I was only twelve years old when I first have my first kiss. It happened in a birthday party with some of my friends in school. Lea, my best friend and neighbor that time, invited her new friend Sheila Aragon to her thirteenth birthday.
She had always been a few months older than me since my birthday was in December, and our parents had been friends since birth. So, technically we became best friends through our parents.
Needless to say, I had to endure her for years. The constant fights and teasing we had was what others envied in school and whereever we go. Contrary to what others thought, I was a very shy kid when I was twelve and Lea was more the popular one. Aside from being friendly, she was also smart and pretty.
I never looked at her differently from other girls. Inside my twelve-year old mind, she was just my best friend until... her birthday came.
I was so excited to go to her birthday party. The main reason was, I would finally get to meet Sheila up close. She was my new crush in school. I thought perhaps I could talk to her.
She was one of the prettiest girls in school. With a perfect smile that brightened my days, those blue eyes and brown hair would make any guy stare at her endlessly.
So, we all sat and ate along with Lea's friends from school. We were ten in total but half of that were guys including me. Two of the guys were the leader of the popular group in school named "The Kings," where they usually wore signature clothes and shades as they walked in the hallway. They were also actual boyfriends of the two other popular girls, Cindy and Lorie, the evil twins.
Why you ask I call them "evil"? Well... it was a long story. To summarize, they bullied me all throughout elementary and I had hated them forever.
Anyway, after eating the party food which consisted of pizza and lots of sweets, we all sat in a circle. Lea brought out an empty bottle and placed it in the middle.
"Are we going to play truth or dare?" I asked.
"Not exactly," she answered. "I got something better."
"What?" Asked the blonde girl Nikki as she took out her lollipop.
Lea held a mischievious grin on her face.
"We're going to play seven minutes to heaven," she revealed.
"What?!" Most of us said in unison, then we all looked at each other.
"What is that game?" asked Ella, chewing her gum.
"Well, I will spin this bottle and the first person it lands would kiss the person that he or she likes among us for seven minutes."
"Wait! Kiss? As in kiss on the lips?" I asked nervously. Whatever game this was, it sure made my heart beat quickly.
Lea nodded.
'So does that mean I get to kiss Sheila! Man, this is...' my heart began to palpitate furiously as I stared at Sheila who was sitting across from me in the circle. I gulped.
"Okay, here we go," and Lea span the bottle. I was terrified as I look at the bottle spinning and I prayed so hard that it won't pick me. Thankfully it landed on Cindy first and I blew a breath.
Three more spins later, my hands felt clammy and I'm sweating furiously. Few seconds later, it landed on Lea and I blew a breath once again.
"Birthday girl! Who's it gonna be?" asked Ramon, one of the popluar guys who openly showed his affections towards Lea. He smiled expectantly as Lea smiled back.
Among us three guys who did not have any girlfriends, Ramon was the most popular and had those good looks, and possibly looked cooler than Greg and I. Greg was a large kid with curly brown hair that resembled more like Bruce in the movie Matilda, only older, while I was a skinny brown kid with jet black hair and brown eyes.
As far as I know, I never had any girl crushing on me and I did not even expect anyone would ever be... until it happened.
"So, who's going to be your first kiss, Lea?" Ramon asked as I nervously put my palms together. I have not been really paying attention much as I never expected anything.
My mind drifted on to the part where I hoped Lea would be done with it, spin the bottle, and let me be the next. I wanted my turn to be over so I would stop being anxious thinking about how to kiss Sheila.
Then, the unexpected happened as Lea walked over to me and pulled my face towards her. Before I could say anything, she had her lips pressed on mine as my eyes widened in surprise. I did not know how to react.
Why me? There's Ramon... why me?
But then as she let go, I was so stunned that I just stared at her.
"Lea...ummm..." I was tongue-tied. She just stole my first kiss from me. Why?
I gulped as I continued to stare at her.
Then she leaned forward to my ear and said, "Thanks, Mark." She then pat my cheek and stood up. She sat beside Sheila once again as Ramon's eyes pierced through me. Next thing I knew, a large fist went to my face. It was Ramon's and I held my cheek as the guys held him away from me.
In short, the whole party ended and Lea and I have not spoken about that incident ever again... until now.
Today was our high school graduation day and though the incident happened six years ago, it still felt like it was only yesterday since it kept playing on my mind. Lea and I had still been best friends and by not talking about what happened before, we
remained casual. We went on our lives like the way we used to be.
But no matter how much we denied it, there were still awkward moments. Maybe not for her, or it was because she was good at hiding them. But for me, that incident had made me kept wondering why. I know it might be a childish dare for her but for me, it was something.
So today, I'm ready to find out and there was nothing she could do about it.
I actually longed for it to happen once again... just to find out if we really had feelings for each other over the years.
Why, you ask? Well, I felt different after that...
After the long celebration in their house, we asked permission from our parents to be alone in the garden, and they allowed us.
I blew a nervous breath as I thought of finally I could tell her how I felt and out of the prying eyes of everyone.
Everyone particularly our parents who had been shipping us since birth.
"I- I need to tell you something," I stammered.
"Mark, come on. What is it?" and I heard Lea sigh.
I took out my phone and set the timer to seven minutes.
"What are you doing?" she asked as her eyebrows crossed.
"Give me seven minutes," I replied.
"Seven minutes to what?"
As soon as the timer was set, I placed the timer on the bench as I leaned towards her.
"Mark?" she asked, staring at me in surprise.
I smiled. Now it's my turn to surprise her.
"I'm going to get what you stole from me six years ago, Lea," I whispered as I stared longingly to her shiny pink lips. "It's payback time."
With one quick second, I cupped her face and captured her lips. This time it would not be a simple peck on the lips but since we grew up, I have learned in time in how to give a proper first kiss. I grazed over her lips as I felt her softened and in response, she moved her lips with mine.
Time stood still as her hands wrapped around my neck and we almost forgot the time if not for the timer that rang loudly.
We reluctantly let each other go breathlessly. Our eyes never left each other and I could feel the heat rising through my cheeks. I also noticed her cheeks flushed in red. The timer kept on beeping loudly and I lost eye contact from hers momentarily as I grabbed my phone from the bench.
She, however, took that opportunity to push me away and was about to stand up when I quickly grabbed her by her waist, making our lips touched slightly. Her eyes widened once again as I moved an inch to give us some space. Though for me, it was still not enough as my insides were shaking uncontrollably.
I gathered all my courage and started to speak, trying hard not to be distracted by the closeness we had. For all I ever wanted was to kiss her again... endlessly.
"L-Lea..." I stammered. "I... I..."
I could not put my my words together. What should I say? That I have liked her since the moment our lips touched years ago? That my feelings for her grew overtime and now I think I might be falling for her?
Why was it so hard to confess between friends? Why was it easier when you're not?
But I knew I have to tell her... now or never.... before we both go to our own colleges...
I could not bear not to know another minute of why she did it before and somehow, I was hoping our feelings were the same.
I tried again and this time I was more confident.
"Lea," I mumbled and gazed into her eyes. "I love you."
Lea did not move an inch nor her mouth quivered. I was starting to get anxious once again. My heart beat faster like horses having a race inside my chest, waiting for a response from her.
I would love to hear something... anything by now.
"Lea..." I whispered. "Please say something..."
She touched my cheek and smiled.
"Do you know why I chose to kiss you at my thirteenth birthday?" she started. "I thought it would be fun to choose you over Ramon... I didn't mean for him to hurt you. I just thought... if there was one person I could trust that time, it was you. I know you won't do anything stupid or even embarass me in front of everyone. As expected, you kept it all in."
My eyebrows creased and was about to say something when she drew a finger on my lips.
"What I thought was supposed to be just for fun had suddenly opened up feelings inside I never knew would exist and like you... over the course of time, I have developed feelings towards you, too... I... I love you, too, Mark," she admitted.
Finally, the long journey was finished. I now have an answer to my long time riddle. How I wished I had asked before and yet, would this be not the right time at all?
I cupped her face once again as our hearts fluttered. I never expected she would give me a chance... just like what happened years before. But knowing her now, she had always been unpredictable.
"Let's do seven minutes, shall we?"
I offered as I took her lips once again and let the time pass as it should be... without interruptions this time.