L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 15

Everyone cheered as they emptied their drinks.

Ashley, having finished his cola except for the ice, placed his empty glass down just as someone shouted from inside the mansion.

"Ash, the fridge is empty!"

Ashley pushed his sunglasses up onto his forehead and sat up from the beach chair.

"Empty? Completely?"

"This is all that’s left."

The guy gestured with his chin toward the armful of drinks he was carrying. Ashley let out a sigh and got up.

"Alright."

"I’ll go with you, Ash!"

Ariel, who had been lying on a beach chair, called out.

Ashley waved her off.

"It’s fine. I’ll go alone."

Leaving behind his noisy friends, he made his way toward the garage.

It wasn’t until he climbed into the driver’s seat that he realized he was only wearing loose surfer trunks. But it didn’t really matter.

He was just going to grab some drinks nearby.

At least, that’s what he thought.

But as he waited at a stoplight, he suddenly changed his mind and turned the wheel.

*

"What do you mean you don’t have it, you piece of shit?!"

Drunk and furious, the man hurled curses, causing Koi to shrink back as he tried to de-escalate the situation.

"I’m sorry, sir, we haven’t gotten our new stock in yet... I promise we’ll have it next time..."

Koi stammered out his apology, but the man was too wasted to listen.

Then, suddenly, the man shoved him roughly.

"You little shit, you think I’m a joke?"

"Ah!"

Koi stumbled and fell back, landing hard on the floor.

Before he could recover, the man’s hand flew across his face in a brutal slap.

Dizziness hit him instantly, his vision swimming from the impact.

"Ah... ugh..."

Koi clutched his burning cheek, wincing in pain.

The man spat out another insult and swung his fist again, but his drunken state made him miss.

"Fuck this."

Muttering angrily, the man stormed out of the store.

Finally alone, Koi staggered to his feet, grimacing.

His ear was ringing.

His cheek throbbed and would probably be swollen by morning.

He felt tears pricking at his eyes, but he took a deep breath and forced them back.

There was no time to cry.

As he walked around the store, tidying up the shelves, the sound of the door chime suddenly rang out.

Koi turned his head without thinking—and froze.

"Oh."

Ashley stood at the entrance.

For a brief second, Koi was stunned, then quickly forced a smile.

But his body betrayed him.

"Ouch!"

The pain in his cheek made him let out an involuntary yelp.

Ashley immediately stepped forward.

"What happened? Are you hurt?"

Koi had unconsciously raised his hand to his cheek.

Now, with Ashley standing right in front of him, he looked up, stammering.

"Oh, no, I just..."

Koi hesitated before mumbling,

"There was a little... accident."

"You got hit."

Ashley never danced around the truth.

Koi averted his gaze, muttering under his breath.

"Just a drunk customer... causing a scene. That’s all."

"..."

"But anyway, what brings you here? Are you buying something?"

Koi quickly changed the subject before Ashley could say anything else.

His voice was bright and cheerful, exactly the same as before.

His eyes still sparkled, his voice still carried that same warmth.

The only difference was the deep red swelling on one side of his face.

Ashley opened his mouth to say something, but stopped.

Koi clearly didn’t want to talk about it.

And really, Ashley had no right to say anything.

He was just here to buy drinks.

That’s all this was.

But then his gaze landed on Koi’s uniform—wrinkled and slightly dirty from being shoved around. His bruised cheek stood out against his pale skin.

Like this, Koi looked small.

Fragile.

Pathetic, even.

"Where are the drinks?"

"Huh? Oh, this way."

Koi quickly opened the refrigerator.

"What do you want? How much?"

Ashley reached out to grab something but stopped.

If he emptied the fridge, Koi would just have to restock it.

So instead, he lowered his hand and said,

"I’ll take a whole box. Where do you keep them?"

"Huh?"

Koi blinked in surprise.

"They won’t be cold, though. You okay with that?"

"It’s fine."

Ashley replied casually.

"I put ice in mine anyway."

"Haha—ow."

Koi laughed at the meaningless joke but immediately winced in pain.

"Wait here, I’ll grab them. What do you want?"

Ashley shrugged.

"Anything."

"Got it."

Koi turned to head to the back, and Ashley followed without thinking.

Inside the storage room, Koi scanned the stacks of drinks before picking out mango cola.

"Oh."

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Just as he was about to lift the box, a long arm reached past him and took it instead.

Startled, Koi turned around.

Ashley was standing right behind him.

And that wasn’t all.

Ashley grabbed three more boxes of mango cola and carried them out.

Koi, still dazed, hurried after him.

"Is that enough?"

"Yeah, ring it up."

Ashley placed the boxes on the counter and handed over his card.

As Koi slid the card into the reader, he asked,

"Having a party?"

"..."

Ashley didn’t answer right away.

Seeing Koi like this—working through the pain while he himself had shown up in just his swim trunks—left him feeling strangely guilty.

Why did Koi always look so pitiful?

Ashley’s gaze fell to Koi’s [N O V E L I G H T] head.

His hair looked soft, messy but full.

He was staring at it when Koi suddenly looked up.

Their eyes met, and Ashley flinched slightly.

Koi smiled as brightly as ever.

"Sounds fun. Have a good time!"

"...Yeah."

Ashley nodded absentmindedly, grabbing his card and lifting the boxes.

He stacked two under one arm and carried another with his free hand.

Just as he turned to leave, Koi picked up the last box.

"I’ll help you carry it."

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"It’s fine."

"I insist."

Koi smiled again, only to wince in pain.

Despite repeating the same mistake, he never seemed to learn.

Ashley felt both pity and amusement.

Even when Koi winced, his ears twitched slightly—his body betraying his excitement.

"...Do you like me that much?"

The words slipped out before Ashley could stop himself.

Koi’s eyes widened.

He didn’t answer.

But his face said everything.

Ashley chuckled.

Oh.

Koi watched in shock as Ashley suddenly reached out—

And ruffled his hair.

Koi stood frozen, completely mesmerized.

Ashley’s hand was warm against his head, his touch gentle.

The way he looked at Koi was even softer.

More than anything, the sight of Ashley smiling at him made Koi’s heart race.

Then, Ashley’s fingers slid down—

And cupped his cheek.

Thump.

The sound of his heartbeat pounded in his ears.

His chest tightened with an unbearable warmth.

He didn’t blink.

He just wanted to look at Ashley a little longer, take in every detail, hold onto this moment for as long as possible.

Even the heat of Ashley’s hand on his cheek, even the sound of his racing heart.

Ding.

The door chime rang softly.

The spell was broken.

Koi had to return to his world.

Ashley had to go back to his.

There was no choice but to whisper,

"...Goodbye, Ash."

Ashley hesitated before replying.

"Goodbye, Koi."

Only then did his hand fall away.

Koi watched as Ashley’s hand left his cheek, feeling a sudden emptiness.

"Go inside."

Ashley opened his car’s back door.

He set the two boxes down and turned to take the one from Koi.

"Thanks."

Koi watched him for a moment—then suddenly gasped.

"Aliping!"

"...What?"

Ashley turned around, confused.

Koi pointed excitedly at the stuffed toy, safely buckled into the backseat.

"This is the one I gave you, right?"

"...Oh. Yeah."

Ashley nodded, then frowned slightly.

"Wait. Aliping?"

"Yeah!"

Koi’s eyes sparkled.

"It’s a pink elephant! So, elephant plus pink—Aliping!"

Ashley stared at him blankly.

When did he name it?

But that wasn’t the real shock.

"...Wait. This thing was an elephant?"