L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 31

“What?”

Koi’s eyes widened again. The image of Ashley with his girlfriend immediately surfaced in his mind. The hottest couple in school—the captain of the ice hockey team and the cheerleading squad leader—had broken up?

Bill, who was about to return to the group, added,

“He got dumped out of nowhere, so the shock must be big. Don’t worry too much.”

“Uh, Bill. Are you sure it’s not just a cold?”

Koi hurriedly stopped Bill, who was about to leave, and he responded with a wry smile.

“It really could be just a cold. But if it’s bad enough that he said he’d be out for a few days in advance, rather than just one day...”

Shaking his head, Bill soon walked away. Left alone, Koi watched his retreating figure for a while before getting back on his bike. Lost in thought, he pedaled at a much slower pace than usual.

*

A breakup.

Standing at the register of the quiet part-time job store, Koi turned the thought over in his mind.

He had never dated anyone before. Not even had a crush. The idea of being dumped or going through a breakup was something he had never even considered.

But Ashley was different. Even from what Koi knew, Ashley had dated several people. His usually empty side had been filled for quite a while after he started dating Ariel, but that was over now.

He had assumed they would obviously get married.

It wasn’t uncommon for couples who met in high school to marry as soon as they turned twenty. Koi had vaguely thought they’d be the same, but now that reality had changed, he felt strange. And to think that Ariel had dumped Ashley... He didn’t know what had happened between them, but Ashley must be devastated.

How bad must it be for him to skip training for days?

Recalling Ashley’s bright, sunlit smile, Koi looked down at his phone with a serious expression. He hesitated multiple times but finally gathered the courage to press the call button.

As the dial tone rang, he realized he had no idea what to say. Panic set in, but his courage had already run out. He couldn’t hang up, and his hand trembled as he waited.

Then, finally, the ringing stopped, and a brief silence followed.

“...Yeah.”

A low, hoarse voice came through. Koi, startled by the roughness of Ashley’s tone, cautiously opened his mouth.

“Uh, um... Ash?”

There was a pause before Ashley responded.

“...Yeah. What’s up?”

Even with just a few words, his voice was thick with exhaustion. Hearing the weight in Ashley’s hoarse tone, Koi let out an unconscious sigh.

“I, um... I ran into Bill by chance, and he said you were really sick. I wanted to check on you... You sound pretty bad...”

Ashley remained quiet, simply listening to Koi’s gradually fading voice.

Did he pass out?

Just as Koi’s heart dropped at the thought, Ashley finally spoke.

“I’ll get better if I rest. Thanks for worrying.”

“Oh...”

As Koi hesitated, Ashley’s voice softened, carrying a gentle warmth.

“Really, Koi. See you after the weekend.”

“You’ll be back at school?”

“Of course.”

Ashley chuckled. The sound of his laughter eased Koi’s worries, but then a faint groan followed, making his heart sink. After a pause, Ashley reassured him again.

“Don’t worry. See you then...”

Koi wanted to keep talking, but Ashley «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» clearly wasn’t in the condition for it. In the end, he mumbled a vague goodbye and ended the call. Sighing deeply, he fell into thought.

Ashley lived alone.

And judging by Bill’s words and attitude, it didn’t seem like any of his friends were checking in on him.

What should I do?

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

The image of Ashley feverish and weak kept surfacing in his mind.

It was obvious—he had fallen sick after breaking up with his girlfriend.

In the end, Koi made up his mind and picked up his phone again. After a few rings, Ashley answered, and Koi got straight to the point.

“I’m coming over after my shift.”

“...What?”

Ashley sounded startled on the other end. It was an unusual reaction, but Koi didn’t care and quickly continued.

“I can’t sit still worrying about you. I’m coming over. Let me.”

“...Are you seriously asking for my permission?”

Ashley asked after a brief silence, as if he found it absurd.

“Yes.”

Koi answered immediately.

“To be honest, I’m really nervous right now. But I’m too worried about you. ...If you really don’t need me there, if you just want to be alone—”

He took a deep breath, then added,

“—then I’ll hold back. Even though I’m really, really worried.”

Ashley didn’t say anything for a while.

Did I overstep?

Koi started feeling uneasy.

Was I being too pushy? Did I get ahead of myself just because he was a little nice to me?

What if Ashley’s fed up with me? Should I apologize? Just hang up?

“...Pfft.”

Just when his heart felt like it was going to explode from nerves, he heard a small chuckle on the other end. Koi froze, holding his breath. Ashley, still laughing slightly, finally spoke.

“Alright, come over. I’ll allow it.”

“Oh...”

“But let me warn you first.”

Just as Koi was about to cheer in relief, Ashley stopped him.

“My face is a mess right now. You might be shocked. Brace yourself.”

Had he cried so much that his face was swollen?

“No way, that’s not possible.”

Koi responded firmly.

“No matter what, you’re always, always good-looking, Ash. You’re probably still ridiculously handsome right now.”

“...I hope you don’t change your mind.”

Still amused, Ashley hung up.

After confirming the call had ended, Koi stretched his arms out and exhaled.

Thank goodness. At least he doesn’t seem completely miserable.

Maybe he cried it all out and felt a bit better.

Koi thought to himself.

He had never experienced heartbreak before, but he was determined to do his best to comfort Ashley.

With that in mind, he quickly grabbed his phone and typed in a search.

How to comfort a heartbroken friend.

Skimming through the countless suggestions on the screen, Koi carefully selected the ones he could do and jotted them down.

*

"Connor Niles, A High School."

The security guard checked the student ID and scrutinized Koi’s face with sharp eyes. He had considered taking the mountain route again, like before, but since Ashley had already given him permission, he figured it was better to go through the front gate—even if it was a hassle.

The guard held Koi in place and picked up his phone, pressing a button. He was obviously calling Ashley.

After a brief wait, the guard recited Koi’s information to confirm his visit. While waiting for the approval, Koi sat on his bike, passing the time in a mix of boredom and anxiety.

“...Understood.”

After hanging up, the guard gestured with one hand for him to go through.

Koi hurriedly pushed down on the pedals and took off at full speed.

Wait for me, Ash. I’m coming!

*

Why do people insist on building houses at the top of hills?

Koi, completely exhausted, clenched his teeth as he pedaled uphill. He already knew the answer. It was because from such a high vantage point, the view was absolutely spectacular.

But what good is a beautiful view if you nearly die trying to get up here?

Of course, he also knew the answer to that. People who lived in houses like this never had to ride a beat-up old bicycle up the mountain.

Right on cue, a luxury car whooshed past him. Koi coughed as he was engulfed in exhaust fumes, wobbling as he stubbornly kept pedaling. By the time the mansion finally came into view, he was on the verge of collapsing.

“Hah... hah... ugh.”

His breath was so ragged that nausea welled up in his throat. Leaning against a wall, he gasped for air, waiting for his breathing to settle.

Then, his gaze drifted upward.

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A vast, unbroken expanse of sky stretched endlessly above him, a deep blue without a single obstruction.

As he stared blankly at it, a faint sound reached his ears.

Footsteps.

Koi listened carefully. The approaching steps were unmistakably Ashley’s. Every time Koi came to this house, there was never any other sign of life. No voices, no movement—just silence.

Except for the footsteps coming toward him now.

“Koi?”

At Ashley’s voice, Koi responded with a muffled sound and tried to push himself off the wall.

“Wait.”

Ashley suddenly stopped him.

Koi, confused, paused where he was.

Ashley’s voice came again from just beyond the wall.

“There’s something I need to say before you see me. Don’t be shocked.”

“I’m ready.”

Koi vowed with absolute determination.

A dozen different images of Ashley’s face flashed through his mind. They all had one thing in common—red-rimmed eyes, swollen from crying.

Still, he’d look amazing.

That much, Koi had no doubt about.