HATE FALL LOVE

Chapter 8

[BRIANNA's POV]

All the people at school knew what type of person he was and even though I wasn't particularly popular here, my stepsister had left a huge reputation to follow as well. I just wished this would all clear out soon, so I don't have to endure the shame and embarrassment from it. I just wanted to live a normal and peaceful life with no unwanted attention, but it seemed like everything was going against the way I hope it should.

Damn... Maybe staying at home and faking an illness would have been better. As soon as the morning classes ended and lunch ensued, I was already at the peak of total discomfort, so I sent Jess a brief message telling her to meet me up at the back of the school building before we head to the cafeteria. I was still trying to avoid bigger crowds because I didn't want to put myself on the spot right away. I needed a leeway to steer away from the mess.

But instead of expecting Jess to show up, I was terrified to see Kent Knight appearing right in front of me when I least wanted to. I was too dumbstruck to catch sight of him, that the very first thing I did was to turn and walk away, speed-dialing my friend at the same time, to hurriedly ask where she was. But before I could even bring the dial to a ring, Kent was too quick to reach for my hand and stole the phone from my grip, ending the call in an instant.

"What the hell?!" I snapped at him, twisting around to glare at him as I tried to get back the phone but failed when Kent just held it out of my reach. Why does he keep doing this to me? I knew it was bound to happen—meeting him at school—but this was not what I had in mind while I was still preparing to see him again after what I did last Friday.

"She's not coming," he told me in a rush, expecting me to accept his words as I gritted my teeth and tried not to let my anger took over me. He was obviously referring to Jess and somehow, I found that suspicious that he would even speak on behalf of her.

"What did you do to her?" I immediately asked in doubtful resentment, scowling harder as I balled my fists on my sides, "Why are you here?"

"We have to talk, Brianna."

I stopped. He was right. That was already enough for me to back down eventually, as I exhaled and quickly assumed defeat against him. I took a step back and looked away, feeling burdened all of a sudden. I guess it's about time to finally get over it now. He was going to say it. He was really going to reject me.

"Fine," I dejectedly said after a short hesitant pause, my voice turning smaller as I bit my lip and told him, "Go on, say what you want."

I didn't really know what kind of look I was giving him at the time, because, suddenly, Kent started to stride so fast towards my direction, closing the distance between us in just a few seconds, and gently ordered, "Look at me."

I stopped breathing as I felt his whole profile looming over me but I didn't have a choice. Reluctantly, I slowly lifted my eyes up, just as he told me to, and leveled my gaze with his. His stare was too intense that I started to feel my knees weakening from it. This was just too much. What did he want this time?

"That kiss..." he began and it immediately hit me. This was it. I felt my emotions wavering at the sound of his gentle voice, drowning me in a pit of misery and heartache. I tried to swallow the lump forming in my throat, but the heavy feeling was just too overwhelming. My heart was pounding so hard that any minute now, I might just start crying right in front of me. I didn't want that to happen... But I was trapped in his deep brown gaze... I could not move even if I wanted to.

"... It means something, right?" He unexpectedly finished his words after what had felt like a century as I stared into his eyes. What was he saying? It still didn't reach me yet but seeing how his face had gradually softened and changed with the thought that he was looking at me—the real me and not my stepsister—quickly unraveled me. What did he mean? I was too confused that before I knew it, Kent was already leaning down to my face, his nose slightly grazing against mine.

I shivered, but it seemed like it was not yet over.

"It's just not me, isn't it?" I heard him whisper in a tender tone, and I felt the hotness of his breath brushing against my cheek after I closed my eyes. I was still in the process of understanding what he was trying to say. And I can't move my lips. I can't hold it in, I was too driven by my own feelings that it getting harder for me to wrap my head around what was happening here.

"I'm not the only one feeling this way, am I? Brianna..."

No. Why? Why did he sound too sweet? How could he utter my name this way? My lips trembled as I tried to hold back the tears brimming my eyes. My heart just felt like exploding.

"Brianna... I want to kiss you again."

Am I dreaming? Was I perhaps imagining all of this and it was not really happening? Kent had spoken those words, looking so bashful when I gaped at him, and I was deeply moved as I felt his lips touching mine. It was unbelievable.

He was truly kissing me. But unlike that Friday night, this kiss was not a forced one. He initiated it. It was so much softer, sweeter, and utterly insecure as if he was too scared to push it too far, yet too in it to still go further. And I felt my chest painfully tightening, my heart throbbing so loudly, upon the feeling of his gentle kisses. He wasn't rushing the pace, but he wasn't pulling away yet either. It was something I had never thought I would get to experience.

Was this all real? I was still too shocked to process it all, but I found my body responding to him. It's as if every second kept getting longer every time I felt his mouth moved over mine. I could taste him better this time. I could feel the way his body tremble under my touch. It was intoxicating, and I don't think it'll ever stop. I just wished this moment could last forever.

But he eventually pulled away, and I immediately missed his scent and his warmth. Letting my lips stay parted, I let the memory of that last lingering kiss play inside my head as I kept my eyes closed. My breath shook as I stayed frozen from where I stood. I didn't want to wake up to reality yet and I was too afraid that this might not be really happening. Maybe this was just a dream, after all... But I suddenly felt Kent's hands cradling my cheeks.

I quickly blinked open, and I found myself staring up at his face. He was looking at me too affectionately. And I didn't know what to make of it. Why? Why did he kiss me? And what did he mean by the words he just said?