L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 61

Ashley staggered, caught off guard by the sudden dizziness he’d never felt before. Koi, who was still held in Ashley’s grasp, also sensed something was wrong. He looked up—and startled, he quickly reached out his hand.

“A-Ash... are you okay?”

Koi asked, flustered. Ashley tried to say he was fine, but his mouth wouldn’t move. It wasn’t just his mouth—his whole body felt like lead, so heavy that he couldn’t move a single finger.

...What is this?

Just as he thought that, a sharp pain pierced deep inside his eyes. Ashley swallowed a groan and pressed both hands over his eyes.

“Ash!”

Koi shouted urgently. Ashley covered his eyes with one hand and raised the other, trying to stop him.

“I’m... fine.”

“Ash.”

“I’m sorry, Koi... Let’s talk later.”

With great difficulty, Ashley managed to finish speaking, then staggered as he turned to leave. Koi stood frozen, watching his back, and only belatedly tried to follow—but Bill saw Ashley first, and his friends quickly surrounded him.

“Ash, what’s wrong?”

“What happened? What is it?”

“Ash, snap out of it!”

Surrounded and carried away by the group, there was no room for Koi among them. His heart pounded with worry and unease as he stood there, only able to watch them disappear into the distance.

*

“What? He left early?”

Koi had run into Bill between classes and asked about Ashley’s condition, only to be surprised by the unexpected answer.

Bill let out a sigh and scratched the back of his head.

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“Yeah, he suddenly got way worse. It’s weird—he seemed fine when he came to school this morning.”

Then he paused and corrected himself.

“Well, he didn’t look great. I even asked if something happened yesterday since he seemed off, but he said nothing was wrong. I don’t get it. Do you know anything?”

“Uh, no...”

Koi shook his head in confusion.

“I don’t. I really don’t.”

It was the truth. Ashley’s condition had clearly worsened while they were together, but then he’d gone off with his friends, leaving Koi behind.

“So you don’t know the reason either?”

At Bill’s question, Koi nodded. Bill sighed again, turned, and walked off. Left alone, Koi had no choice but to head to his next class.

This class was one he shared with Ashley, but he didn’t show up. What could be going on? Koi was so worried he couldn’t concentrate at all.

Even after class, while the cheerleading team did stamina training, Koi kept thinking about Ashley. But neither Bill nor the other hockey team members knew what had happened afterward—and Ashley wasn’t answering his phone.

He won’t even pick up...

Koi, who had tried calling one last time after practice, stared in silence at the phone as it went to voicemail.

Rationally, going home now would’ve been the smart choice. To Ashley, he was just another classmate—nothing more. There was no point in pushing his way in.

But.

He couldn’t stop seeing Ashley lying there, clearly feverish, unable to even finish his soup. The image wouldn’t leave his mind, and it was unbearable.

In the end, Koi turned his bike and headed toward Ashley’s house.

I have to see for myself.

*

The mansion where Ashley lived was completely dark—no lights on anywhere. Night had already fallen, and the silhouette of the massive house loomed like some kind of monstrous beast. Koi, uneasy about the darkness he hadn’t noticed before, gathered his courage and walked toward the front door.

Everything was deathly silent. The silence, something he had never noticed when spending time with Ashley, now made his fear grow even deeper. But he didn’t turn back. He stayed because he knew—this darkness and silence were Ashley’s normal.

He’s probably in there alone right now.

According to Ashley, the staff weren’t around at this hour. In a mansion this big, Ashley was all alone.

Koi steadied himself and stepped carefully inside, carrying a bag with cream soup, mushroom soup, and cold medicine. He had skipped the vegetable soup, of course.

He had wanted to buy something nicer, but this was all he could afford. Hoping it might still help, he started up the stairs toward Ashley’s room. The distance felt endless. But at last, he arrived.

*

Haa, haa.

With every ragged breath, the dizziness worsened. Ashley lay there with his eyes closed, panting. His friends had helped him leave early and get home, but ever since collapsing onto his bed, he’d been like this.

Even lying down made him feel nauseous. Curled tightly into himself, he couldn’t move—only breathe.

His whole body was burning up. He’d never had a fever like this, no matter how bad a cold he’d caught in the past. And on top of that, an odd, sweet scent kept drifting around him. Strangely familiar. He’d smelled it before—he was sure of it. It was the same... but also not quite.

...Who was it?

‘Who’...?

“Ugh...”

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As soon as the memory surfaced, a stabbing pain struck his eyes. Ashley clutched his face with both hands and groaned. His entire body felt like it was on fire. The fever was driving him insane, but at the same time, a wave of languidness spread through him, making it hard to even lift a finger.

Only one thought rose in his mind.

I want to let this heat out. I need to pour it somewhere.

Koi.

Ashley whispered the name through heavy, gasping breaths. Koi. Koi. Koi. His eyes ached, his body was burning down to the bones, and yet that name kept repeating in his mouth. I want to hold you. I want to kiss you.

Ah, if I could hold you and pour everything I have into you...

A deep sigh slipped out, followed by a suppressed moan. He had never felt desire this intense before. If Koi were in front of him now, he wouldn’t hesitate. He would strip him down, lick him, suck him in, mark every inch of his skin. Even if Koi cried, trembled in fear, or begged him to stop, he wouldn’t.

You. You. You.

Ashley repeated it again and again. His mind was now full of only one thing.

I’ll make you my omega.

“Ash...”

Suddenly, a familiar voice pierced through his mind. Ashley gasped and blinked up from the bed.

Was this still a dream? A hallucination? Was he still lost in his own delusion? He didn’t know. He didn’t move. But after a moment, the voice came again.

“Ash, it’s me. Koi.”

The moment he realized whose voice it was, Ashley’s mind went completely blank.

“Ash...”

Koi hesitated at the doorway. Just like the rest of the mansion, the room was completely dark. Only the faint glow of night light filtered in through the window. Stepping into the dim room, Koi softly called his name again.

“Sorry for coming unannounced. °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° I called, but you didn’t answer...”

He trailed off, fumbling with the words he’d prepared.

“So, um... are you really sick? Is it another cold? I wasn’t sure, so I brought some soup and medicine...”

Koi stopped and waited for a response.

But still, Ashley didn’t say a word.

Maybe he’s mad at me.

Koi’s chest tightened. But now that he was here, he couldn’t just leave. He took another step forward.

“Ash... um... is it okay if I come closer?”

He asked gently, but again, there was no reply. Step by step, Koi walked toward the bed.

Maybe he’s asleep. Koi thought. Last time, Ashley had been too out of it from the fever to notice until he brought soup.

He must be really sick.

His heart ached with sympathy, and Koi continued forward. The bed had a large lump under the blanket—it had to be Ashley, curled up under the covers.

Koi planned to lift the blanket just enough to check his face, maybe go warm the soup afterward. But truthfully... more than anything, he just wanted to see Ashley’s face.

Taking a deep breath, Koi opened his mouth.

“Ash...”

He whispered as he gently reached for the blanket.

Suddenly, an arm shot out and yanked him forward. Koi was pulled down onto the bed with force.

“Ah...!”

He screamed in shock and hit the mattress hard. When he lifted his head, Ashley was above him, breathing heavily, staring down at him.