“’FINALLY got yourself a new boyfriend, huh?”

My brows furrowed at Jake’s unexpected remark. “New boyfriend? Me?” I asked, pointing at myself, tilting my head as I racked my brains for a particular circumstance that would warrant such a comment... I could not think of any. I frowned.

Jake smirked. “No, not you,” he said. “I’m talking to that girl behind you.”

I rolled my eyes at his attempt to scare me. I’m not scared of ghosts. I do not believe in ghosts. “You must have forgotten that between the two us, you’re the one who can’t bear to watch horror movies,” I said. I set the bowl of ice cubes on the coffee table then sat on the carpeted floor

He snorted. “I just don’t like horror movies. Too unrealistic.”

It was my turn to smirk. “Oh, yeah, right, I remember now. You prefer porn over any other movie genre.” If porn could be considered as a movie genre, I don’t really know.

He laughed. “What makes you think I like porn?”

I shrugged. “All guys like porn,” I said. The guys at the office talk about it all the time. I once sat in front of the desktop computer of one colleague and saw a folder exclusively dedicated to porn.

“I can’t even remember the last time I watched porn,” he said. “If my memory serves me right-” He did not get to finish what he was about to say because of the ringing of his phone. He looked at it. Then he looked at me. “I need to get this.” He did not wait for my answer. He took the call. “Good evening, Sir,” he said. He stood up.

I breathed a sigh of relief. I was so glad for the interruption.

Porn should be the last thing that I’d be discussing with Jake at this very moment. Not after dreaming of having a heavy make-out session with him. Not when I have been secretly wondering if he knew the other uses of ice cubes.

My throat suddenly felt dry. I reached for the bowl of ice, placed a few cubes on my glass, poured some beer and took a sip. That was my fifth can. I am far from being drunk but it was rather obvious that my tongue has become more loosened. I am now saying things that I do not have the courage to say without the presence of alcohol in my system.

The phone call did not even last for a minute. “Sorry, about that,” he said. He sat on the couch. Once again occupying more than half of the couch. “Where were we before we were rudely interrupted?”

I’d die before I remind him that we were talking about porn before the interruption.

“What made you think I have a new boyfriend?” I asked instead.

He shrugged. “You were whispering on the phone.”

“Oh,” I said. So, Cheska’s call was the culprit. “That was Cheska. She had last minute reminders about our client meeting tomorrow.”

“Cheska…” he scoffed. Doubt was written all over his face. “Then why did you have to whisper?”

I almost smiled. Had I not known any better, I would have thought he was fishing for information. But what if he really was? I instantly dismissed the idea. I would only be complicating things if I entertained those kinds of thoughts.

“It was really Cheska,” I insisted.

He looked at me like he was gauging if I was telling the truth. His nostrils flaring.

“Why, the hell would I lie?”

He laughed. “Oh, I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe you’re just too shy to admit that you, too, were bitten by the quarantine bug.”

“Q-quarantine bug?”

He shrugged. “You know, out of boredom during the lockdown, people start flirting online... one thing leading to another.”

I glared at him. “Do I look that bored?” Not that I’m saying that those who found romance online during the lockdown were just a bunch of bored, desperate people. It was just a matter of preference. I prefer face to face interaction. I prefer Jake. I stifled a sigh.

“Aren’t you?” He straightened from the seat. He was now only about a few inches away from me.

“I’m not bored and I don’t have a boyfriend. Now, can we just stop with the interrogation?”

He laughed. “You’re grouchy tonight,” he said. “Maybe that’s the effect of not being in a relationship for so long. You know, too much unspent energy.” And he winked, again.

I reached for a throw pillow and threw it at him. It hit him right in the face.

He laughed. “Seriously, Mia. It’s been years since your last relationship. ” he said. He slid down from the couch and sat beside me.

I was caught off-guard. He was so close the mild scent of his cologne filled my senses. Too close I could feel our arms touching.

In the past, I’ve never had issues about being physically close to him. We’ve hugged each other countless times in the past. There never was any weird feeling. Not until I started having feelings for him.

I closed my eyes. I could hear Cheska at the back of my mind. Teasing me. Urging me to give it a try. To take that first step in crossing that imaginary line.

I'm not really sure, though, if I had the courage to make the first move. I could not imagine myself initiating a kiss.

"Are you okay, Mia?"

I do not have the strength to utter anything. Not when all of my senses are now busily responding to his nearness. To his captivating scent... to his appealing warmth.

Before I could stop myself, I leaned on him. The moment my head fell on his shoulder, I closed my eyes.

"Mia," he whispered.

"Uhm?" I did not open my eyes.

I felt him move. Ever so slightly. And then he held my chin. I opened my eyes and our gazes met.

I could feel the hammering in my chest. I know that look. I've seen it in my dream last night. I know he was about to kiss me. And I know darn well how much I am yearning for that kiss. "Jake..." I whispered.

He swallowed. "Tell me to leave to, Mia," he said. "Please."

What he was saying was a complete contradiction to what I was seeing in his eyes. Something inside of me was telling me that this is the only chance that I will be getting. That if I ask him to leave now, I will never see him again. I took a deep breath. "Why would you wanna leave?"

"I might..." He swallowed. "Because I'm afraid that if I stay here with you... that if I don't leave... I won't be able to control myself and do something that we might both regret tomorrow."

I bit my lower lip. "Like what?"

He smiled. It was a tender smile. "Like kiss you... and then some."

I could feel every fiber of my being respond to his words. I would be crazy to let him go tonight. I want him tonight. Fuck tomorrow. "Please stay, Jake," I said. "Please stay."

He caressed my cheek. Before I could say anything, he crossed that tiny gap between our faces and pressed his lips against mine.

It was a sweet, gentle kiss. At first at least. The next thing I knew, he was devouring my lips like his life depended on it. And I... I was responding with the same intensity.

***to be continued***