L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 158

Ashley simply stared at Koi's face.

The sudden tension made Koi immediately regret saying anything. Why did I bring it up? If Ashley wasn't going to say anything, I could’ve just pretended not to notice. Why stir the air and make things weird?

But if he really had done something to upset Ashley, Koi couldn’t just ignore it and walk away. Ashley was the one who reached out first, even though Koi had been too hesitant to make contact. He had even made time for Koi despite being so busy. If Koi messed up Ashley’s mood and then just brushed it off, wouldn’t that be incredibly rude?

With a serious expression, Koi sat there, enduring the heavy tension and waiting for Ashley’s response. After what felt like forever, Ashley—who had been staring right through him—finally spoke.

“Are you happy, Koi?”

The quiet voice held none of the meaning Koi had expected. Startled by the sudden question, Koi hesitated for a moment. Why would he ask that? He didn’t know Ashley’s intention, but the meaning was clear enough. So he answered honestly.

“Yeah.”

It was the truth. Lately, everything had been going well. It was the first time in his life he’d experienced days like this—so much so that every morning he had to pinch his cheek to be sure it was real. He had become friends with someone he once admired from NASA. Ashley had reached out first and even had a meal with him. Until he noticed something off in Ashley’s mood, Koi had been genuinely happy.

Ashley, confirming the sincerity in Koi’s expression, smiled faintly.

“That’s good.”

Koi paused when he saw him smile. Was that really a smile? The corners of his lips were up, and his eyes were curved—but something felt off. There was an eerie sense of contradiction. Ashley was smiling, but somehow...

“I hope your date tomorrow goes well. I hope it makes you really happy.”

With that final remark, Ashley pressed a button, and the click of the car unlocking echoed softly in Koi’s ears. So this car had that feature too, he thought vaguely.

Silence settled between them.

Ashley had said goodbye. Koi should get out now. And yet, he couldn’t move. Koi hesitated, hand hovering near the door handle, then froze. After a moment’s hesitation, he turned back and asked, just once—

“What about you, Ash?”

Ashley looked at him. His face had returned to an expressionless mask.

“Are you... happy?”

The silence that followed wasn’t long, but Koi’s mind raced. Of course he’s happy. He’s Ashley Miller. Anyone would be jealous of his life. He’s got everything.

But... that’s not all there is, is it?

A quiet voice of protest rose inside him. Ten years ago, Koi had made an irreversible mistake. Ashley’s face from that day had never left his memory—it had gripped his ankles and refused to let go. If he were ever granted one chance to return to the past, he would go back to that day without hesitation. If only he could take back what he’d said... he would ask for nothing else.

But that was impossible. Even more impossible than becoming an astronaut. So all he could do now was never make that same mistake again.

Ashley didn’t respond. His face remained unreadable, completely void of emotion. The silence felt endless. Once again, regret washed over Koi.

“S-sorry.”

His chest tightened suddenly, voice cracking mid-word. He took a deep breath and quickly added:

“That was out of line. I should go. Bye.”

He fumbled through the words and turned in a rush. Just as he grabbed the door handle to escape the stifling air of the car—

Ashley suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm.

“...!”

Before Koi could even process what was happening, he was pulled in—and their lips met.

For a moment, Koi couldn’t register what had happened. His eyes widened, his body frozen, even his breath caught. But Ashley didn’t care about his reaction. He rubbed against Koi’s lips with his tongue, pushed past, and entered his mouth.

Friends don’t kiss like this.

That thought barely flickered through Koi’s dazed mind. Ashley’s thick tongue twirled and pressed against Koi’s, wrapping around it as it hesitated.

Kissing is okay... maybe just lips is fine?

He blankly tried to justify it—only to realize:

No—tongue kissing really isn’t something friends do.

Even in his confusion, the kiss didn’t stop. Koi couldn’t bring himself to push Ashley away. He let himself be swept along.

Maybe things are different in the East...

He thought vaguely, his eyes half-lidded, his mind foggy. Then, finally, with his eyes ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) fully closed, it struck him—

I’m kissing Ash.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

The memories of all those spontaneous, stolen kisses came flooding back. His body trembled. But this wasn’t like before. It wasn’t sweet. It wasn’t gentle. Ashley’s kiss was ravenous—he sucked on Koi’s lips like he meant to devour him, licking deep into his mouth, nipping and biting at his tongue.

Yet despite that, Koi couldn’t contain his arousal.

Forget the friendship, forget Ariel’s manual—none of it mattered anymore. Koi responded the way he’d been taught. He rubbed his tongue against Ashley’s, chased his lips whenever they parted, and kissed him again. A trembling hand moved from Ashley’s cheek, down to his neck, his shoulder, his chest.

Do lawyers even kiss like this with their friends...?

Koi wondered, dazed.

But even he couldn’t deny it anymore when Ashley yanked open his shirt and touched his chest.

Ashley understands what friendship is better than I do.

So what the hell is this kiss?

Just as he was thinking that, Ashley leaned in deeper. As their mouths rejoined, Koi looped his arms around Ashley’s back. When their lips briefly parted, Koi let out a deep, unconscious gasp.

The next kiss was softer. More delicate. Their lips brushed in short, pecking motions, chup-chup, like a sparrow pecking at crumbs. It left Koi so desperate he let out a soft moan without realizing.

Ashley might’ve laughed then. Koi couldn’t check—his eyes were still closed—because before he could open them, their lips met again. Ashley’s tongue slipped back in, gently tapping Koi’s front teeth.

Koi’s heart was pounding out of control. His breath shook, and without thinking, he exhaled into Ashley’s mouth.

The wide luxury van suddenly felt unbearably cramped. Ashley tried to climb over Koi, but his leg caught on the console. He cursed under his breath.

Koi, equally aroused, let out a laugh without realizing it. Ashley, almost as if infected by Koi’s laughter, smiled too—and kissed him again.

Ah. A short gasp later, their lips rejoined. Koi moved the hand resting on Ashley’s back. With his body now relaxed, it responded on instinct. As his hand shifted, he could feel the firm, muscular build beneath Ashley’s shirt.

Shivering with anticipation, Koi’s entire body trembled. Ashley’s large hand slipped under his shirt, caressed his chest, then rolled over a nipple and pinched it. Koi inhaled sharply, but the sensation that followed was more intense than the pain. Emboldened, he reached down and gave a squeeze.

Suddenly, Ashley pulled back. He moved away in one swift motion. Koi stared at him, wide-eyed.

Inside the quiet car, their ragged breaths echoed. Koi looked at Ashley, confused by the emotion he saw on his face.

Why is he looking at me like that...?

The answer came a moment later, in Ashley’s hoarse voice.

“What... was that?”

Koi blinked. He couldn’t understand why Ashley looked so shocked.

“Kissing means grabbing the ass, right?”

I just did what you taught me.

A strange, indignant feeling swelled up inside him. Ashley was the one who always grabbed Koi’s ass during their kisses. And now that Koi finally worked up the courage to do the same, Ashley looked at him like he’d committed a crime.

But Ashley saw it differently. Sure, he’d groped Koi plenty of times—but Koi had always just squirmed shyly. He never imagined Koi would ever dare return the gesture. Yet now...

Ten years isn’t short.

Koi had grown up. He must’ve experienced a lot. Ashley knew that in his head—but somehow, his heart refused to accept it.

A long, slow breath escaped him, rising from deep in his chest. With a twisted expression, Ashley murmured:

“This is why I didn’t want to see you again.”

Koi’s heart plummeted. What... does that mean?

Even as Koi sat there stunned, Ashley didn’t explain.

He wanted to say: Let’s go back to being friends. Sorry for kissing you so suddenly.

But what came out was something entirely different.

“You should cancel your date tomorrow.”

“...Why?”

Koi asked, and Ashley reached out. When his thumb brushed against Koi’s lips, Koi flinched. Ashley narrowed his eyes.

“With them that swollen, what’re you going to say?”

Koi couldn’t see for himself, but the throbbing spot Ashley’s thumb touched told him it was true. He hesitated and muttered:

“I’ll say... a bug bit me...”

Ashley’s thumb paused—then slowly pulled away.

“So now I’m a bug?”

“N-no! You know I didn’t mean it like that!”

Koi shook his head in a panic, denying it, but Ashley remained expressionless.

“Do what you want. Whether you go or not is up to you.”

Before Koi could say anything, Ashley smiled and added:

“As long as it makes you happy.”

Koi hesitated. A heavy pressure settled over his chest—he felt suffocated, anxious. Watching Ashley’s face carefully, he finally spoke.

“Ash... do you really want me to be happy?”

“Of course. That will never change.”

His reply was unwavering. And because it was the truth, Ashley could say it without hesitation. Smiling, he continued:

“For the past ten years, that’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

There wasn’t a trace of a lie on his face. Koi couldn’t guess what Ashley was truly thinking, but he did know this part was genuine.

“...I’ll cancel the date.”

“Okay.”

When Koi finally said it, Ashley nodded without hesitation. Then, without warning, he took out his wallet. As Koi stared in confusion, Ashley pulled out a card and handed it to him.

“Get her a gift. Something expensive. That’ll cheer her up. She’ll forget about the broken date in no time.”

Koi’s eyes widened. He stared at Ashley, unable to believe what he was hearing. But Ashley didn’t waver. He just held out the card, waiting.

Slowly, Koi’s eyes began to shine. Ashley saw it—his face, always so honest, was now a swirl of disappointment, confusion, and something else.

And then, without a word, Koi opened the door and got out of the car.

Clack.

The sound of the door shutting was the only signal that Koi was gone.

Ashley only realized he’d really left when silence filled the car—without even a goodbye.