Chapter 20

"W-what?" I asked. I was sure na naka-open naman iyong aircon. Centralized naman iyong buong unit, but why did I suddenly feel so hot?! And it wasn't helping pa na Finley's literally standing right in front of me. I knew that I could try to push him away... but I kinda didn't want to?

Masama ba 'yon? Why? Boyfriend ko naman siya! It's not as if I plan to kiss someone else's boyfriend! This is my boyfriend!

"Kiss," he said.

I didn't know what came into mind, but I stood on my tippy toes and planted a quick kiss on his lips.

"There," I said as I averted my gaze. Why was I so shy?! Nauna naman siya na i-kiss ako! If any, gumaganti lang kaya ako!

Finley wasn't saying anything, so I was kinda forced to look at him. And the moment our eyes met, I regretted it! He was looking down on me because he was taller than me. His left brow was slightly arched like he was kinda mocking me for giving him a peck on the lips. Why?! That was literally my second kiss kaya!

"W-what?" I asked. Why was I stuttering?!

"I said until our lips feel sore," he said.

My god.

How could he say things like this to me?! My face felt so hot!

"The dinner—"

"I did say sorry about the dinner," he said, cutting me off.

I tilted my head, so I was looking up at him. Big mistake! He was staring at me still. He's so, so, so shameless!

I told myself to reign it in. First girlfriend ako ni Finley... for sure, ako rin ang first kiss niya. I was like 99% sure. Finley didn't seem like the type of guy who'd kiss random girls.

And since first kiss niya rin ako, for sure he's just teasing me! I mean, it's both our first kiss! He didn't mean it for real that we'll kiss until our lips feel sore... right?

"Yeah, right," I said, mustering all the courage I could find.

"What?" he asked.

"You're all talk," I replied.

He arched his brow like he's amused. "You think?"

"Yes," I said, fighting back as I stared at him, too. He was just probably teasing me or getting back at me since I ditched him sa game niya! Bakit naman niya ako i-ki-kiss kasi ngayon? Ni hindi man lang ako naka-ayos unlike kapag nasa school kami or wherever where I took time talaga to look cute for him.

But all my words and thoughts were forgotten when he held my chin up with his right index finger. Nasa gilid ko pa rin iyong left hand niya. I was like a hostage!

"You don't think I'd do it?" he asked.

"N-no," I replied.

"Why the hell not?"

"Because."

"Because what?"

"Because..." I said and then paused kasi bakit biglang wala na akong maisip? Gosh! Of all the times that my brain would give up on me, why ngayon pa?!

"Because?"

"I don't look cute right now," I said na lang kasi wala na akong maisip.

"Are you kidding me?" he asked, his forehead creased like he was even offended with my answer. He placed his hands on both my sides again, rendering me trapped. He was looking down on me... and gosh, why was this so hot?! Why did I feel like we're some characters in a movie?!

"You're wearing my shirt, you cooked us dinner, and you bought protein drink and supplements for me," he said as I felt his left hand go from the countertop to my arm to my shoulder blade and to the side of my neck. His hand stayed there. I felt his thumb caressing the skin of my neck. "Please?"

I blinked.

Was he... trying to seduce me?!

Why did the word please sound so seductive?!

"O-okay," I said... voluntarily falling in Finley's trap.

* * *

I couldn't freaking sleep, my gosh!

I really thought that Finley was just kidding when he said that we'd kiss until our lips felt sore—apparently, he wasn't!

We kissed.

As in kissed.

It was like those kissing scenes in the movies na kapag napapa-nood ko nung bata ako, tatakpan ng parents ko iyong eyes ko kasi it's too much for my young eyes. I mean kahit ngayon na teenager na ako, it still felt weird. I don't watch kissing scenes sa mga shows because it kinda felt like I was intruding in their private moment kahit palabas lang naman 'yon.

Kissing just always felt personal to me.

I knew I'd never kiss anyone unless I really, really like him.

And... I guess I really like Finley.

We kissed.

Gosh.

Just thinking about it was enough to make my cheeks feel so hot!

I didn't know how we got from us standing doon sa may cupboard to us on the couch. I mean, Finley was sitting on the couch while I was straddling him. I didn't know how I got there! It just happened!

I really couldn't sleep.

I posted an IG story of the song that I was listening to.

And like on clockwork, Finley sent me a DM.

'Can't sleep?'

Ugh.

As if hindi niya alam na siya ang reason why hindi ako maka-tulog.

'I'm actually sleepy na.'

'Oh. Ako hindi maka-tulog.'

I wrinkled my nose. This annoying brat.

'Count sheep.'

'I'd rather replay what happened earlier in my mind.'

'You perv.'

'I am? Who did this then?' he sent tapos may biglang dumating na photo. It was a photo of his lower lip. There was a cut on the side. My eyes widened. As in napa-upo ako sa may bed. Oh, my gosh! I did that?!

Hindi ako maka-reply.

Like ano naman ang sasabihin ko?! That I was so into the kiss na hindi ko namalayan na nakagat ko na pala iyong lips niya?!

'Umabsent ka bukas.'

'What? No.'

'People would ask!'

'Let them.'

'Finley!!!!!'

'Haha maia.'

'You're so annoying!!!'

'I'll wear this like a badge of honor.'

I really didn't want to call him because hindi ako lalo makaka-tulog, but for what pa? I was already on full panic mode! Ang chismosa pa naman ng people sa school. For sure may mga gossip na kakalat if papasok si Finley sa school na may cut sa lips niya. Nagstart pa naman na 'yung gossip na may girlfriend si Finley dahil sa New York soft launch post na ginawa niya.

"What?" he asked as he answered my call. Didn't even finish the first ring before niya sagutin.

"You're so annoying."

"You called to tell me that?" he asked. His tone sounded like he was so pleased with himself.

"If someone asks, tell them nakipag-away ka."

"Sino naman kaaway ko?"

"Si Riley? I don't know. Make up an imaginary enemy."

I heard him chuckling. "Can't I just say that I made out with someone?"

"Finley!"

He chuckled again. "Fine... but I can't say that I fought with someone. I'd be grounded."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"I didn't think your parents are strict..." I told him. I mean, I could live in this condo! "Oh... do they know that I'm staying here?"

"Yeah."

My eyes widened. "They do?!"

"Yeah," he repeated. "Although they don't know that my girlfriend's living there. I told them before that someone from school needed help."

"That's it? They agreed?"

"Yeah," he replied like it was no big deal...

Okay, now, color me intrigued. I knew that Finley's rich, but curious na talaga ako how rich this person is... to think na he got me first class tickets, lets me stay sa condo niya, and even gave me his credit card! Tapos mukhang hindi pa nag-a-ask iyong parents niya.

"Why? Curious? You wanna meet my parents?"

My eyes widened. "No!" I said. "I mean... no?" pagbawi ko kasi baka ma-offend siya. Not that ayoko ma-meet iyong parents niya, but it's way too early, you know?

"Just... if anyone asks, tell them you have dry lips," I said, trying to steer back the conversation to what's important.

"As if anyone would believe that, but sure," Finley said.

I groaned because he's right. Who the heck would believe that? This guy has soft lips! Much softer than mine, mind you! So offensive!

"Just tell them to mind their own freaking business," I said. "I mean, if anyone asks. Since usually rude ka naman talaga."

It was as if I could see him smirking. Masyado na ba kaming magkasama ni Finley na tipong alam ko na iyong facial expression niya at this very moment?

"I can do that," he said.

"Okay. It's settled then."

"But you do know that that would only make them think that I do, indeed, have a girlfriend?"

"Yeah."

"And you're okay with that?"

"Yeah," I said. "I said we're private, not a secret," I told him. "If... anyone finds out, I'm not gonna deny that I'm your girlfriend."

I heard a noise kaya napa-tingin ako sa phone. I saw that Finley's requesting to open my camera for a video call. I rolled my eyes. So clingy, this one.

"What?" I asked as I accepted his request.

Wrong move to accept this... because tell me, why did he look so hot kahit madilim naman from his end and basically face niya lang iyong nakikita ko?!

Ito rin pala iyong downside kapag super gwapo and hot ng boyfriend mo... it's like torture to see him every day.

"Maia," he said.

There's something about Finley... in the dark... saying my name in a low tone...

He's driving me insane.

Yup.

That's it.

This boy's on a mission to ruin me.

"W-what?" I asked, feeling my heart doing somersaults inside my chest.

"I miss you," he said.

"Shut up," I replied, feeling my cheeks heating up again. "You just saw me earlier."

"I know. But I miss you already."

I chewed on the insides of my lower lip. "You'll see me tomorrow," I told him na lang.

"I have a 5AM practice," he said. "Can I go there before I go to my practice?"

"That's too early."

"I know," he replied. "I'm just gonna swing by to get a quick kiss then I'll go to the practice."

"Quick kiss... why does that feel like a lie?"

He chuckled again. Why was he so cute?!

"I mean, I have a practice. I can't be late. Your boyfriend's the captain of the basketball team, remember?" he said. "Also, I'm gonna get my protein shake there."

My lips parted. "Really? You'll use the ones I got?" I asked kasi no big deal naman if hindi niya gagamitin. It was my fault kasi I didn't ask him.

He nodded. "So, it's settled—I'm gonna be there tomorrow for two things—my drink and my kiss."

I groaned. "You're so annoying," I said.

He grinned. "I'll see you later. Good night," he said. And I didn't know for sure, but I felt like I heard him say baby before ending the call.

Baby?!

I'm someone's baby?!

**

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