Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 80

The game had started, but Koi couldn’t concentrate. Ariel had left with a displeased look on her face. The vice-captain followed her, waving to the other kids, assuring them it was okay. Thinking it best not to add to the numbers, Koi reluctantly stayed in the dugout with the other kids.

He strongly wanted to watch Ashley play the game, but his attention kept drifting towards the direction where Ariel and the vice-captain had disappeared. The same was true for the other girls on the cheerleading team.

“Ash, I’m really disappointed.”

The girls whispered to each other.

“Yeah. I thought they’d go to the homecoming party together after today’s game.”

“He was even waiting in the hallway yesterday.”

“He’s just being clingy, I guess. But what won’t do, won’t do.”

Koi felt conflicted by the girls’ firm reactions.

Ash is going to try to get back together with Ariel today…

He grew anxious at the thought that Ashley might be rejected by Ariel again. How disappointed would Ash be?

Because of me.

Koi couldn’t lift his head even more, filled with self-loathing. No, this won’t do. I need to hide somewhere inconspicuous.

Just as he thought that and turned around. Suddenly, a roar erupted from the stands behind him. He thought a goal had been scored, but he was completely wrong.

“Oh my, a fight broke out!”

Someone from the cheerleading team shouted. Koi instinctively turned his head and his eyes widened. Ashley was punching an opposing team player.

The game had started, but Ashley couldn’t concentrate at all. The recent situation was still vivid in his mind. With Koi’s image of diligently lifting his legs and dancing still clear, he couldn’t possibly focus. He knew he had made a huge spectacle of himself. But how could he remain calm in such a situation?

Koi had danced with those dazzling legs exposed to the entire student body.

It was a considerably distorted memory, but he wasn’t in a position to argue with reality. Ashley was truly experiencing the feeling of being blind with rage. Because of that, he made several small mistakes, which soon led to enormous losses. As the errors continued, the other guys gradually caught on. They frequently exchanged uneasy glances even while chasing the puck, and Ashley’s movements, completely different from the first period, began to unnerve the others as well. Bill, unable to watch any longer, quickly approached him and spoke.

“What’s wrong, Ash? Are you feeling unwell?”

His voice was full of anxiety and concern, but Ashley spoke without even looking at him.

“Nothing’s wrong, just play the game.”

Bill couldn’t say anything more and retreated.

Get a grip, Ashley Dominique Miller. You’re in a game right now.

He knew he had taken his anger out on Bill for no reason. But his emotions were utterly uncontrollable. Ashley, who had swung his stick chasing the puck in front of him, unfortunately left an opening. The opposing team didn’t miss the timing, quickly sped off, and pushed the puck into the goal.

Cheers and boos erupted simultaneously from the stands. Ashley gasped for breath and straightened up. His mind was a mess. He cursed under his breath and turned to prepare for the next attack when the opposing team player who had just scored followed alongside him. He grinned, mocking Ashley.

“Hey, nice pass. Looking forward to more in the future.”

“That bastard…”

Bill, who was changing direction to follow, was about to get angry when he heard that, but suddenly Ashley threw down his stick and punched him. A fierce roar erupted from the stands.

“I’ve been waiting for this! Finally!”

“Fight, fight! Beat him up more!”

“Buffalo, Buffalo, win!”

“Don’t back down, aim for his jaw!”

As punches flew wildly and a brawl ensued, the crowd was more excited than ever. It was the first time such loud cheers had erupted, even though so many goals had been scored. This was part of the thrill of ice hockey, but watching it, Koi felt his heart burning.

Oh no! Something really bad is going to happen!

Fistfights during a game were common in ice hockey. Of course, Ashley, Bill, and the other guys frequently fought with players from other teams, throwing themselves into it.

But for Koi right now, only Ashley mattered. No matter how much the other guys brawled, he might be a little surprised, but he wouldn’t be this worried. Every time the opponent attacked Ashley, his heart sank. He wanted to rush out and help, but Koi knew all too well that he would only be a burden. Therefore, he had nothing to do but pace anxiously in the dugout.

Of course, Koi was the only one reacting that way. Even the cheerleading team girls, who had been indifferently making negative remarks about Ashley, were now wildly waving their arms, cheering on the fight. He watched with bated breath when the opponent extended his arm.

Ash is going to get hit!

He couldn’t bear to watch and squeezed his eyes shut when cheers erupted in unison. Sensing a different atmosphere than before, he cautiously opened his eyes to see the opponent curled up, clutching his nose.

“That was a great punch!”

A cheerleading team member giggled and gave a thumbs-up. Only then did Koi breathe a sigh of relief. The referee separated them only after the opponent’s nose bled. And Ashley was given a 5-minute penalty, meaning he couldn’t play in the game.

“There are 5 minutes left in the second period.”

Boos erupted from various places, but it couldn’t be helped. Ashley picked up his thrown stick and gloves and slowly returned to the dugout. The team’s atmosphere wasn’t bad, but Ashley’s expression was still grim. The cheerleading team members and everyone else just watched him cautiously, saying nothing. Ignoring them, Ashley immediately left the dugout.

Koi stood there for a moment, hesitating. What should I do? Should I follow him?

If this continues, they’ll definitely lose the game.

Then what happens? Will Ash still confess to Ariel?

Koi didn’t know the answer. A dark temptation slowly began to rise in a corner of his heart.

What if they lose the game?

Ash might not get back together with Ariel…

His heart pounded terribly. Cold sweat broke out on his palms, and his vision spun. If, just if, that happens…

Just imagining Ashley and Ariel together made his heart ache as if it would die. But what would happen if he actually saw it? He became terribly afraid.

If Ash doesn’t date Ariel…

A cautious malice welled up in his heart. His mouth went dry, making him even more sensitive. He couldn’t stand it and squeezed his eyes shut. Yet, the image of the two laughing and chatting happily together vividly reappeared. What if that becomes impossible?

Ash would be greatly disappointed.

Koi slowly opened his eyes. The cheers of the crowd felt like hallucinations. He felt his legs heavy, as if walking underwater, and slowly turned around.

As he walked step by step in the direction Ashley had disappeared, everything remaining in his mind faded away. The sound of his pounding heart dully echoed in his ears.

Ashley was sitting alone on a bench in the hallway. Not even the cheers from the crowd, nor the sound of breathing, could be heard. In the silence, Koi took slow steps and approached him. Ashley must have heard his footsteps, yet he remained motionless, bent over with his elbows on his knees, his face buried in his hands.

Finally, Koi stopped a couple of steps away from him. He opened his mouth, but it took a little longer for a sound to come out.

“…Ash.”

He called his name in a voice that was utterly hoarse. Ashley’s shoulders seemed to flinch, and then, after a moment, he slowly lifted his face.

Ashley’s expression looked more devastated than ever. Thinking about how frustrated he must be right now, Koi’s heart ached again.

“…Why?”

Ashley spoke. Only then did Koi realize that he had simply been staring blankly at Ashley.

“Uhm…”

He had come prepared, but the words wouldn’t easily come out. He gathered his courage and finally managed to speak.

“Don’t… don’t worry too much. The game… you’ll win, definitely.”

His voice was so shaky it sounded pathetic even to himself. When Koi fell silent, Ashley chuckled faintly. His self-deprecating laugh completely erased what little courage Koi had left. An awkward silence fell between them again.

He had something to say, but it just wouldn’t come out. Koi hesitated, not knowing what to do, and finally, instead of speaking, he lifted his skirt, took out something from his shorts pocket, and held it out.

“…What is this?”