Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 16

“This, was it an elephant?”

“Oh… you didn’t know?”

Instead, Koi asked back, sounding surprised.

“Look, here, its trunk is long like this. And it has a tail like this too.”

Koi pointed with his finger and spoke, but Ashley still couldn’t understand. How on earth could he distinguish a trunk and a tail from that metaphysical shape?

But Koi was certain. Ashley opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it, and instead took a deep breath.

“…Let’s go inside.”

At Ashley’s words, Koi nodded, saying, “Okay.” Even as he turned his body to go back into the store, he kept looking back, as if regretful.

“Goodbye, come again, bye.”

After waving back to him, who was repeatedly saying goodbye and waving, Ashley sat in the driver’s seat. He felt that if he didn’t leave, Koi would remain there indefinitely. Ashley started the car without hesitation. Koi’s figure, looking back several times even as he walked towards the store, came into view through the rearview mirror. As soon as Ashley left the parking lot, he felt both relief and emptiness simultaneously.

It was a strange feeling.

“Have you ever felt like trash?”

At the sudden question, Bill asked back, sounding puzzled, from the other end of the phone.

• What’s this all of a sudden?

Ashley paused for a moment and then sighed.

“No, nothing.”

Bill, who had been waiting for an answer, chided him with a rough tone and continued.

• What was that, out of nowhere. More importantly, how about it? Can we go one more time before the new semester starts?

It seemed they had really enjoyed themselves when everyone gathered at Ashley’s house last time. His friends were looking for another opportunity. Of course, in the past, he would have gladly granted their wish. After all, it was better than being all alone in such a large mansion anyway.

But he wasn’t in the mood for that now. Ashley said gruffly.

“I’m busy.”

• What? What are you talking about all of a sudden?

Bill babbled on, flustered, but Ashley, annoyed, hung up the phone. The surroundings became quiet again. After lying on the bed for a while, he exhaled briefly and immediately got up. Today, a clear summer sky, without a single cloud, stretched out fully.

“Welcome!”

As soon as Koi saw Ashley, he shouted a joyful greeting. Every time he saw Koi welcoming him so enthusiastically with his whole body, Ashley felt strange. This time too, feeling that peculiar sensation, Ashley stepped into the store and greeted him as usual.

“Hello.”

“Hello!”

Koi, returning the same greeting to Ashley’s, was smiling so widely his mouth was practically at his ears. Seeing him like that, Ashley, as always, gave a wry smile.

“You’re always smiling whenever you see me. Are you that happy?”

Ashley asked, picking up something at random and placing it on the counter. He expected Koi to jump up and deny it with an “No!” or get flustered. But Koi opened his already wide mouth even wider and smiled brightly.

“Yes, of course. I like you so, so much.”

At the unexpected answer, it was Ashley who became embarrassed. Seeing Ashley’s eyes widen, Koi said.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? Who wouldn’t like Ashley?”

At the sound of his giggling, Ashley, uncharacteristically, felt shy and averted his gaze. Rarely, his cheeks flushed slightly. Koi, oblivious to his appearance, hummed as he processed the payment, then pulled something out from inside.

“This is a gift.”

“Again?”

Koi smiled and said to the hesitant Ashley.

“This one’s also a limited edition.”

Since giving him the ugly elephant—which he claimed was an elephant—doll, Koi had been giving Ashley gifts every now and then.

Ashley could clearly see that Koi was eager to give Ashley anything and everything. The problem was that he couldn’t refuse, even though he should have. It wasn’t as if he was usually bad at refusing. He had always been able to say “no” with a smile, but he couldn’t open his mouth to Koi.

The reason was Koi’s smiling face.

“Here, this is an anteater.”

Koi held out another unidentifiable doll, smiling brightly. The look on his face clearly showed how thrilled he was to be giving Ashley a gift. His flushed cheeks, shining eyes, wide mouth, and constantly twitching ears revealed all his emotions.

Of course, Ashley had tried to refuse the second time he received a doll. But the moment he saw Koi’s face turn pale, he had no choice but to take back his words. Thanks to that, the back seat of Ashley’s car was increasingly filled with ugly dolls.

Just don’t come here.

Ashley thought, accepting the strangely shaped doll with a reluctant feeling. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about this.

But regret was too late. Ashley was already at this store, facing Koi. And even buying unnecessary things.

“Why lettuce seeds? Are you going to plant them in your yard?”

At the question, as he put the items into a plastic bag, Ashley finally realized what the random item he had picked up was. Koi chattered, smiling brightly.

“It’s good to grow your own food. Sometimes I put soil in a paper cup and plant seeds there, and you wouldn’t believe how cute the sprouts are when they come out.”

“…A paper cup?”

When Ashley asked, Koi nodded, “Yeah.”

“Line them up like this.”

Koi proudly drew a line with his hand on the counter, his face beaming with pride. Until he checked Ashley’s expression looking at him.

Oops.

He realized belatedly that he had been too excited. In an instant, the confidence vanished from Koi’s flustered face, and his eyes wavered. He had let his guard down and made another mistake. Ashley must have been fed up with Koi’s pathetic hobby.

He had tried his best to hide that side of himself, but to make such a ridiculous mistake, his mind went blank.

“Um…”

Seeing Koi lower his head with a voice that faded without confidence, Ashley quickly snapped out of it. Oh no, Koi’s spirits are down.

“You plant lettuce too?”

Ashley quickly racked his brain and brought up a new topic. Koi subtly raised his head. Seeing his skeptical expression, Ashley forced a casual smile. It wasn’t difficult. He had always done it.

Sure enough, Koi’s face immediately brightened, and a blush returned.

“Yeah, I tried planting them once, but they didn’t grow well in paper cups. So now I’m growing dandelions.”

“…Dandelions?”

Ashley thought of the weeds that randomly took root by the roadside. Koi nodded and said.

“They grow well in any soil, you know.”

“That’s true.”

But no one would think of growing dandelions.

Ashley thought, but didn’t say it out loud. There was another reason why Koi decided to grow dandelions. It was a waste if the seeds died after he went to the trouble of buying them. He thought it was a great idea because he could save money and grow flowers at the same time, and he felt proud of himself.

“Is there a reason you have to grow something, even to that extent?”

At Ashley’s question, Koi hesitated for the first time.

“It’s just…”

It was a different reaction from being dispirited. Ashley waited for Koi’s words, who was looking down and mumbling.

“I just… wanted to see something alive.”

Ashley found his words difficult to understand.

Doesn’t he have a garden at home?

Many people live in apartments. Koi might be one of them, or there might be some other reason.

Ashley was curious but stopped himself from asking. They weren’t that close. At least, that’s what Ashley thought. And he wasn’t rude enough to pry into other people’s private lives.

Come to think of it, Koi asked me a lot of questions at first.

Ashley recalled a forgotten memory. They were all trivial questions that everyone knew, so he didn’t think much of it, but he vividly remembered how happy Koi was to hear them and how he listened intently. Perhaps it was that face that made him drop his guard and answer readily.

Would Koi answer anything if I asked him?

He suddenly became curious. A desire to test him welled up, but he suppressed it again. And he replayed the thought he had just had.

We’re not that close.

If he did that, the questions might come back to Ashley. He had no intention of revealing more about himself than what everyone already knew.