To @maulinmaul0311 for just being one of the crazy, crazy yet beautiful Southeast Asian women who are active commenters of this story!
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~~~ CHAPTER 42 - POUT AND KISS ~~~

Finally, I was done being an intern at Marianne Orphanage.

My field practicum, however, went on and on. I travelled to the different parts of the country with some of my fellow interns and worked with some private and government social agencies. The experience was gratifying indeed and it even me realize that orphans weren't the only group that needed attention. There were also the aged folks; the drug, alcohol, and gambling addicts; poor families; people with health and mental problems...

For months, I went travelling and stayed in an institution for one to two months.

I had really been busy.

I no longer saw Javier. He was also very, very busy but he never cut off the communication. Just like me, he was a graduating student.

Nigel?

After that night that he stayed in my apartment, we no longer saw each other.

Since then, there were times when I'd wake up in the middle of the night with the feeling that a pair of muscular arms were cuddling me. Then, I'd always open my eyes and always end up disappointed that he wasn't there with me.

I thought our months of separation, six months to be exact, would help me forget him... but it only made me long for him more.

And the bastard really kept our agreement. He never showed himself to me anymore... which made me irritated sometimes.

Then, I would just tell myself, He's probably realized by now that the two of you are better off this way, Althea, so stop thinking about him. He's not worth any of your time.

You're SOUR GRAPING. Something at the back of my mind, however, would tell me.

Then, I'd go on telling myself, Yeah, it's really better this way. After all, this is what you've been asking from him, right?

Again, something at the back of my mind would say, You're SWEET LEMONING, girl.

If not because of my subjects in the institutions, I would have gone mad... like honestly.

If not also because of Mr. S. Eliakim's notes, I would have gone really, really mad. Thanks to my sweet benefactor!

Every time I was assigned to a new province, a note from this man would always arrive and I couldn't explain why it would always somehow soothe my longing heart. It was like a great magnetic force was pulling me to the sender of these notes.

He was always persistent asking about how I was doing, what kept me busy most of the time, who I was with, how was the agency that I was working with... and, always, I answered him with all honesty. I loved it when he asked things about me and I couldn't figure out why I was even loving it.

One time, I finally told him what was bothering me.

I wrote:

Dear Mr. Eliakim,

Thanks for the unexpected note I received from you today. I've been enjoying my stay in this agency. No, I'm never tired. I will never get tired of lending a hand to people who need help. I guess, I'm just like you.

Yeah, something has been bothering me. There's this guy who says he loves me and I don't think he's saying the truth. I'm afraid to trust him since he has already hurt me in the past. I don't think I will ever trust him again.

From a man's point of view, sir, I want to know:

Would you have the nerve to say 'I love you' to a girl even if you don't really have feelings for her?

Would it be possible for you to fall in love with a girl you actually hate?

Would distance not bother you if you aren't with the girl you love?

Just pretty please tell me honestly what would a guy really feel and do.

Thank you so much, sir.

Althea

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Of course, there was a response from him. He never failed to reply every letter I sent him through his ever-loyal bearer, who obviously travelled a lot to follow me wherever I was assigned.

Miss Ruiz,

So, it's a guy that has been bothering you. Are you in love?

I think you are...

Well, since you're asking, here are my answers.

I don't know for other men, but for me:

I don't just throw 'I love you' to every girl I meet. Hence, when I say 'I love you' to someone, I really mean it.

It's very difficult to distinguish hate from love because they are extremely opposite kinds of feelings but they have lots of things in common --- both are elevated states of emotion; both are intense; both are complicated; both are forms of passion; both can drive someone do crazy, unusual things. Love and hate are practically the same and they often overlap. So, there's a great possibility that love can turn to hate and hate to love. Sometimes we are just so obssessed of entertaining the feeling of so much hate that we deny the presence of love.

Distance is a monumental barrier. It's a wall that tends to tear your heart apart. Separation, for me, is unbearable. If there's something that I really hate with all my life, then distance it is with the person I love.

Do you feel something for this guy who's been bothering you, Miss Ruiz? I think when a guy bothers your mind and your heart a lot, this is an indication that you have indeed feelings for him. Am I sensing right?

People are not perfect. We commit mistakes. The most important thing is we learn to realize our wrongs and try ourselves to make them right.

I hope you'll finally find your heart.

S. Eliakim

After reading his letter, I spent about several minutes staring at it. I thought this was the longest note he ever had written for me.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Two months before the end of the whole school year internship, I was assigned to an institution for disabled people in the capital city.

Yes, in the capital.

It was the farthest place that I had gone for the practicum. It was my last assignment before my graduation.

I got excited for this last assignment, not only of the experience I would get from the institution of which I was assigned, but also of the place. It was no less than the capital city and I had a lot of memories in that place.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

"He's residing here. Aren't you going to see him?" Kara asked me.

She always visited me in the institution. Her visits were always a time to look forward to.

She was one of the reasons why I chose to be assigned in the capital. I had missed her so much.

"So?" She eyed me meaningfully.

We were both seated on a sofa at the lobby of the center. She was reminding me that Nigel was just in the same city.

"He's not the reason why I'm here, Kara."

"But you're missing him. Don't lie to me, girl," she said as she held my arm. "Let's go meet him."

"Please," I said with my pleading eyes, "I can't see him. You know the story. I told him I need some space and, besides, he seems to love the idea. He's sticking to the agreement. He must have realized by now that he doesn't really love me."

I wished Nigel were Mr. Eliakim who hated distance, but he wasn't. Nigel wasn't Mr. Eliakim and vice versa. Probably, Nigel didn't really care about being far away from me at all. Probably, he was enjoying with his girls right now and had already forgotten me.

"Oh, my God, Thea, why do you always assume things? Who knows he might be missing you right now but he's just not showing up because he's respecting your plea. If I know, the guy's craving to see you, too!" she said like she was really certain of her words. "He already told you he loves you, right? So why are you prolonging both of your agony? Please!"

"Kara, please---"

She cut me off. "Stop hurting yourself now. I know who you are, Althea Ruiz. There's only one guy in your heart and there's nothing that can alter that fact."

Oh, Kara! She would really never change. She was always this girl who seemed to be certain of her words.

I stared at her and she held my hands. "Stop hurting yourself now," she said softly. "Why didn't you just admit to him that you still love him when he revealed his feelings to you?"

"Because love isn't enough, Kara."

"What else are you looking for? Isn't love the thing that makes everything complete? Remember how much you believe in love before, Thea? It was love that made you stick to him, no matter how badly he treated you. It was that love that made you who you are. It was that kind of love that made me admire you. It was that kind of love that sets you apart from others. Why are you giving up now... now that he actually tells he's feeling the same way?"

Because it is also that love that has broken me apart, I concluded to myself.

Yes, Kara might be right but everything was just too complicated right now and I still had doubts. I didn't want to take drastic decisions or I might end up in pain again.

"You know very much that I didn't really want you to leave after you fought each other during that night of his CEO-ship party. Remember that I tried so hard that night to convince you to stay and go back to him? Because I wanted you to have a serious talk with him..." she paused and looked into my eyes, "because I really thought you need to know the whole truth about everything that the bitch told you? Unfinished business, Thea. What you have with Nigel right now is one whole damn unfinished business."

I made a frown and Kara held my hand.

"You were very stubborn back then, Thea," she moved on with her reminders. "You really left without even having a conversation with him... you know, detailed, serious, mature conversation with him. That's what you guys need. Please, don't be stubborn this time. It's for your happiness."

I stared at her and I really saw the concern in her face.

"Have you asked him already if he really did propose to that Maria Stella? Because if they were indeed engaged, he must have not been pursuing you right now."

"He's no longer pursuing me, Kara. Clearly, he's stopped. He's given up on me. If he didn't, he must have been searching where I am assigned in my internship now. He must have known I'm in the capital," I reasoned out.

"Gosh! You are really stubborn!" she freaked out. "It's because you ask him to stay away from you during your whole internship, silly."

I gave her another frown. "Still... if he's indeed sincere with his words, despite of all the circumstances, he should still make a way to see me... you know, perseverance, Kara... If he really loves me, he should show me that he gives a damn---"

Kara suddenly gasped as she showed me her face with those widely opened eyes, "Oh, my God! That's it!"

Huh? I looked at her confusedly.

"So, what do you call it now? Isn't it called perseverance? Isn't it giving a damn?" she suddenly exclaimed as she pointed a finger on the entrance way.

When I looked at what she had pointed, it was like my world just speedily turn around for walking in the entry to the lobby was our Institution Manager together with no less than the Sarmiento Corporation CEO himself, the topic of our conversation, Nigel Joaquin. He wasn't in business suit. Clothed in casual collared shirt with black, white and red stripes, straight brown pair of jeans, and pair of desert boots, he looked pretty casual and, as always, put me in awe.

Damn.

What the heck was he doing here?

I clasped Kara's arm. I couldn't believe that he just arrived.

"Oh, my God, Thea, do you still have doubts right now? There's the man of your dreams walking towards us---"

"He isn't the man of my---" I wanted to object but she stopped me.

"Shut up, Thea. Lie to yourself but not to me," she said, smirking. "Now, stop being stubborn. He is coming, and his coming is just the concrete proof of giving a damn!"

Indeed, the moment that I saw him, our eyes instantly found each other's gaze.

Breathing in and out, I had to clasp Kara's arm harder this time to find some strength. What really was he doing here?

"Miss Ruiz, I'm glad we immediately spot you. You have a visitor, your fiancé," the Institution Manager announced when both he and Nigel arrived where Kara and I were sitting.

Fiancé?

I stood up; Kara also did.

"Sir?"

"Mr. Nigel Sarmiento." He emphasized the name of the man beside him as if to remind me of the engagement, as if I just had an amnesia. "Oh, you didn't.. didn't tell us..." he stammered, "you didn't tell us your fiancé is the CEO of the Sarmiento Corporation."

My jaw just dropped. I didn't know what to say. I looked at Nigel and he was seriously eyeing me. I immediately noticed his neatly shaven face.

Gosh! It was our first time to see each other after that night of talking, crying, and cuddling. My heart pumped hard as if telling me that I missed this man standing before me.

"Uh, sir... It's not what..." I could feel the heat in my cheeks now. I even felt Kara's little pinches in my side. I eyed her accusingly and she just grinned at me.

"Anyway, Miss Ruiz, Mr. Sarmiento has already asked permission. Yes, you're allowed to go out with him today," the Institution Manager told me.

Go out with him today? What?

"S-Sir..."

"Don't worry, you're excused today. It's not a problem at all, Miss Ruiz. You've been a very good intern and, I think, you deserve a break," he said.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Alegado," Nigel said in a husky tone, handshaking the manager.

"No problem, Mr. Sarmiento. Anytime." Then, the manager smiled at me. "Enjoy, Miss Ruiz," he said, starting to walk away, going to his office.

When he was no longer around, that left me, Kara, and him.

"Hello, Mr. Sarmiento," Kara said, blushing.

"Just call me Nigel, Kara," he said, smiling at her and offering a palm. They handshook each other.

"Oh, you remember me!" my friend exclaimed very befuddled and excited.

How could he forget you, Kara? He called you a bad influence before.

"Of course," he replied. He turned to me. "So, shall we?"

What? Was he really serious? And why should I go with him? He didn't even ask me in advance. How could he just go immediately to our manager without even giving me at least a little clue?

"Didn't I tell you to give me some space?" I asked, trying to show him my irritation. Oh, gosh! Why was I even doing this?

"Shit!" Kara exclaimed vehemently.

Nigel and I turned to her.

"You!" she said, looking at me. "Just stop being so stubborn, okay?"

I pouted my mouth; Nigel stared at my lips and smiled at me, his eyes dancing.

With that, I thought I was officially caught in the trap.

What would you do when the man you'd been longing to see actually showed himself to you when you least expected it?

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Not long after, Serge came to pick Kara up. Before she left, she mouthed me the words, "Ask him everything. Tell him everything."

I just furrowed my brows at her.

I then looked at Nigel when there was just the two of us. "Haven't I told you---"

He put a finger to my lips. "Please, just zip it up."

I had to widen my eyes at him for interrupting me. He was playing the boss now.

"Please, princess, no fighting this time. Okay?" he stated, leaning down on me and looking through my eyes. He smiled like he was pleased with what he saw. His dark eyes danced in amusement.

Was he really serious when he said he admired my eyes?

I pressed my lips together. I didn't know what to say anymore.

When I silenced myself, he backed off and said softly, "Mom's here in the capital. She's here for her monthly check-up. I told her you're here and she wants to see you. Well, you know our mom. She's not gonna stop until she gets what she wants."

Hearing his words, I lightened up. Really? Mom's here?

"Come on, princess. Come with me," he said, holding my left hand with his right.

Of course, mom was here. How could I disregard her?

"I'll go change first," I said, feeling his warm hand in mine.

Since I was staying in the center together with my co-interns, it took me only a few minutes to change. Choosing a white asymmetrical blouse with 3/4 sleeves and plunging neckline, washed black skinny jeans, and a pair of single-soled black pumps, I went out of the interns' quarter with a handbag and went straight to the lobby.

Nigel was waiting there on the sofa where I previously sat with Kara. His eyes never left me as I was approaching. Again, I felt my cheeks blushing.

When I reached where he was, he mused, "Wow!" as he stared at me.

Of course, I was speechless. I just bit the right side of my bottom lip. I couldn't think of any comeback.

Without asking permission from me, he grabbed my hand as we walked out of the place. People in the center were looking at the both of us. For sure, these guys were going to tease me later, especially seeing me holding hands with the famous Nigelito Joaquin Saavedra Sarmiento.

"People still recognize me," he muttered as we walked to his car.

Now, I got the idea why he wore something ordinary today. He didn't want to appear the popular business tycoon.

Who wouldn't recognize you? I just pressed my lips together and didn't answer.

Then, unexpectedly, it happened. The thing that never occurred in the past actually was happening now. Nigel just opened the car door for me.

I stood bewildered.

Was he really a gentleman now?

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

The streets that his car was treading on were very familiar. Okay, it seemed like we were heading to the condominium building.

"I still stay in the same place," I heard him say. He was driving and I was sitting next to him.

Batting my eyelashes, I looked at him. "Haven't you transfered to the Great Hill Estates?"

Yeah, the Great Hill Estates, where he previously planned to build a mansion, the capital version of the palacio.

"That place can wait," he said, gulping something in his throat and catching me a glance. "I'm still waiting for someone to do the planning with me."

Someone?

"Besides, I've had a lot of memories in the condo unit. I can't just leave it. There are lots of nice, comfortable places to stay in the capital but nothing exceeds our little condo, Althea."

Our little condo?

I was about to choke.

Crap.

"Well, I've already transformed the topmost floor of the corporate building into a penthouse. However, every time I'm here in the capital, I always stay in the condo, not in the penthouse. Nothing really compares that place," he said, as he drove amidst the afternoon traffic.

I didn't reply. I was trying to find something to distract myself. The feeling of being with him in a car after we parted years before brought sad memories to me. We parted in his car... not in this car though that we were riding right now because this seemed new and more expensive than the last time... but still, there was that unexplainable feeling of just being with him in a car.

"Don't you miss our condo?" I heard him ask me.

Our condo? Oh, my...

Did he really regard it as ours?

"Why should I?" I asked back.

He glanced at me. "You stayed there for one school year with me. Don't you really miss it? Or even those times that we were together in that little place?"

I gave him a sarcastic smile. "We barely saw each other there, Nigel. You were always out, remember? You always worked even during Saturdays."

He sighed deeply and gripped the stirring wheel more. "Because I had to have a distraction... or an excuse so I could just stay away from you."

What?

He continued, "This might sound pathetic but I was really that pathetic. I really tried my best to stay away... and my work was my diversion."

Diversion? Was he even serious?

While I was dying to have his company in the past, he was actually intentionally staying away from me?

"Yes, I might be out most of the time but I always made sure to go home to check on you," he said.

What? When was that?

I couldn't recall if he ever did check on me before.

I pouted my lips.

Liar.

He grinned when he turned his face to me and saw what I did.

"What? Why are you showing your teeth?" I asked, furrowing my brows.

"Next time, pout at me when I'm not driving," he said, still grinning.

"Huh?"

He continued saying, "Maybe, later, do that to me again, princess, and I'll show you what I'll do." Then, he blushed and payed attention to his driving.

I felt my cheeks turned red, too.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

"I missed you so much," I said, hugging mom.

She never released me. She hugged me tightly instead.

Mom was sitting up on her bed, her head on the headboard.

"Why are you staying here? Why are you not roaming around instead?" I asked. Was there anything wrong?

"Oh, well, I have a little headache..." she said, "and my knees are aching, too."

She finally released me and I got hold of her knees. "Oh, yeah? Why?" I asked as I started to massage her.

"Hmmm... that feels nice, darling."

"Really? This is probably what you need, mom. A massage---"

"Yeah, I need that..." she closed her eyes. "Will you stay here for the night, darling? I'd love it if you could do it to me later."

"You mean I sleep here? I... I don't know... People in the institution expect that I'd only be out for the day... I don't think..." I hesitated. As much as I wanted to be with mom, it was just I hadn't asked permission from the Institution Manager.

She cast me a sad look. "Please, darling."

It was just right on time that Nigel came in mom's bedroom. "I already called the institution. They're actually excusing you until tomorrow," he announced the news.

Oh, I didn't know how to react! Be angry with him for deciding for me or be thankful that I could stay with mom tonight!

"That's good news, son!" mom happily expressed.

Feeling mom's excitement and happiness. I hugged her once more. Okay, mom, for you, I will.

Nigel was smirking.

I scowled at him.

"By the way, Suzana's arrived. She's in the kitchen," he later told me.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

It was a long embrace I had with Suzana in the kitchen. When Nigel and I arrived in the condo, she was out for groceries. So when she came back, I immediately went to her.

"Señorita, thank you for coming back," she pronounced, sobbing.

We did a lot of talking as she unpacked her groceries. She told me about the things that happened to her and her family for the past years. She told me how everything changed while I was gone.

"So what are we cooking for dinner?" I asked, after our serious talk. "I'll help you while mom's taking a rest."

"Paella, that would be nice." It was Nigel's voice. He came in the kitchen and strode to the kitchen island. He sat on a stool.

"Paella?" Suzana asked with an obviously surprised tone. "Didn't you tell me not to prepare paella anymore, señorito? For years, you haven't eaten that."

I cast Nigel a questioning look. For years, he hadn't eaten his favorite dish! What happened?

"Are you sure, señorito?" Suzana questioned him for the second time.

He smiled. "Yes, Suzana." Then, he looked at me like he was pleading that he wanted me to cook it for him.

"Oh!" Suzana exclaimed. "She... She's the cook! Señorita Thea's your favorite cook!"

I was perplexed. I couldn't understand.

Nigel nodded. "Yeah, she is." And he eyed me lovingly, brushing his hair with his fingers.

"Oh, my! Why hadn't I thought of her?" Suzana almost jumped in happiness. "Oh, my señorita! Come on, let's do the paella!"

Well... if he said so...

"This is the thing, señorita. One time, I cooked it and the señorito told me that it was a lame version of the best paella that he's ever tasted. He even told me that he'd only eat paella again if it'd be done by his favorite cook! I should be hurt by that, you know, because I'm always the one preparing his food when he's here in the capital but I'm not his favorite!" she revealed excitedly. "But I'm happy that it's you!"

I looked at the brute and he was just smiling at me sheepishly and batting his eyelashes.

Oh, God! He was trying to appear sexy!

As we prepared the paella, he never left the kitchen. He was there annoying Suzana with his silly comments on her food. The dear woman didn't complain, however. She even appeared very happy, hugging me sometimes and teasing him back, "You're just lucky that your favorite cook is in your kitchen, señorito..."

"Yup, so lucky she's here and I promise to keep her for life, Suzana," he said.

I rolled my eyes at him. He was just smiling.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

After dinner, I stayed in mom's room while she lay down on her bed. I started to work on her request. I made little massages in her knees and legs.

"Oh, darling, that feels really, really good..." she moaned and I smiled at her.

"Have you stopped your little exercise every morning, mom? You know, your morning walk to the flower plantation?" I asked. I was sitting on her bed with my legs curled in front of me.

"Well, sometimes, I feel tired especially if I don't have a company. Sometimes, people in the palacio can be pretty busy. Elena is always in the hurry, too. She's had her internship also and she's always on duty at the town hospital. That's why I always missed you," she said. "There are times that I don't have someone to talk to."

Our conversation was interrupted when Nigel went in. I noticed that he was fresh from the shower and had changed into a cotton shirt and sweat pants.

Mom smiled at him.

Nigel came to the bed and climbed across where I was sitting. He was at mom's other side and he had his legs placed on the bed, too. I noticed that his huge built made the bed to shrink on his spot.

"Any problem with your legs?" he asked mom.

"Ah, they're aching. I'm getting old already," she spoke, joking.

While I was massaging mom's left leg, the portion in between her knee and foot, Nigel started to do the same in her right. "Does this hurt?" he asked her.

"Yeah, a bit. Oh, I like what you're doing. Perhaps, you better hire me a massage therapist, son."

"Okay, let's have it examined tomorrow and let's see what the doctor would say," he said.

We continued doing gentle massages and one look at mom and we could tell that she was enjoying it. Mom was telling us that she was missing Nigel and me in the palacio. By and by, she fell asleep, snoring once in a while.

Nigel and I was still in each of her sides and we still did the gentle activity in her legs.

I stared at mom sleeping. She was a very beautiful woman and she looked really happy as she slept. She was smiling even if she was closing her eyes. I smiled, too.

"I missed you," I heard Nigel whispered. I faced him and he was giving me that longing gaze.

Hmm, really? Did he really miss me when he waited for months to see me again?

I just smirked.

"Thank you for the paella," he whispered again, "I swear, I missed it, too."

Pretending not to mind him, I still continued rubbing mom's shin.

"So, how's your heart now?" he asked slowly, like he was afraid of what I was going to answer.

"Hmm... very healthy... physically," I told him, trying to ignore where this conversation would lead to.

He seized my right hand suddenly. "How about emotionally?"

Oh!

Well, I still had doubts. There were still a lot of things that I wanted to confront to him. I was supposed to tell him there were still a lot of things that he didn't tell me... like his relationship with Maria Stella and their engagement. I wanted to know where she was now and what happened to them. I wanted to ask him if my being a lousy copycat to his sister was just a secondary reason, if my being a servant's daughter was the main reason why he could never accept me before.

"I still need more time to think over things," I said.

"Six months and she hasn't still decided," he muttered with a complaining tone.

I gave him an annoyed grin, "Someone's acting impatient now."

"Well, you have no idea what I had to go through just to give you your whole six months," he muttered. "Please, don't make it too long to decide, princess... so we can marry already."

Huh? Was he really thinking of marrying me?

He wasn't even courting me and here he was thinking of marrying me? Jerk!

Next time he would tackle the subject, could he show me first the ring?

"What? What is it that I have to decide?" I asked, acting innocent.

He squeezed my hand, massaging them too. "That you'll stop hating me. That you'll forgive me. That you'll finally believe everything I say."

I smiled at him sarcastically. "It isn't that simple. If you really love me, show it to me."

This time, he held both of my hands and brought it to his chest. It was too awkward to do these things when there were mom's legs in between us.

"Wow, you're already giving me a chance," he said, grinning, and I swore he looked really sexy with that one.

"No! I still am not! I'll give you a chance when I can see you're really doing your thing."

He even smiled more widely. "Princess, princess, no matter how you deny it, we're still made for each other."

Brute! I was telling him to persevere and he was showing me his arrogance instead!

"I really hate you, jerk!" I said with a pout at the end.

Then, he did something I didn't expect. He promptly gripped my jaws with his hands and slammed his lips to mine. I was wide awake as our lips and tongue danced in beautiful rhythm. It was stolen, yeah, but, hell, I enjoyed it! I loved it, in fact! It lasted for minutes. I didn't know how long exactly. I just felt like it was, wow, a real fiancé's kiss.

When we parted, he whispered with a chuckle, "Thanks for granting my request. I told you to pout when I'm not driving and you did, you really did."

"Brute," the only word I said, feeling secretly amazed by him.

"Oh, I... I'm glad you've finally reconciled!" It was Mommy Carol's shocked but excited voice that jolted us.

Nigel and I turned to her. She was smiling very, very widely.

Oh, busted! Mom just saw us kissing! Nigel always put me in trouble!

I wanted to say, No, mom, we haven't reconciled yet. It's just natural for Nigel and me to be kissing each other even in our angry, hostile state! Yeah, we were so always like that. Huh? So weird... yet so true, wasn't it?

Well, in previous situations, we always kissed when we fought... yeah, fought and kissed, kissed and fought. That became a habit, I guessed.

But, tonight, was it really a fight and kiss thing? I didn't think so. Gosh, I didn't think so... because, for the first time, I felt totally, as in one hundred percent, happy with the kiss.

I looked at him and, I swore, I couldn't take that smug look off his face... you know that kind of look showing pride and satisfaction for something he had just achieved!

Damn!

And, I swore to myself, he really, really looked sexy in that kind of expression.

Oh, Nigel Joaquin!

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

A/N

Finally, 100,000 reads! You guys are just amazing. As I promised, here's my thank you chapter to all of you! Hope you all liked it.

So, how about a million views next time? Hehe, it's all up to you, guys!

Next update will be tomorrow.

VOTE, COMMENT, SHARE, FOLLOW!

Always,
(sapphiregirl22) ~_^