The next morning, even after waking up, I still couldn't get our first kiss out of my mind. I remembered how soft and warm his lips were, the heat of his breath, and how great of a kisser he was. Each detail played in my thoughts, making me smile as I replayed the moment over and over.
I woke up early because I didn't want to rush my makeup. I wanted to pick a nice semi-formal dress for work. I chose a yellow dress and decided to try a fresh makeup look I learned from a MeTube tutorial.
"Good morning, Mom!" I called out as I came down the stairs.
"Good morning, Lyn! Who made you wake up this early?" my mom replied, teasing me.
My mom really knows me well. "Mom, it's not like that," I said, pouting in pretend disapproval. She laughed and replied, "Anyway, your packed lunch is ready. Don't forget to eat breakfast before you go to work."
I sat down and started munching on the breakfast Mom made—champurrado with fried dried anchovies. These two are the perfect combo, especially on a rainy day like today. Yum… Mom is such a good cook. I love how the champorado has a dark chocolate flavor, not too sweet.
I wanted to look beautiful today, which is why I got up early to get ready for work, but now, none of that seems to matter because all I want is to sleep. Eating so much and barely sleeping, still thinking about that kiss, has caught up with me. My brain is exhausted from thinking about him all night.
At work, I arrived about an hour before our training started. I figured I still had time to check myself in the mirror since I wasn't feeling my best. On my way to the restroom, I spotted Abby and Will talking,
"Why aren't you replying?" Abby asked, sounding a bit frustrated.
"I already told you I had other things to do," Will explained, his tone calm but firm. "It's not that I'm ignoring you."
"If you're not ignoring me, then what do you think you're doing now?" Abby asked, her voice filled with irritation.
"You know I don't have to explain myself to you; we're not even in a relationship," Will replied, his tone steady.
"But we shared all those special moments together," Abby said, her voice trembling as if she was about to cry.
"Please don't make this harder for you," Will said, his voice full of concern. "We already talked about this."
I wanted to confront Will about what I just saw, but I didn't have the courage to do it now—not when I had just started to feel happy, not when everything seemed to be going smoothly between us. But deep down, I knew there was something wrong with what we had from the start.
Another week has passed, leaving just one week before our training ends.
During our break in the training room, Will, Marvin, Kath, Jay, and I were playing charades to shake off the stress from our exam. Then Abby walked in. "Hey, Abby!" I called. "Come join us!"
Abby looked at me, then at Will, and said politely, "Thank you, but I don't feel like playing right now," before heading back to her seat to chat with the other girls. I glanced over at Will, hoping for some reaction, but his expression stayed blank.
Nothing changed in how I treated Will after that day I saw him and Abby talking intensely about their past relationship. But I'll admit, it still bugs me every time I see her, and I still haven't brought it up with Will.
We're now openly showing our affection around everyone—except my mom, since she still hasn't met Will yet. Everyone knows there's something between us, but when they ask if we're officially together, Will is the one who answers, saying, "We're just enjoying each other's company for now." I usually joke, "We're like a showbiz couple, that's why we're not admitting anything." But deep down, I know I'm also protecting myself from what people might think of me.
After our shift ended, I was waiting for Will because he forgot his notebook in the training room when Abby approached me.
"I know this shouldn't concern me, but I don't want you to end up like me. While you still can, stop your feelings for him and stay away from him," she said, her tone serious. Then, without another word, she turned and left for home.
A few minutes later, Will came out, holding his notebook.
"What's wrong?" he asked, probably noticing the troubled look on my face.
I finally told him what Abby had just said to me, and that I'd overheard them talking before and knew they had a relationship in the past.
Will was silent for a moment before he said, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about me and Abby. We never really had a serious relationship, and she knows that. Things got complicated when she applied to the same company I'm in now." His expression was sincere and apologetic.
"Then what kind of relationship did you have with her?" I asked, my tone firm, pushing him to be honest with me.
His face turned serious. "You know, I really don't have to explain myself to you," he said, his tone sounding irritated. "We're not even in a relationship," he added. And those words hurt me the most. He was right—we're not together, he isn't mine. In the two weeks we've known each other, we hadn't even really talked about us.
"Then what am I to you?" I asked, wanting to know where I stood in this 'situation-ship.'
"You're special to me, and I know you feel the same way," he replied in a reassuring voice.
No, you're not just special to me. I love you. The words echoed in my mind, but I couldn't bring myself to say them. All I knew was that I didn't want to lose him—not yet, not now.
All I could say was a soft, "I do." But deep down, I knew those two words wouldn't be enough to make what we had last.
"Then let's just treasure what we have," he said softly, his eyes meeting mine, hoping we could hold onto this a little longer.
How could I say no to those beautiful brown eyes? "Okay," I replied softly. He hugged me tightly, and I could hear his heartbeat, feel his warm breath on my hair, and rest my head against his chest, soft yet strong. After a few minutes, he let go, and we continued walking home, hand in hand.
We were almost home when he stopped, holding my hand a little tighter. "I don't want you to go home yet," he said softly, his eyes searching mine.
"Can you stay with me at my place, even just for a few minutes?" he asked, his voice hopeful. "My older sister went back to the province last week to take care of our father," he explained, watching me, waiting for me to say yes.
So he's all alone in his house now… I'm not a kid; I'm 28. I know what he's hoping for. Should I let this happen? It's been so long since I've been close to someone—five years ago, with my ex. But back then, we were official. Now, there's no label between us… yet I know I love him.
"It's okay if you don't want to, I understand," he said, trying to sound casual, but I could see the hope in his eyes. Boys… always acting like it doesn't matter.
"No, it's okay with me. I don't have any other plans, so I can go with you," I replied. I'd made up my mind—I wanted this too.
"Then we go this way," he said with a smile, guiding me toward his place. Will's house was only two streets over from mine.
Will's house was a white two-story with an antique front door carved with intricate details. He opened the door, stepped inside, and switched on the living room light.
"Come in," he said, gesturing me inside. The living room was spacious with a soft, gray L-shaped sofa. A corridor to the left led to the dining room on the right. The furniture and antique pieces around gave the house a classy feel. I stayed quiet, just looking around and taking in all the little details of the place.
"Would you like some coffee?" he offered.
"Yes, please," I replied, adjusting myself on the sofa, trying to get comfortable.
After a few minutes, Will set a cup of coffee on the small side table next to me.
"What would you like to eat? I can cook something for you," he said, smiling warmly.
"I'm not really hungry right now. I'm happy with just the coffee. You've got talent—it's delicious," I said, teasing him with a smile
He chuckled, "Thank you! Well, I guess that means you've earned a tour of the house," he said, smiling as he playfully teased me back.
Will let me look around the first floor. Behind the dining room was a large kitchen, and nearby was a spacious bathroom. The whole place felt open and welcoming.
We headed upstairs next. Just to the right of the stairway was a smaller bathroom, and down the hall were three bedrooms. The first one was the largest and belonged to Will's father—it even had a small sitting area inside.
Right next to his father's room was his sister's bedroom, though I couldn't see inside since the door was closed. Across the hall, beside the small bathroom, was Will's room.
"This is my room," he said, opening the door. I felt a bit nervous stepping inside. His room wasn't as big as his father's, but it was still roomy. The walls were a soft grey, with a TV mounted on one side and a desk with his laptop below it. Across from the desk was his double bed, made up with silky brown sheets, pillows, and a matching blanket.
He stepped into the room first, leaving the door open a little. As I took my first step inside, he suddenly turned, grabbing my wrist with a quick but gentle hold, pulling me to the side. My back met the wall, and in one smooth motion, he pinned my left wrist above my head, then took my right wrist, holding both of them there. I could feel the warmth between us grow as he leaned in, his eyes steady and focused.
Then, he kissed me—firmly, his lips pressing against mine. He moved down to catch my lower lip, tugging it softly before tilting his head and deepening the kiss. His tongue slipped between my lips, exploring, swirling, inviting a response I was eager to give.
I hadn't expected this to happen so soon, but I found myself giving in, my heart pounding. His lips were soft, his warm breath mixed with mine, filling my senses. The faint scent of him, so close now, made the pull I felt toward him even stronger.
This wasn't planned; I wasn't ready. But I didn't stop him. I couldn't. I wanted this, wanted him, and I was caught up in every moment. As the kiss deepened, I felt myself drifting, unable to pull away. In that moment, I wasn't sure if I was losing myself or finding something I didn't know I needed.