L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 134

Koi looked up at Ashley, stunned. Ashley’s face was desperate now, a stark contrast from before, and he rushed to add,

“Tuition, living costs, nothing matters. You don’t need anything. All you have to do is come with me.”

“Ash...”

“Just leave with me. I’ll do anything—anything you want. You just have to say the word. Just say yes, that’s all I need.”

Please, Ashley whispered. The word was so quiet it sounded more like a breath than speech. Koi swallowed hard. For a moment, he faltered. What if he nodded right now? What would happen if he said yes—if he took Ashley’s hand?

In that instant, the image of Ashley waiting endlessly in the train station’s waiting room rose in his mind. Then the image of himself sitting by his father’s hospital bed, watching the sunrise.

Koi bit his lip, then let it go. He looked at Ashley, who had been watching him the whole time, and finally spoke—quietly, painfully.

“...I can’t.”

Ashley froze.

“My dad has no one else but me.”

Koi’s voice trembled as he continued.

“I’m sorry, Ash. But... if I leave, he’ll be all alone.”

Ashley said nothing. He just looked down at Koi’s face for a long time.

“...Ha... haha.”

Then came a sigh, followed by a bitter, hollow laugh.

“Koi, then what about me?”

He was still smiling as he asked—but his eyes were twisted in pain, lips trembling, expression contorted like he was on the verge of tears.

“I’m alone too.”

Koi felt the words I’ll come with you rise to the tip of his tongue. But then—he saw the image of his father, asleep in the motorhome. Instead of reaching out, he clenched his fists and murmured,

“You... you have a lot, Ash. So...”

But he couldn’t say any more. Ashley was looking down at him with a completely vacant expression.

“...Hah.”

Ashley let out a sigh, a breath of disbelief.

“You, too, huh. You’re saying that to me too.”

Koi was jolted out of his haze. What... what did I just say? Regret surged up—but it was already too late. The arms holding him loosened.

Ashley stepped back, putting distance between them. He looked once more at Koi before turning away.

Panicking, Koi reached out and grabbed him.

“A-Ash, wait—just wait a second...!”

He had to say something. He couldn’t let Ashley go like this. Desperate, he asked,

“You’re not leaving for good, right? Not forever...”

“I won’t be here anymore.”

Ashley’s voice was calm. Koi hurriedly added,

“Then I’ll come to you—I’ll visit, I swear.”

His words tumbled out in a rush, his voice shaking now.

“We can see each other on break. And if I can’t come, you can visit here, right? My house is still here.”

“I’m never seeing you again.”

Ashley gave a sardonic smile.

“You know what’s funny? She was right.”

Koi flinched. Dread creeping in, he couldn’t bring himself to ask who “she” was. But Ashley continued anyway.

“You didn’t love me. You just loved that I loved you.”

Koi’s heart dropped like a stone.

Ashley turned to leave.

“Ash!”

Koi cried out, terrified, and grabbed both his arms. The thought of losing Ashley made his mind go blank. I have to stop him. I have to get him back. If I don’t—if I don’t...

“I was wrong.”

I’ll lose him forever.

“I was wrong, Ash. Please, don’t go! I won’t ever say that again—I won’t ever hurt you again... Please, I’m begging you. Don’t leave!”

Koi clung to him in desperation. He would take it all back if he could. Every word. Every choice.

He held on with everything he had. After a pause, Ashley finally spoke.

“It’s too late.”

And just like that, Koi froze.

Ashley slowly turned his head. Their eyes met—and Koi couldn’t say another word.

Ashley raised a hand and gently touched his cheek. The warmth of his fingers was fleeting. His hand hovered for a moment, then fell away.

Koi watched through hazy eyes as Ashley gave a small, quiet smile. His violet eyes had grown even darker.

“Goodbye, Koi.”

His voice was softer than usual, lower.

Koi didn’t even blink. He could only watch.

That was the end.

Ashley turned around.

Koi’s grip gave way, and Ashley slipped easily out of his hold. Facing forward, he took a step, then another, walking away with slow, steady strides.

The door opened—and closed quietly.

Koi was alone.

Just like that, Ashley left.

Without looking back, not even once.

*

His father passed away on a day between the end of summer and the beginning of fall. That morning, as always, Koi checked on him first—and realized the faint, shallow breaths that had still been there the day before were now gone.

Even as he looked at his father’s lifeless body, Koi didn’t feel overwhelming shock. His father had already been unconscious for two days. Death came more quietly than he’d expected.

After that, everything followed the process he had already prepared for.

There weren’t many people to attend the funeral. A few of his father’s old coworkers showed up, but that was it. Bill and Ariel, who might have come for Koi, were away at college and stuck in their dorms. They apologized for not being there, but Koi told them it was fine.

Once the modest funeral was over, Koi returned home and immediately began clearing out the old motorhome. He threw out his father’s worn-out bed and cleaned the inside thoroughly. But there wasn’t much to sort through. His father’s belongings amounted to a few faded clothes and odds and ends. Nothing worth holding onto.

He kept only one thing—an old family photo. He bought a small frame and placed it on the table. That was it. When the cleaning was finished, everything was done.

All of it took just a few hours. And when it was over, Koi felt strangely empty. The motorhome was too quiet. The faint breathing he’d grown used to—gone. Koi sat there for a long time, staring at nothing.

He was alone now.

*

“Koi, over here!”

It was the weekend. Bill and Ariel, back from school, called out to him. Koi met them at the greenbelt, just like old times in high school. They asked how he was doing and expressed regret for not being there with him.

“It’s okay, really. It didn’t take long to sort everything out. More importantly—how’s college? Is it fun?”

Koi changed the subject, and the two responded right away, chatting away about campus life. The conversation flew by, filled with stories about a life Koi might have had. And before long, it was nightfall.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

After walking Ariel to her car, Bill paused before getting into his own and said,

“Oh, right. Looks like Ash’s family is selling the house.”

“...What?”

Koi blinked, caught off guard. Bill continued.

“My mom’s a realtor, remember? She said it came in as a new listing.”

“...Oh.”

Koi murmured. Bill sighed and added,

“Guess Ash really isn’t coming back.”

With that, he got into the car and drove off.

Koi stood there, watching the car disappear, before heading toward his bike.

He got on and pedaled skillfully, but instead of going home, he went in a completely different direction. He didn’t even realize it until he reached the top of a hill, having climbed around a low mountain.

Only when the destination came into view did he realize where he’d gone.

FOR SALE

A sign stood in front of the grand, extravagant mansion. Koi got off his bike and stared at it blankly. He looked up—the mansion loomed over him, every window dark.

He leaned his bike against the wall and slowly walked forward.

There was no way he could go inside. The front door was locked. So he walked along the side, but the garden gate was locked too. All he could see was the front of the house.

Koi stood there for a while, looking up at it, before finally lowering his head.

The whole area was silent. No signs of life.

Eventually, he climbed back onto his bike.

Descending the hill was ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) slower than the climb. The slope was steep enough to coast down, but Koi pedaled deliberately, forcing the bike to slow.

His mind was still blank.

He’s really gone...

That thought barely formed when suddenly—a rabbit darted across his path. Koi swerved and slammed on the brakes, but lost control and tumbled with the bike.

“Ah... ow...”

Lying on the ground, he groaned—but didn’t move.

The quiet was absolute. Only his own breathing echoed around him.

Then, a memory rose from the silence.

“I won’t be here anymore.”

It’s true.

“I’m never seeing you again.”

Ash is really gone.

“You didn’t love me. You just loved that I loved you.”

The weight of emptiness crushed him. He barely managed to lift the bike upright and began walking, dragging it behind him.

His head was still blank. And not just because of the fall.

“Goodbye, Koi.”

“...I love you.”

The whisper escaped like a breath.

It took him a moment to realize the voice was his own.

And with that realization came a sting behind his eyes.

I really did love you, Ash.

It wasn’t just friendship. It wasn’t gratitude. It wasn’t because you loved me first.

It was love.

But now—it was too late.

He would never see Ashley again. Never call his name, never see him smile.

He couldn’t even confess. Because Ashley was gone.

And it was all Koi’s fault.

Ashley had tried, to the very end, not to give up on him.

And it was Koi who hurt him—and let him go.

I really... really loved you.

The tears finally burst.

Koi collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.