L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 9

"Ah, no! Stop!"

Koi shouted desperately, his head spinning. He had to stop them somehow, had to get them out of the store. But Nelson’s gang kept holding him back, preventing him from moving even a single step.

"I said stop! Get out! Leave everything and go!"

"You little shit."

One of the guys holding Koi suddenly grabbed his collar.

"Wait. Let him go."

Nelson’s voice cut through the commotion. The guy holding Koi hesitated for a moment before reluctantly letting go. The sudden shove made Koi stagger, nearly falling before he managed to catch himself awkwardly.

Nelson stepped toward him.

"Hey, what did you just say?"

With each step, Nelson seemed to grow bigger. Koi instinctively backed away. The other guys were still laughing, still ransacking the store—one of them stuffing his mouth with stolen snacks, another helping himself to a slushy. Koi should have stopped them, should have done something.

But all he could see right now was Nelson.

"What did you say, huh?"

Nelson taunted, his tone mocking. He took his time, closing the distance between them, smirking as he watched Koi’s wide, trembling eyes. Then, with both hands, he shoved Koi hard.

"Hey."

"Ack!"

Koi stumbled backward. Nelson shoved him again.

"What? You’re telling me to stop? To get out?"

With one more push, Nelson grabbed Koi’s collar, yanking him forward. Their faces were now inches apart, Nelson’s eyes glinting with malice as he sneered.

"You think you can give me orders? You pathetic little loser. Know your place."

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

"Ugh...!"

Koi gasped as his air supply was cut off. His hands clutched at Nelson’s wrist, trying to pry it off, but he had no strength. Tears welled up in his eyes as he struggled, his chest tightening painfully.

Nelson didn’t let go.

Koi panted, his gaze flickering upward to meet Nelson’s cold stare. There was nothing in those eyes—no hesitation, no mercy.

And suddenly, something inside Koi snapped.

"Let... go!" He gasped out, his voice shaking. "You—you wrecked the store without paying for anything. You’re a thief! All of you are thieves—no, you’re robbers!"

Nelson’s expression twisted.

"What did you just say?"

His voice rose with anger. A vein pulsed in his forehead as his hand clenched into a fist and lifted into the air.

Koi squeezed his eyes shut.

In the span of a few seconds, countless thoughts raced through his mind. If I pass out, what happens to the store? How will I clean all this up? How much did they steal? Will my paycheck even cover it?

Maybe it would be better if I just blacked out forever...

Just as that thought crossed his mind—

Ding!

The store bell rang loudly.

Someone had entered.

A customer? Koi barely registered the idea. It wouldn’t change anything. Whoever it was, they’d just take one look and leave—no one would step in to help.

"What’s going on here?"

Huh?

The sudden, lighthearted voice made Koi flinch.

The store fell into dead silence.

Slowly, cautiously, Koi cracked open his tightly shut eyes.

He didn’t believe it.

No. It couldn’t be.

There was only one person who could walk in sounding that relaxed, that casual—

Ashley Miller.

Koi’s already disoriented mind went blank.

He’s here.

That was the only thought that surfaced.

He couldn’t process anything beyond that.

And it wasn’t just him. Nelson and his gang, who had been causing havoc just moments ago, were frozen in place. Nelson, who had Koi’s collar in /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ his grip, stared in confusion. The others, mid-action, hesitated—one holding an open bag of stolen chips, another with a slushy machine still running.

Ashley, meanwhile, walked inside as if he hadn’t just walked into a disaster zone.

The glass door swung shut behind him with a soft ding. The entire store’s attention was locked onto him, yet he showed no signs of discomfort. If anything, he moved like he belonged, like nothing about this situation was out of place.

Koi couldn’t help but think—right. Of course.

For someone like Ashley, being the center of attention was completely normal.

A bitter feeling stirred inside Koi.

Ashley came to a stop a few feet from Nelson, his gaze briefly flickering to Koi before settling back on Nelson.

"What’s going on here?" he asked, voice light but firm. "You weren’t about to hit him, were you?"

Nelson flinched, still gripping Koi’s collar.

Realizing that he had just hesitated—had just shown weakness—only made him angrier. He raised his voice in frustration.

"W-what’s it to you?"

They’re screwed.

That thought passed through every single person watching—including Nelson himself. The power dynamic had already shifted. No matter how much he tried to yell, the damage was done—he had stuttered.

Ashley’s smile grew.

"It is my business, actually," he said smoothly. "That beer you guys are drinking—isn’t that alcohol?"

"W-what?"

One of the guys immediately shoved his beer behind his back, while Nelson hastily dropped his half-empty can onto the floor. The can rolled away, spilling foamy liquid as it went.

Ashley turned his gaze back to Nelson.

"That’s a problem. We’re still minors, you know? We’re not allowed to drink alcohol."

"So what?" Nelson snapped, trying to regain control.

Ashley shrugged.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

"I dunno. I was just thinking about calling the cops."

Casually, he pulled out his phone and tapped the screen.

The gang collectively froze.

Nelson’s eyes widened in panic before twisting into rage.

"You little—are you seriously trying to pick a fight with me?"

"Hm?" Ashley tilted his head innocently. "I’m just following the law."

Nelson clenched his fists. Seeing Ashley actually press a button on his phone was the last straw. He released Koi and lunged toward Ashley with a furious snarl.

"You bastard—!"

Koi gasped as he watched Nelson swing his clenched fist with all his strength. His body tensed, and he swallowed hard.

No—this is bad! Really bad!

His mind went blank as panic surged through him. He clutched his head.

Please, just don’t wreck the store any more than you already have!

“You son of a bitch!”

Nelson roared as he threw his punch. His gang members froze, watching in shock. Koi instinctively covered his head with both arms.

No!

He screamed silently—just as Ashley took a single step back.

“Huh? Wha—?”

Nelson’s fist cut through empty air. He had missed completely. His body, thrown off balance by the force of his own swing, flailed wildly before he crashed pathetically into a corner of the store.

“Nelson!”

“Dude, what the hell?”

His gang panicked, shouting in alarm. Some of them snorted, barely holding back their laughter. Though they tried to keep a straight face, their shoulders shook.

Nelson pushed himself up, his face burning red. Furious, he clenched his fist again and turned toward Ashley, ready to charge.

Ashley, looking down at him with sheer pity, finally spoke.

“You seriously want to fight me?”

There was an unmistakable Think it through in his tone.

Koi wasn’t the only one who felt it.

Nelson, who had been baring his teeth just moments ago, suddenly hesitated. His confidence wavered. His gang, sensing the shift, started glancing at one another.

“Uh, actually, we were just about to leave, right?”

One of them spoke up hesitantly. The others quickly nodded.

“Yeah, yeah. This place is boring anyway.”

“Hey, let’s go, man. Nelson?”

“Come on, Nelson. Let’s just get out of here.”

With every word of persuasion, Nelson’s grip on his rage loosened.

Realizing he had no choice but to leave, he straightened his posture and glared up at Ashley.

“Consider yourself lucky today.”

And just like that, it was over.

Throwing out one last empty threat, Nelson turned and stomped after his retreating gang.

Koi watched him go, feeling as though he had just witnessed a cartoon villain’s dramatic exit.

The store fell into complete silence.

Now that it was over, Koi found himself hesitating, his gaze drifting toward Ashley.

Ashley had been watching the gang leave, but once they were completely out of sight, he finally turned his attention back to Koi.

The moment their eyes met, Koi flinched. His shoulders hunched, tension lingering in his body.

Ashley, however, simply gave him the same dazzling, relaxed smile he had seen so many times before.

“You okay?”

“Uh? Oh... yeah.”

Caught off guard, Koi nodded before hesitating and cautiously asking,

“Wait... why are you here?”

Did he come looking for me?

The thought surfaced for a split second, but he knew better. Ashley’s answer was as casual as ever.

“I was passing by and needed to buy something.”

Of course.

Koi sighed and wordlessly extended a hand, gesturing vaguely at the mess of a store. A silent Go ahead, find whatever you need.

Ashley scanned the disaster zone that was once a store and mused,

“Even a locker room after a game wouldn’t be this trashed.”

Koi scoffed.

“If you get it, then hurry up and buy something and leave. I have to clean this up.”

Even to his own ears, his voice sounded drained of energy.

And it was.

The more he thought about the ruined store, the damaged goods, the stolen items, the sheer amount of cleanup he had to do—his head throbbed.

For a second, he wished he could just run away.

But of course, that wasn’t an option.