Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 40

But the joy of passing was short-lived.

“Your body is very stiff, and your movements don’t flow at all. It’s very serious.”

Regardless of the result, Ariel, who had seen all the first test moves, pointed out sharply.

“However, since there were no wrong moves, we decided to see your potential. I hope you’ll be better for the second test.”

I passed anyway! My chances went up!

College admission desperately required extracurricular activity points, so Koi, overcome with joy, jumped up.

He wanted to tell Ashley this happy news right away. Today was a non-practice day, and Ashley had said he would wait until Koi’s test was over.

He believed that Ashley, who had diligently guided his clumsy self for several days, would surely rejoice with him.

But when he rushed outside and looked around for Ashley, he was flustered when he couldn’t see the person he wanted anywhere.

Huh?

He paused awkwardly, wondering. Then he saw Ashley walking in the distance. Koi, who was about to greet him with a happy heart, hesitated. He wasn’t alone. Someone was next to him.

The one who was in front of me just now during the first test…

Ariel.

The moment he confirmed the face of the female student walking with him, Koi froze.

“Anyway, I was the one who dumped you,” Ariel said curtly.

“Yeah.”

Ashley, walking beside her, smiled. Ariel glared at him once, completely displeased with his relaxed attitude.

“I used to like your relaxed demeanor, but why do I find it so annoying now?”

Ashley chuckled softly.

“You saw it correctly. I’m not as great as you all think I am.”

“You all?”

Ariel asked, puzzled. But Ashley didn’t answer this time. He walked silently, looking straight ahead, then let out an exclamation of “Ah.” Ariel, who had unconsciously looked up, soon frowned. Ashley’s face had changed completely from before.

He always had a gentle, smiling face. His tone was soft, and he was always kind to girls. Ariel found that very pleasant to see, but at the same time, she didn’t like it. Sometimes she even doubted if he truly liked her, but now she understood.

Ashley Miller liked Ariel, but he felt the same way about everyone else too.

Because this was the first time she had seen him smile like that.

Ariel was dumbfounded yet curious. Who was Ashley looking at to smile like that?

And when she confirmed where his gaze was directed, she doubted her own eyes.

The applicant who had been fluttering like a dry leaf in front of him just moments ago was there.

What is this situation?

Koi blinked and just watched the two walking side by side. He vaguely heard the cheerleading team kids who were still around whispering about them.

“Ash waited for Ariel, right? Right?”

“Yeah, they went together as soon as they saw each other.”

“Are they getting back together?”

“I hope so. They’re too good to waste, those two.”

“Yeah, they really suited each other.”

“The reunion of the Buffalo King and Queen, maybe at this year’s Homecoming party?”

Soon, excited squeals followed. Koi just stood silently and watched them.

Yeah, they suit each other so well.

It looked that way to Koi too. He spontaneously thought that there would never be another couple that suited each other so well.

In fact, there had been a lot of talk when they broke up. The reactions of disappointment were considerable. For someone as outstanding as Ashley Miller, Ariel was the only suitable partner. So, it was only natural if they started again. Hadn’t he actually thought they would get married until recently?

Come to think of it, Ash hasn’t had a girlfriend since he broke up with Ariel.

That was also strange. It was absolutely nonsensical for a guy like Ashley Miller not to have a girlfriend.

He was waiting for Ariel to come back.

Thinking that way, everything made sense. For whatever reason, Ariel had dumped Ashley, and a despondent Ashley had waited for her, and it seemed his waiting was being rewarded, and they were about to get back together.

Oh, that’s what it is.

Koi nodded anew. It was so obvious and something to celebrate.

But why am I like this?

He couldn’t understand it at all. Why did his chest ache so much, and why was his heart so troubled? It felt so empty and lonely, as if there was a hole somewhere.

Perhaps I thought Ash was my friend alone? A selfish desire to monopolize him might have been hidden in a corner of my heart.

It was clear. There was no other answer. He was feeling excluded now. If they got back together, Ashley would neglect Koi more than before. Then he might drift further away from Ashley…

No, maybe I won’t be able to see him at all.

That felt more plausible. It was a very painful truth, but Koi had to accept it. He should be grateful that he could even be this close to Ash. The time they had spent together until now was rather an exception.

But.

He was stepping backward without realizing it.

But right now, right now I don’t want to see it. That sight, I really didn’t want to see.

“Ah.”

Just then, Ashley spotted him. The moment he raised his hand with his usual smile, Koi abruptly turned and started running.

“Koi, hey!”

Ashley, who was bewildered by Koi suddenly running away, soon understood the situation and let out a frustrated sigh. He gritted his teeth and waved at Ariel.

“Sorry, Ariel. See you later. Bye.”

He hastily said goodbye and immediately ran after Koi.

“Hey, Connor Niles! Stop right there!”

Ariel frowned in disbelief at his sudden departure.

“What are they doing?”

Haa, haa.

Koi ran until he was desperately out of breath. It was the first time in his life he had run like this. But he had no choice but to run. If he could just get out of here, he would run to the ends of the earth. Faster, further, quickly…!

“Hey, Koi! Connor Niles!”

He was running without thinking when he suddenly heard someone calling him from behind. Koi thought he was hearing things. But it was a mistake. Another sharp shout came.

“Koi, are you really not going to stop?”

The sheer volume of the shout made him feel momentarily deaf. Still running with all his might, he couldn’t overcome his fear and subtly looked back. Koi’s eyes widened in surprise. Ashley was running at an incredible speed. Naturally, faster than he had run so far. He had clearly run away from such a distance, but he was already caught up this much, and Koi let out a squeal-like gasp.

“Stop right there!”

“Agh!”

He pedaled diligently, but Ashley’s speed was terrifying. His astonishing running ability, which closed the distance in an instant, soon reminded Koi of a fact he had briefly forgotten. That Ashley Miller was the captain of the high school ice hockey championship team.

“It…!”

Ashley gritted his teeth and reached out his hand. Koi’s face, which had been constantly looking back, turned pale. As a large hand filled his vision, Ashley grabbed his shoulder and violently pulled him.

“Ah!”

Koi’s body momentarily floated up. After a brief sensation of floating, the next moment, Koi was already fully embraced in Ashley’s arms.

“Gotcha.”

Ashley’s rough breath poured over Koi’s head. Koi blinked his wide eyes and barely managed to gasp for breath, leaning into his embrace.

“There’s no way you can escape from me.”

Ashley said, still panting.

“No matter how hard you run, you’ll eventually be caught by me.”

His voice seeped into Koi’s dazed mind.

“Because I’ll never let you go.”

Koi still couldn’t say anything. He just barely gasped for breath and continued to stand there, leaning against Ashley.