TAINTED HEARTS 17
2123 Words
Chapter 17
“Her name is Addisson, right?”
His lips were pressed tightly together. His fists had turned white from clenching so hard.
“Is it her?”
He nodded, and more tears streamed down my face. I remained sitting on the bed.
“You’re still together until now? She’s your girlfriend, that’s why even if you like me, I can’t be your girlfriend?”
“It’s hard to explain, Xena. We’re living in, but she’s not my girlfriend—”
“You had us both at the same time?”
“No!” He shook his head. “I want to stop what we have, but I can’t get a chance to talk to her! I can’t see her—”
“You’re living together in one house!”
He shook his head and sat on the bed. He caught one of my hands. I only stared at our hands and didn’t have the strength to pull mine back.
“We haven’t seen each other for a long time . . .”
I brushed his hand away and glared at him sharply.
“A long time? I saw you in the parking lot!”
“That was the last. I told her to stop following me. I told her we should stop, but she didn’t listen. She wants me to go home. I want to talk to her again to clean up whatever we have, but I have no idea where she is right now.”
I stared at him, weighing if I should believe him. I calmed down slightly. Or maybe it was only because I loved him so much that even when he admitted he had a live-in partner, I still hoped. I hoped that it was true that I was the one he wanted.
“You want her to stop because you like me?”
He took a deep breath. He stared at me, then nodded.
“Really? You’re not lying when you say you like me?”
He nodded again. We both fell silent for a few minutes until I was finally calm.
“Why still can’t we be together if I’m the one you like?”
He kept sighing. So he was actually breaking up with that Addisson when I saw them at the parking lot? Even if they never talked again, for me it was over. It was fine for me as long as she wasn’t his girlfriend. As long as he didn’t lie.
There was a wide age gap between us, and to others it looked like he was my older brother. He was much taller than me and acted mature. I wasn’t short, but I looked young. I knew there were many differences between us. He’s experienced, and I’m not. He’s been with other women, and he’s my first. We were different, but I knew in my heart that I really loved him so much.
When my father died, I gave up my studies and worked for my family. I was busy thinking about good things for other people. I was busy thinking about their future. Only now did I think of myself. He was the only one I wanted. Only now did I desire something. I might sound possessive, but I wanted him mine only. I didn’t want to share him with other women. I wanted him to only look at me. I wanted to keep him. I wanted to hide him so other girls wouldn’t admire him.
“I want you to be my boyfriend. With everything we’ve been doing, it’s as if you already are my boyfriend, isn’t it?”
He shut his eyes tightly. He blew out air, and when he opened them again, he nodded.
“I should be the one asking you this.”
“Then ask me!”
He chuckled while shaking his head. He pulled me closer to him so I ended up kneeling on the bed. His arms wrapped around my slim waist and sat me on his lap. I bit my lip when he left tingling kisses on my neck.
“Just because you’re my girlfriend doesn’t mean we’ll do that.”
My arms circled around his neck. My fingers played with his soft hair.
“But that’s what couples do?” I asked innocently.
He laughed again and nodded. “Yes.”
“Let’s do it too.”
He groaned and bit my neck gently. I tilted my head to the side when I felt his teeth pulling at my skin a little, carefully. It was like he wanted to bite hard but didn’t want to leave a mark from his teeth.
“We will, but . . . not now . . .” He groaned again, huskily.
“Why not?”
“If we do that now . . . I can’t promise that I can pull it out . . .”
His arms tightened around me like he wanted to crush me.
“Then don’t . . .” I moaned as his kisses on my neck intoxicated me.
“Are you sure?” He laughed. “What about your dreams? I’ll get you pregnant, Xena.”
I froze, only now realizing what I had answered. Only now realizing what he meant.
“Is it okay for you to delay your dreams for a year or two if I get you pregnant?” he asked.
He pushed me a bit. His eyes quickly found mine.
“I badly want to do that thing with you. I’m a man, and I have feelings for you. It’s not easy to restrain myself. But, I’m trying . . .”
I bit my lip, embarrassed by how he answered. I was the girl between us, but I was the one more aggressive, more eager to do it.
“Maybe . . . we can use protection?”
I shut my eyes and snuggled into his chest when I saw him grin.
“I like your idea. But, like I said, not now.”
“When?”
He laughed again. I had felt him earlier when I sat on his lap. It was alive and hard. Now, it was slowly calming down.
“When I can’t hold it back anymore?” he replied. “Let’s go downstairs before your mother comes. I don’t want her to think we’re doing it inside your room.”
I nodded. He changed my clothes and excused himself to go down first. When I arrived in the living room, it was just as Mama came home. By evening, Lennox said goodbye to go home. I walked him out.
“Are we together now?”
He smiled, bit his lip before nodding. He wet his lips with his tongue while staring at mine. He lowered his head to kiss me, and I parted my lips in preparation for his kiss. But before our lips touched, he stood up straight. I frowned and closed my mouth.
“Good night, ma’am. I’ll go ahead.”
“Alright, hijo. Take care,” It was my mother’s voice.
“Thank you, ma’am.” Lennox smiled.
I turned toward Mama’s voice. She was behind me, taking out the trash. She nodded at Lennox then turned back to tie up the bags.
I pulled Lennox’s hand when I faced him again to catch his lips and finish the kiss that got cut off. He laughed and dodged. He let go of my hand, stepped away, and quickly ran to his car.
I scowled and turned toward Mama, who had already gone back inside the house. As I entered the gate, I caught sight of something—or someone—moving behind the post across from our house. I wasn’t sure if someone was hiding there or if my eyes were just playing tricks on me. I kept staring at it for a while.
“Xena!”
I jumped and clutched my chest. It was Mama, calling out my name.
“Come inside, it looks like it’s going to rain!”
“Yes, Mama!” I replied. I stared at it again for a moment. When I saw nothing move, I went inside.
There was chaos the following week when I arrived at school. Everyone had flowers and chocolates in their hands. Others carried balloons and big teddy bears. In front of my locker, there were several letters. There were flowers stuck to the door, too. I laughed and shook my head because it was the same as in my old school. I accepted them but didn’t think much of it.
I took the flowers and slipped the letters into my bag. When I reached the classroom, there were also some chocolates and flowers on my desk. The students here seemed to have a lot of money to spend. I walked up to them with a frown. Some were just small flowers, but what really caught my attention was the big stuffed toy, expensive chocolates, and a huge bouquet of roses. I touched them while wondering, ‘Who are these from?’ The first person that came to mind was Lennox. But then I realized we had just been together earlier. He only went ahead because he had to check on the car I crashed. If he was going to give me something like this, it should’ve been earlier or in the car.
“I think that’s worth more than ten thousand!”
“Right!”
My classmates stared at me, so I reached for the card in the flowers to answer my question. I didn’t read the message, just went straight to the name.
Kian Evans?
I froze and tried to think who that was. My classmates stood up, and that’s when I remembered. I turned toward the front just to see Lennox, his brows knitted tightly as he stared at the things on my desk, particularly the big bouquet I was holding.
“That’s a lot. I can see you have many suitors, Ms. Peña Vega.” He said laced with sarcasm.
He set his things down on his desk and irritably removed his glasses.
“We saw who gave the biggest bouquet, sir!”
After taking off his glasses, Lennox’s eyes went to my classmates.
“Who?” he asked, though he sounded uninterested.
“Kian Evans, sir!” a girl squealed excitedly.
“Oh?” He arched his brows before slowly shifting his dark eyes to me.
“He was looking for you earlier, Xena! He said he’ll be back later! Oh my! Maybe he’ll propose to you already! He’s rich and handsome! A big catch, so you should say yes right away!” And they all laughed.
I didn’t mind their teasing. I sat down and moved the things to the side of my desk. Lennox taught seriously. Whenever his eyes landed on me, they darkened. He even scolded some students. By the end of class, everyone looked relieved.
“Sir’s in a bad mood!”
“Maybe he got rejected!”
Most of the boys laughed and joked about Lennox’s sour mood.
I stood up and reached for the big bouquet. My hand was just about to grab the stuffed toy when I got a call. I quickly answered when I saw Lennox’s name on the screen.
“Where are you? Going home already?”
“I’m in the parking lot. Come here. Bring those things to my car.”
I glanced at the flowers, chocolates, and big stuffed toys. He had seen them earlier, and maybe he thought I’d have a hard time moving them around since every subject was in a different room.
“Okay.”
It was hard carrying everything, but I managed. I could barely see where I was going. When I reached the parking lot, I had to tilt my head to look for where his car was parked.
I smiled and kept walking when I spotted him. His expression was dark, and he just let me struggle with all my things. He opened the backseat door when I got close.
“Put everything here,” he ordered.
I did as he said. I exhaled deeply after putting all those in the backseat. I was sweating even though the walk wasn’t that far. My arms were sore from carrying so much. Once everything was settled, he closed the car door and faced me.
“I’m going back to class. Are you taking these home?” I asked with a smile.
Mena would love the big stuffed toy. Along and Rico could have the chocolates. I smiled at the thought of how happy the kids would be.
“No. This is trash. I’ll throw it away,” he replied quickly, then went inside the car.
- Writer
