Masked

CHAPTER 10 DECEIVER

“A truce? What kind of truce?” Alina asked, with confusion all over her face visible.

“Well Miss Alina, we both are grown enough to accept that we are attracted towards each other, physically, and we already had to flings, as you have already called them that. So why don’t we just continue with them.” I finished with a grin on my face. It was a simple arrangement.

“Sorry I didn’t get you quite well Mr Joel. Can you please just repeat that?” If she was confused before, then now she was at sixes and sevens.

“Its simple. You and me meet when we have time, have s*x, and its all.” I explained it to her like I was telling a kinder garden student that A always comes before B. She didn’t look much convinced.

“So are we f**k buddies?”

A chuckle passed from my throat at her choice of words. But it was true indeed.

“Yes. f**k buddies, friends with benefits or whatever they call it, that’s what are we, or can be, if you agree Miss Alonso.”

“Well I do agree with your exquisite idea though. It does sound simple, doesn’t it? Deal then?” She brought her hand in front of me for a handshake as a confirmation of the deal. I raised my hand to shake hers but I stopped midway. Alina eyed me and my hand that was hanging midair.

“Miss Alina, I think we should probably first discuss the rules.”

“Rules? Like?”

“Well I have only two, but you can add yours. First, we don’t tell about are arrangement to anyone, that well I know you already understand.”

“And second?” She asked with a raise in her eyebrow. For a successful business woman, she surely is impatient.

“No falling in love.” I have nothing against love, but it just makes thinks complicated anyways.

“Well I would also like to add few of my own.” She said with annoyance in her voice.

“Go ahead.”

“It’s just s*x, so no cuddling and all lovey-dovey moments after it. No personal questions about anything.” She laid down her guidelines. Well I have no issue anyways.

“ Deal?” She held out her hand and I shook it. We paid the bill and get to the car.

We drove in silence. Alina on her phone with a frown on her face. I thought it was business related so I didn’t disturb her. I cut the engine off in front of her office building. We bid each other bye and she was just getting off of her seat when she hauled in between.

“Mr Joel?”

“Yes Miss Alonso.”

“What if any of us falls in love?”

Oh.

“Well then the other one gets to punish the falling in love.”

“A punishment? Of what kind?”

“Well it should be decided by the one giving it.”

“Okay. Bye.”

She left without a word. Was she pissed? But she did agree, didn’t she?

Her voice lingered in my head for long as I drove back to my office.

What if any of us falls in love.

DUPE

I think I have a knack for getting myself in trouble. A truce? Like hell did I say yes to it!

I would not disagree that I was disappointed when he said it’s a physical attraction and nothing less. Not that I have thought he loved me or something, but still it hurts.

Oh forget it Al, you don’t even have time for yourself, much less for a relationship. Its for the best.

I heard my conscience. Well, its not wrong anyways. I don’t have to wait for anyone, I don’t have to do all those cringe little things that couples do, and I get to have s*x with no attachment.

Its just s*x With No Attachment.

I was in my office and my stomach was grumbling. It was already eight! I hadn’t had anything after my lunch , just a cup of coffee.

I was very tired to cook, and much more tired to be in public. So I went straight to my home, ordered a takeout, showered at sat to eat. I was about to take a bite when somone rang my doorbell.

Who is thr fucker now! I’m going to kill whoever is that person. Why the hell is world against me-

“You?”

My anger turned to surprise real fast, and then delight.

“Al Al Al I missed you so much babe!”

“ I missed you too Addy. Now if please come in.”

We hugged for a while and sat on the couch Addy saw my food lying on the kitchen counter and his face softened with guilt.

“Ohh Alyy I’m so sorry. I should have called you beforehand but I wanted to give you surprise to I didn’t give it a thoight I’m sorry for interrupting your dinner-

“Oh come on Addy. Why are you being so formal. Your hubby teaching you some manners ha?” I chuckled at how he blushed at his husband’s mention.

“By the way where is Henry? Why are you guys back so early?”

“Actually he has gone to his hometown. We flew back early because his father fell off from stairs and broke his hip. I was there for two days and I insisted on staying with him for long but Henry said everything is under control so I should come back.”

“Oh. Hope he is fine.”

“He is.” Addy said with his evergreen bright smile.With that smile, the memories came back. When we were in our first year of college, he a year younger than me as I started a year later, crying in the corner of library because he was teased my the other students for his physique and his s****l prefence. I just could not stand any kind of discrimination, much less homophobic. I took his hand in my hand, dragged him to football ground where the boys who have messed up with him where sitting with their w****s in their laps and making out in public.

“If any one of you, even a single one of you trues to mess with him again, I’ll feed your balls to you and girls, you’ll be forced to die your hair in the ugliest of colours and I’ll post your videos on social media. Am I clear?”

“Yes.” They all said in unison. They were stupid but not i***t enough to challenge me because only a week back I had broke a senior’s nose who was trying to get me laid with his shittiest of smiles and tricks. I was abright student and always top of the class, so I was just suspended for a day. Well the boy was hospitalised for a week so it was worth it.

“Th-Thank You Alina.” His eyes not able to meet mine. I think I scared him off.

“Are you okay? What’s your name?”

“I’m Adam Casser.”

“Well Adam if you face any problem, just ket me know, okay?”

“Thanks.” He smiled back. A sweet smile. Though he is thin, he is quite good looking. He is same height as mine, blonde hairs, deep blue eyes and faint freckles under his eyes.

Next day Adam came and sat beside me.

“Why are you here? Is anyone bothering you?”

“No. I am in same class as you. A business major. Mind if I sit here?”

“ Oh sure as hell you can sit here.”

I never knew he was in my class. Well I never really paid any attention to my surroundings much anyways. From that day , we stick together like the birds of a feather. No one ever dared to as much as look at him. And they hated me anyways so I didn’t give a f**k.

Addy wiped off a tear from my cheek.

“What happened Aly? Are you okay?” Worry crossed his face and he cupped my face in his palm.

“I’m very very fine my Addy. Just nostalgia hits hard.” I said with a chuckle. Addy hugged me.

“Oww. You know I love you right?”

“Well, I do know that.” I smiled. Addy kissed my cheek and told me to eat dinner till he returns from supermarkter. He didn’t tell me what he needed at this time and said it was a secret.

I was washing my dishes when he came back with a packet full of snacks and ice creams and sweets and what not.

“Ta- da! It’s movie night.” Addy beamed while showing the bags full of his surprise.

“Yaay!”

We saton the couch and watched all kinds of movie just like the old times. His favourite romance genre, mine horror, which Addy seas by closing his eyes half of the time. We giggled in funny scenes, cried in sad ones, got terrified in scarry ones and stuffed ourselves.

“Just like the old times, right Aly?”

“Yes Addy. Just like old times.”

Addy fall asleep on out fourth movie. I brought a blanket for him and realised it was four in the morning. It was weekend the other day anyways. I rarely took my days off even on weekends but my best friend is here, then why not day off?

I retired to bed, but thoughts of a certain man with broad shoulders and and brown eyes came in my mind.