Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 24

It was the first time. Koi was so nervous at the thought that Ashleigh had actually called him, and he asked again.

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you asleep yet?”

His face flushed hot at his own unnaturally high-pitched voice. To Koi, who hung his head in embarrassment, Ashleigh said.

• I’m about to sleep. …Just wanted to make sure you got home safely.

The latter part came out after a slight pause. Koi, completely oblivious to that subtle gap, replied in an excited voice.

“Yeah, I got home safely. I’m right outside my house now.”

• Outside your house?

“Yeah.”

When Ashleigh asked again, Koi told the truth.

“My dad’s been drinking, so I can’t go in right now. It’s okay, he’ll fall asleep soon. It’s not even that cold.”

It was a lie. His shoulders shivered involuntarily in the cool night breeze. The warmth from cycling had long since dissipated, leaving only the cold night air.

• What?

Oops.

Koi flinched at Ashleigh’s repeated question. This is bad, Ashleigh’s suspicious. Koi quickly tried to salvage the situation.

“No, it’s just that when my dad drinks, he always grabs me and rambles on, he just keeps talking. It’s annoying because I have to listen to it.”

• But being out on the street…

“It’s okay, it’s okay. I’ll go in soon. Don’t worry.”

He didn’t want Ashleigh to find out that he was even beaten by his father. Koi struggled to lie.

I need to change the subject.

Koi quickly changed the subject.

“Thank you so much today, Ash. I’ll never have such a wonderful dinner again. The sunset was amazing, and the dinner was delicious.”

And you were there too.

His face flushed immediately. Koi quickly stroked his burning cheeks.

• That’s wrong, Koi.

Ashleigh flatly denied what he had said with sincerity. To the startled Koi, Ashleigh continued.

• You’ll have countless wonderful days ahead. Next year, the year after, and the year after that.

But you won’t be there.

Koi’s mind became complicated. Ashleigh’s words comforted him so warmly, but the thought that Ashleigh wouldn’t be there made him sad again.

“…Thank you, Ash.”

When he whispered softly, Ashleigh said nothing. Koi fumbled for something to say, but after a long silence, Ashleigh opened his mouth.

• When will that limited edition doll be available again?

“Huh? The doll?”

Koi asked, puzzled, then belatedly realized, “Ah.”

“That series?”

Koi quickly blinked, trying to recall.

“Well, next week or so…? I don’t know exactly. Sorry.”

When he spoke honestly, Ashleigh readily said.

• Let me know when it comes in again. I’ll go buy it.

At that moment, Koi’s ears perked up.

“Really? You’ll come? To the store where I work?”

To his series of questions, Ashleigh replied with a chuckle in his voice.

• Yeah.

At that moment, Koi suddenly heard fireworks exploding in his ears. Realizing it was the sound of his own pounding heart, Koi squeezed his eyes shut.

“…Good!”

The words burst out as if he was exhaling a blocked breath.

Ah!

He was startled and immediately covered his mouth with his hand. What did I just say? Koi quickly blinked, but his mind went blank.

“Uh, um, that.”

He tried to salvage it, opening his mouth, but the words wouldn’t come out properly, and he kept stammering, then quickly added.

“We’re, we’re friends. Right?”

After a pause, Ashleigh replied.

• That’s right.

Phew, Koi let out a small sigh. Ashleigh continued casually.

• Then Koi, see you next time.

“Yeah, see you again. Thank you so much today.”

When he thanked him one more time, Ashleigh responded.

• Me too. Thanks for bringing the medicine.

“Yeah.”

Koi’s cheeks flushed with a sense of pride, and he smiled contentedly. He didn’t want to hang up. He wanted to talk to Ashleigh more, but he knew he couldn’t. Filled with regret, Koi said.

“Um, then…”

As his voice trailed off, Ashleigh ended the call first.

• Right, good night.

“Good night.”

Koi held his breath and listened quietly. Ashleigh didn’t hang up immediately. They seemed to be waiting for each other to hang up, just breathing softly. Then Ashleigh ended the call from his end first. Koi remained motionless for a few more seconds, then softly opened his mouth.

“Um, Ash…?”

He whispered softly, his voice heavy. There was no answer. The call was indeed disconnected. Phew, Koi sighed and lowered the hand holding his cell phone. His cheeks were still burning.

Haaah.

He took a deep breath to calm his trembling heart. As he inhaled for the second time, the phone rang again. Startled, he answered, and an unexpected voice came from the other end.

• Koi?

“A-Ash?”

He said it in surprise, without thinking, then quickly checked his cell phone. The caller was definitely Ashleigh. He put the phone back to his ear, and from the other end, he heard a clearing of the throat, followed by Ashleigh’s voice.

• If you don’t have anything planned tomorrow, want to come over?

“To your house?”

Koi asked unconsciously, then his eyes widened in surprise.

“You’re inviting me over? To your house? Again?”

• Yeah.

Ashleigh replied readily and added a question.

• Do you have a part-time job?

“Uh, huh?”

Koi stammered in embarrassment. Of course, he did. But it was unthinkable to miss such an opportunity for such a trivial reason, especially when Ashleigh had invited him.

I’ll find a way to go, no matter what!

Koi quickly thought of a way to visit Ashleigh’s house and replied, “Yeah.”

“I do, but I can go after it’s over.”

When he answered quickly, Ashleigh said with a chuckle in his voice.

• Good, then I’ll see you tomorrow. Around evening?

“Oh? Oh.”

Tomorrow was a full day of part-time work. But Koi quickly nodded.

“I-I’ll go before evening.”

• Okay. Good night, bye.

Ashleigh said softly, then chuckled briefly and added.

• This time, it’s really goodbye.

“Okay.”

Koi replied, but secretly, he was passionately shouting, ‘You can call again, ten, twenty more times!’ Ashleigh chuckled again, then hung up.

Koi looked intently at the disconnected call for a while. He waited with a fluttering heart, but this time, it didn’t ring again.

“Haa.”

Koi sighed with disappointment and looked up. Suddenly, the motorhome came into view. He quietly approached and listened, but no sound came from inside. Koi took a deep breath, then cautiously opened the door. The old door creaked ominously, and he flinched, hunching his shoulders.

He held his breath quietly, but no more sounds came. Koi carefully moved inside. As expected, his father was sprawled on the floor, snoring, fast asleep. Koi subtly stepped over the empty liquor bottles scattered next to him and tiptoed to his bed. He didn’t even dare to shower. Instead, he just quickly brushed his teeth and washed his face, then lay down on the bed.

I’ll shower as soon as Dad leaves.

Koi thought, closing his eyes. He couldn’t possibly meet Ashleigh in his dirty state, without having showered the day before. Since he couldn’t smell, there was also a non-negligible chance he might go to meet him without knowing he smelled bad.

Absolutely not.

Koi vowed to himself again and again. Holding his cell phone tightly, he tried to sleep, waiting for tomorrow to come quickly.

Pant, pant.

Koi gasped for breath, pedaling and pedaling. Today, he had confidently entered through the gate, but climbing the mountain was no different.

Seeing the sports car speed past him, as if showing off, Koi pedaled diligently. It was definitely hard, yet it wasn’t hard. He just wanted to see Ashleigh as soon as possible. That was all that was on Koi’s mind.

Finally, the mansion he longed for began to appear in the distance. Koi couldn’t hide his overwhelming emotion. Just a little more, just a little more.

When he finally reached the front door, Koi felt like he might collapse right there, so out of breath he was.

Pant, pant.

He clutched his chest and stood there, just gasping for breath. Suddenly, the front door burst open, and someone came out from inside.

“Koi.”

He lifted his head, his shoulders heaving, and through his blurry vision, the face he had longed for appeared. The pain in his chest vanished, replaced by an immense joy.

“Ash.”

Koi smiled brightly, his heart filled with happiness. Ashleigh also smiled, looking at him.

“Welcome.”

“Yeah.”

Koi nodded.

“I missed you.”

It had only been one day, but his heart felt like it was burning. How much he had missed him, and yet these were the only words he had to express it. He felt a sense of regret, but then Ashleigh said.

“Me too.”

The moment he heard those words, Koi’s regret flew far away.