He must have done that while driving. Ashley’s hand quickly relaxed, and he calmly replied.

“So-so.”

“I see. You must have been happy to see them after a long time.”

Ashley was silent for a moment. Seeing him alternately checking both sides of the road, Koi just thought he was paying attention to the traffic light. Ashley deliberately scanned the empty road before looking straight ahead again and speaking.

“My father found out I was present, so he called me to get tested. I needed that too. …While I was there, I also visited a few universities and then came back.”

“Universities?”

His hazy mind suddenly cleared. Koi felt as if he had been having a pleasant dream and was suddenly pulled back to reality by his ankle. A fact he had completely forgotten came to mind.

“You said you were going to university in the East…”

Koi murmured softly, as if talking to himself. He’s really leaving. Thinking that, the remaining time felt unbelievably short. Ashley asked Koi, who was momentarily dazed.

“Koi, what happened to you saying you’d take the university entrance exam again?”

“Huh? Oh…”

Koi belatedly came to his senses and stammered. Seeing his reaction, Ashley soon smiled nonchalantly and said.

“It’s okay, we can just meet again next time. There’s still time. You applied, right? If not, let’s do it together. I’ll take you to the test center this time. We can go on a date afterward, right?”

“Oh, yeah.”

Koi hesitated, then started to speak, “Um…”

“Actually… I did well. So I don’t need to take it again.”

“Really? How well?”

Koi blushed, burying his face, and answered in a tiny voice.

“…Same.”

“What?”

Ashley asked again. Koi mustered his courage, swallowed his embarrassment, and whispered in a mosquito-like voice.

“The same as you. My score.”

“…Ah.”

Only then did Ashley break into a bright smile, releasing Koi’s hand and instead wrapping his arm around his shoulder, pulling him close.

“You did great, Koi. Really great! I knew it, you’re my boyfriend after all!”

Koi’s heart also brightened with the cheerful laughter. Hearing his unchanging laugh, he finally felt like he had truly returned.

Koi, who had also pulled Ashley’s neck closer, bravely kissed him. It was just a soft baby kiss, but then Ashley smiled, took the back of his head, and kissed his lips again.

Koi unconsciously let out a small gasp and closed his eyes. His heart pounded wildly, and his fingertips tingled. The breath entering his mouth and the thick tongue completely overwhelmed his senses.

Ash.

He wanted to say his name, but the tongue that licked inside his mouth immediately rubbed against his fluttering tongue, preventing him from making a sound. Koi, unable to control his trembling body, just hugged Ashley’s neck tightly.

The tongue that had wrapped around Koi’s tongue and pulled it towards him re-entered his mouth. They were completely engrossed in the kiss. Immersed in each other’s warmth and heat, they couldn’t think of anything else.

“…Ha.”

When their lips parted, Koi unconsciously let out the breath he had been holding. Ashley was also breathing heavily. For a while, they just looked at each other, breathing, when Ashley was the first to give a bitter smile.

“I wish we weren’t in the car.”

“Yeah.”

Koi nodded, then looked up at him.

“…I missed you, Ash.”

When he spoke with sincerity, Ashley looked at him for a moment, then opened his mouth.

“…Me too.”

Ashley whispered in a low voice.

“I did too.”

Having finished speaking, he tilted his head again. Before their lips met, Koi closed his eyes. The soft touch and warm sensation once again reminded him that this was real. Suddenly, he felt like crying.

“What’s wrong, Koi?”

Ashley pulled away from his lips and asked, hearing a sudden, sobbing breath. Koi forced a smile and replied.

“We… kissed for the first time since we met again.”

Ashley was silent for a moment. Koi emphasized once more, seeing his dazed face, as if he had been shocked.

“The first time since we met again.”

“…I see.”

Ashley paused, then spoke.

“You’re right.”

Their lips met again. Koi happily closed his eyes and opened his mouth. Every time their tongues softly touched, a sigh of relief naturally escaped him.

It’s true.

His heart, overflowing once more, pounded against his chest.

Ash really came back.

By the time they finally stopped kissing, the traffic light had already changed several times. Ashley laughed when he saw the car behind them change lanes and speed off.

Finally starting the car, he held Koi’s hand with one hand, just as before. Koi also gripped his hand tightly, their fingers intertwined. The atmosphere was incomparably different from before. Koi spoke casually, as he used to.

“Which school are you going to? The same one as your father?”

He asked, recalling what Ashley had said, tracing his old memories. Ashley nodded briefly.

“Probably.”

The target university Ashley then mentioned was exactly the one Koi had expected.

“I thought it might be there since you said you were going to be a lawyer.”

At that, Ashley furrowed his brows in thought and then asked, puzzled.

“…Did I say that?”

“You did, the first time we met for the assignment.”

Feeling somehow proud, Koi puffed out his chest and said.

“You might not remember, but I remember everything.”

At that, Ashley’s eyes widened in admiration, and Koi confidently lifted his head. Seeing that, Ashley asked cautiously.

“You weren’t really my stalker, were you?”

“No, I told you I wasn’t!”

If he hadn’t been driving, he would have hit his arm or somewhere without hurting him, but he couldn’t. Instead, Koi pouted with a reddened face.

“I just have a good memory.”

“I know, I know.”

Ashley laughed out loud again this time. Koi blushed again and puffed out his cheeks, realizing he was teasing him. Ashley lifted Koi’s hand, which he was holding, kissed the back of it with a soft sound, and then asked.

“You? Where do you want to go?”

At the immediate, practical question, Koi couldn’t answer right away and lowered his head.

“I just…”

He paused for a moment, searching for the right words, then put on a light tone and replied.

“I don’t know yet.”

“Really?”

He secretly watched him nervously, but fortunately, Ashley passed it off casually.

“Well, it’s good to be careful,”

He felt relieved, but Ashley continued.

“It’s cool, Koi, to think about what you want to do.”

“Ah… yeah.”

He answered awkwardly, but Koi was secretly embarrassed. I’m sorry, Ash, it’s not for such a cool reason. I’m just ready to cry tears of gratitude and run anywhere that offers a scholarship.

Of course, he couldn’t tell the truth.

Before he knew it, the car stopped on the roadside where he always dropped Koi off.

“Thanks for the ride, Ash.”

Koi, who had gotten out of the car and was standing on the sidewalk, waited for Ashley to take his bicycle out of the trunk, then spoke.

“It would be nice if you could walk me home, but…”

Ashley trailed off with a bitter smile. Of course, he thought they would part ways here, as they always had. But Koi decided to be brave today and take one more step forward.

“Um, …kay.”

His voice cracked, perhaps from nervousness, and he quickly cleared his throat. After calming his breath, Koi finally looked up at Ashley and spoke.

“It’s okay. You can walk me home.”

Ashley, who had been silently waiting for his words, slowly widened his eyes. Seeing his reaction, Koi quickly added, embarrassed.

“Don’t be disappointed when you see it. Whatever you imagine, it’ll be less than that.”

“Alright.”

Ashley readily nodded. Did he really understand? Koi felt doubtful, but Ashley readily slung the bicycle over one shoulder and extended his other hand to Koi. Koi looked back and forth between his face and hand, then smiled and took his hand.

It’s okay.

As they walked together, he thought.

It’ll be okay, us.