L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 83

“E-El!”

Koi called out after her in a panic. Ariel, already a good distance away, turned back as he stammered,

“Um, can I ask... one more thing?”

Ariel tilted her head like she didn’t care either way. Koi hesitated, then finally forced the words out.

“So, uh... you bought me clothes because... you were embarrassed to be seen with me, right?”

Ariel frowned.

“If I were embarrassed, I wouldn’t hang out with you in the first place. Why would I buy you clothes?”

Koi faltered, then replied,

“Because we’re friends...?”

Ariel tilted her head thoughtfully.

“Well, I guess buying a T-shirt or two for a friend isn’t that weird.”

Koi mumbled with his eyes lowered.

“You... kind of bought me a lot...”

“How much?”

When she asked, Koi tried to recall everything and began listing them off one by one.

“Well... there was a dress shirt, and some T-shirts, and pants too... Oh, and a watch.”

Ariel, who had been listening silently, sighed and furrowed her brow.

“That’s not something a friend does. That’s flirting.”

Koi flinched and shook his head in alarm.

“No, but he’s a guy—how could he...”

“Koi, Ash may be rich and well-mannered, but he doesn’t just throw his money around for anyone.”

Koi gasped at the name that had come out of nowhere. How did she know?! His eyes darted around in panic as Ariel continued sternly.

“You thought it was normal when he treated the gorillas at Green Bell, didn’t you? That kind of thing doesn’t happen often. Normally, everyone pays for their own food. That was a really special occasion. Well, I guess they did eat a lot that day, since Ash was covering everything.”

Shaking her head as if the whole thing was pathetic, she added,

“Of course, when I was dating Ash, I never paid for anything. He covered it all.”

Of course he did. Anyone would, if they were with El.

Koi nodded instinctively, as if it was obvious. Ariel’s expression grew serious.

“Do you get what I’m saying?”

Before Koi could say something off again, she continued quickly.

“That was date money. Which means he spent it on you—freely and without hesitation.”

Koi’s thoughts went blank again. Ariel didn’t give him time to sit in it.

“Koi, you’re clearly trying to find some way to prove that Ash doesn’t like you. But what «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» do you gain from that?”

Koi couldn’t answer. His mouth opened slightly but no words came out. Ariel kept going.

“Ash is a good person. Don’t punish someone for liking you just because you’re trapped in self-loathing.”

There was nothing Koi could say. She was right—painfully, irrefutably right. All he could do was stand there with his head down, ashamed and silent. Ariel delivered her final warning.

“Keep this up and I’ll pop your jalapeño and officially make you one of my sisters.”

“Eep—!”

The threat made him squeak involuntarily. When he finally looked up, Ariel was already far ahead, walking away.

*

By the time he returned to the rink with slow, dragging steps, the stadium was eerily quiet. The once deafening crowd had disappeared, leaving only silence.

Cautiously stepping into the dugout, Koi spotted Ashley skating slowly across the ice in the distance. He stood by the fence and watched him for a long time. Ashley’s face from the confession earlier, Ariel’s voice from the hallway—they played over and over in his mind.

Why does Ash like me?

Ariel was right. Only Ashley knew the answer to that. All Koi could do was be honest about his own feelings.

So then... what are mine?

As his sluggish heart thudded in his chest, Ashley happened to turn mid-skate and their eyes met. A gentle smile bloomed on Ashley’s face. Koi’s cheeks flushed, and it suddenly felt hard to breathe. He stayed where he was, still, as Ashley slowly approached.

“I thought maybe you ran off.”

Ashley smiled, standing on the other side of the fence.

“I almost did.”

Koi replied with a nervous smile of his own. But Ariel’s words echoed behind him, grabbing his ankle, shoving him forward: Face this. Don’t run.

She was right. Koi had to confront this moment eventually.

He took a deep breath and forced a stiff smile.

“The hockey guys aren’t around.”

“I told them to go ahead. I was waiting for you.”

Koi found himself wondering what kind of reaction the team had. Maybe his face gave it away, because Ashley followed up immediately.

“They thought it was some kind of stunt. I don’t know if they really believed that or if they were just trying to keep things chill, but either way—I told them to think whatever they want and let them go.”

“I... I see.”

Koi’s voice cracked, and he quickly cleared his throat. After that, the silence returned, louder than ever. The wide stadium was so empty that their voices echoed far and deep.

Koi lifted his head, suffocated by the tension. Ashley was still watching him. Waiting—for his answer, just like always.

Koi opened his mouth to speak, but only a sigh escaped. His chest tightened. He took several deep breaths before finally managing to speak.

“El said... you two are completely over.”

“Yeah.”

Ashley answered without hesitation. He and Ariel had come to terms with their breakup a long time ago. It was everyone else—like Koi—who hadn’t caught up yet. No wonder Ariel had been so frustrated.

“...Sorry. I really thought you were gonna get back together with her.”

It was a hard apology to make. Ashley didn’t respond at first.

“Why would you think that?”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

His voice came out slowly, almost disbelieving. Koi wanted to disappear. He forced himself to respond.

“I thought... if you won the game... you’d confess to her again...”

“Oh...”

Ashley finally seemed to understand—and then added quickly, voice rising a notch.

“So you gave me your lucky bill thinking I’d win the game and go back to Elle?”

New n𝙤vel chapters are published on novelbuddy.cσ๓.

His tone was clearly incredulous. Koi bowed his head, embarrassed.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, glancing up at Ashley. “I thought... that’s what you wanted.”

“That’s one hell of a mistake.”

Ashley pointed out bluntly.

“Yeah...”

Koi saw the clear irritation on his face and could only apologize again, just like he had to Ariel.

“I’m sorry.”

Ashley didn’t respond right away. Instead, he spread his arms and gripped the top of the fence, effectively boxing Koi in with his arms.

Looking down at him, Ashley asked,

“I told you I liked you—more than once. I even said I’d give you a final answer after this game. And yet you thought I meant Elle? What the hell is going on with you?”

Koi’s face burned with shame. Ashley didn’t sound like he was mocking him—he sounded genuinely confused and frustrated. Koi hesitated, then finally spoke.

“That post on the board... it was me.”

“I know.”

Ashley didn’t even blink.

Koi forced the next words out.

“We’re friends... you and me. And having feelings like that—it’s wrong. I posted it, but it got buried.”

Of course it did. I buried it.

Ashley waited patiently for him to continue, saying nothing. Koi stayed silent for a long time. His head was bowed, making it impossible to see his face. Ashley summoned all the patience he had and waited, again and again, until Koi finally whispered,

“Why do you like me?”

His voice trembled. Ashley didn’t hesitate.

“Because you’re someone worth liking.”

When Koi cautiously lifted his head, Ashley smiled and added with a teasing tone,

“From the way you talk, you clearly think I’m some incredible person. So flip it around—if someone like me likes you, doesn’t that mean you’re even more amazing?”

Koi stared at Ashley’s face. He looked like he had a lot to say, but no words came out. Ashley had to summon even more patience than before just to keep himself from kissing him again. Finally, Koi managed to speak—his voice hoarse and full of strain.

“Feelings like this... I shouldn’t have them.”

It took a long time for that sentence to come out. Ashley, caught off guard, furrowed his brows.

“Why not?”

“Because...”

Koi sucked in a shaky breath. Exhaled. Then, finally, he confessed.

“Because I know... you’re only hanging out with me because you pity me.”