L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 46

The unexpected comment surprised not just the others, but Koi as well. Ashley casually picked up his burger and said,

“Isn’t that the most effective? If we post it there, everyone will see it.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

Bill agreed.

“But don’t you hate that kind of thing?”

To Bill’s offhand question, Ashley replied simply.

“Whether I like it or not, it’s the most efficient system, don’t you think?”

Then he pointed directly at Bill and added,

“You’re the one who’ll be posting it anyway.”

“Well, yeah, but—”

Bill seemed like he had more to say, but the others cut him off.

“Ash is right.”

“Yeah, let’s post it there. Everyone’s gonna lose their minds.”

“You should do it. You’re always on that site anyway. You’d do it best.”

“I’ve never posted anything, though.”

Grumbling but resigned, Bill pulled up the site and started typing the post. His fingers flew across the keyboard, and in no time, he’d uploaded it and set his phone down.

“Let’s watch the reactions.”

No sooner had he said it than Bill’s phone started vibrating. One of the guys checked his own and widened his eyes.

“Yo, there’s already a comment. Damn, the view count is going up fast.”

“Where? Where?”

“Oh, it’s this one.”

The others quickly pulled out their phones to check, and soon the table erupted in laughter from all directions.

“Everyone’s freaking out. Is the whole school gonna show up?”

“Whoa, the site’s lagging hard.”

“Wait, what? Why isn’t it loading?”

“Same here.”

“Mine won’t open either.”

Kids all around the cafeteria were groaning and swearing in frustration. Everyone was constantly refreshing the page, trying to get it to load. The only ones not glued to their phones were Ashley and Koi.

Koi looked around, wide-eyed, and then turned to Ashley. He was still casually chewing on his bland school burger, completely unfazed.

From that moment on, no one brought up Koi’s timid post ever again. Online or in real life, the only thing anyone could talk about was Ashley Miller’s party.

*

Before lunch ended, everyone filed out of the cafeteria to head to their classes. As they turned in their trays and walked together, someone shouted out to Ashley.

“Ash, thanks for the invite!”

Ashley glanced over and waved in response. Koi saw a group of girls laugh excitedly and run off, and instinctively glanced around.

People always stared when Ashley passed by, but today their eyes were filled with even more admiration and envy. And yet Ashley didn’t react. He just walked along, laughing and joking with his friends like always. Koi couldn’t help but wonder how he’d ended up part of this group.

Since that day, Nelson and his gang stopped bothering him, and the school life that used to be so miserable had suddenly become enjoyable. Everyone, including Bill, was cheerful, never pulled any mean pranks, and above all, they were kind to Koi.

“Alright, see you later.”

They waved goodbye as they went off to their respective classes. Koi waved back, then turned around.

His next class was with Ashley. The two of them walked side by side toward the classroom. As they walked the short distance, other students kept stopping to talk to Ashley or say hi. It wasn’t unusual, but it felt more intense than usual today. Probably because of the party. That’s what Koi figured as he kept his eyes on the ground.

Ashley finally spoke to him after the hallway quieted down and fewer people were around.

“Koi.”

“Yeah?”

He replied reflexively, and Ashley reached a hand over Koi’s head. Koi blinked in confusion as Ashley’s fingers brushed through his hair, then withdrew. In his hand was a small leaf.

“It was stuck on your head.”

“Oh, uh...”

Koi quickly brushed at his hair in embarrassment, and Ashley laughed out loud.

“It’s gone now. I got it.”

Koi chuckled awkwardly along with him. Ashley had been laughing a lot today.

He must really be in a good mood. Koi wondered what had happened. Whatever it was, if it made Ashley happy, he was glad too.

As he smiled at the thought, his heart skipped and a strange ticklish feeling spread through his chest. Huh? Koi froze in place, startled. But instead of settling down, the fluttering in his chest only grew worse.

Ashley suddenly stopped laughing and looked down at him. As if to ask, What’s up? Koi found himself staring, entranced, at the lingering smile on Ashley’s face. His mouth was dry, his fingers tingled, his pulse pounded through his body, and he couldn’t think straight. He couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“H-Hey, A-Ash...”

“Yeah.”

Ashley answered immediately. Despite his panic, Koi’s brain raced to come up with an excuse.

“Th-this is... um... about my friend.”

Ashley blinked, surprised. “You have another friend besides me? Who?”

“Huh? Uh... huh?”

Caught completely off guard, Koi panicked. Ashley glanced at his twitching ears and grinned.

“Kidding. Of course you have other friends.”

“Oh...”

Koi blinked rapidly, dazed again. Ashley, amused by his reaction, added,

“Lots of them.”

That’s not true, Ash. You’re the only friend I have.

Koi swallowed the words before they could leave his throat. But Ashley genuinely seemed to believe Koi had a lot of friends. It wasn’t true at all, but he didn’t want to ruin that illusion. Not when Ashley thought of him as someone sociable. So Koi put on a small bluff and stammered,

“Y-Yeah, s-so... one of those many friends...”

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His voice cracked mid-sentence, and he winced. He nearly panicked again, but thankfully, Ashley didn’t react. If Ashley had kidnapped him again and locked him in his room, he probably would’ve burst out laughing at Koi right now—but unfortunately, they were still at school.

Phew. Koi let out a quiet sigh of relief and forced himself to continue.

“He... said he’s been feeling weird lately. And I don’t know what to tell him, so I wanted to ask what you thought.”

“About what?”

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“Uh, so... I mean...”

Koi stared at the ground, too nervous to look Ashley in the face.

“He made a close friend, and now whenever he sees them, it feels weird. He used to just like them normally, but now his heart beats fast and his hands shake, and he even feels kind of tingly here...” He pointed at his chest.

Ashley looked down at Koi’s head, quietly. The way he stubbornly avoided eye contact was frustrating—and adorable. The cuteness won out, and Ashley smiled.

“Your friend?”

“Y-Yeah! M-my friend!”

Koi flinched and nodded rapidly. Ashley had to force himself not to blurt out, “Is it me?”

Did I say the wrong thing?

Koi grew anxious watching Ashley stay silent. What if he said that kind of feeling wasn’t normal between friends? What if he said it was weird?

“Koi.”

Ashley finally spoke. But his voice cracked unexpectedly, and he cleared his throat. Koi froze, staring at him nervously. The seconds felt like forever until Ashley finally responded.

“Koi, maybe your friend likes that person.”

“Huh?”

Koi’s eyes widened. Without realizing it, he looked up at Ashley—but didn’t even register that fact.

“O-Of course he does. They’re friends.”

Ashley gently pointed out,

“But it’s different, isn’t it?”

Koi hesitated, and Ashley pressed on.

“Do you feel that way when you look at your other friends? Heart pounding, tingles, all that? Do you even need to ask about it if it’s just a friend?”

I don’t know. You’re the only friend I have.

As if sensing his thoughts, Ashley continued.

“Take me, for example. I eat lunch, practice, and hang out all the time with ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) my teammates. You know that, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I think of them as friends, but I’ve never once felt that kind of fluttery, embarrassed feeling around them.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Ashley said it firmly, then frowned and added,

“Honestly, I’d be creeped out if I felt that way about those giant gorilla-looking guys.”

“Oh...”

Koi let out a blank sigh. Ashley looked him straight in the eyes and said, with absolute seriousness,

“That means your friend likes that person, Koi.”

Figure it out.

Inside, Ashley was pleading.

Please notice, Koi. Your feelings.

A cold wind blew between the two of them as they stood facing each other. All they did was stare. Koi could hear his heartbeat pounding slowly and heavily in his ears.

Do I... like Ash?

Do I really?