L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 84

Ashley was struck speechless for the first time.

That line—he hadn’t expected it. Not even remotely. His mind spun in complete disarray.

“...Who told you that?”

No. No way.

Ashley managed to piece it together.

That’s why he kept pushing me away this whole time.

Ashley’s face twisted with a pain he couldn’t hide.

So it’s true.

Koi felt like his heart dropped into his stomach. The emotion that flashed across Ashley’s face was unmistakable. And when Koi saw it, whatever little hope he’d held onto shattered. He had been stupid to think, even for a second, that maybe it wasn’t like that. That maybe Ariel had been right.

“Y-you already like someone.”

His words came out in broken fragments, caught in the rise of a sob.

“You already like someone... so why... why are you doing this to me...”

Tears welled in his eyes as Ashley cut in desperately.

“It’s you.”

Koi looked up, eyes brimming, meeting his gaze. Ashley spoke with more urgency, more honesty than ever before.

“It’s you. The person I like is you, Connor Niles.”

Koi’s face filled with disbelief. And Ashley couldn’t blame him. He wanted to kick his past self.

“...At first, yeah. I pitied you.”

How the hell was he supposed to explain this? Ashley felt helpless for the first time in a long time. Words failed him. He sighed, rubbed his forehead, and looked down again at Koi. Koi was still watching him, but his expression was a mess of confusion.

Ashley spoke.

“Koi, do you know what the difference is between pity and love?”

Koi shook his head silently. Ashley answered,

“I do.”

He let out a bitter smile.

“If this stupid uniform weren’t so damn thick, you’d feel how fast my heart’s beating right now.”

He sighed again, helplessly. Pressed his palm to his forehead as he tried to think. How do I make him believe me? What else can I do?

Maybe I really do need to drag him away and lock him up somewhere.

Koi stared at Ashley, dazed. He’d never seen him like this. He looked anxious. Unsure. Like he was struggling with guilt, and a dozen other things layered over one another.

Ariel’s voice echoed in his head again.

“You’re trying so hard to find proof that Ash doesn’t like you. What do you even gain from that?”

“You only need to be honest about your own feelings. Don’t deny someone else’s. That’s just disrespect.”

“So—what are your feelings?”

Me.

My feelings.

Koi slowly raised his head.

Ashley’s face was twisted in anguish.

My heart...

“I know.”

Koi finally spoke after a long silence. Ashley lowered the hand on his forehead and looked down at him. Koi stared back at him—and then gently took Ashley’s hand, guiding it to his own chest.

And Ashley felt it.

Even through the thin fabric of the cheerleading uniform, he could feel Koi’s heart pounding wildly.

Ashley’s eyes widened. The rink was still and silent, but in their ears, it was deafening. Their hearts hammered like thunder against their temples.

Koi’s trembling voice broke the silence.

“I like you, Ash.”

And then the tears came. Koi sniffled, finally confessing.

“I like you, Ash.”

Once wasn’t enough. The feelings he had pushed down for so long were breaking free, spilling out with every breath. Ariel was right. The important thing wasn’t whether Ashley liked him—it was that he liked Ashley.

That was the truth. Undeniable. Unshakable.

And Ashley’s feelings—Koi believed they were just as real.

“Koi.”

Ashley leaned closer. He whispered, his breath brushing Koi’s lips.

“I’m sorry—for hurting you.”

It was a sincere apology. It didn’t matter how Koi had found out. The truth was, he never should’ve said those things. He never should’ve flaunted it like some twisted point of pride—that he’d hung out with Koi out of pity.

How arrogant had I been?

Looking down on him. Pitying him. Treating him like a project.

Even though he’d seen with his own eyes how hard Koi worked to survive.

And him? He lived off his father’s money. The wealth of a man he claimed to despise.

“I was wrong.”

Ashley apologized again. Koi blinked up at him, silent. And then something clicked. Ashley’s eyes—something about them looked different.

Those deep, violet eyes.

So dark, and yet so bright. So impossibly clear.

Can there really be such a pure shade of purple in the dark like this?

Koi was mesmerized.

If he ever became an astronaut and saw space from the stars, would it look like this? Would the light feel the same? Would I... would I feel this same sensation?

“...I like you, Koi.”

Ashley said softly.

“You’re the only one.”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

His whisper burned with passion, but his breath was cool against Koi’s lips. A shiver ran down Koi’s spine, and he instinctively closed his eyes. When his lashes finally touched, soft lips met his own.

Ah...

Koi froze. His whole body tensed up as he clutched the fence tightly and stretched his neck forward. Ashley broke the kiss—only to press their lips together again a second later.

Only their lips touched, but Koi trembled all over. His pulse surged, overwhelming him.

Then Ashley stopped kissing him and ran his tongue across Koi’s tightly sealed lips.

The warm, slick touch of saliva nearly made Koi faint.

Ashley chuckled softly. If he hadn’t released the fence and wrapped {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} his arms around Koi’s waist, Koi might have collapsed then and there.

“Mm—nngh...”

A sound escaped from his lips. Embarrassed, Koi wanted to stop—but he couldn’t. He clung to Ashley’s chest, letting his whole body rest in his arms, reacting to every kiss.

His eyes stayed shut tight, and each time Ashley kissed him, his feet twitched and his body tensed. Then suddenly, Ashley paused and whispered,

“Koi... open your mouth.”

Huh...?

Koi barely managed to open his eyes and looked up at him. He didn’t understand—he just blinked. Ashley stared at him for a moment, then gave a lopsided smile.

“Maybe I should lock you up.”

“W-what...?”

Of course, Koi didn’t get it. As he blinked in confusion, Ashley leaned in and nibbled playfully on his ear. Koi jolted, and Ashley teased,

“First kiss, right? Koi.”

“Y-yeah...”

Koi nodded. It was the answer Ashley expected—but it still hit him. The realization that every first for Koi was with him gave him a strange, overwhelming sense of satisfaction—and dread. Because it meant this was only the beginning.

Take it slow. One step at a time.

Ashley reminded himself, forcing a smile.

“Koi.”

“Yeah?”

Koi still looked dazed. His ears twitched.

“I want to eat you up.”

“Huh?”

Koi blinked. Ashley realized he’d just said that out loud and quickly changed the subject.

“Let’s go, Koi. Aren’t you hungry?”

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“Ah, yeah.”

Koi nodded, trusting and oblivious. Ashley couldn’t help himself—he hugged him again. This time, he kissed him deeply, licking his lips before pressing them together firmly.

When he finally pulled away, Koi was looking up at him with a flushed, dazed face. Ashley reminded himself to keep it together this time and gently let go of him.

Well—he didn’t fully let go. He took Koi’s hand instead, holding it tightly as they stepped away from the fence.

“Koi.”

“Yeah?”

Koi looked up. His face was still red, and he was smiling—exactly the way Ashley always hoped he would. Even his twitching ears hadn’t gone away. Ashley smiled down at him.

“Wanna shower together?”