Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 15

“Ashley!”

Ashley instinctively embraced his girlfriend, who rushed towards him as soon as she saw his face. It had been ten days since he had seen her. After several kisses, Ariel finally spoke.

“You have no idea how much I missed you. I couldn’t even sleep properly last night. Well, Dad…”

Ashley let Ariel’s familiar complaints about her parents flow in one ear and out the other. This kind of whining was common among his ice hockey team members too. Ashley knew well that such grumbling often stemmed from affection for their families. He, on the other hand, had nothing to say about his own parents and held no complaints.

Of course, his parents provided him with everything materially. He might even be considered ungrateful if he complained. Ashley had no complaints about them, but he also didn’t have any particular attachment. Because of that, he sometimes felt a little strange when his friends complained about their parents in this way.

It was the same this time. Ariel’s words, detailing how old-fashioned her father was, were also full of affection for him.

“Oh my, what’s this?”

Ariel, who was about to casually go back and sit in the passenger seat, exclaimed. Ashley, who was about to get into the driver’s seat, paused. In the meantime, Ariel had already sat in the passenger seat, picked up the doll that was there, and was examining it.

“Where did you get this? Oh my, it’s really ugly.”

Ariel burst into laughter, then tossed it aside carelessly. Ashley, who had unconsciously followed its trajectory with his gaze, stared at the doll thrown onto the back seat. Ariel, completely oblivious to his mood, buckled her seatbelt and asked,

“Where do you want to go today? Your place is fine too.”

“Okay.”

Ashley readily said, then started the car. Ariel opened the car window, stuck her head out, and cheered loudly as the wind blew against her. Ashley joked and laughed with Ariel as usual. Everything was no different from before.

“Waaah!”

Ariel got out of the car, shouted excitedly, and immediately ran towards the swimming pool. Ashley, who had followed her out of the driver’s seat, was about to follow her but suddenly stopped.

At the edge of his vision, the ugly doll lay neglected. He looked at it for a moment, then opened the car door, carefully placed the doll on the back seat, and buckled its seatbelt.

Seeing the ugly doll comfortably occupying its seat, he somehow felt lighter, and he unconsciously whistled as he walked away.

“Woohoo!”

Bill cheered and jumped into the water. Splashes of water flew everywhere, and screams erupted from various directions. Splutter, Bill surfaced, exhaled the breath he had been holding, and vigorously shook his head.

“Stop it, you crazy bastard!”

“Eek! I said stop!”

Screams mixed with laughter erupted from around them. His girlfriend, who had been sunbathing on a mat tube, handed him the drink she was holding, and Bill eagerly gulped it down.

“Ah, good.”

With an involuntary sigh, he tilted his head back and swam towards the owner of the mansion, who was lying stretched out on a beach chair.

“Ash, aren’t you coming in?”

“I’m good.”

Ashley, still lying down, raised one hand to decline. The mansion was boisterous. Before the vacation ended, the ice hockey team members, including their girlfriends, had flocked over and were having a blast. The mansion, where Ash lived alone without his parents, was enormous, with a swimming pool and tennis courts, and the refrigerator was always full of food and drinks, making it the perfect place for a vacation.

“Ah, vacation’s ending like this.”

Another guy sat on the beach chair next to Ashley and sighed. Soon, the topic changed to college applications.

Most of them had taken their college entrance exams before the vacation, and planned to finish them by the time they became 12th graders at the latest. Because once they became seniors, the full-fledged college admissions process would begin, and they wouldn’t have any time to take exams.

“This is our last season.”

At someone’s words, Ash also agreed, “That’s right.” Bill raised the root beer can he was drinking and said,

“To Buffalo’s victory!”

Everyone cheered and emptied the drinks they were holding. It was when Ashley, who had also finished all his cola, leaving only ice, put down his empty glass.

“Ash, the fridge is empty!”

Someone shouted and walked out of the mansion. Ashley, who had risen from the beach chair, pushed his sunglasses onto his forehead.

“Empty? Completely?”

“This is all that’s left.”

He pointed his chin at the cans of drinks he held in both arms, as if to show off. Ashley sighed and stood up.

“Alright.”

“Let’s go together, Ash!”

Ariel, who had been lying on a beach chair over there, shouted. Ashley waved his hand.

“It’s fine, I’ll go alone.”

He left his boisterous friends behind and readily headed to the garage. Only after getting into the seat did he realize he was only wearing loose surfer trunks, but it didn’t matter much. He just needed to buy some drinks nearby.

Thinking that, he left the mansion and, while waiting at a traffic light, suddenly changed his mind and turned the steering wheel.

“So why don’t you have it, you fucking bastard!”

Koi nervously tried to calm the customer, who was completely drunk and cursing.

“I’m sorry, the item hasn’t come in yet… I’ll make sure to have it next time, so…”

Koi apologized profusely, but the irrational man wouldn’t listen to him. Finally, he violently pushed Koi.

“You bastard, do you think I’m a joke?”

“Ah!”

Koi stumbled and ended up falling on his butt. Following that, the man slapped him hard on the cheek. Before he could even regain his senses, the hand flew, and Koi’s vision blurred again.

“Ah, ugh…”

The man cursed again and swung his fist at Koi, who was sitting on the ground, clutching his aching cheek and groaning, but he was too drunk to land a proper hit.

“Cough, spit!”

The man punched the air and vented his anger alone, then left the store. Finally alone, Koi staggered to his feet, then grimaced. One of his ears rang. His throbbing cheek would probably be swollen tomorrow.

He felt a little like crying but held it back and instead took a deep breath. There was no time to cry.

As he walked around the store, tidying up the inventory, the tinkling of the bell rang out. Koi, who had unconsciously turned his head, soon opened his eyes wide.

“Oh.”

Ashley, who had uttered the exclamation Koi was about to make, stopped in his tracks. Koi stood there blankly, then belatedly remembered to smile brightly. But it was only in his mind.

“Ow!”

His throbbing cheek hurt, and he unconsciously let out a short yelp, and Ashley immediately approached him.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

Koi, who had unconsciously clutched his cheek, looked up at Ashley, who was now standing in front of him, and stammered.

“Uh, no, it’s just…”

Koi hesitated, then replied.

“There was a bit of an incident.”

“Looks like you got hit?”

Ashley never beat around the bush. Stung by the direct hit, Koi avoided his gaze and mumbled softly.

“It was just… a drunk customer being a bit unruly. That’s all.”

“What…”

“But what brings you here? Did you come to buy something?”

Before the conversation could drag on, Koi asked first. At his suddenly brightened voice, Ashley suddenly recalled his face from the last time he saw him. Both his sparkling eyes and his voice full of happiness were the same. Except for one cheek, which was red and swollen.

“What on earth…”

Ashley was about to say more but stopped. Koi clearly wouldn’t want to talk about this anymore. In fact, it wasn’t his place to say anything anyway. He had just come to buy some missing drinks.

When he thought that far, Koi’s figure suddenly entered Ashley’s sight. Wearing a dirty, crumpled uniform, with clear marks of being hit on his cheek, he looked incredibly shabby and insignificant.

“…Where are the drinks?”

“Huh? Oh, this way.”

Koi hastily opened the refrigerator door and asked.

“What would you like? How much do you need?”

Ashley, who was about to casually take out a drink, paused. If this refrigerator was empty, Koi would have to refill it again. Thinking that, he subtly lowered his hand and said,

“I’m taking it by the box. Where is it?”

“Oh?”

Koi blinked and asked.

“It won’t be very cold, is that okay?”

“It’s fine.”

Ashley replied as casually as possible.

“I drink it with ice.”

“Haha, ow.”

Koi tried to giggle at the not-so-funny joke but quickly grimaced.

“Just a moment, I’ll get it right away. What do you prefer?”

At Koi’s question, Ashley answered vaguely.

“Anything.”

“Okay.”

Ashley immediately followed his retreating back. Koi opened the door to the back of the store, looked around at the stacked drinks, and then chose mango cola.

“Oh.”

Just as he was about to lift a box full of cans, a long arm suddenly reached out from behind and took it. When a startled Koi turned around, Ashley was standing right behind him. That wasn’t the end of it. Ashley took out three more boxes of mango cola and came outside. Koi, who had been staring blankly, belatedly followed him out and asked,

“Is that enough?”

“Yeah, check me out.”

Ashley placed the boxes on the counter and handed over his card. Koi, inserting the card into the machine, said,

“Looks like you’re having a party.”

“Well…”

Ashley mumbled evasively. Seeing Koi working, even with a bruised cheek, he felt a strange sense of guilt for being there only in surfer trunks.

Why does this guy look so pathetic every time I see him?

Ashley felt a bitter feeling and looked down at Koi’s head, who was waiting for the receipt. His thick hair looked soft. He was staring at it when Koi suddenly lifted his head. Their eyes met for a moment, and Ashley flinched unnecessarily. Koi’s eyes crinkled as he smiled.

“Sounds fun. Have a great time!”

“Oh, yeah.”

Ashley nodded vaguely, held his card, and picked up the boxes. He tucked two under one arm and was about to carry one with his other hand when Koi suddenly picked up the remaining one.

“I’ll take it for you.”

“It’s fine.”

“No, I’m fine.”

Koi tried to smile again but grimaced. Even after repeating the same experience several times, he kept making the same mistake. Ashley felt sorry for him, but also somehow found it amusing. Every time Koi tried to smile, then said “Ow” and realized his mistake, his face would frown, but his ears would still twitch, conveying his overflowing joy.

“…Do you like me that much?”

Ashley unconsciously asked, and Koi’s eyes widened. He couldn’t answer, but his expression clearly gave away the answer. Seeing that, Ashley couldn’t help but smile.

Oh.

Koi looked on in surprise as Ashley raised his empty hand and stroked his head. Koi was dazed and lost in thought, looking at his gently smiling face. His large hand on his head felt so pleasant, his gaze towards him was incredibly warm, and most of all, the smiling face looking at Koi made his heart flutter completely.

Ashley suddenly narrowed his eyes. Still with a relaxed smile, he lowered the hand that had been stroking his head and cupped Koi’s cheek.

Thump, his heart seemed to pound. The slow thumping echoed in his ears. Koi was looking at Ashley without even blinking. He wanted to capture him in his sight for a little longer, a little more.

Even the warmth of the hand on his cheek and the thumping of his desperately pounding heart.

Ting, a faint bell sound came from behind. The magic was broken. Koi had to go back to the store, and it was time for Ashley to return to his world. Koi whispered reluctantly.

“…Bye, Ash.”

When he finally managed to speak, Ashley also said,

“Bye, Koi.”

His hand left Koi’s cheek after that. Koi felt a hollowness in a corner of his heart as he watched Ashley’s hand move away from him.

“Go on in.”

Ashley said, opening the back seat door. Seeing him place the two boxes he was holding in the back seat, Koi hastily offered the box he was holding.

“Thank you.”

Koi watched Ashley take the box from him and stack it in the back seat, then he gasped in surprise.

“Elephink!”

“Elephink?”

Ashley looked back in confusion, and Koi pointed to the doll, which was securely buckled in the back seat, and said,

“This doll, I gave it to you, right?”

“Oh, yeah.”

Ashley, who had nodded, belatedly frowned.

“Elephink?”

“Yes.”

Koi replied, looking up at him with sparkling eyes.

“Since it’s a pink elephant, elephant, pink, Elephink.”

When did he name it?

Ashley suddenly thought, but there was something even more shocking.

“This, was it an elephant?”