Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 75

A heavy silence, unlike any he had ever felt, descended. Koi just stared at him with wide eyes. Ashley stood with his hands in his pants pockets, maintaining his distance from Koi, and said,

“You like me, don’t you? That’s why you were jealous.”

“N-no, no, no, that’s not, no.”

Koi hastily made a belated denial. As he repeated the same words like a broken record, shaking his head, Ashley frowned. Of course, he had no intention of backing down.

“Don’t deny what everyone already knows.”

“N-no, I said no! H-how do you know? How do you know?!”

To Koi, who was audaciously shouting back, Ashley dropped a bombshell.

“You’re the one who posted on the bulletin board.”

Silence fell again. This time, Koi froze completely. Unable to shake his head or reach out his hand as before, he just stared with wide, shocked eyes, and after a long moment, finally managed to speak.

“W-w-w-what b-b-bulletin board?”

As he stammered out the words, Ashley replied calmly,

“You said you liked the ice hockey team captain who takes AP classes and got a perfect score on the college entrance exam. Everyone in school knows, don’t try to hide it.”

Koi didn’t say anything, but his wildly trembling eyes spoke volumes. “Um,” he managed to open his mouth, his voice trembling.

“D-does everyone really know…?”

At his faint voice, Ashley readily replied,

“At least everyone knows the person is me.”

“I-I didn’t write it, no.”

At Koi’s reaction, shaking his head and denying again as if on cue, Ashley’s face twisted.

“Koi, do you remember what I said?”

He asked in a quiet voice. Seeing Koi still shaking his head, he continued,

“I can’t wait much longer.”

Koi’s movements stopped. His voice was utterly calm, but it chilled Koi’s heart more powerfully than any words before. Ashley looked back at Koi, who was quietly looking up at him, and continued,

“There’s a homecoming game soon.”

There wasn’t even a passing car around. In the heavy silence, Ashley’s quiet voice reached Koi’s ears with unusual clarity.

“If we win this game, no matter what your answer is, I’ll make a decision.”

Ashley looked down at Koi, who was unable to move.

“Do you understand, Koi? This is the last time.”

And Ashley gazed intently at Koi once more, then turned. Koi, who was helplessly watching his back as he walked back to his car, belatedly spoke out,

“The homecoming party…”

At his barely squeezed-out voice, Ashley, who had opened his car door, looked back at him. Frowning, Ashley gave a wry smile and said,

“That doesn’t matter anymore.”

Koi just stared blankly as he got into the car. A moment later, the engine started, and then Ashley’s car drove away.

In an instant, Koi disappeared from his sight. Ashley drove towards the mansion, chewing on the words he had spoken. He had no regrets whatsoever. Considering Koi, who was always indecisive, this might be better. And the word “last” was also his true feeling.

He would carry it out, no matter what. Absolutely.

Koi blankly followed the disappearing traces of the car. The road was empty, with no shadows of passing cars. A cold wind blew by, and he belatedly came to his senses, hastily turning and heading home. He had to finish showering before his father arrived.

He didn’t know if Ashley had released pheromones or not. Even if his father beat him, Koi would never leave Ashley, but it was still better to avoid danger.

Just in case, he opened all the windows and doors of the motorhome and quickly entered the shower stall. He had to finish everything before his father came. He didn’t forget to wash the clothes he was wearing. Under the shower, Koi vigorously hand-washed his t-shirt and pants, then washed his hair and soaped his body twice more before putting on new clothes and coming out. Only after hanging his t-shirt and pants on the clothesline outside the motorhome did he finally feel relieved. Now he just had to lie down in bed and hide before his father arrived.

After finishing the urgent tasks and lying down, the belated silence suffocated him. Koi closed his eyes tightly and curled up his entire body. His mind was soon filled with thoughts of Ashley.

Only then did Koi realize that his frantic rush to get home, shower, and do laundry was an attempt to somehow postpone his current thoughts.

But once everything was done and there was nowhere left to retreat, Ashley immediately took over his mind. He had no choice but to face the question he had wanted to avoid.

What did Ash’s words mean?

Koi squeezed his eyes shut and replayed the memory. Ashley had been more serious than he had ever seen him. Of course, no one would joke like that in such a situation. But why did he suddenly say such a thing?

Everyone gets tired.

A thought suddenly came to him, and he opened his closed eyes.

Does he mean he won’t like me anymore?

Perhaps he was tired of the repetitive situation. He had said he liked him many times, but Koi hadn’t believed him, and there had been no progress in their relationship. Moreover, he was Ashley Miller. He had countless other options.

I was the one who rejected him, saying he was mistaken.

If so, it was only natural for Ashley to go back to Ariel once he realized his mistake. Why hadn’t I thought of that? Koi vaguely recalled. The image of the two of them looking so intimate resurfaced. Then everything made sense.

If they win the game, Ash won’t look at me anymore.

<“If we win this game, no matter what your answer is, I’ll make a decision.”>

Ash’s last words echoed in his mind.

<“Do you understand, Koi? This is the last time.”>

I see. Koi thought. He’s going to tell me he doesn’t like someone like me anymore.

Thinking that far, his chest ached as if it would burst. It was definitely that. That’s why he said the homecoming party didn’t matter. Because he now realized how crazy it was to go with Koi.

Koi swallowed a trembling breath and curled up as much as he could. You knew this would happen, didn’t you? That’s why you didn’t believe Ash when he said he liked you and rejected him, right? Koi covered his mouth with both hands, afraid his breathing might escape, and squeezed his eyes shut.

Even though I knew it was a misunderstanding, why did I…?

Only then did his buried true feelings subtly raise their head. Koi had no choice but to acknowledge them.

Why did I keep believing Ash would like me?

The tip of his nose tingled, and tears welled up. Koi suppressed his sobs, holding his breath.

At that moment, Ashley, who had just finished showering, poured mango cola into a cup filled with ice and fell into deep thought with a serious expression.

Which room would be best to confine Koi in?

“Lately, you’ve been so down.”

During practice, during a break, Ariel suddenly pointed out. Koi flinched, blinked, and looked at her.

“M-me?”

“Yes, you.”

She raised her eyes and warned him.

“Don’t you know what cheerleading is? If the person cheering is so down, how can the athletes get energy? We need to have more energy than the athletes. Enough to overwhelm the audience!”

Ariel pointed her finger right in front of Koi’s eyes and warned,

“Do it until your paprika shrivels and disappears, got it?”

“Oh, okay.”

After confirming Koi’s answer, she turned and headed towards the resting co-captain. Phew, Koi finally sighed and relaxed.

Practice continued, and the name of the vegetable Ariel called him changed each time, but it was never a long, sturdy vegetable like an eggplant, let alone asparagus.

Today it’s paprika, huh…

Koi wiped his sweat and thought. At least it was better than broccoli. The first time she called him broccoli, he was so confused about what it meant that he even missed a beat. Of course, it meant nothing.

Phew.

Since that day, Ashley hadn’t come to pick Koi up. All he got was a simple text: [Can’t pick you up because of practice. Sorry. -Ash]. He used to commute to school alone by bike, but after just a few days, it had become a habit, and the walk to school felt incredibly lonely for Koi.

Of course, Ashley’s thoughts were different. He intended to let Koi be free one last time in case he had to confine him, but Koi completely misunderstood.

He must not even want to see me anymore.