L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 114

Sometimes laughing, sometimes chatting aimlessly, the two of them walked together for a while.

Before long, the road disappeared from view, replaced by overgrown grass and wild trees. There wasn’t a soul in sight, not even the sound of insects. After walking for a bit through the silent, desolate stretch that looked almost abandoned, Koi finally came to a stop.

A chilly wind swept past them. Ashley also stopped beside him and looked toward the RV parked just a few steps ahead.

Koi couldn’t bring himself to look up at Ashley’s face. He worked his dry mouth hard, forcing down saliva to wet his throat. Doing his best to sound nonchalant, he spoke in a light tone.

“The house is... kinda small, right?”

He worried that his voice might be shaking. What was Ashley thinking?

Gathering all his courage, Koi lifted his head. Clutching his free hand tightly, he looked up at Ashley—who finally lowered his gaze.

The sun had already set, and the moon now illuminated the two of them in its place. The bright ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) moonlight lit Ashley’s face so clearly that Koi could see every detail. Ashley was smiling at him—just like always.

“Well, I guess this is where we part for today.”

“Uh... y-yeah.”

Koi stammered in surprise at how casual Ashley’s reaction was. Ashley lowered the bicycle from his shoulder and stood facing him.

“I don’t want to say goodbye.”

He said it with a wry smile, and Koi hesitated before replying.

“M-me neither.”

Ashley smiled again and leaned down. Without thinking, Koi lifted his chin and closed his eyes. Ashley’s arms wrapped naturally around his waist, pulling him close as their lips met in a firm embrace.

Koi felt like his knees would give out from the way Ashley’s tongue gently stroked the inside of his mouth with such skill. Trying his best to match the movement, he sensed Ashley smiling against his lips. Embarrassed by his clumsiness, Koi started to pull away, but Ashley only held him tighter.

“It’s okay, Koi. You did great.”

Ashley grinned and kissed the tip of Koi’s nose playfully. Realizing he wasn’t being teased, Koi blushed and gave a shy smile. Seeing that, Ashley kissed him once more on the lips and finally let go.

“Go on inside, Koi. You should wash off the pheromones.”

“Ah, right.”

He was definitely covered in Ashley’s pheromones by now. Thinking about how he needed to wash up and do laundry before his dad got home, Koi reluctantly turned away.

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

“See you tomorrow.”

“Yeah. I’ll come pick you up.”

Ashley responded to Koi’s farewell. He quickly propped his bike against the RV and watched Koi’s back as he opened the door. Just before going inside, Koi turned to look back at him. Ashley smiled and waved, one hand in his pocket. Koi hesitated on the spot, staring at him.

I don’t want to say goodbye.

Ashley’s feelings were clearly the same—it was easy to see—but they couldn’t keep stalling.

“Go on.”

Ashley said again, and only then did Koi wave back and close the RV door.

...Haa.

Now alone, Koi finally exhaled all the breath he’d been holding and released the tension in his shoulders. Because Ashley had brushed it off so easily, all his own secrecy and anxiety suddenly felt silly.

Ash isn’t that kind of guy.

He’d thought Ashley might be disappointed or hate him—how insulting that was, in hindsight. The thought made Koi feel guilty.

But there was no time to dwell on it. His dad would be home soon, and he had to wash up and do the laundry before then. Koi hurriedly turned on the lights and got moving. He stepped into the cramped shower, scrubbing himself clean, thinking he couldn’t wait for tomorrow to come—just to see Ashley again.

*

Ashley remained standing even after the door closed, watching the RV in silence. After a while, the light came on inside, casting a dim glow through a cracked window. Seeing the silhouette of the paper cups lined up on the window frame, Ashley recalled something Koi had said.

So that’s the dandelion.

He imagined Koi carefully watering it in the cup—and found he couldn’t laugh anymore. He didn’t want to leave. But if Koi’s father came back and saw him there, it would be a disaster. Not wanting to put Koi in a difficult position, Ashley finally turned away, his face growing serious as he sank deep into thought.

So this is where Koi lives.

Koi had been right. It was far beyond anything Ashley had feared. He hadn’t even imagined a person could live like this. Now he understood why Koi had tried so hard to hide it from him.

Was I too obvious?

Did Koi notice my reaction? The uncertainty still made him nervous. Judging from Koi’s response, he’d managed to keep it under control. But honestly, Ashley had been fighting the overwhelming urge to drag Koi out of there and take him back home. How could anyone live like this? Did he even have a room? How could something so small and old be called a house?

He had so many things he wanted to say—but he held it all back. Koi had been embarrassed, trying desperately to hide it, and finally worked up the courage to show him a part of his life. If Ashley had freaked out in that moment, Koi would have been hurt.

But the truth was, it broke his heart to see the person he cherished most living in such poverty. The worn-out RV, less valuable than even Ashley’s own car, kept haunting his thoughts. He felt deeply sorry for Koi, but honestly, it looked barely a step above being homeless.

〈You should’ve just used him and thrown him away.〉

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Dominique Miller’s cold voice echoed in his ears. Ashley finally understood why his father had looked down on Koi so much. He must’ve known about Koi’s situation. When Ashley manifested, the secretary must’ve met Koi’s father, and all of this would’ve been reported in detail.

That’s why he was so scornful and degrading.

〈I didn’t raise you to mate with some mutt.〉

Ashley bit his lip to swallow the rage. What the hell is so great about money and pedigree? To treat Koi like trash just because of that—it was unbearable. But even harder to bear was how powerless he felt.

〈Nothing is more foolish than believing teenage love lasts forever.〉

The secretary’s mocking tone played back in his mind. And she wasn’t wrong—he really was just a helpless teenager.

Even now, look at him. He couldn’t do a damn thing.

Ashley got into the car his father had bought and let out a long, slow sigh.

The ring he ordered on the East Coast still wasn’t finished. It takes a long time to customize such things to fit your exact tastes. A year wasn’t unusual—sometimes it took several. He’d asked for it to be ready by graduation, but now his thoughts had changed.

At least the wedding ring—I’m never using his money for that.

If it came down to it, he might not have a choice, but he wanted to make that ring with his own strength. That’s the right thing to do. There’s no way he’d give Koi a ring bought with money from the man who called him a “mongrel.” Absolutely not.

What kind of face will Koi make when he gets it?

Just imagining it calmed him. A small smile formed on Ashley’s face, and little by little, his confidence returned.

I can go back.

Clutching the steering wheel tighter, he made a vow.

We can go back to the way things were.

I’ll make it happen—no matter what.

*

“Hey! Ashley Miller, you bastard!”

The moment Ashley walked into school with Koi, his old hockey teammates exploded in chaos.

Huge guys from all over came rushing in with no regard for personal space, and Ashley had to stumble backward again and again as they piled on him. Koi watched the scene from a short distance with a warm smile.

“What the hell, man? You didn’t contact anyone for months!”

“Was the East Coast really that amazing, you jerk?!”

“You know how much we suffered without you? You bastard! You bastard!”

They rubbed his hair, slapped his back, stomped their feet—it was a mess. Ashley could only laugh awkwardly and deflect. But even amid the chaos, this noisy, rowdy mess made him feel at ease.

As long as he stayed here, maybe those miserable memories from the East Coast would fade. Maybe his fear about the future would, too.

“We even wanted to complain to the coach, but we needed you to do it.”

At Bill’s grumbling, the others nodded.

“The season just ended in a blur.”

“How could you disappear for so long? We really thought something had happened to you.”

Their expressions were a mix of curiosity and concern. Ashley, deciding he didn’t want to hide anymore, took a deep breath.

“Something did happen. And it’s the reason I couldn’t play.”

The crowd instantly fell silent. Ashley glanced around at their tense, waiting faces, and finally opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I... manifested.”