Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 42

“Koi?”

Ashley reacted immediately.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Your face is red.”

He was genuinely worried. But that only backfired. As Ashley leaned towards Koi, his face, which had already filled Koi’s vision, completely overwhelmed Koi’s senses.

“Koi, are you okay? Do you want to go to the hospital?”

Ashley reached out as Koi’s breathing grew ragged. But the moment his fingertips touched Koi’s cheek, Koi recoiled in horror.

No! If Ash even touches me, I’ll die, I’ll really die!

A sense of crisis enveloped his entire body, and a loud siren blared in his head. Haa, haa. Ashley’s eyes widened in surprise as he saw Koi’s flushed face, pressed tightly against the car window, gasping for breath and looking at him.

“We should really go to the hospital.”

“What? Oh, no.”

Koi belatedly shouted as Ashley immediately started the car.

“I’m fine, I’m not sick!”

“What are you talking about? Your face is bright red. You’re getting a fever.”

“Really, I’m fine! I just need some fresh air, really!”

I don’t even have insurance!

Koi screamed inwardly. Perhaps due to the real-life crisis, his flushed face gradually turned pale. Ashley frowned, looking at him with a serious expression. Koi met his gaze uneasily, his eyes wavering, as if asking him to believe him.

Haa.

Finally, Ashley sighed and backed down.

“Alright, let’s just get out.”

Koi, who had been anxiously watching Ashley’s profile as he started the car, cautiously opened his mouth. “Um.”

“Can I open the window? It’s hot…”

He deliberately pressed the window button, but of course, it didn’t move. Ashley glanced at Koi, who was pointing at the unmoving window, then looked straight ahead again and pressed a button on the center console.

The air conditioner turned on, and soon cold air flowed out.

The car door opened only after they arrived at Ashley’s mansion. After parking in front of the garage, Ashley opened the driver’s side door, and the locked passenger door also opened simultaneously. Koi, sensing the situation, followed Ashley out of the car after Ashley had gotten out first.

Perhaps thinking Koi wouldn’t run away anymore, Ashley didn’t hold his hand. Koi, feeling subdued, quietly followed behind him. Ashley spoke again only after seating Koi at the snack bar.

“How was the test? Did you pass?”

Koi was startled by the question, which came as Ashley placed a cola and a cup in front of him.

“Didn’t Al tell you?”

He didn’t know the result? Then why did he bring me all the way here?

Koi was bewildered, but this time, Ashley was surprised by his reaction.

“Al? Why?”

Seeing Ashley frown, Koi stammered.

“No, um, that is.”

Ashley’s reaction was different from what he expected. What? That expression? Koi stammered in confusion.

“I, I thought you two had reconciled…”

“No, Koi. You misunderstood.”

Ashley denied his words with a serious expression.

“We’re completely over. There’s no starting over.”

“Oh…”

He had thought all sorts of things since seeing the two of them walking together, but now he realized it was all Koi’s delusion. Ashley genuinely didn’t understand Koi’s words. Koi’s face slowly flushed with belated embarrassment.

“I see,” he murmured softly, and Ashley frowned, staring at him, as if telling him to say everything he had to say. Koi hesitated, then cautiously opened his mouth.

“Um… why did that happen?”

Ashley was silent for a moment. Koi thought he might avoid answering. But his prediction was wrong again, and Ashley opened his mouth.

“Because I…”

He said, his gaze fixed on Koi as before.

“I fell for someone else.”

What?

At the unexpected words, Koi’s eyes widened in surprise. As he stared blankly, Ashley repeated,

“I fell for someone else.”

“Uh…”

Koi just blinked in confusion. Ashley’s voice was utterly calm. It seemed he had already sorted everything out in his mind. Having nothing more to say, Koi just murmured, “Oh, I see.”

“Um, so, are you going to have a new girlfriend now?”

When he finally thought of something to say and asked, Ashley let out a small laugh.

“Well, what do you think?”

“Huh? Why?”

Koi asked again, unable to understand the cryptic words. Ashley stared at Koi’s face instead of answering.

“I don’t know.”

“Why?”

Koi urged him impatiently. But instead of answering, Ashley poured a drink into a cup with ice. Koi waited patiently while he drank. After putting down the cup, Ashley opened his mouth.

“I’ve never confessed before, so I’m wondering how to do it.”

“Huh?”

Koi blinked at the unexpected words.

“You’ve always had girlfriends, though?”

What does he mean he’s never confessed? To Koi, who didn’t understand, Ashley replied,

“That’s right. But when you date someone, you don’t really say ‘I like you’ or anything like that and then start dating, do you? It just happens naturally.”

I see…

Koi just nodded, having learned something new. He briefly wondered if it was okay for him, who had never dated anyone, to be giving this kind of advice, but he soon dismissed the thought. It’s my friend’s problem, I have to do my best.

Koi asked actively.

“Then you can just do it like you’ve always done, right? Naturally.”

“It’s a bit different.”

“How?”

Ashley rested his chin on one hand and looked at Koi.

“Because I don’t know what they think of me.”

Koi reacted immediately to Ashley’s words.

“What are you talking about? Of course they like you, no, they do like you!”

Koi continued, his voice higher than usual.

“Who in the world wouldn’t like you? Of course they’ll be happy if they hear you say you like them!”

Ashley let out an embarrassed chuckle at the fervent reaction.

“No way.”

“Yes, way!”

Koi shouted with all his heart.

“If you said you liked me and asked me to date you, even I’d say yes right away!”

Ashley, who had been quietly looking at Koi, narrowed his eyes.

Oh.

After blurting it out, he belatedly felt that something was strange. But the words were already spilled. As Koi paused and froze, Ashley rested his arm on the table and leaned towards him.

“Would you?”

Koi met the silver-blue eyes looking at him and was utterly captivated. Ashley’s distinct and handsome face was right in front of him. Seeing his eyes fixed only on him and his gently smiling lips, his heart pounded madly. Ashley opened his mouth.

“Koi.”

A soft, sweet voice whispered.

“I like you.”

…Huh?

Koi’s eyes widened. It felt like fireworks were exploding in his ears. No, it might have been the sound of his own heart. The tumultuous roar was something he had never heard in his life.

I like you.

I like you.

I like you.

Ashley’s low voice kept echoing in his ears.

Ash likes me.

“…Aargh!”

Koi screamed in surprise and recoiled.

“Koi!”

Ashley quickly reached out and called his name. Thud! The chair toppled over with a crash. Koi blinked blankly and remained frozen for a while.

“Are you okay?”

Ashley asked with a surprised expression. Gradually, Koi’s consciousness returned to reality. He finally realized that he had slipped off the chair he was sitting on and slumped to the floor. If Ashley hadn’t grabbed his arm, he might have hit his head on the ground. Only after seeing Ashley’s pale, rigid face did Koi finally answer, “Yes.”

“I’m okay. …Thank you.”

“…Right.”

Only then did a smile return to Ashley’s face, as if relieved. Soon after, he adjusted his grip on Koi’s arm and pulled him up without warning.

“Ah!”

Koi, pulled up unexpectedly, found himself embraced by Ashley. His eyes widened at the unforeseen situation, and Ashley, holding Koi, said,

“Don’t make me worry.”

Thump.

Suddenly, it felt like his heart had dropped to the floor. And then it began to pound wildly. His vision blurred, and his mind went blank. Only one thought came to mind.

What if Ash finds out?

As excitement and fear intertwined, Ashley suddenly pulled away from him. He stumbled for a moment but quickly regained his balance. Ashley only let go of Koi’s hand after confirming that he was standing upright. Koi’s vision caught Ashley’s usual smiling face.

“You passed the test, right? How about we skip training today and have a celebration party instead? There’s probably cake.”

“Cake?”

As Koi repeated Ashley’s words, Ashley stood up and said,

“I left a note for them to make one, thinking you’d definitely pass.”

Koi was so surprised by the unexpected words that he forgot to react. Cake? For me? It’s not even my birthday?

He had never even had cake on his birthday. Maybe he had in the past, but it was too long ago to remember.

But now, cake out of nowhere.

Just for passing a trivial test.

Ashley opened the refrigerator door and took out a chocolate cake. Koi silently watched him place the cake on the table. Soon, Ashley set out a fork and plate, then righted the overturned chair and seated Koi. Koi watched him cut the cake without even blinking.

“Congratulations, Koi.”

Ashley said, pushing the cake towards him. Meeting his gently smiling face, Koi felt a lump in his throat.

“Tha-thank you.”

Ashley just smiled at his barely squeezed-out voice. The hand holding the fork trembled slightly. Koi carefully took a piece of cake and brought it to his mouth.

“How is it?”

Ashley asked.

“It’s delicious.”

Koi replied. Ashley smiled again. His heart was pounding so wildly and the cake was so sweet that Koi almost burst into tears.