L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 82

“What the hell just happened?”

Ariel’s voice made Koi flinch and whip his head around. She was frowning, looking between him and Ashley. Behind her stood the cheerleading girls and the hockey gorillas, staring blankly. All color drained from Koi’s face when he realized how many people were watching. Ariel paused at his expression, then turned to see the countless eyes locked on the three of them.

“Everyone, go get changed. We’re heading to the after-party.”

At her command, the vice-captain blinked, then quickly looked around in a fluster.

“Alright, let’s go! Green Bell for the after-party, right?”

“What about Red Bell tonight?”

“There’s a Red Bell?”

“It’s just a joke, dumbass. Just say something that fits.”

“How about Rainbow Bell? Hahaha.”

“Oh my god, Rainbow Bell. That’s hilarious. Hahaha.”

“Hahaha.”

“Hahaha.”

Exaggerated laughter echoed as they headed off to the locker rooms. Still, they couldn’t stop glancing back and whispering. Once the cheerleaders had hurried off, Ariel turned back to Koi.

“You. Talk with me.”

“W-what?”

“Wait a second.”

As Ariel grabbed his arm to drag him away, Ashley stopped her. She looked up at him with a furrowed brow. With one of Koi’s arms in each of their hands, the three of them stood awkwardly, locked in place. Koi glanced from one to the other, unsure what to do. Ashley looked down at Ariel and spoke.

“Where are you dragging him? Talk here.”

“Why? You think I’m gonna hit him or something?”

Instead of answering, Ashley narrowed his eyes. The silent response said more than words. Ariel’s annoyance was clear in her voice.

“Ashley Dominique Miller. I should be the one to talk to Koi first. Unless you want to give me thirty minutes to finish, and then I get him unlimited after that?”

Ashley stared at her for a long moment before turning his gaze to Koi. As if asking, Is this okay? Koi hesitated, then nodded.

“I—I want to talk with Elle.”

Ashley looked at him silently, then slowly released his grip. The moment his hand let go, Ariel tugged Koi away and left the dugout. Ashley called after them.

“I’ll be waiting right here, Koi!”

Without thinking, Koi looked back at Ashley. But he didn’t get to see his expression before Ariel pulled him around the corner.

*

Ariel dragged Koi to the end of the hallway in the opposite direction of the locker rooms. The emergency exit nearby meant the area was usually deserted—perfect for a conversation like this.

“Well? Start talking.”

Now that they were alone, Ariel finally spoke.

“What the hell was that?”

Koi looked down at her, flustered. Arms crossed, brows furrowed, she didn’t exactly look angry—but she certainly didn’t look happy either. Koi hesitated, fumbling through the thoughts he’d rehearsed while being dragged along.

“Um, well... honestly... I don’t really know.”

The crease in Ariel’s brow deepened. Koi rushed to continue.

“I mean it. I thought—well, I figured if Ash won the game, he’d go back to you...”

“Go back to me if he won? Did Ash say that?”

“Uh...”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Pressed by her tone, Koi blinked in surprise—and then realized something.

“No...”

He muttered it so softly it was barely audible.

“He never... actually said that.”

“Then why?”

Ariel’s frown didn’t let up.

“Why would you think that?”

Koi fell silent. He didn’t even know where to begin. Seeing him stumble, Ariel sighed and tilted her chin.

“Just say whatever. I’ll decide how to take it.”

“Okay, um...”

Koi needed a moment to gather his thoughts.

“Ash told me... that he liked me.”

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

Ariel froze at that. Koi couldn’t bring himself to meet her eyes and stared at the ground, voice trembling.

“I didn’t think it was real. So I told him... he was just confused. And he said... after the game, he’d decide... for real...”

His voice trailed off into silence. And that’s when it hit him.

Ashley had never once mentioned Ariel.

Koi had just assumed he would go back to her once he “snapped out of it.”

“B-but it made sense,” Koi stammered. “You two were dating. I don’t know why you broke up, but...”

Because he fell for someone else.

The memory came back.

Wait.

Koi’s eyes widened. That’s right. Ashley had said that. Which meant... it wasn’t Ariel.

It wasn’t Ariel?

Then who was it?

A heavy silence dropped between them. Koi’s heart pounded in his chest as Ariel slowly opened her mouth. He held his breath. No way, no way, no way—

Finally, she whispered,

“It was you.”

And everything came rushing back.

I like you.

At the cafeteria.

I like you, Koi.

At the pool.

Koi.

His name, repeated over and over in Ashley’s voice. That face. Those eyes. It all came flooding in—and left Koi speechless.

No. No way.

Ash was just pitying him.

That faint hope flickered inside, only to be snuffed out by cruel reason. Koi shook his head internally. There’s no way.

“Why?”

He didn’t even realize he’d said it out loud. Ariel looked at him ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) seriously.

“Why ‘no way’?”

Her calm voice caught him off guard. He hesitated.

“Because... well...”

Because I’m Connor Niles.

Ashley told him to stop putting himself down, but it wasn’t that simple. Ashley didn’t know how pathetic Connor Niles really was. Compared to him, Ashley was perfect. How could someone like that ever fall for him?

“Koi. Ash’s feelings belong to Ash.”

Ariel began.

“Not you. Not me. No one else gets to define them. If Ash says he feels something, then that’s what he feels.”

“...”

“You don’t get to deny that.”

Her voice was calm but unwavering.

“You just need to be honest with your feelings. Don’t try to deny someone else’s. That’s disrespectful.”

He never meant to disrespect him. Koi shook his head frantically, but Ariel spoke as if she already knew.

“So what are your feelings?”

“...”

“Whether Ash likes you or not doesn’t matter. Just say what you feel. Do you like him? Or don’t you?”

Koi still didn’t answer. Ariel added gently:

“Just go. Be honest with yourself. Don’t judge whether Ash likes you or not. That’s not your job.”

“Got it?” she asked. Her calm, steady face made Koi flush with shame. He lowered his head and murmured,

“But... there’s you.”

“What?”

Ariel frowned again. Koi hesitated, unable to go on. She enunciated each word slowly and clearly:

“Did Ash confess to you while he was dating me?”

“N-no... I don’t think so.”

He shook his head quickly. Ariel tilted hers.

“So he confessed after we broke up. Then what’s the problem?”

Koi didn’t know what to say. How could he explain that it felt like betraying her somehow? He wavered. Ariel let out a soft sigh and continued.

“Koi, I once heard something.”

Her voice was so calm it almost startled him.

“There are two things in this world you can’t take back. One is a river that’s already flowed away.”

She raised one finger. Then another.

“The other is a heart that’s already turned away.”

Koi stared at her blankly. As always, Ariel laid things out plainly.

“Ash and I are over. I don’t know why you or my sisters can’t accept that, but we’re completely done. There’s nothing left between us.”

Koi still couldn’t say anything. She finished simply.

“So if you’re holding back because of me, don’t. That just makes things worse.”

With that, she took a step back.

“I’m going to the after-party with the girls. Whether you come with Ash or not—do whatever you want.”

She turned and walked away without hesitation. Koi stood there, staring blankly at her retreating back.