L*ck Me If You Can

Chapter 212

"Wait, Ash! Stop, I said stop! Ugh!"

Bill, shouting desperately as he vaulted over the sofa, lost his balance and smashed face-first into the floor. It was fortunate that there was carpet, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt. He had to be careful not to strain his injured wrist again, but right now, preserving his life was more important. Ashley was furious — so much so that his violet eyes looked pitch-black, and the pheromones radiating from him were so overwhelming that it was hard to breathe.

"There was nothing going on between me and Koi! Really! Please believe me!"

Bill shouted with all his strength as the stick narrowly missed his face. Suddenly, Ashley withdrew the stick and looked down at him. Gasping for breath, Bill looked up, and Ashley spoke in a quiet voice.

"You're saying it wasn't you who called Koi to the hotel room?"

Bill hesitated before answering.

"Th-That part is true, but—"

"You were the one who told Koi to drink champagne too, right?"

"Th-That was me too, but—"

"...And the kiss?"

"That was... also... me..."

Bill realized he was getting cornered. Ashley narrowed his eyes, sneering openly.

"Is there anything I got wrong? Everything's correct, isn’t it?"

"No, it’s right but it’s also wrong, don’t do this! What really happened is—ugh!"

Bill barely dodged another swing of the stick and rolled across the floor, screaming.

"You said you checked with Koi! Then why are you acting like this? Are you saying Koi lied to you?"

"Koi would never lie."

Ashley declared, without the slightest change in his breathing. Bill, thinking maybe there was hope, was ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) immediately crushed as Ashley coldly added,

"My Koi would never betray me. You must have seduced him."

"My Koi?"

Bill repeated Ashley’s words in disbelief. What kind of mess was this? Memories of their friendship flashed through Bill’s mind as he desperately dodged the stick. They had been so close—how could Ashley do this to him?

Overcome with frustration, Bill screamed,

"Then Koi, who responded to me, is also to blame! Why are you only doing this to me? You gave in easily to Koi too, didn't you!"

Bill raged, but Ashley’s response remained calm.

"I can't hit Koi."

"You son of a bitch!"

Bill shouted again — just as Ashley was about to corner him and send the stick flying directly at his head.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and a familiar voice echoed from outside.

"Bill, it’s me, Koi! Is Ash there?"

A hush fell over the chaotic room. It was only a second or two, but a top-tier ice hockey ace didn't miss his chance.

"Save me, Koi!"

"You—!"

Bill squeezed through the gap and sprinted desperately toward the door, feeling like he was dodging the scythe of death itself. His instincts screamed it: there was only one person who could save him now — the person standing just outside.

Three. Two. One.

The door was getting closer. Bill stretched out his arm and turned the handle with all his strength. As the door swung open — thwack! — a loud thud echoed from behind his head.

"Ugh!"

"Bill!"

"Eek!"

Bill's scream mingled with another as the door opened, revealing Koi’s pale face and Ariel’s wide eyes.

"Aaaah, aaah!"

Bill rolled on the floor, clutching the back of his head, and the two of them hurried over to check his condition.

"Are you okay, Bill? Should we take you to a hospital?"

"Call an ambulance! He got hit on the head!"

"I don’t think he’s bleeding. Maybe it just grazed him?"

As Ariel said, it didn’t seem like his head was split open. Relieved, Koi finally lifted his head and looked up at Ashley.

"Ash, what’s going on? What’s that in your hand?"

Ashley lowered his gaze. Immediately, his eyes met Bill’s, who was peeking up through squinting eyes, still clutching his head and groaning. At that, Bill squealed in fear and groaned even louder.

Seeing that, Koi paled and quickly said,

"I already explained everything! You said you understood! Why are you doing this? Put that down! You’re scaring Bill!"

Ashley didn’t say a word. Standing there without moving, he looked down at Koi as Koi urged him.

Finally, Ashley opened his mouth.

"What exactly are you doing right now?"

"Huh?"

Koi instinctively asked back, confused. Ashley continued in a slow, shockingly calm voice.

"Are you protecting Bill? In front of me?"

"W-What?"

Still stunned by the unexpected question, Koi stammered, but Ariel quickly cut in.

"Because you might actually kill someone if we don't! It's not about protecting Bill, it's about protecting you, dumbass."

"I mean, I'm worried about both of you—"

"You shut up."

Ariel growled lowly at Koi, who was cluelessly trying to explain, and turned her gaze back to Ashley.

"Let’s settle this with a conversation. Koi's scared too, isn’t he?"

"Uh, uh, yeah..."

This time, Koi hurried to agree, nodding quickly. Sharing a look with Ariel, he said again,

"So, uh, let's just put that thing down first and talk, okay? Please?"

At Koi’s pleading tone, Ashley’s aura slightly softened. Though Bill and Ariel could feel the change in the pheromones, Koi couldn’t. Seeing Koi anxiously looking up at him, Ashley spoke.

"Move. You’re going to get hurt."

"Huh?"

Koi blinked, hesitating, his gaze flickering between the hockey stick and Ashley.

"If you put that down first..."

"Move."

Ashley ground out the words in a low growl.

"You first."

Faced with that intensity, Koi couldn’t endure anymore. After glancing between Bill and Ariel, he reluctantly stepped aside. Only then did Ashley finally put down the hockey stick — though it was still within arm’s reach, dangerously close.

At least the immediate crisis seemed to have passed. Koi sighed with relief, hand over his chest. Ariel helped Bill up, and finally, the four of them stood facing each other.

"What the hell were you trying to do? Kill me?"

Bill, as expected, was the first to burst out in indignation. Tearfully shouting, he glared at Ashley.

"Even if we haven’t contacted each other in ten years, how could you do this? I’m Bill Gulliver! Your best friend back in high school!"

Memories of their time together flashed before him, and tears welled up. Seeing the big man tearfully wiping his eyes with his thick forearm, Ariel patted his back in sympathy.

"Yeah, you went too far this time. Even if it’s about Koi and you can’t see straight, your behavior was way over the line."

"You understand him?"

Bill immediately snapped. Ariel, undeterred, coolly analyzed,

"From Ash’s perspective, you, his former best friend, trying to seduce Koi would obviously drive him crazy."

"I wasn’t seducing anyone! You don’t trust me either?!"

Bill screamed, tearing at his hair. Ariel pinched his waist sharply to calm him and glared.

"Listen properly. I said from Ash's perspective."

As Bill, thoroughly deflated, looked up, Ariel continued.

"When it comes to Koi, Ash isn’t in his right mind. I’ve never seen that guy behave rationally about anything related to Koi."

Crossing her arms and lifting her chin, Ariel narrowed her eyes mockingly.

"And you should feel lucky it’s you. Some guy before you ended up hospitalized for months and went bankrupt afterward."

She glanced at Ashley, as if seeking confirmation, but he didn’t answer. Ignoring the confused Bill and Koi, Ariel continued.

"Now that everyone’s calmed down, how about we sit and talk? It's been a while since we gathered like this. No need to keep standing around glaring."

With that, she plopped down on the sofa. Ashley looked down at Koi and gestured for him to sit too. Hesitating, Koi nodded and sat across from Ariel. Ashley naturally sat beside Koi, one arm slung over Koi’s shoulders, the other hand gripping the hockey stick — clearly threatening to swing it again if necessary.

Bill edged away as much as possible, perching precariously far from Ashley, eyeing the door in case he needed to bolt.

Seemingly paying him no mind, Ashley reached into his jacket, pulled out a cigarette, but paused before lighting it. Sighing, he tucked it back into his pocket. Koi watched silently as Ashley finally spoke.

"So, what’s this talk you wanted?"

In his usual cold tone, Ashley glanced at Ariel. Ariel threw a quick look at Bill but spoke herself.

"Bill has no romantic feelings for Koi. He came to the East because of me."

Ashley raised an eyebrow. Ariel, speaking reluctantly, explained,

"He came here hoping to get back together with me. Koi’s just a mutual friend who helped us reconnect. You get it now? Stop with the pointless jealousy."

Koi eagerly nodded, thinking that explanation should be enough, but Ashley's reaction wasn’t what he expected.

"When do you plan to stop playing babysitter?"

"What?"

Everyone, not just Ariel, was stunned by the unexpected question. Ashley, ignoring everyone else, sneered at Ariel.

"Weren't you the queen bee back in high school? Don’t you think it’s pathetic, clinging to that role, cleaning up everyone’s messes even now?"

"Ash, what are you talking about—"

"So what you’re saying is."

Cutting off Koi, Ariel asked, sharp-eyed,

"You’re annoyed that Koi keeps leaning on me whenever something happens? If so, maybe you should have built enough trust so he could lean on you instead."

Ashley’s face hardened. Ariel struck mercilessly.

"You have no idea how Koi survived the ten years you were gone. Skipping meals, losing sleep, saving money—all just to come find you."

"A-Ariel!"

Koi panicked, trying to stop her, but Ariel wouldn’t stop.

"While Koi was working himself to death for you, all we could do was support him from the sidelines. And what were you doing? Getting engaged to some rich girl? Attending pheromone parties? Maybe for you it was ten years spent forgetting him—but for Koi, it was ten years spent only remembering you."

She glared sharply.

"And now, after doing nothing, after ignoring him for so long, you think you have the right to get jealous over Bill and Koi? You have no idea how we felt watching him all this time."

Ashley stood there, pale and silent, unable to say a word.