Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 142

The chaotic atmosphere inside the detention cell turned quiet. The guys who had been murmuring and glancing at Nelson looked at each other, puzzled. “Connor Niles?”, “Who’s that?”, Koi heard the faint voices and involuntarily swallowed dryly.

The police officer had undoubtedly called his name. The gaze fixed on Koi was also the same. From behind, he heard Nelson blinking in confusion and muttering,

“Connor Niles? Who’s that…?”

It was a voice that clearly conveyed bewilderment, but it didn’t quite register with Koi. His gaze was fixed solely on one spot. Just as the other’s were.

Ashley came for me.

He couldn’t believe it. He had never imagined they would meet again in such a place, in such a way. Moreover, amidst so many people, Ashley found Koi at once. It was an undeniable fact. Ashley’s gaze, having spotted Koi before the police, had been fixed on him all along.

Even though I’ve changed so much.

Suddenly, a forgotten memory resurfaced in Koi’s mind. A small gasp escaped his lips.

It was the same before. Ashley always found him immediately. No matter how many people gathered, even when Koi, who was shorter than average, was buried among the crowd, he would easily spot Koi, approach him, and offer his hand.

And, even now, still unchangingly.

Realizing this, his nose stung, and he hastily inhaled. The police officer called his name again. Only then did Koi awkwardly stand up and answer,

“Yes, yes.”

Even though it was nothing special to say, he felt somehow embarrassed, and his face flushed.

“I… it’s me.”

A hoarse voice unexpectedly came out, and he hastily cleared his throat. The police officer gestured for him to come out, and Koi quickly moved, taking steps. Everyone’s gaze was focused on him. Nelson’s blank stare, too.

“Uh… huh?”

A stupid gasp seemed to come from behind him, and then Nelson suddenly shouted,

“Wait, what? Who? Connor Niles? That loser?”

At his rough voice, the other guys looked at him, bewildered. As if asking what on earth he was talking about.

“What? What’s wrong?”

“What happened? Are you, by any chance, acquainted with that person?”

As questions poured in from all sides, Nelson suddenly tore at his hair and yelled,

“You, are you really that guy? That idiotic loser Connor Niles? Damn it, is it really true?”

He pulled frantically at the few remaining strands of hair, then belatedly seemed to come to his senses, hastily removing his hands and instead pointing at Koi.

“That bastard is the pathetic jerk I used to boss around in high school. He was the guy I beat up day in and day out, do you know how much of a loser he was? Hey, Koi! Get over here. What are you just standing there for? Hurry up and come here, put your head down right now! Aren’t you going to listen quickly? Do you want another beating? I’ll just, ugh!”

He instantly reverted to his old self. The high school student who used to spit at Koi and kick him mercilessly.

It wasn’t just Nelson who had gone back in time. Koi was the same. In an instant, he became the small, insignificant Connor Niles. Even though he was now taller than Nelson and had much more hair, for some reason, Koi was terrified.

The fortunate thing was that he didn’t prostrate himself as he used to at Nelson’s command. It was only because his body was frozen that he couldn’t, but the result was the same.

Ashley narrowed his eyes, watching Koi stand there awkwardly, unsure of what to do. Slowly, his lips parted, and for the first time since they reunited, Koi heard his voice.

“Koi, come out now.”

His voice was even lower and deeper than before. The resonant, thick voice sent a shiver down his spine. Koi hesitated, then turned his head, and their eyes met immediately. Ashley remained standing there, hands still in his coat pockets, and commanded,

“Come out, now.”

Come to me.

Somehow, Koi felt as if he had heard another, hidden voice from him. Don’t worry, it’s okay. Ashley was saying. Just like before, exactly the same.

As if possessed, Koi slowly moved his feet. In an instant, everything around him seemed to disappear. Only Ashley and himself remained. Ashley running towards him after the game, his brightly smiling face, his passionately poured kisses.

“I like you, Koi.”

The voice echoed like a hallucination. His flushed cheeks, his ragged breaths, everything felt as vivid as if it were happening right before his eyes.

“Let’s go out.”

As the memory of that day, when he had dropped a bombshell with an excited voice, vividly resurfaced, reality suddenly caught up with Koi.

Ashley wasn’t smiling at all. He wasn’t breathing heavily, nor was his face flushed. He was just looking down at Koi with a cold expression. The moment their cool, purple eyes met, Koi returned to reality. And at the same time, he heard the sound of the door closing behind him. The police officer had closed the detention cell door and locked it with a key.

Only then did the sounds begin to register one by one. Behind him, Nelson was screaming furiously. It was a jumble of curses, blaming Ashley, and disparaging and insulting Koi.

Because of me, even Ash is getting cursed at.

Thinking that, Koi couldn’t lift his face due to guilt. Ashley, who had glanced down at him, opened his mouth.

“Go out first.”

“Huh?”

Koi, who had inadvertently looked up at the low voice, nodded in a daze when his eyes met Ashley’s. Soon after, seeing Ashley approach the police officer and say something, Koi hastily left the spot as instructed. His heart belatedly began to pound.

Ash.

As he stood in front of the police station, catching his breath, reality gradually began to sink in. The cold air sobered his mind. Then, an overwhelming emotion welled up.

I really met Ash.

He couldn’t help but take a deep breath and exhale loudly. It was then that he heard the sound of the door opening behind him. Koi turned his head and froze.

Ashley, who had come out of the police station, lowered his gaze. Koi involuntarily swallowed dryly as he faced him again.

He had already seen him once inside the detention cell, but facing him this close, he felt a different sensation. Ariel had said Ashley had changed, but Koi thought differently. His sleek, high nose bridge and wide, thick lower lip, as well as his strong jawline, firm shoulders leading to a narrow waist, and endlessly long legs—he was exactly as he used to be. However, unlike then, when he still had a youthful air, Ashley was now a complete man. In person, he looked even more like Dominique Miller. Perhaps that was because Ashley’s youthful appearance had completely vanished. Koi tried his best to find his old self in him and spoke with difficulty.

“…Thank you for helping me.”

His voice cracked, and he hastily cleared his throat. So many things he wanted to say rushed in at once, and he didn’t know where to start.

What is Ash thinking right now?

He was curious, but he couldn’t read anything from his expressionless face. Koi rummaged through his busy mind and finally brought up a neutral topic.

“How did you recognize me? Everyone says I’ve changed a lot.”

Ashley frowned at Koi, who had managed a difficult smile. Koi’s heart instantly sank, and he froze. Ashley, who had scanned Koi once, fixed his gaze back on his face and spoke.

“You haven’t changed much.”

His voice, uttering a personal remark for the first time, was still low, but it was enough to reassure Koi.

“Oh, really?”

He stammered involuntarily out of relief, and Ashley gave a short nod.

“I recognized you at a glance.”

“Oh… I see. Haha.”

Koi let out an awkward laugh. It wasn’t the answer he expected, but at least the conversation was continuing. That was what mattered now.

“Nelson didn’t even recognize me. I mean, I’ve grown a lot.”