Rita's head was spinning, still trying to make sense of what had just transpired. The gasps and murmurs of her colleagues echoed around her, but she couldn't fully comprehend their meaning. Confusion clouded her thoughts as she pondered the strange sensation she had felt on her lips. It had been so soft and warm, unlike anything she had expected.
Desire to remove the cloth covering her eyes surged within her. She wanted to ask if she could uncover her eyes, but before the words could escape her lips, she found something intruding her mouth. Panic gripped her as she realized it felt like a tongue.
In an instant, she instinctively recoiled, pulling herself away from the object invading her personal space. With trembling hands, she quickly removed the cloth, her eyes widening in shock and disbelief.
There, before her, stood Jefferson, his expression unreadable.
Rita's heart raced, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and confusion. She stared at him, searching for answers, wondering why he hadn't moved when their lips met. It wasn't just a brief accidental touch; he had deepened the kiss. It left her utterly speechless, her mind a whirlwind of emotions.
Amidst the commotion, Rita overheard her colleagues murmuring, expressing their concern for her predicament. They spoke of Jefferson's strictness, painting a picture of doom. Yet, to her surprise, Jefferson simply shrugged his shoulders, dismissing any worry.
Emma, one of Rita's colleagues, approached her, wearing a relieved expression.
"You should consider yourself lucky, Rita. Jefferson didn't seem bothered by what happened. He's taking it surprisingly well."
Rita's mind whirred, contemplating Emma's words.
"What? Lucky? You've got to be joking, right? I mean, come on, I was the one who got kissed without even wanting it, okay?" Rita couldn't help but roll her eyes at Emma, though she kept it to herself.
Despite the initial uproar, the chaos eventually died down, almost as if the entire incident had been erased from everyone's memory.
Later, as Rita retreated to her room to spend what would be her final night there, her phone buzzed with a new message. It was from Jefferson.
She read the text, which was brazenly cheeky: [Your lips are truly soft]
Rita immediately scanned her surroundings, her eyes darting from corner to corner. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she realized she was alone in the room.
She had always thought she didn't care much about what others thought of her. Yet, here she was, her behavior contradicting her own beliefs—she was deeply concerned about their opinions after all.
With a heavy sigh, she pondered over how to respond to Jefferson. His behavior left her in a state of confusion.
At times, he seemed genuinely interested in her, showering her with care and attention. But then, there were moments when she felt like she was nothing more than a blip on his radar, completely unnoticed and uninteresting to him.
Glued to her phone screen, Rita stared at his last message for what felt like an eternity, so much so that she completely forgot to reply.
Her grip on the phone loosened as her eyelids grew heavy, and before she knew it, sleep had overtaken her.
The next morning was a dance of awkward glances.
Jefferson's eyes kept finding Rita, and each stare sent a wave of anxiety through her—what if her colleagues noticed? She couldn't have that.
Seizing a moment of privacy, she tiptoed over to Jefferson and whispered with a tinge of irritation, "What??"
He leaned in closer, matching her hushed tone, "You forgot to reply to my text last night."
Rita shrugged nonchalantly, trying to brush off the tension.
"I was speechless, that's all," she replied with a dismissive wave of her hand before turning on her heel and walking away.
But as she left, a seed of nervousness began to sprout within her.
---
The team-building event had wrapped up, and everyone had dispersed to the comfort of their homes except for Jefferson.
Once Rita had settled back in her own space, her phone buzzed.
It was a text from Jefferson, telling her that he was caught up in an emergency and had to jet off on another business trip.
The words 'business trip' echoed in Rita's mind, dredging up memories of long, agonizing waits and a gnawing skepticism.
She couldn't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, he was pulling the wool over her eyes once more.
At home, Rita sat slumped on the couch, the TV remote in hand, mindlessly flipping through channels.
She couldn't focus, her thoughts were elsewhere, and no show could hold her attention for more than a minute.
Suddenly, she slapped her thigh and sprang to her feet.
"How could I forget about Esther!" she exclaimed.
Esther was the mutual friend who had introduced her to Jefferson. She was the perfect confidant for Rita's current turmoil.
Without hesitation, Rita dialed Esther's number, ready to spill everything about Jefferson. After all, she hadn't even shared the news of her hasty marriage to the man Esther had introduced her to.
The call connected almost immediately.
Esther's voice came through, laced with sarcasm. "I can't believe you still remember my number, Rita!"
Feeling a bit sheepish, Rita replied, "Sorry, I've just been swamped lately, and I didn't mean to... you know, ignore you. I kinda thought Jefferson might've filled you in on how things are going."
"Wait, who's Jefferson?" Esther's question was genuine.
Rita's confusion was palpable. "That's not funny, Esther. I'm sorry, okay? I should've told you earlier. Yes, we got married."
But shock was evident in Esther's voice. "No, Rita. I'm serious. Who is Jefferson? And you got married to who?"
Rita's frustration grew. "Oh, come on, Esther. The guy you set me up with for that blind date. Please don't say you've forgotten?!"
There was a pause before Esther responded, her tone filled with concern.
"Wait, Rita. The guy I set you up with told me you never showed up that day! He was even mad at me about it!"
Rita's heart skipped a beat. "That's gotta be a joke, right? His name's Jefferson, isn't it?"
"No! His name is Ken," Esther corrected her firmly.