Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 30

“You only need me for the rest of your life.”

“Huh?”

Koi made a dazed sound. Ashley smiled again. He must be in a good mood if he keeps smiling like that. Koi thought, then tilted his head. What could have put him in such a good mood while he was in the cafeteria?

He thought, ‘The homecoming ticket?’ but then quickly dismissed it from his mind. He gave me the ticket to go with his girlfriend, so he wouldn’t say he’s going with me. That can’t be the reason. Did something happen with his girlfriend? Is that why he wants to go with me?

Then why did he come to buy homecoming party tickets in the first place? It doesn’t make any sense. What is it? I have no idea!

His mind completely tangled, Koi finally surrendered. He couldn’t understand anything Ashley was saying. The only thing he was sure of was that no matter what Ashley said, Koi would follow it all.

“Are you really going? With me? To the homecoming party?”

“Yes.”

Ashley said.

“I want to go with you.”

Those words made him happier than anything, but one thing bothered him.

“Do guys go together too?”

To Koi, who asked cautiously, Ashley asked back,

“You don’t want to go with me?”

“What? No, absolutely not!”

Koi jumped, waving his arms wildly. Ashley smiled again.

“Then it’s settled.”

“Uh… okay.”

It seemed like things had been decided somewhat haphazardly, but a decision had been made nonetheless. Koi still looked up at Ashley with a bewildered expression. Ashley also looked at him. More precisely, his gaze was fixed on Koi’s unconsciously parted lips.

I want to kiss him.

The urge was so strong that he had to clench his fists tightly. Hold on, Ashley Dominique Miller. Ashley admonished himself. You haven’t even confessed yet.

“Is this all that’s left?”

Ashley suddenly looked around and asked. Koi hastily followed him as he started walking.

“Oh, yeah. I just need to organize this much.”

“Alright, let’s finish it quickly.”

“What?”

To the surprised Koi, Ashley, who had already picked up a box, said,

“Let’s finish quickly and go, I’m starving to death.”

“No, um, but.”

Koi was flustered and at a loss.

“It’s my job, I can do it alone.”

“It’ll just be faster if we do it together. Let’s finish it quickly and go eat something.”

Ashley pointed to an empty spot and asked,

“Do I put it there?”

“Oh, yeah. That’s right, but…”

Before Koi could finish his sentence, Ashley pushed the box he was holding onto the shelf. What Koi had to grunt and climb onto a step stool to organize, Ashley handled with ease.

“Anything else?”

Ashley quickly turned around and asked, and Koi tried to stop him one more time.

“It’s really okay, Ash. This is my job, my volunteer hours.”

“Koi, I’m starving to death right now.”

Ashley said with a sigh.

“Let’s finish quickly and go. You haven’t had dinner either, have you? Isn’t that your dinner you brought?”

Ashley glanced over. To Koi, whose gaze also followed to the trash can where the moldy bread bag was, Ashley continued.

“Unless you’re planning to take that dinner out and eat it, let’s finish quickly and go. If we’re too late, there won’t be anything to eat but cheap hamburgers.”

Ashley’s will was firm. In the end, Koi couldn’t win against him and threw up his hands. As he organized the remaining items according to Koi’s instructions, Ashley occasionally looked over at Koi.

I can’t be sure that Koi feels the same way I do.

He felt his heart pounding wildly, yet he analyzed the situation as calmly as possible. Koi had told him he liked him many times before. But he shouldn’t misunderstand.

To Koi, I might just be a friend. A friend he likes an awful lot.

That was a very realistic assessment. Even if Koi felt the same way, it was uncertain whether Koi distinguished it from friendship. Of course, that was just an optimistic expectation. It wasn’t a very welcome conclusion, but Ashley admitted it.

I might have started a one-sided love.

“Thank you so much today, Ash.”

Koi thanked him sincerely. Ashley, who had taken Koi’s old bicycle out of the trunk and placed it on the sidewalk, looked at him and asked,

“Are you really okay? You don’t need me to walk you home?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just around that corner.”

Ashley looked reluctant, but he didn’t insist on walking him home. He knew very well when to back off and when to push forward. This was the time to back off.

“Alright, Koi. See you.”

When Ashley said goodbye first, Koi also waved.

“Bye, Ash. Drive safe.”

Although they had said goodbye, neither of them moved. Ashley noticed that Koi intended to go home only after he had left. If it had been an official date, Ashley would have walked Koi home, confirmed that the light in his room was on, and then started his car. But the time they spent together today wasn’t a date. He decided not to rush.

Ashley readily got into the car and started the engine, and Koi took a step back. As expected, Koi stood there until Ashley was far away.

After confirming that he could no longer see him in the rearview mirror, Ashley pulled the car over to the side of the road.

“Haaah…”

He let out a deep sigh and leaned his head on the steering wheel, finally releasing the built-up tension.

This feeling was new to him. Ariel wasn’t his first girlfriend, and he had experienced several relationships and breakups before. They all got along well, and there was excitement. They ended their relationships by mutual agreement, and they remained good memories.

However, this was the first time he had ever felt so on edge and nervous throughout their time together. It felt like every cell in his body was alive, trying to remember every single action and word of Koi’s. On top of that, he had to desperately try to suppress his constant urge to kiss him.

Why is Koi so lovable?

He wanted to savor the overwhelming happiness a little longer, but he still had something left to do. It was something that couldn’t be delayed or put off any longer. Ashley checked the time, thought for a moment, and then sent a message.

[Can we meet for a bit? I’ll come to your place.]

A few seconds later, a notification came.

[What is it?]

Ashley typed another message.

[Let’s talk in person.]

This time, the reply came quickly.

[Okay. Text me when you’re here.]

Ashley put down his phone and started the car. As he headed to Ariel’s house, he deliberately tried to clear his mind. After all, it was his fault. He intended to accept any criticism Ariel had.

And he was slapped three times.

The weekend sky was as clear as ever. Koi slept in for a long time, and as always, after checking the empty refrigerator, he rode his bicycle out to buy food. He had bought enough bread for the weekend in advance, but since Ashley had thrown it all away the day before, he had no food again.

He was about to head to the store that sold leftover bread cheaply, but he impulsively turned his direction towards the school.

It’ll be a long way around if I go this way, but…

Even as he thought that, Koi didn’t stop. The ice hockey team would probably be practicing around this time. He had met Ashley late the day before, but he wanted to see him again.

He pedaled busily, his heart fluttering.

Huff, huff.

Breathing heavily, he arrived at the school. He slowly circled the campus on his bicycle, scanning the sports field. He looked for Ashley among the ice hockey team, who were doing physical training, but no matter how hard he looked, he couldn’t see him.

“Um, Bill!”

Koi, looking for an opening, quickly called out to Bill, who was leaving the group to drink water.

“Hey, Koi.”

“Hey, Bill.”

Koi, who greeted Bill as he breathed heavily, quickly got to the point.

“Um, I don’t see Ash. What happened? Is he not coming today?”

“Oh? Ah-ha.”

Bill replied, twisting open the cap of his water bottle.

“He said he was sick, so he’s taking a few days off.”

“Ash is sick?”

Koi asked in surprise at the unexpected news. Bill gulped down the water, emptying the 500ml bottle in one go, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and nodded.

“Yeah, he said it was a cold.”

“Again?”

He recalled Ashley, who had been groaning with a cold before. Thanks to that cold, Koi had grown closer to him, but that didn’t mean he was happy that Ashley was sick.

“Is he really sick? If he’s missing practice…”

And for several days.

When he asked cautiously, Bill chuckled.

“Well, he might really be sick, or it might not be a cold.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

To the puzzled Koi, Bill said casually,

“He broke up with Ariel. Didn’t you know?”