L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 152

"That was really fun, wasn’t it?"

As soon as the movie ended, Julie asked. Koi nodded, his face slightly flushed, agreeing with her. The two of them walked out of the theater and strolled down the street, continuing to talk about the film and the actors. Julie was witty, and Koi genuinely enjoyed the conversation. Before long, they had reached the street where the subway station came into view.

"I had a great time today," Julie said, standing in front of Koi.

Koi smiled in return and opened his mouth.

"Me too. Thanks to you, I got to see a great movie. Thank you."

It was also his first time eating caramel popcorn. Looking back, it made him realize just how much he’d missed out on in life. Up until now, it felt like his entire life had just been about coming to the East and meeting Ashley.

So now that he’d achieved his goal... what was he supposed to do?

For a moment, he stood there blankly, frozen in place.

Then what about the future, me...

As his mind emptied out and he stood still, Julie looked up at him—and misunderstood. A soft, delicate hand, nothing like a man's rough hand, cupped Koi’s cheek, and she raised her face. Her lips moved closer, and Koi simply watched. Her eyelashes slowly lowered, her eyes gently closed, and her lips parted slightly with anticipation.

<Koi.>

"Ah...!"

Suddenly, without even realizing it, Koi brushed her hand away and stepped back. His wide-open eyes caught sight of Julie’s shocked face. Only then did Koi register what he’d just done—and his face instantly drained of color.

"J-Julie, I... I’m sorry. It’s just that... uh, I..."

He stammered, struggling for words, and although his mind was in chaos, one thing kept surfacing—only one thing came to mind. That gentle voice calling his name, those soft lips, the trembling breath, the arms that had held him so tightly it hurt, and—

<I want you to be happy.>

Ashley smiled at him.

<Very much. The most.>

Koi’s eyes flew open wide, and he stopped breathing. Ashley looked at him kindly and spoke.

<I hope you're the happiest person in the world.>

I can’t.

It hit him like a lightning strike.

Julie, having recovered first, spoke up.

"Maybe I rushed things a little."

"Huh?"

Koi blinked, finally looking down at her. Only now did he remember what he had just been doing. His face quickly turned pale. He’d completely forgotten about Julie. Realizing that about himself made his head go even more blank. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Julie saw Koi’s expression and smiled like it was nothing.

"Well then, I’ll get going. You have my number, right? You’re the one who should reach out next."

With her index and middle finger, she pressed firmly against Koi’s chest, gave him a bright smile, then turned and walked toward the subway station. Koi stood there dazed, watching her retreating figure, and only snapped back to his senses once she had completely disappeared from view.

A deep sigh escaped from his lips. What the hell did I just do? He stood there for a while before aimlessly starting to walk. It was the weekend, and all around him, families and couples passed by laughing happily. Only Koi walked alone, looking downcast.

"Ah!"

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Someone bumped hard into his shoulder, but he didn’t even hear an apology. The man had already walked far ahead. Koi looked at him briefly, then resumed walking.

The chaotic city noise buzzed on around him, but none of it registered in Koi’s ears. His mind was filled with only one thing.

Why did I react like that?

More than surprise... it was rejection. That would be more accurate. He’d thought he’d had a good time with Julie. He’d even felt a bit of a crush. So then why...

Without any answers, he returned home. Stepping into his damp, basement room, he finally managed to exhale the breath he’d been holding.

He wanted to collapse onto the bed—but he couldn’t. He couldn’t treat the precious clothes Ashley had given him so carelessly.

He carefully unbuttoned the shirt one button at a time. To someone like Koi, who only ever wore worn-out T-shirts, this kind of white dress shirt felt foreign.

If Ashley hadn’t bought it for me, I never would’ve even considered trying something like this on.

As that thought crossed his mind, Koi’s hands began to slow. Ashley had bought him these clothes so that he could do well on his date with Julie.

I ruined it.

Of course. How could he possibly smile, joke, and fall for someone else?

The only person I like is you.

His hands, which had been clutching the buttons, slowly lost their strength. His arms dropped to his sides, limp. Koi stood there, motionless.

I never wanted to be just friends.

The thought rose up from nowhere. Ashley’s voice echoed in his ears again.

<I want you to be happy.>

Impossible.

Suddenly, his vision blurred. Koi didn’t move from where he stood.

How can I be happy... if you’re not with me?

<Let’s be friends.>

No. I can’t. I just can’t. Because, because I...

The tears welling in his eyes finally fell, rolling down his cheeks and dripping to the floor. Koi tried to hold them back, but as soon as one tear dropped, another filled its place. And another. And another.

In the end, he couldn’t stop himself. He rubbed his eyes with the backs of his hands and cried hard. He’d thought he was over it. He’d told himself this was just to tie off loose ends, that all that remained was guilt—and he’d come this far with that belief.

But it was all a lie. How could he have thought that way? That he could forget you, let go of his feelings for you, and put an end to everything.

Even now... I still like you this much.

But to Ashley, it was already over. He would never look back at Koi again. If he was going to, he wouldn’t have said they should be friends. Maybe that had been his way of drawing the line—having sensed Koi’s feelings.

My feelings haven’t changed at all.

And once he realized that, the tears wouldn’t stop. They just kept falling down his cheeks.

*

"What the hell happened?"

The following evening, Ariel called Koi out with a furious face. Dragged out as if under interrogation, Koi sat across from his longtime friend in a cheap bar, his head lowered. Ariel didn’t let up.

"Julie told me she got the feeling you weren’t into her. That’s not true, right? No guy would dislike someone like Julie."

"Of course not. I did like her."

"Then?"

Ariel’s tone sharpened. Koi had never been able to resist her since they were kids. Eventually, overwhelmed by the cheerleader’s charisma, he confessed what had happened. Ariel listened with a frown, but when Koi got to the part where he rejected Julie’s kiss, she let out a long, dramatic sigh.

"What the hell were you thinking? You do know that was a huge insult, right?"

"I know. I feel awful about it."

When Koi answered honestly, Ariel furrowed her brow and asked,

"Was that your first kiss? No, right? You and Ash must’ve done everything. I remember him being pretty fast with his hands."

"T-That’s..."

It was an assumption on Ariel’s part, but Koi’s face turned bright red in response. Seeing his reaction, Ariel raised a suspicious eyebrow.

"What’s with that look? You’re acting like Ashley didn’t even lay a finger on you."

"..."

Koi remained silent. Ariel’s eyes widened.

"No way. You’re kidding, right?"

Her voice rose in disbelief.

"Are you serious? He didn’t touch you at all? Ashley Miller?!"

Koi, panicked, quickly shook his head.

"N-No, of course not. W-We kissed, at least."

"Kiiiissed?"

Ariel dragged out the word mockingly, then let out a sigh like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

"You two dated for over a year, didn’t you? And all you ever did was kiss? That’s it?"

Koi was mortified, but ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) he had no choice but to be honest. It was something he’d have to get over eventually anyway. Still, he couldn’t stop his face from burning as he lowered his head.

"I-I was... clumsy..."

Ariel stared at him for a moment in silence, then downed her beer in one go. She slammed the empty glass on the table and narrowed her eyes, muttering in a low voice.

"Be honest. What the hell did that bastard do to you?"