L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 63

Koi’s eyes slowly widened. Ashley looked at him and gave a bitter laugh.

“Yeah. That’s right. You get it now, don’t you? If this keeps going, I might really make you my omega. Get out. Now.”

“Ash...”

“I said get out!”

Ashley shouted again. His mind was starting to go hazy, his vision blurring. He couldn’t say how much longer he’d be able to hold on. If he lost control again, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself. And if that happened—if that happened, he would...

He’d really... do that to Koi...

Suddenly, Koi pulled him into a hug, wrapping his arms around Ashley’s body with his knees folded beneath him. Ashley froze in shock. Then Koi’s voice whispered softly above his head.

“It’s okay.”

Holding Ashley’s head close, Koi continued.

“It’s okay, Ash. I’ll be fine. Because I... I...”

He bit his lower lip. He had to say it. When he opened his mouth again, his voice trembled so badly it barely came out.

“I can’t smell it.”

“...What?”

Even to his own ears, Ashley sounded dazed. He sucked in a breath, blinking as Koi continued.

“I can’t smell it. Your pheromones... I can’t smell them at all.”

Carefully, Koi let go and leaned in to meet Ashley’s eyes. At last, face to face, Koi hesitated before raising his hand. Ashley didn’t stop him. He simply sat there as Koi’s small hand—so much smaller than his own—gently touched his cheek. Koi looked into his eyes and said,

“So it’s okay. I’ll stay with you.”

He even managed a small, difficult smile. But Ashley still couldn’t trust himself.

“...I’m going to lose control again.”

He forced the words out, trying to sound as calm as possible.

“It’s okay.”

“I might rape you.”

“It’s okay.”

Koi said it again.

“I want to stay by your side.”

“...Ha...”

Ashley finally slumped. Rubbing a hand over his face, he murmured in a broken voice,

“Why won’t you just leave...”

He didn’t think he could hold on anymore. But he didn’t want to hurt Koi either. He felt trapped, completely stuck—and then Koi spoke again.

“If I leave... you’ll be alone.”

Ashley stopped. He slowly lowered the hand covering his face and looked at Koi, his expression one of disbelief. Koi gave him a sheepish smile and hugged him tightly.

“Let’s stay together, Ash.”

For a moment, Ashley said nothing. He couldn’t even move. His head felt fuzzy, his mouth was dry. His thirst felt endless. But the only thing he could sense, the only thing grounding him, was the warmth of the small body holding ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ him now.

Slowly, Ashley raised his arms and gently wrapped them around Koi. And as if in response, Koi hugged him tighter. In that moment, something stung sharply behind Ashley’s nose, and his vision blurred. He wrapped his arms around Koi, slowly and completely. He opened his mouth—but no words came. He hesitated a few more times before finally confessing.

“I like you, Koi.”

The tears he’d been holding back spilled over. Ashley shut his eyes tight and hugged him even closer.

Ah. Finally.

He thought to himself.

Finally, I’m not alone anymore.

This small person in his arms was his entire world. He wouldn’t lose him. Never, no matter what. Ashley swore it again and again.

Koi, I like you.

I like you so much.

So please—

More tears rolled down.

Never let go of me.

*

A cool breeze flowed in from the window. Koi, who had fallen asleep beside Ashley in bed, stirred awake at the sense of movement beside him. Ashley let out a small groan, his brow furrowed.

“...Koi?”

Koi immediately grabbed his hand and answered,

“I’m here, Ash.”

Ashley sighed in relief and drifted back to sleep. Koi watched him breathe deeply again and quietly laid his head back down.

That wild first night was the only one like it. Throughout the rest of the manifestation period, Ashley drifted in and out of consciousness. Each time, he’d mutter nonsense and call for Koi. And Koi would immediately reply, “I’m here,” and hold his hand.

While Ashley slept, Koi searched the house and found basic medical supplies. He cleaned and bandaged the wounds on Ashley’s arm. The first-aid training he’d learned at school actually proved useful—surprisingly so. A little bitter, but mostly relieved, he stayed by Ashley’s side, leaving only briefly to get drinks or food.

He vaguely realized he hadn’t gone to school and hadn’t contacted his family. But it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered more than Ashley right now.

It’s so peaceful...

Lying beside Ashley, watching him sleep, Koi thought to himself. Occasionally, birds chirped outside the window, and warm sunlight poured into the room. The breeze was cool and fresh, making him feel oddly light. Koi brushed a strand of hair from Ashley’s face and thought,

I wish this moment could last forever.

No drunk father, no exhausting part-time job, no all-nighters for schoolwork. Just peace.

But it didn’t last.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Two days later, Ashley—who had suddenly fallen into a deep sleep—finally woke again after nearly ten hours. Compared to before, his head felt astonishingly clear. He slowly opened his eyes, blinking at the unfamiliar feeling. His whole body felt light, like a feather. He had never felt like this before.

But more than anything, what made him happiest was what he saw the moment he opened his eyes. A warm, radiant smile spread across Ashley’s face. Koi, sensing the movement, also woke. Still blinking sleepily, he met Ashley’s eyes—and Ashley whispered, smiling,

“Koi.”

“Ash...”

There wasn’t even time to ask if he was okay. Ashley pulled Koi into a tight embrace. Trapped in his arms, Koi blinked in surprise. He could feel it—this time, Ashley was different.

Is it over? The manifestation?

Koi opened his mouth to ask, but Ashley suddenly began planting kisses all over his face—his cheeks, his nose, his lips. When he finally pulled back, Koi stared up at him in a daze.

Ashley couldn’t stop smiling. His heart was overflowing with affection. He was certain—more than ever—that nothing in the world could shake this feeling.

*

After showering separately, the two of them headed to the dining room. Ashley devoured food like he intended to empty the entire fridge—and he practically did. Koi, despite his best efforts, barely finished a hamburger and half a plate of salad.

Ashley handled Koi’s school and home situation. All he did was make one phone call. The secretary, already aware of Ashley’s manifestation, had taken care of the details. She hadn’t expected Koi to be involved, though, so extra steps had to be taken regarding Koi’s attendance, grades, and informing his father.

—Is your friend alright? He stayed with you the whole time?

Ashley answered without hesitation.

“He’s fine. He didn’t manifest as an omega.”

—I see. That’s a relief.

Then the secretary added,

—If he had manifested because of you, Mr. Miller wouldn’t have been pleased.

Ashley hung up without replying. He didn’t mention that Koi couldn’t smell pheromones. He wasn’t sure why—but something about Koi didn’t feel like it should be shared with anyone else. Ashley knowing was enough.

“Hey, Ash.”

Out in the garden, Koi turned around, having already jumped into the pool. He’d tossed out his ruined shirt and was now wearing a loose T-shirt and a pair of swim trunks Ashley had given him. The shirt was too big to be of any use, but the trunks—somehow dug up from Ashley’s childhood—fit reasonably well.

“Was it fun?”

Ashley, who had followed him into the water, swam over and pulled him close with an arm around his waist. Koi rested a hand on his arm and spoke up.

“Y-Yeah. Um... did the call go okay?”

At the nervous question, Ashley answered gently,

“Yeah. School and home—everything’s taken care of.”

He rubbed his nose against Koi’s, Eskimo kiss style, and laughed.

“Your boyfriend’s pretty amazing, huh?”

“Huh? Uh...”

Koi floundered, flustered, but Ashley didn’t notice. He felt like he was floating. Now that that awful manifestation was over, paradise was waiting. If this kind of happiness was the reward, he wouldn’t mind going through ten more manifestations.

Ashley grabbed Koi by the waist and lifted him into the air, laughing again. Koi shrieked without meaning to and grabbed for his shoulders. Ashley smiled at him and said,

“I love you, Koi.”

Koi’s eyes widened in shock. Ashley waited eagerly for a response, eyes sparkling. Say it, Koi. Say it.

Tell me you love me too.

“I...”

Koi finally opened his mouth. Ashley stared without blinking, heart pounding so hard he could feel it in his ears.

“I... I...”

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Koi said something. At first, Ashley didn’t understand. He just stared, still smiling, and asked again,

“What? I didn’t catch that.”

Koi looked down at him with a face on the verge of tears. His voice shook as he said it again.

“I don’t love you.”