Chapter 17 : The Kiss

| The Kiss | Friday night, the cold breeze hugged me as I stepped out of the café. The trees shaded some part of the streets as their shadows reflect on it. I put my two hands on the side pocket of my jacket. Winter is fastly approaching. I began to walk. Linus and I have different end shifts. His out is every six in the evening, while I go home every seven, and sometimes it is eight. I sighed. Linus again? Until when would I forget that name. As I walk slowly, I look up in the sky. Stars are twinkling at me with light, mischievously squinting, and saying hello to me. They are like a sly pearl that adorns that dark blue sky and is no less inferior to the bright moon. The night's aroma pervades the air, covering all the scenery inside. It is not as realistic as it is during the day. The air is filled with sweltering moisture, like a fog. The light from the lamppost is like a night of pearls gilled with bustling streets. A night is like dressing a black curtain into a magnificent world. I look down and was about to cross the street when someone grabs my left hand and dragged me to the narrow alley between the café and the salon. I gasped as he pushed me on the wall. "What the hell—" he covered my mouth using his left hand as his right leaned on the wall. I wiggled and hold his hand and tried to get it off out of my mouth, but my strength is nothing compared to him. "Shhh… don't scream," he whispered." I just want to talk with you," he added and took off his hand that covered my face. "What the fuck is your problem?" I asked in a lower tone. I know there were still students out there, so I need to calm down. But how on earth I calm down, when he's this near? So then, I pushed him away a little bit further. "Could you not stop bothering me? I don't know you, okay. And there's nothing to talk about." I heaved a deep sigh, clenching fists, I glared at him. I don't care if he's handsome no matter what he wears. "I'm sorry if did something wrong to you that I don't know. I'm sorry—" My heart exploded when suddenly his soft thin lips landed on mine. My eyes widened as my heart pounds fast that I can even hear it. I can't move, but my reflexes have done their part, my hand landed on his cheek. His head shifted to the other side because of the impact. "How dare you!" I screamed out and run away from him as fast as I could. Heart raging, eyes watering, my mind is slowly breaking, and it can hold it anymore. "WHAT HAPPENED to you? Reina blurted as I went inside our room. I didn't answer and walk through my bed, lie face down, I screamed and cry even louder. I'm crying. I'm hurting. It's hurt because his actions make me baffled. What is his problem? "Becca," Reina uttered my name, but I didn't respond. Reina then caressed my back as she keeps on asking what happened. "Hey… stop it already, we can talk about it together," she said comfortably. I shifted my attention to her, and I don't care if I have a messy face. "Rey…" I said and sat down. Het worried eyes met mine. "It's okay, you can tell me," she said. "Rey… I don't—I don't know what to feel anymore. My heart," I clasped above my chest, "it's hurt in here. I don't know what to do," I said as tears started to blur my sight again. "Shhh… Love, always comes unexpectedly, in an unexpected time. Stop crying. To be hurt is natural," she said and hugged me. She caressed my back, trying to lessen the pain. "Tell me what exactly happened," she said, and I told her. I told her that Linus kissed me. "Why would he do that?" she asked. I wipe my face with a tissue and replied, "I don't know." "Does he like you too? He has feelings for you?" I shook my head. "No way," I whispered. "But you're not talking to him right. He's your workmate, but you said he never talks to you since the night he invited you in hi pad, right?" I nodded. "Then what is his problem?" Reina vented out. "Don't think about it. Maybe he didn't mean it," I said, body seems weak. "Oh, come on! Why would a guy suddenly kiss you as he wants to talk to you?" "Maybe he just wants to play with me. Like, I'm a challenge," I said. She laughed. "Challenge? What are we… high schoolers? That's insane. I know that he likes you." "No," I retorted. "He likes you! I will bet my hundred dollars," she said, seems so sure. "And where did you get a hundred dollars?" I asked. "It's a secret," she replied. "If that Linus approaches you tomorrow saying sorry, he likes you. Trust me." "I won't hope for that. And even so, he's rich and I'm a commoner. Our world won't fit with each other. We're not fated to be with. Not a chance." Reina grabbed a pillow and hit me. "Where's the Becca who always thinks positive, huh? You're not the Becca I used to know. The Becca I know is optimistic. A girl is full of hope. You're just in the starting stage, Becca. More will come. More different situations to handle that will test your heart and your soul. So, think about it and be ready always." Reina's words are left inside my mind and keep on replaying. I'm hoping but I'm afraid.