Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 31

“What?”

This time, too, Koi’s eyes simply widened. Immediately, the image of Ashley with his girlfriend flashed through his mind. The captain of the school’s hottest ice hockey team and the captain of the cheerleading team, a couple, had broken up? Bill added as he prepared to rejoin the group.

“He was dumped out of the blue, so he must be in a lot of shock. Don’t worry too much.”

“Uh, Bill. It’s really not a cold, is it?”

When Koi hastily called out to Bill, who was about to leave, Bill gave a wry smile.

“It really could be a cold. But it’s not just for a day; it’s a severe cold, bad enough to say he’d take a few days off in advance…”

Shaking his head, Bill soon left. Left alone, Koi watched his retreating figure for a while before getting back on his bicycle and pedaling. Lost in thought, his bicycle moved noticeably slower than usual.

A breakup, he said.

Standing in front of the counter at his quiet part-time job, Koi mulled over the thought. He had never had a girlfriend. He had never even had a crush, and therefore, he had never even considered being dumped or breaking up with someone.

But Ashley was different. Ashley had had several girlfriends, as far as Koi knew. His side, which had never been empty, seemed to have been filled for quite a long time after he started dating Ariel, but it seemed that was over now.

He naturally thought they would get married.

It was common for couples who met in high school to get married as soon as they turned twenty. Koi, who had vaguely assumed they would do the same, felt strange about the changed reality. And for Ariel to have dumped Ashley, he didn’t know what had happened between them, but Ashley must be incredibly shocked.

Otherwise, why would he miss training for several days?

Recalling Ashley’s face, which used to smile like sunshine, Koi looked down at his phone with a serious expression. He hesitated several times, but finally, he mustered up the courage and pressed the call button.

Only after the dial tone rang did he realize he didn’t know what to say, and he panicked, but his courage had already run out. He couldn’t hang up and was trembling when the connection sound finally stopped, and silence briefly flowed.

—…Yes.

A low, sunken voice briefly flowed out. Koi, flustered by Ashley’s hoarse voice, cautiously opened his mouth.

“Uh, um… Ash?”

Again, he answered after a pause.

—…Yeah. What’s up?

Though only a few words, his voice was full of fatigue. Hearing his deeply sunken, hoarse voice, Koi involuntarily sighed with pity.

“Um, I happened to meet Bill and heard that you’re very sick? I called to see how you were… You must be really unwell…”

Ashley just listened quietly as Koi’s voice gradually faded.

Did he pass out?

Just as his heart sank for a moment, Ashley’s voice was heard.

—I’ll get better if I rest. Thanks for worrying about me.

“Oh…”

As Koi hesitated, Ashley spoke gently in a much softer voice.

—Really, Koi. See you after the weekend.

“Are you coming to school?”

—Of course.

Ashley laughed aloud. Hearing his cheerful laughter made Koi feel much more at ease, but his heart immediately plummeted at the small groan that followed. After a pause, Ashley spoke again.

—Don’t worry. Well then…

Koi wanted to talk to him more, but the other person wasn’t in the mood for it. In the end, he mumbled a quick goodbye and hung up. Haah, Koi sighed again and fell into deep thought.

Ashley had said he lived alone. From Bill’s words and attitude, it seemed his friends weren’t visiting to take care of him either.

What should I do?

Ashley’s feverish face kept flickering in his mind. He had clearly fallen ill after breaking up with his girlfriend.

Finally, he made up his mind and picked up his phone again. After a few rings, Ashley’s voice was heard again, and Koi immediately got to the point.

“I’ll go after my part-time job.”

—What?

Ashley asked, sounding flustered from the other end. It was an unusual reaction, but Koi ignored it and quickly continued.

“I can’t stand worrying about you. I’m coming, please allow me.”

—…Are you sure you’re asking me for permission right now?

Ashley asked, sounding bewildered after a pause.

“Yes.”

Koi answered immediately.

“Actually, I’m really nervous right now. But I’m so worried about you. …If you really don’t need me, if you want to be alone.”

He let out a tense breath and added.

“Then I’ll endure it. Even though I’m really, really worried.”

Ashley was silent for a while. Was he angry? Koi soon became anxious. Did I overstep? Did I get too excited just because he was a little kind to me? What if Ash gets tired of me? Should I apologize right now? Should I just hang up?

—…Pfft.

Just as his heart felt like it would burst from tension, laughter was heard from the other end. Koi gasped, “Oh.” Ashley said in a voice mixed with laughter, as if he had given up.

—Alright, come. I’ll allow it.

“Ah…”

—Before that, there’s something I need to tell you in advance.

Ashley cut off Koi, who had almost shouted with joy without realizing it.

—My face is seriously messed up right now. You might be surprised when you see it. Be prepared when you come.

Had he cried so much that his face was swollen?

“No way, that can’t be.”

Koi said firmly.

“No matter what, Ash’s face will always be incredibly cool. He must be stunningly handsome even now.”

—I hope that thought doesn’t change.

Ashley, still with a smile in his voice, hung up. After confirming the call had ended, Koi stretched out his arms and exclaimed, “Wow!” That’s a relief. He doesn’t seem too depressed.

Maybe he cried his heart out and felt relieved.

Koi thought. He had never been heartbroken, but he decided he would do his best to comfort Ashley. Having thought that far, he quickly took out his phone and typed in a search query.

How to comfort a heartbroken friend.

Quickly scanning the various methods displayed on the screen, Koi chose the ones he could use and carefully jotted them down.

“Connor Niles, A High School.”

The security guard, who had checked his student ID, looked at Koi’s face with sharp eyes. He had considered going around the mountain like before, but since he had Ashley’s permission, he decided it would be better to go through the main gate, even if it was troublesome. The security guard made Koi wait and picked up the phone, pressing a button. He was clearly calling Ashley.

After waiting for a moment, he stated Koi’s personal information and confirmed his visit. Koi sat on his bicycle, passing the time in a boring and anxious wait until the security guard hung up and allowed him to enter.

“…Yes, understood.”

The security guard, who had hung up, gestured with one hand for him to enter. Koi hastily pedaled at full speed. Wait for me, Ash. I’m coming now!

Why on earth would someone build a house on such a peak?

Koi gritted his teeth, pedaling exhaustedly, and thought. He knew the answer. It was because of the incredibly magnificent view one could see thanks to its high location.

What good is a great view if it’s so hard to get up here?

Of course, he knew the answer to that too. It didn’t matter to people who lived in such houses because they never climbed the mountain on a worn-out bicycle.

Just then, a car whizzed past him. Koi coughed from the exhaust fumes left behind and wobbled, painstakingly pedaling his way up. By the time the mansion came into view, he was on the verge of collapsing.

“Haah, haah, ugh.”

He was so out of breath that he felt nauseous. Koi gasped, leaning against the wall, waiting for his breathing to calm down. Suddenly, a vast sky came into view. He was staring blankly at the endlessly stretching, clear blue sky, with nothing obstructing it.

Faint footsteps were heard. Koi listened quietly. The approaching footsteps were definitely Ashley’s. It was always like this whenever Koi came to this house; there was no sign of anyone else. Except for the footsteps of someone walking now.

“Koi?”

At Ashley’s voice, Koi tried to push himself off the wall, saying, “Yeah.”

“Wait.”

Suddenly, Ashley stopped him. As Koi paused, puzzled, Ashley continued from behind the wall.

“Before you see my face, there’s something I need to tell you. Don’t be surprised when you see it.”

“Yeah, I came prepared.”

Koi solemnly promised. All sorts of Ashley’s faces flashed in and out of his mind. The common thread was a face red from crying and swollen eyelids. Still, he would still be cool. His belief remained unshaken.