Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 39

The scheduled date arrived in an instant. Koi, who had received special training from Ashley until the day before but had barely mastered standing, nervously went to the cheerleading team.

The members, who were stretching in the indoor gymnasium, spotted him and stopped their movements. At someone’s quick whisper, a female student who had been facing away turned around. It was Ariel.

“You came right on time,” Ariel said, checking the clock on her phone.

“If you were late, you would have been disqualified immediately. Keeping appointments is the absolute basics of basics.”

She held a hair tie in her mouth, roughly tied her hair, then clapped twice. Drawing the members’ attention, she pointed at Koi and said,

“This is our new recruit who volunteered to play for this season only. Everyone heard, right? We’re doing the basic moves test today, so watch and participate in the vote.”

Having finished speaking, Ariel stood facing Koi.

“Alright, start. You don’t need music, right?”

“Uh, yeah.”

Koi nodded and straightened his posture. Being the only boy in a place full of girls was already mortifying, but having to move his body while everyone watched—if his past self had known, he might have committed suicide long ago.

But it was too late to die now. And Koi absolutely had to get into the cheerleading team. He exhaled a trembling breath and opened his mouth.

“I’ll start.”

The clock on his cell phone showed past 6:30 PM. Ashley, who had been waiting, checked the time and put his phone back in his pocket.

Today was Koi’s first test for joining the cheerleading team. Of course, even if he passed this time, there would be second and third tests, so it was too early to relax. Still, they say a good start is half the battle.

It happened to be the ice hockey team’s day off, so he sat on a nearby bench and waited for Koi to finish his test and come out.

The cheerleading team usually practiced on the sports field or in the gymnasium. The ice rink was mostly used by the ice hockey team, so when needed, they would arrange times in advance and take turns using it.

When there was a compelling reason, like today, it was a golden opportunity for the cheerleading team, and they always monopolized the ice rink. But after the test, the cheerleading team would probably try to move locations soon.

There’s a high chance I’ll run into Ariel, but…

Ashley considered waiting in his car but soon gave up on the idea. They went to the same school, and he couldn’t avoid her forever. It was something he would have to face eventually. Of course, Ashley wished he could avoid it if possible. The problem was that they went to the same school, and the ice hockey team and cheerleading team were practically inseparable at this school, so he couldn’t.

“Haa…”

Suddenly, his eyes felt cold inside, and he furrowed his brow, swallowing a groan. His eyes had started hurting like this a while ago. He had gone to the ophthalmologist, but they said there was nothing wrong. He was only diagnosed with stress or overwork and had to return empty-handed.

But wasn’t that clearly a misdiagnosis? Lately, Ashley had been having the most fun in his life. Stress? That was ridiculous. He met Koi at school every day and even went home together. And they had two hours of special training, just the two of them. Did it make sense for stress to accumulate? Moreover, his father and his omega weren’t here, were they?

All that was left was overwork. But even that was almost impossible. His amount of exercise hadn’t changed much from before. He wasn’t studying excessively either. Staying up until dawn doing assignments was something every student at his level did. It was laughable to suddenly say his eyes hurt from overwork now.

In the end, he couldn’t find the cause. It was fortunate that there was no special problem, but feeling this pain occasionally was also unwelcome. If something like this suddenly happened during a game or while driving, it could be a big problem.

I should really quit ice hockey when I’m in 12th grade.

Ashley thought. His career path was already set anyway. He wasn’t going to be a professional, so he shouldn’t ruin his college admissions by playing games during his busy 12th grade year.

However, there was still regret. Bill was going to a professional team, so he would remain on the team. Ashley would likely become captain if he left.

Ashley rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought. From now on, there would only be more busyness. The only time he could enjoy some leisure was until 11th grade. He would definitely win this season’s games. And he would retire spectacularly.

Did Koi pass the test?

Just as the thought occurred to him, the gymnasium door opened. Ashley, who had been resting his chin on one hand, straightened his posture. He then craned his neck, looking for Koi among the girls pouring out, but the person he wanted to see was nowhere in sight, and instead, his karma unexpectedly popped out.

“Oh my.”

Someone gasped, and then whispers were heard here and there. Of course, they recognized Ashley too. Ashley, seeing Ariel stop walking and frown deeply, awkwardly raised one hand.

“Hi, Ariel.”

Ariel’s face grew even more grim.

Ashley sat on an outdoor chair in the cafeteria, with his enraged ex-girlfriend’s face across the table. He had thought he would have to talk to Ariel again someday. But he had hoped that day would be delayed as much as possible and hadn’t expected it to come so abruptly.

You were sitting there waiting for her, what did you not know?

Ashley sighed, feeling his head throb after his eyes. Of course, Ariel’s expression wouldn’t change because of that.

“Ahem.”

Ashley cleared his throat first. He couldn’t just stay like this forever. Since it had happened, he might as well get it over with quickly.

“How have you been, Al?”

When he greeted her with a smile, as he used to, Ariel scoffed.

“Do you think if you smile at me now, I’ll just let it go because of your handsome face?”

Ashley let out a short laugh.

“No?”

Ariel instantly clenched her fist. He thought he might get hit five times this time, but fortunately, she held back. Ariel took a deep breath and finally opened her mouth.

“I did think I’d have to have an honest talk with you someday.”

She asked directly, without beating around the bush.

“Why did you do it?”

She sat with one leg crossed, arms folded, and continued in a sharp tone.

“We were doing quite well, weren’t we? You didn’t seem to have any complaints about me, so why did you do it? You suddenly came to me in the middle of the night and broke up with me.”

Ariel calmly and clearly listed what she wanted to say. She had probably simulated this situation in her head countless times. Ashley hadn’t thought about it, but he knew that an honest answer was best.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Of course not.”

Ariel’s eyes narrowed. Ashley laughed at the sight, but his laughter didn’t last long. Soon, with a bitter expression, he said,

“I wish I had known sooner, but I couldn’t admit it.”

Ariel opened her mouth as if dumbfounded. Ashley apologized again.

“I’m sorry, Ariel.”

Ariel said nothing, just looked at his face for a long time.

It’s over!

Koi hastily gathered his belongings and, as the last one out of the gymnasium, exhaled the breath he had been holding.

He couldn’t remember anything he had done or how he had done it. Everyone’s eyes on him suffocated him, his mind went blank, and he couldn’t think of anything. He just moved mechanically, as if squeezing every cell in his body, hoping his body would automatically follow the countless moves he had practiced.

Finally, when everything was over, Koi waited nervously for the results. The gathered members, however, said nothing. When Koi felt an ominous premonition from their suspicious glances and strange silence, Ariel spoke.

“Let’s start the vote.”

He had expected it to be something like entering a room and marking O or X, but it was much simpler than he thought. It was simply raising hands to indicate approval or disapproval and counting the numbers. He was later told that such an elaborate procedure wasn’t necessary for admitting temporary members. Koi watched the hands go up and down, extremely nervous. As a result, he narrowly passed the first test by just one vote.