L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 132

The seasons passed swiftly. One moment the air had just started to turn chilly, and before long the days grew shorter, and the new year arrived. News spread of classmates being accepted into colleges, one after another.

While everyone else was frantically busy with college applications, only Koi quietly moved between the hospital and school. His father was admitted repeatedly, but the silver lining was that, due to his bankruptcy long ago and their near-impoverished status, they didn’t have to pay for medical expenses.

Koi would stay late at the hospital to watch over his father, then return to the motorhome and fall asleep alone. There weren’t particularly warm conversations exchanged. Still, it was different from before.

After his brother died and his mother left, ten long years had passed—but now, they didn’t have much time left. Both of them knew it, but neither said it aloud. Instead, they tried to bridge the gap with small, trivial talk, spending what little time they had left getting just a bit closer. And that was enough.

“Koi!”

Ariel shouted when she spotted Koi walking by. He was about to hop on his bike but stopped and waited as she approached.

“Where are you headed? The hospital again?”

“Yeah.”

Koi nodded without hesitation. His friends all knew about his father’s condition. Ariel frowned, concern knitting her brow.

“Are you really not going to college? I heard you didn’t apply anywhere.”

She and Bill had already decided to attend a state university. Koi had once wanted that too, desperately—but in the end, it had become just a dream.

“I can’t leave my dad and go off to college.”

Anything could happen while he was away in a dorm. More importantly, Koi was the one who drove his father to the hospital every time he needed to go.

“I’m looking for a job, so it’s okay. I could start at community college and transfer to a four-year later...”

“Haa...”

Ariel sighed deeply. It wasn’t the first time Koi had seen this kind of reaction. He just smiled faintly, accepting it for what it was.

“Well, Al, I’ll get going.”

“Ah, Koi.”

Just as he was turning toward his bike, Ariel stopped him again.

“Have you heard anything... from Ash?”

“Huh? ...No.”

“...I see.”

When Koi shook his head, Ariel looked down, disappointed. He mumbled an awkward goodbye and walked away. Since that day, he hadn’t seen Ashley at all. The only thing he’d heard was that he’d gone east.

Koi kept himself busy, too busy for regret to take hold. And it wasn’t until spring came, right before graduation, that he finally heard something about Ashley.

*

“Ash is coming to the prom?”

The unexpected news made one of the hockey guys shout from across the lunch table. Koi also froze, lowering his sandwich as he stared wide-eyed at Bill, who had just delivered the bombshell.

“I finally got through to him on the phone yesterday, and I asked on a whim—and he said he’d come. He’s not going to the dance itself, but he’ll show up for the afterparty. I told him sure.”

“Wait, Bill—he’s coming to your house then?”

“Yeah. I figured we should see that bastard’s face again after so long, catch up a bit.”

Everyone cheered at the news. Koi’s face lit up too, but he didn’t join in the cheers. Bill, who had noticed Koi shrinking slightly into himself, added casually,

“Anyway, after the dance, everyone just come to my place, okay?”

Then, turning to Koi—

“You too.”

Koi swallowed hard without thinking. He nodded before replying.

“Okay.”

Bill smiled at him. It was a gentle smile, one that seemed almost... sympathetic. Koi lowered his gaze and pretended to take another bite of his sandwich.

I’ll get to see Ash again. frёewebηovel.cѳm

Just the thought of it made his chest ache so badly he could barely swallow. The others had already moved on to different topics, but Koi’s mind was filled with nothing but Ashley.

*

The day of the prom was unusually bright. Koi opened the door and looked up ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) at the cloudless, endless blue sky—and his heart pounded. He had to take several deep breaths to calm himself.

“Koi, is something wrong?”

His father, sitting up in bed, asked. Koi turned to him and quickly shut the door.

“Oh, no. It’s just... the weather’s nice.”

As he bustled around the small space preparing breakfast, his father watched him silently. Lately, it had become harder for him to eat. The cancer had already spread to his stomach, so it was to be expected—but Koi still did what he could to make sure his father ate something.

“Vegetable soup.”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

He warmed it up and brought it over. As he did, an old memory crept up on him. He quickly shook his head, forcing the surge of emotion away, then placed the chipped tray with the soup and spoon onto his father’s lap.

“Thank you, Koi.”

His father coughed after his words of gratitude. Koi silently waited for the fit to pass, then handed him a glass of water. Even a single sip had to be taken in several small swallows, but eventually, his father moistened his lips and lifted the spoon. After taking one taste of the thin soup, he smiled.

“It’s good.”

It couldn’t have tasted good. It was instant soup bought from the store—cheap, nearing expiration, part of a discount bundle. He had to make soup for every meal now, and when it came to choosing, quantity and price outweighed quality. This was probably the worst instant soup available.

But his father always smiled and said it tasted good. Koi waited until he’d finished the bowl slowly and painfully, then cleared the tray, gave him his medication, and helped him lie down.

When he returned after washing the dishes, his father had already drifted into another light sleep. Koi relaxed slightly when he heard the faint sound of breathing and sat down in a chair.

The money he’d saved for independence was almost gone. He had a part-time job, but most of his time was spent taking care of his father, so he didn’t make much.

He had already given up on college. Now he had to find a new path.

Koi sighed and began doing chores. The day passed quickly as he busied himself. After making soup again for dinner and giving his father painkillers and sleeping pills, he sat down to go over the list of job postings he’d marked.

That’s when the message notification went off.

He froze. At this hour, there was only one possible reason. Bill had promised to text him if Ashley showed up at the afterparty, knowing Koi wouldn’t be able to attend the prom.

Koi took a deep breath and opened the message with trembling hands.

[Koi, Ash is here.]

Taking another deep breath, Koi grabbed his phone and rushed out of the motorhome. His father had taken his medicine and would sleep soundly for the next three hours.

Carefully closing the door behind him, Koi climbed onto his bike. His mind was already spinning with thoughts of Ashley.

He pedaled as hard as he could, flying toward Bill’s house.

*

“Hah... Hah...”

By the time he arrived, he was breathless, lungs burning. He felt like he was going to collapse. Bent over, gasping for air, Koi tried to calm himself.

The party was already in full swing. Music blasted, voices shouted—just the noise coming from inside was enough to make Koi’s head spin.

“Ah, Koi!”

Bill was the first to spot him and called out cheerfully. Koi, scanning the crowd frantically for Ashley, turned and approached him.

“Hey, glad you made it. Rough ride? How’s your dad?”

“Yeah, he took his evening meds, so he’s sleeping.”

Bill nodded. “Got it.”

Bill was the only one who knew that Koi had been dating Ashley. He didn’t know why they broke up or why Ashley left for the East—but he never asked.

It was between them, and this—this was the only thing Bill could do.

“Ash is out back, in the garden.”

Koi instinctively held his breath.

“Th-Thanks...”

His voice cracked from the nerves. Bill patted him on the shoulder a couple of times before stepping back. Koi forced a small smile and walked past him toward the garden.

He squeezed through the packed crowd inside the house and finally made it out. Around the pool, groups of kids were gathered—laughing, drinking punch, splashing in the water. Koi scanned the area but didn’t see him anywhere.

Anxiety rising, he tilted his head up without thinking—and then he saw it.

A silhouette, cast on the second-floor balcony.

It was Ashley.

Koi saw him standing there, staring into the distance.

Without a second thought, Koi rushed toward the stairs.