L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 104

“Thank you, please visit us again.”

Ashley gave a slight nod to the manager and staff who had come all the way out to the street to see him off, then turned around. The driver, who had been waiting nearby, promptly opened the back door of the parked car, but Ashley stopped in place and spoke.

“Go on ahead. I want to walk a little.”

The aging driver blinked in surprise and looked to the side. The two bodyguards who had been stationed near Ashley ever since he arrived exchanged glances.

“We’ll stay nearby and wait for your call.”

One of them spoke, and the driver nodded and returned to the car. Ashley walked away on his own, leaving them behind. The two bulky men followed at a slight distance, but he paid them no mind. Right now, he just wanted to savor this little bit of freedom for as long as he could.

Ever since arriving on the East Coast, his life had felt like a prison. For someone like Ashley—who had lived freely, doing whatever he wanted—every day here was hell. He had to wake up at a set time, have breakfast with his father, eat lunch seated across from “him,” who couldn’t even get out of bed on his own, and attend some party or gathering by evening.

He spent his entire day preparing for these events. If he didn’t know who the host was, what they did for a living, or, if they were a businessperson, information about their company, his father would openly show his displeasure.

Of course, Ashley wasn’t stupid enough to deliberately provoke his father. He did everything he could to return to Koi as soon as possible. Without complaint, without resistance, he followed orders to the letter. Even if it meant pulling all-nighters.

And that wasn’t the end of it. Ashley had also started preparing for college entrance exams. After all, once they hit 12th grade, everyone would be busy studying. But his father didn’t allow him to be just “like everyone else.” His son had to be far more exceptional. Unfortunately, Ashley had the misfortune of actually being capable enough to fulfill those expectations.

Just as he had predicted, his father wanted him to attend the same university he had. So Ashley was already networking with alumni and gathering information about the school. That alone kept him overwhelmed, but on top of that, he’d started learning French. Though he already had excellent Spanish skills, that wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy his father. Once he was proficient in French, he’d likely be expected to start German next.

With all this going on, days flew by, and the three-hour time difference made it even harder to call Koi. Most of the time, whenever he finally found a spare moment, it was already too late—Koi would be asleep. Unless he planned ahead, like today, it was impossible to carve out time for himself.

Ashley had pushed himself to the limit for this one free day. He pleaded the importance of having at least one rest day, stayed up all night to catch up on French, and even studied ahead. That’s how he’d managed to get this single day off.

Ah.

Suddenly, a cold sensation brushed his cheek. Ashley looked up and quickly realized what it was. Snow was beginning to fall. After spending years on the West Coast, where it hardly ever snowed, even these light flurries still felt new to him.

He stood still, gazing upward. The gray, sluggish clouds of the overcast winter sky looked exactly like they had every day since he arrived.

Haa...

He exhaled deliberately, and a puff of white breath drifted into the air. Around him, people passed by with their heads down, walking quickly. The clear, cloudless skies of the West came to mind. And right after that, so did Koi—who always threw himself into his arms. The ache in Ashley’s chest deepened with longing.

Tomorrow was Christmas. He had once thought he’d be able to return to Koi right after Thanksgiving. That hope had long since been shattered. And once Christmas passed, it would be New Year’s. Chances were, Ashley wouldn’t be able to spend that with Koi either.

Surely... they’re not planning to keep me here forever, are they?

Ashley started walking again. He still had another year before he could graduate high school. But no matter how long it took, he was determined to go back to Koi. Even if it took time—he would.

Please wait for me, Koi.

He silently pleaded and thought about the rings he’d ordered, a soft smile forming on his lips.

They were platinum bands—one with a decently sized diamond in the center, flanked by a line of smaller ones on either side.

He bought two rings with a simple design and requested their names be engraved inside. The ring that matched his fourth finger size would have Koi’s name inside, and the one roughly sized for Koi would bear Ashley’s name. That way, they would belong to each other completely.

What would Koi say if he told him what it meant?

He imagined Koi’s face turning bright red, stumbling over his words in a fluster, and it made him smile again. The only downside was that, being the holiday season, the order backlog meant it would take at least a month to complete, even if rushed. He was dying with impatience, but there was nothing he could do.

The snow was falling more heavily now. Koi had probably never seen this much snow before. Ashley pictured the busy intersection that always turned festive during the holidays. One day, he wanted to bring Koi there.

Under the mistletoe, on Christmas, I’ll kiss you. When the countdown to the New Year starts, we’ll shout together—and the moment the year changes, I’ll pull you into my arms and kiss you again. Then I’ll whisper...

Happy New Year, Koi.

He pictured Koi’s nose all red, smiling at him, and felt lighter inside. He let out a deep breath and came to a stop. Ashley stood at the crosswalk, and the bodyguards behind him also paused. With his hands in his coat pockets, he glanced back at them.

“Call the car.”

The bodyguards quickly contacted the driver. While they waited for the vehicle circling nearby, Ashley stood there silently. The snow continued to fall, but people just passed him by. Before long, his shoulders and hair were covered in white.

*

“Another party?”

Ashley asked, and his father’s secretary nodded without hesitation. He let out a long, involuntary sigh. ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ The secretary opened her mouth to speak.

“It’s the end of the year. There are a lot of events.”

“Of course.”

But Ashley’s real concern lay elsewhere.

“I just wonder how long I have to keep doing this.”

At his words, the secretary looked at him with a blank expression and asked,

“Do you have a reason to be in such a rush to go back?”

Her job was to report Ashley’s every move to his father. She must’ve known about Koi, so he couldn’t tell whether she was playing dumb or just pretending. Ashley simply furrowed his brow in response. She didn’t press further and changed the subject.

“That’s something only Mr. Miller knows. I just deliver the schedule.”

Ashley pushed down his irritation and offered an apology instead.

“...I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“It’s fine. Part of the reason I get paid so well is to be your emotional punching bag, after all.”

Was she being sarcastic? Her tone was so professional it almost felt sincere. Ashley couldn’t read her. He realized again that he didn’t need to.

There’s no reason I need to understand what she’s thinking.

She had her job, and Ashley had his—to do whatever his father told him to. And he would. Willingly. As long as they let him go afterward.

“There’ll be a party on the first of January. Technically, it’s on December 31st.”

Ashley automatically realized what that meant. A New Year’s party—and he wouldn’t be back with Koi by then either.

The secretary placed a paper schedule for the week on the table.

“It’s a very important party, so you’ll need to prepare carefully. Mr. Miller won’t attend that day—only you.”

“Only me? Why?”

Ashley frowned, and the secretary answered in her usual tone.

“Because it’s a party where only you need to be present.”

“...Hah.”

Why did I even ask? He picked up the schedule sheet, feeling a flicker of regret. The days were all filled with the same familiar obligations, but December 31st had nothing listed except for the party.

“...Is it that important?”

Ashley asked, furrowing his brow again. The secretary, who was about to leave, paused with her hand on the doorknob and looked back at him.

“It’s a place where you’ll learn a lot—as a hyper-alpha.”

Then she closed the door and left. Ashley, still scowling, stared at the schedule for a moment longer before setting it down and collapsing onto the bed.

It doesn’t matter. All he wanted was to go back to Koi.

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He’d held out long enough. Once that party was over, he’d go back.

Just one more week.

He comforted himself with that thought and closed his eyes.

“I miss you, Koi.”

It was the first time his own voice had ever sounded so lifeless.