Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 96

The rumors spread so fast that there were countless instances where Ashley was heard to have been rejected even before the news of him confessing to Koi and kissing him. Thanks to this, the school was abuzz with talk about Ashley.

“Rejected again? Ashley Miller?”

“Surely not a different Miller?”

“First Al, now this, it’s unbelievable.”

“They say he asked a guy out, of course he got rejected.”

“The shock of being rejected by Al must have been huge.”

“It’s really disappointing.”

“Honestly, it’s gotten a bit boring.”

“Me too, he had such a cool image.”

“What a letdown.”

Ashley and the other hockey team members silently watched the girls, who were chattering as they walked away. Bill was the first to speak.

“Ash, don’t you think you need to explain something about this situation?”

At his question, all eyes turned to Ashley. Ashley forced a bitter smile, an awkward expression on his face.

“I confessed and got rejected, that’s all.”

The remaining guys looked at each other, and one, unable to hold back, blurted out.

“No, I mean. Why did you confess to Koi?”

“Yeah, how can guys like us do that?”

Like most people, they couldn’t accept the fact that same-sex individuals, who weren’t Alphas or Omegas, could like each other. Perhaps it was also because the person in question was Ashley Miller. Remembering that Koi had the same reaction at first, this was probably the common response.

The reason Ashley could so easily accept his feelings was that his environment was different from theirs. Would they have reacted differently if their parents had been different secondary genders, not Betas? Ashley pondered a question without an answer, then quickly dismissed it.

“It just happened. Liking someone doesn’t go according to plan.”

“That’s true.”

Bill agreed, then, along with the others, fell into thought for a moment. Not long after, he soon smiled as usual and spoke.

“Well, we don’t care who you like.”

“Right. You’re my friend.”

“Me too.”

“Me too.”

The guys, whose teamwork was always top-notch, once again united to support Ashley. Ashley smiled, feeling grateful to his friends.

“Thanks.”

“For what? It’s nothing.”

One of the guys, who had rubbed his nose, feeling a bit smug, soon grimaced.

“But why did Koi do that?”

Another guy, hearing that, stepped forward.

“Yeah, why did he reject you? I mean, it’s not common for same-sex Betas to date, but it’s not unheard of either.”

“Many guys would say yes if it were you, even if they were guys.”

“Right, wouldn’t anyone say yes to Ash?”

“Yeah, yeah,” his friends nodded in agreement, and Ash gave a bitter smile. He felt sorry that he had to lie and deceive them, but he couldn’t help it. It was for Koi’s sake.

He could just invite them all to the wedding instead.

He decided to apologize to them in his own way and casually replied.

“Koi said he doesn’t understand guys liking and dating each other.”

“Eww.”

“Wow, really?”

“Koi, I didn’t think he was so narrow-minded.”

Cries of indignation erupted from all sides. For Ashley Miller, the idol of the hockey team, to be rejected twice in a row was unthinkable to them. Ashley calmly said.

“I guess my efforts weren’t enough.”

His friends, who had been denouncing Koi, paused. Ashley adjusted his bag and continued.

“I just need to try harder. So it’s okay.”

Surprised by his unexpectedly calm reaction, his friends looked at each other, bewildered. They couldn’t tell if his words were sincere or not and showed ambiguous reactions, but Ashley spoke first.

“Well, I’m going now, I have my next class.”

“Oh, oh, okay.”

“See you later.”

“Go.”

His friends, who hastily responded, watched Ashley’s retreating figure as he readily walked away. Only after he was far out of sight did they finally relax their shoulders and begin to speak their minds.

“That guy, how could he….”

A friend standing next to him asked the guy who had sighed deeply.

“‘That kind of thing’? Is Koi ‘that kind of person’? Or is liking a guy ‘that kind of thing’?”

“Both, I guess.”

Another guy chimed in. Soon, others agreed.

“Actually, from Koi’s perspective, it must have been surprising.”

“Right, he must have thought of him as a friend, and then suddenly he said he liked him.”

“It did seem like Ash had a crush on Koi. He even said he was cute before, didn’t he?”

“We said he was cute, I don’t think Ash did.”

“He did drag out the word ‘cute’ a lot.”

Everyone nodded, then simultaneously had the same thought.

Could it be that he liked him from back then?

After a brief silence, someone mumbled with a sigh.

“I still can’t believe it, Ash liking a guy.”

Another guy agreed with his words.

“He must have been really shocked after breaking up with Al.”

“Should we try to get him back with Al?”

One of them stopped another who asked worriedly.

“Hey, Al’s feelings are more important. And you don’t meddle in other people’s relationships.”

From the experience of a son who had lived his whole life with a father who was crazy about his mother, that much was certain. Everyone agreed with their friend’s stricter-than-usual advice, saying, “Okay.”

“Still, we should take Ash’s side.”

“Right, he’s our friend.”

“Then who takes Koi’s side?”

At someone’s question, everyone paused, then one person offered a solution.

“Koi made his intentions clear, so we just support that. We just cheer Ash on, no matter what he does.”

“Right, as long as it’s not a crime.”

“Surely he wouldn’t kidnap or imprison Koi, would he?”

Everyone burst into laughter at one person’s remark. Asserting that Ashley Miller, of all people, would never do such a thing.

“Mmm…”

Unable to suppress the moan escaping his lips, Koi squeezed his eyes shut. Ashley lifted his head, then pressed his lips against the other side.

With the kiss continuing, Koi couldn’t collect himself.

Between classes, the two couldn’t wait for even a short time, hiding away alone to kiss and touch each other. During those fleeting moments, he was parched and didn’t know what to do, when a teacher happened to cancel a class. Koi received Ashley’s text and, avoiding others’ eyes, slipped behind a secluded building. And immediately, Ashley snatched him up and showered him with kisses.

“Haa…”

After their lips finally parted, Koi, catching his breath, leaned his head against Ashley’s chest. He couldn’t stand without leaning his whole body on him. Ashley’s hand continued to knead his butt, but that had become quite familiar now.

When we kiss, he touches my butt.

That’s all he thought. Then should I touch Ashley’s butt too…? The thought vaguely crossed his mind, but his body wouldn’t move as he wished.

He still needed more courage for that. Koi silently leaned on him, letting Ashley touch him all over.

More important things were on his mind.

“The kids have been talking about you all day…”

To Koi’s still-dazed words, Ashley simply responded, “Really?” What was important to him right now was how he could touch the Koi in his arms more, and as much as he wanted. He lowered his head to kiss him again, but Koi subtly avoided it and said.

“Doesn’t it bother you? Everyone’s just talking however they want.”

“Not really, I don’t feel anything.”

Ashley only looked at Koi’s lips. Should I put my hand inside his pants? His jeans look loose enough, so it should be possible. Seeing this, Koi mumbled, embarrassed.

“I know I said we should, but still…”

Seeing Ashley pretend to be okay for his sake made him anxious. Maybe he really was okay. Ashley probably wouldn’t care what the other kids were saying. But Koi felt differently.

“You’re such a cool and good guy, and it makes me angry when they talk like that.”

Actually, Ashley wanted to shout that it wasn’t true. How amazing of a boyfriend am I, to endure such bad rumors for my sake? Seeing him bite his lip, upset, Ashley said.

“It’s enough if only you know I’m a cool and good person.”

Koi hesitated, then carefully raised his eyes. Ashley, as if he had been waiting, stole a kiss from his lips and smiled.

“I’m satisfied if I’m only a cool and good person to you.”

Of course. To Koi, no one was as cool as Ashley. And it would always be that way. Koi’s heart swelled, and he barely managed to open his mouth. Even then, it took quite a bit of courage to bring the words that had risen to his throat to the tip of his tongue.

“I… like you, Ash.”

At the difficult and shy confession, Ashley smiled, then slipped his hand into Koi’s pants and gripped his butt.