Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 60

As Ashley led Koi away, not a single word came from him. He didn’t greet classmates who acknowledged him, nor did he offer even a brief smile. He simply held Koi’s shoulder tightly, as if Koi might run away, and continued to walk quickly. Thanks to this, Koi occasionally experienced moments where his feet didn’t touch the ground, and he was hastily dragged along, practically running.

The place Ashley took Koi was behind a secluded building, a quiet, secluded path where almost no one went. There, Ashley stopped and looked down at Koi. Koi was gasping for breath, feeling like he was going to die, but Ashley didn’t let go of him. He released the arm that had been around Koi’s shoulder and instead held both of Koi’s arms, fixing his gaze.

Haa, haa.

Ashley waited for a while, watching Koi gasp for breath. Ashley, who had been silently looking down at him, finally opened his mouth after Koi’s breathing had somewhat calmed down.

“Are you okay?”

“Uh, uh-huh.”

Koi hastily nodded. He couldn’t bring himself to look up at him, keeping his gaze fixed on the ground, when Ashley spoke from above his head.

“What happened yesterday?”

Just as I thought.

Koi stammered, feeling his barely slowed pulse quicken again.

“W-what do you mean?”

He still couldn’t lift his head. Ashley’s frustration grew at Koi’s stubborn refusal to meet his eyes.

“You said something urgent came up. Then you didn’t answer your phone. Do you know how worried I was?”

“S-sorry.”

Koi hastily apologized. It was clearly Koi’s fault. Ashley was like someone who had been slapped out of nowhere, knowing nothing. And by someone like Connor Niles, no less.

How dumbfounded he must be.

Koi apologized again, feeling guilty.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know you’d worry so much.”

“Anyone would worry if you make a promise, then just send a few texts and turn off your phone while I’m waiting.”

Ashley admonished Koi in a stricter tone than usual. Koi couldn’t lift his face even more.

“Sorry…”

After he apologized again, Ashley was silent for a while. Koi felt his gaze clearly, looking down at him silently, and was completely intimidated, when after a long moment, Ashley sighed.

“How was the test yesterday?”

Thank goodness. It seemed Ashley had decided not to press further. Koi nodded, grateful for his consideration.

“I, I passed.”

“Good, that’s good.”

As Ashley spoke, he carefully watched Koi’s reactions. Koi was strange today. No, he had been strange since the day before. Leaving only that text and disappearing, and constantly avoiding Ashley’s eyes, he couldn’t even guess what was going on.

Did something happen at home?

That was all Ashley could surmise. There was no reason for Koi to suddenly distance himself from him.

“Koi.”

When Ashley called his name in a calm voice, Koi’s shoulders flinched. Ashley, still unable to read Koi’s expression, continued speaking.

“If there’s anything I can help you with, please tell me. Even if you think I can’t help, tell me. If we think about it together, we might find a solution.”

Having said that, Ashley continued to reassure Koi.

“Because we’re friends.”

At those words, Koi’s mind, which had barely been holding on, crumbled in an instant.

Friends, right, we’re friends. Ash was just being kind to me as a friend, and I, not knowing that, just misunderstood on my own.

If he finds out I like him, Ash will…

Koi felt like he would suffocate just imagining it. Ashley was a good guy, so he wouldn’t despise Koi. But clearly, this relationship couldn’t be maintained anymore. Ashley would distance himself from Koi, and then it might even become impossible to greet each other in the morning.

Just imagining Ashley ignoring him and walking away made Koi’s chest ache unbearably.

I have to hide it.

Koi bit his lip and vowed to himself. I must never let him find out. I’m just Ash’s friend. Yes. Phew, he let out a small, trembling breath, then with difficulty, nodded.

“Yes, thank you.”

It was a voice that even he felt had no strength in it. Koi tried to encourage himself and added,

“I’ll do that.”

“……”

Ashley looked down at Koi without a word. Something was strange. No, everything was strange. Koi not looking at him, his voice constantly trembling, and only occasionally giving such short answers to Ashley’s words—everything was full of oddities.

Koi, who always used to be overjoyed when he met Ashley, wasn’t even smiling. What on earth had happened?

Koi was trembling all over in the hands that held him tightly. If Ashley loosened his grip even a little, Koi seemed like he would run away, so Ashley gripped his arms even tighter.

“Koi.”

It was truly hard to believe, but he couldn’t help but ask.

“What did I do wrong?”

“What… No, nothing like that!”

Koi looked up in surprise, involuntarily. Their eyes met for the first time, but it wasn’t what Ashley had hoped for. Instead of smiling at him, Koi’s face was pale and terrified, a look Ashley had never seen before.

Moreover, Koi’s eyes were shaking wildly, as if in fear. His lips also trembled palely.

Seeing that, Ashley also froze in bewilderment. Then Koi realized his mistake and hastily mumbled,

“Um, it’s just, I wasn’t feeling well. It’s nothing, really.”

A lie.

Ashley thought as he looked down at Koi, who was frantically spilling words. He was lying so obviously. Anyone who fell for this would be the biggest idiot in the world.

One thing was clear: Koi had no intention of telling Ashley the truth. Ashley knew it too clearly. He just couldn’t even guess why.

“Koi…”

Ashley opened his mouth again. He needed to know what he had done wrong, what on earth was going on. He couldn’t stand this anymore. Koi wouldn’t even look at his face. He wasn’t smiling. His ears, which always moved diligently, didn’t even twitch. Ashley simply couldn’t understand.

What on earth happened?

Just as he was about to press him again in his impatience.

“S-stop now.”

Koi tried to push Ashley away. He placed both hands on Ashley’s chest and pushed with all his might, but of course, Ashley didn’t budge. Instead, Koi almost stumbled backward and was caught by Ashley, barely regaining his balance. Koi hastily continued,

“S-soon, class, so I have to go in. Now, please stop this conversation.”

“Koi.”

Ashley tightened his grip on Koi’s arm again.

“I can’t do that. End the conversation here now? Koi, does it make sense to just stop like this? Are you serious? I still have things I want to hear from you.”

“I-I said there’s nothing to say.”

“I need to hear it!”

He couldn’t hold back any longer and shouted. Koi continued to reject him. That made Ashley unbearable. It was when he gritted his teeth, looking at Koi’s pale face.

…Huh?

Suddenly, Ashley’s vision spun.