Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 149

After leaving the crowded road and driving for a long time on the outskirts, as the sun was setting, the car finally reached its destination. Feeling the shadows of the trees lining both sides of the road lengthen, Koi, who had been looking straight ahead, frowned at the blurry silhouette of a tall building rising above the trees. As he stared intently, the building, which gradually approached, had an unexpected appearance.

Ashley, who glanced at Koi, whose mouth had unconsciously fallen open, spoke.

“He bought a castle from France and moved it here. They say every single brick was transported.”

This is possible.

Koi still stared blankly at the approaching building. A French castle he had only seen in pictures was now actually before his eyes. When he got out of the car and looked up at the building, it didn’t just look like a replica; it had a somewhat old and worn feel to it. Koi confirmed the sign that stated it was indeed a 300-year-old castle that had been moved as Ashley said, and unconsciously swallowed dry.

How expensive would it be?

He sighed at his poor man’s mindset, unable to fully enjoy such a fascinating building, but he couldn’t change reality. Koi quickly recalled the cash he had brought in his mind, and though intimidated by the restaurant’s splendor, he secretly reaffirmed his resolve.

I’ve been saving money so desperately for this day. I don’t care if I lose all my assets today.

After taking a deep breath, Koi turned to Ashley. Ashley, who had handed the car keys to the valet, waited for Koi to slowly admire the castle from outside, then spoke.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

Koi firmly resolved himself and nodded. Before taking a step to follow Ashley, he took another deep breath, and then finally moved his feet.

Huh?

Koi, who had received the menu book, squeezed his eyes shut, then opened it with trembling hands, blinking in surprise.

Something’s strange.

He closed the menu book again and opened it, but it was the same. Koi, who had quickly found the price section, still blinked his wide eyes, checking the numbers repeatedly. Noticing his reaction, Ashley said in a quiet voice from across the table,

“It’s a members-only restaurant, so the prices aren’t expensive. But that doesn’t mean the quality of the food is low.”

Only then did Koi understand why he couldn’t even find a website, let alone information about the restaurant. Ashley smiled and asked Koi, who was looking at him with a blank, understanding expression,

“Did you think I was going to bankrupt you?”

“Oh, no, it’s not that.”

Koi shook his head, his face quickly flushing. He denied it, but he had nothing to say. Of course, Ashley wouldn’t do it on purpose, but he had thought it might turn out that way. Ashley probably couldn’t even imagine how poor Koi was. Unable to find any excuse, Koi instead gave an awkward smile.

“I thought it would be very expensive, but thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Shall I order? Or would you like a menu book in English?”

At his words, Koi looked down at the menu book, then back at Ashley.

“You order. I’ll have the same as you.”

He wouldn’t understand it anyway, even if it was in English. Koi knew nothing about French cuisine. Koi, who had been watching Ashley call a waiter and order in fluent French, opened his mouth again when they were alone after Ashley finished ordering.

“When did you learn French?”

“When I was little. My father made me.”

“I see…”

Just as he realized anew how far apart he and Ashley were, Ashley said,

“You’d be better at Spanish. Your scores were higher, weren’t they?”

He tried to boost his self-esteem with a gentle voice, but Koi hastily shook his head, throwing away the opportunity.

“Oh, no. I’ve forgotten everything… I’m not good at it now.”

Ashley looked at Koi without a word. An uncomfortable silence fell, and only then did Koi realize he had made a mistake. He was sweating profusely with embarrassment when Ashley ignored his blunder and spoke the words he had prepared.

“Next time we go for Spanish food, you can order.”

“Oh, yes. I will.”

He could certainly do that much. Koi, who had hastily nodded, belatedly widened his eyes.

“Are we… meeting again?”

In contrast to his insecure question, Ashley smiled and replied,

“Of course.”

Koi’s eyes widened even further. He had thought this would be the last time, and seeing Koi just blinking at the unbelievable reality, Ashley opened his mouth.

“We’re not children anymore, Koi.”

He continued in a quiet voice.

“Yesterday, I actually made you quite flustered. I was also very confused by the sudden meeting and wasn’t feeling my usual self. The trial dragged on for quite a while. I had to prepare for the next thing right away.”

Koi, remembering the article about Ashley’s law firm winning a big case recently, quickly collected himself and listened to his words.

“I’ve been thinking, even if we had something in the past, it’s already been 10 years, right?”

“Yes.”

To Koi, who nodded hastily, Ashley said,

“Whatever our relationship was before, it’s all in the past, and there’s no reason we can’t start over now. Don’t you think?”

“Th-That’s right.”

Hope gradually grew in Koi’s heart. Seeing his face slowly brighten with a glimmer of expectation, Ashley added,

“Since you’ve come all this way, and if possible, I’d like to start anew. Of course, if you agree.”

“O-Of course. I want that too, naturally.”

Koi eagerly accepted his words. His chest felt like it would burst with anticipation. Could it be, perhaps…

Ash also…

“Koi.”

Had he been waiting?

Ashley smiled at Koi. Suddenly, Koi saw his much younger face superimposed on his current one.

<Koi.>

Ashley slowly opened his mouth. Koi felt everything as if he were watching a very slow-motion video.

<I like you.>

“We, now.”

Just as he felt like tears would well up at Ashley’s brightly smiling face, Ashley said,

“Shall we be friends?”

“…Huh?”

Koi still blinked with a blank, gaping expression. He didn’t immediately understand Ashley’s words. To him, who just uttered exclamations like a screw was loose, Ashley asked with a serious face,

“Koi, did you understand what I said?”

At Ashley’s action of leaning his upper body over the table and looking into his face, Koi belatedly came to his senses. Only then did he realize his misunderstanding, and Koi’s face flushed hot.

“Oh, I know. Friends, yes, let’s be friends.”

Koi, who had stammered hastily, added hesitantly,

“You mean we should be friends now…?”

As he asked, half in doubt, Ashley smiled again and leaned back comfortably in his chair.

“Yes, why not? We’re high school classmates, and even if we dated for a short while, that was 10 years ago.”

There was nothing wrong with his words at all. They fit together so perfectly that there was no room to find a flaw and attack.

“R-Right.”

Koi drew out his words unnecessarily and slowly nodded. Something felt strange in his heart, but he didn’t know what it was. What was I expecting from Ash? Confusion came amidst his bewilderment.

I thought I’d be satisfied just to meet him again, but was I perhaps expecting something else?

He should just be grateful that Ashley even offered to be friends, but he didn’t know what this feeling was now. Just as he wanted to hide somewhere, feeling shameless and ungrateful, a waiter arrived with the first dish and wine.

After placing the plate, he explained the food, but Koi couldn’t hear a word of it. He needed more time for the shock to subside.

The waiter left, and Ashley raised his wine glass towards Koi, who was still sitting blankly with a confused expression.

“Shall we toast, Koi?”

“Huh? Oh…”

Koi, who belatedly came to his senses, hastily picked up the wine glass in front of him. He instinctively grabbed the bowl, then quickly moved his hand to carefully hold the stem with tense fingers, looking at the glass Ashley was holding. Ashley, who had waited for Koi, opened his mouth.

“To our reunion.”

With a soft smile, he added,

“To friendship.”

Koi opened his mouth with difficulty and repeated Ashley’s words.

“To friendship.”

Ashley lightly raised his glass and brought the wine to his lips. Koi also carefully sipped the wine, but he couldn’t taste the wine, which was clearly expensive enough to make his eyes water.

Ashley has completely given up on me.

It was only natural. It had been over 10 years, hadn’t it? And all they had done was kiss.

As he hesitantly put down the glass, his eyes met Ashley’s across the table. Seeing his smiling face, a greater emptiness settled in Koi’s heart.