L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 67

—I don’t have my bike.

Ashley was in the middle of getting ready for school when Koi’s unexpected call came through. He was startled at first, but then he smiled.

“Oh no, that’s a problem. What happened?”

He was already thinking of a solution but asked calmly. Koi hesitated, mumbling awkwardly.

—Well, um, I think I... might’ve left it at your place.

“Ah, I see...”

Ashley deliberately let out a loud sigh. He could practically picture Koi squirming with guilt. He hadn’t even dared to ask for a ride, just sweating nervously instead. Ashley decided to stop teasing him and offered gently,

“All right, Koi. I’ll come pick you up.”

—Really? Are you sure?

Koi’s voice lit up with relief, but he quickly asked again with concern.

—What if you end up being late or something...

“I’ve still got time, it’s fine.”

Ashley spit out the toothpaste foam in his mouth and continued,

“You’ll be waiting at the usual place I drop you off, right? I’ll be there in about thirty minutes.”

—Y-Yeah. That’s fine.

Koi answered quickly, then added in a small voice,

—Thanks, Ash...

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“It’s nothing, Koi. See you soon.”

Ashley ended the call cheerfully, rinsed out his mouth quickly, and stepped out of the bathroom. Today felt like a great day. The sunlight was brighter than usual, the breeze was soft, and the sky was so blue.

And Koi had called him first thing in the morning, asking to be picked up.

He’d been planning to offer to take Koi to school in the mornings anyway. Since Koi didn’t have a car, it was only natural to do that as his boyfriend. Not that he wouldn’t have done it even if Koi had one.

Seeing him for just a few minutes at school in the morning wasn’t enough. He wanted to see Koi’s face just a little sooner each day. He pulled a T-shirt over his head, threw on his usual jeans and sneakers, slung his bag over his shoulder, and bounced down the stairs feeling impossibly light.

Maybe starting today... I’ll just pick him up every morning.

He was even whistling as he walked out, scanning around for the bike. It was exactly where Koi said it would be—only it wasn’t the old clunker Ashley was expecting.

...Huh?

Ashley stopped, confused. The bicycle leaning against the mansion wall was brand new—nothing like the one Koi usually rode. He wondered if it was a mistake, but there was no other bike in sight.

He walked over and furrowed his brow. It looked familiar somehow.

Where have I seen this before...?

Just then, he noticed a cat sticker on the handlebars. It was the exact character Ariel liked. That snapped the memory into place—this was the bike Ariel used to ride before she bought her car.

Why does Koi have this?

Even though he already knew there was no other explanation, Ashley pulled out his phone and called Koi. After a few rings, Koi answered, and Ashley asked casually,

“Koi, did your bike change or something?”

—Ah, yeah.

Koi’s voice was cheerful on the other end.

—That’s the one. The one with the cat sticker on the handle.

“I see.”

Ashley responded kindly, but his face wasn’t smiling at all.

“I’ll be right there, Koi.”

—Okay, see you soon.

Koi, oblivious to everything, ended the call. Ashley stared at his phone for a moment, then wheeled the bike over to his car parked nearby. He loaded it into the trunk, got in the driver’s seat, and started the engine—all without even a trace of a smile. And as he drove toward Koi, jealousy and wild imaginings churned violently in his chest.

*

“Hey, Koi.”

Ashley greeted him from the driver’s seat. Koi, waiting at the same spot where they’d parted the night before, lit up at the sight of him.

“Hey, Ash.”

Ah. Koi faltered a beat late. After the way they’d said goodbye last night, he suddenly felt shameless for acting so casually now.

But there was no time to dwell on it. They’d be late if they waited too long, and the road was getting busy. They couldn’t keep the car parked at the curb forever.

He quickly opened the passenger door and climbed in. Ashley drove off right away. As he settled into the comfortable car seat—so different from his usual bike—Koi thanked him.

“Thanks for coming to get me, Ash. I totally forgot my bike.”

Ashley smiled, eyes on the road.

“I completely forgot too, honestly.”

It was understandable. Ashley had only just manifested, and they’d even had a small argument.

<I like you.>

Remembering Ashley’s words, Koi felt his face heat up. He looked down quickly and tried to think of something else to say, but thankfully, Ashley spoke first.

“Was everything okay last night?”

“Oh, yeah.”

Koi stammered, then quickly added,

“Everything was fine.”

Was that too much? He fretted, thinking maybe he was giving himself away, but Ashley spoke again.

“That bike—I don’t think I’ve seen it before. What’s up with that?”

“Huh? Oh.”

Relieved at the change of subject, Koi answered quickly,

“Elle gave it to me. My old bike’s wheel broke, so I couldn’t use it anymore.”

“The wheel?”

Ashley frowned slightly.

“That thing was still working?”

“If it hadn’t been, I wouldn’t have been riding it.”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

It was a piece of junk, sure, but it had gotten him everywhere—including school—for so long. Hearing Ashley talk down about it made Koi feel a bit upset.

“It did its best, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Ashley nodded, but it sounded half-hearted. Just as Koi was feeling a little bad for the bike, Ashley turned the wheel and asked,

“So why’d Elle give you her bike?”

“Huh? Um...”

Koi replied without thinking.

“I was riding when I fell and busted the wheel. I was pushing it home when Elle saw me while she was out jogging... She said if I kept riding it, I might get hurt, and that would be a disaster for the cheer team—so she gave it to me.”

“I see.”

Ashley’s reply was short, especially compared to Koi’s long explanation. The misunderstanding was cleared up.

The whirlwind of wild jealousy that had consumed Ashley for the last twenty minutes—ever since he left the mansion—deflated into nothing. But not the jealousy itself.

“I should’ve been the one to get it for you.”

“Huh? What?”

Koi asked, not quite catching the quiet mutter. Ashley just smiled at him and shook his head.

“It’s nothing.”

“Oh...”

Koi looked confused but didn’t press. He turned his gaze back to the front. As the car stopped at a red light, Ashley tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, lost in thought.

Don’t rush. You’ll scare him.

I should’ve just locked him up. Is it too late for that?

You promised yourself you wouldn’t think like that. Get it together, Ashley Miller.

Thinking doesn’t count. You fantasized about Koi all last night—what’s with the sudden modesty?

He’s too cute. What am I supposed to do?

Exactly. Just lock him up. Then you can do everything you imagined.

Should I...?

“Wait, why are you two agreeing right now?”

“Huh? Wha—?”

Ashley suddenly blurted out loud, and Koi flinched in surprise and turned to look at him. Ashley quickly laughed it off.

“No, nothing.”

Just then, the light turned green. Ashley pulled forward, trying to calm himself again. Watching him, Koi felt a bit sorry.

He must really be having a hard time because of the pheromones...

But still, asking to be picked up like that... Koi felt like a total idiot. How could he have forgotten his bike? Even if his mind was all over the place, that was no excuse!

Sighing quietly, Koi clenched the ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) strap of his bag and made a silent vow to himself. Starting tomorrow, don’t forget the damn bike. You even made Elle go out of her way to give you that one—don’t be careless.

“Koi.”

“Ah, yeah?”

Snapped out of his thoughts, Koi answered quickly. Ashley said,

“I’ll come pick you up from now on.”

“What? No, you don’t have to!”

Koi hurried to decline.

“There’s no need to go out of your way. I’m fine riding the bike.”

“I’m not fine with it.”

Ashley cut him off. Startled, Koi blinked at him as he added, casually,

“If you like someone, of course you want to see them even a minute earlier.”

Then he smiled at Koi. Koi blinked, stunned, and slowly turned bright red. He needed to say something—anything—but nothing came to mind. After all that talk yesterday about not liking him, now this? He’s crossing the line again! Even if this time was different, he can’t keep doing this. Say something. Reject him, firmly. Hurry up, you useless turtle!

“U-Uh, well—”

“We’re here.”

Just as Koi began to speak, Ashley cut him off again. Sure enough, the school was right there. Before Koi could even finish his sentence, the car had pulled into the curb in front of the school.