L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 53

“Thanks again for today, Ash.”

Koi stood by the roadside, his face flushed red as he spoke. Ashley pulled shopping bags filled with several new outfits from the trunk and frowned.

“Are you sure I don’t need to walk you home?”

“Yeah, I’m sure. It’s just right over there. Really close.”

Koi quickly added,

“It’s a narrow alley. Cars can’t really get through. It’s better to say goodbye here.”

He could’ve asked Ashley to walk with him the rest of the way—but he didn’t. Not once. Since Koi was clearly determined to say goodbye here, Ashley didn’t press further.

I’m not Koi’s boyfriend.

Ashley whispered to himself. He was still just a friend. For now. So he decided to let Koi have it his way.

“...Alright.”

Whew.

Koi let out an unconscious sigh of relief, then looked up at Ashley, gripping the heavy shopping bags with both hands. It was nearly midnight, and the world around them was cloaked in deep darkness.

Time had passed like a dream. Koi had gone in and out of the fitting room several times, changing into a different outfit each time. Whenever he came out, Ashley had fixed his shirt collar or adjusted the waistband of his pants, gently brushing Koi’s neck and waist to straighten things out. Eventually, he even offered to help Koi change in the fitting room.

But that was the one thing Koi refused, even to the end. The reflection of himself in the fitting room mirror was pitiful, and he couldn’t bear to show his bare body to anyone. Especially not to Ashley. No—because it was Ashley, he wanted to avoid it even more. Ashley had an objectively attractive body. If he saw Koi’s, he’d only find it pathetic. Maybe he already knew, but Koi didn’t want to give him physical proof.

After they finished shopping, Ashley had bought him a homecoming suit, a tie, a watch, and even some everyday clothes. Koi thought it was way too much, but once again, Ashley talked him around, and by the time he realized it, they were already in the car heading to a restaurant.

The place Ashley took him to was absurdly fancy—so famous and in-demand that Koi later found out it was booked solid three months in advance.

Even there, things weren’t any different. Koi stared blankly at the menu, unable to guess what any of the dishes were supposed to be, even though everything was written in English. The ingredients, the names—none of it made sense. Ashley, noticing, asked kindly,

〈Want me to order for you?〉

Of course, Koi nodded without hesitation. And that’s when he realized: there are ways to enjoy food beyond just the taste. Because of his body’s insensitivity to flavors, he’d always assumed most food was basically the same. That had been a huge mistake. The problem wasn’t his body—it was that he’d only ever eaten the same bland things.

The food and objects he’d only ever seen in pictures, or hadn’t even known existed, filled him with excitement. What stuck with him most were the desserts. Until now, he’d thought all sweets pretty much tasted the same. Honestly, he’d figured chewing on the sole of a shoe and a tough steak wouldn’t feel that different.

But macarons were different. The texture when he bit into them, the way they melted in his mouth, and more than anything—the sweetness. It was a sweetness unlike anything he’d ever tasted. For the first time, Koi understood what it meant to say something was delicious.

And it wasn’t just the macarons. The chocolate, the cheesecake—everything was good. Koi completely fell for the soft, cold cake that melted on his tongue. He couldn’t finish all the course dishes Ashley had ordered, but he cleared both the ice cream and the cake that came with dessert. When Ashley saw that, he called the server over to ask if they could bring one more dessert for Koi, and Koi ended up finishing two dessert plates with warm coffee.

〈I’ll make sure to always keep desserts in mind from now on.〉

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Ashley smiled as he spoke, watching Koi beam with happiness in front of the empty plates. Ashley rarely ate sweets himself, so Koi had almost never had anything like that in his house. Still, Koi quickly tried to refuse the offer, not wanting to inconvenience him.

〈No, today was more than enough. Really, I’m good.〉

〈No, I mean it. I want to do this for you.〉

Ashley replied.

Sitting across the table, he smiled as he said it. Koi found himself staring, completely dazed. Once again, his chest felt like it was fluttering, and his fingertips tingled. Even in the middle of a spacious restaurant filled with people, all Koi could see was Ashley. His eyes, his ears—every sense felt tuned to him and him alone. What was this feeling?

Koi kept asking himself, but even when he got home, he hadn’t found an answer.

“Thanks for walking me, Ash.”

Koi looked up at Ashley as he expressed his gratitude. Ashley, standing in front of him, was silent for a moment before speaking.

“Koi.”

“Yeah?”

He answered right away, and Ashley smiled.

“Did you have fun today?”

“Of course. I had a great time.”

Koi nodded without hesitation. Ashley reached out his hand.

Oh.

That large hand touched his cheek. The night air was cold, but the spot where Ashley touched him burned hot. Koi held his breath without realizing. Ashley looked at him and asked,

“Do you know what that means?”

“...Huh?”

The unexpected question made Koi blink. Ashley’s voice stayed soft and kind.

“Koi, think about it. What I did for you today, and why I did it.”

“...”

This content is taken from freёnovelkiss.com.

“If you really think about it, you’ll know. You already have the answer.”

His hand softly cupped Koi’s cheek, tracing along his skin. Koi let out a trembling breath and whispered,

“...Me?”

“Yes.”

Ashley nodded.

“The answer’s already inside you.”

Ashley held back the urge to kiss him and instead offered a smile. As Koi stood there, still confused and staring at him, Ashley said goodbye and turned around.

Once in the driver’s seat, he glanced in the rearview mirror—and saw Koi still standing there, watching him. Ashley wanted nothing more than to jump out of the car, pull him into his arms, and smother him with kisses—but instead, he looked away and sped off.

I’m going to confess.

As he drove down the empty street, faster than necessary, the decision crystallized in his mind. He would do it at the homecoming party. He’d go pick Koi up, attend the party with him, dance, drink some awful punch. And when the moment felt right, he’d take Koi to the tree-lined path behind the school. And he’d say it.

The one I like... is you.

His past relationships had always started naturally and ended just the same. No dramatic confessions, no heart-racing feelings like this. But this time was different. He was going to confess to Koi. He was going to beg him to go out with him.

And Koi...

Ashley pictured Koi’s flushed face looking down at him. Those twitching ears, that helpless expression. And maybe—just maybe—he’d say:

I like you too.

Just imagining it made Ashley’s heart feel like it would explode. He let out a groan that sounded almost like a pained sigh.

Koi, please figure it out soon.

Koi’s confused face as he looked up at him came back in vivid detail. Ashley exhaled a hot breath and prayed, desperately.

Please... let me hold you. Let me kiss you.

*

Luckily, his dad wasn’t home yet when he got back. Koi quietly crept into the dark motorhome and flipped on the small bulb. As the dim interior came into view, the first thing he did was find a /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ place to hide the bags. The motorhome was cramped, with barely any space for storage.

He had no choice but to pull out the old, torn box of clothes he kept under his low bed frame and replace it with the shopping bags. He put the old box in front again to cover it. It stuck out awkwardly, but that was fine. His father was always drunk, never paid attention. Whether things disappeared or appeared, he never noticed.

Koi finished hiding everything and let out a long sigh, then quickly washed up. He folded the clothes he’d worn today and tucked them carefully in with his other hidden clothes. Then he changed into the old shirt and worn-out sweats he usually slept in and crawled into bed.

Once the silence settled in, the events of the day came rushing back. No matter how he thought about it, it didn’t feel real.

Maybe... maybe I was dreaming until just now.

But when he turned his head slightly, he saw the corner of the clothes box sticking out from under the bed. That reminded him that everything that happened today was very, very real.

Koi let out another deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart, and rolled onto his side. His chest thumped wildly again. How could a day like this even exist?

He could still feel the cold, sweet taste of dessert lingering on his tongue. With his eyes closed, memories flooded back, and one question rose naturally to the surface.

Why did Ashley do all of that for me today?