Dean woke Jackie by gently shaking her shoulder.

“Hey, wake up. I think the doors are open now,” he said.

Oh, yeah, Jackie was fully awake. He just didn’t know that. She had been awake for almost the entire night. And so was Dean. After almost an hour outside pacing after that kiss, he came back in and stared at my ceiling. I wish I could have made him see the answer to the questions that were obviously running in his mind. He didn’t move a lot. Maybe he was afraid to wake Jackie up. And Jackie didn’t move an inch as well, thinking it would give her away.

So yeah, they just lay there all night without moving, pretending to be asleep. But the sun had to come up and they had to face reality. They had to go back to their rooms.

Jackie gave a moan. She didn’t pull it off but I think Dean was not at the right state of consciousness to even notice.

“Jackie,” he said, clearing his throat. “The rooms are open. We better get inside.”

“Okay,” she said in a very low voice, still facing the other way. God, her body must be aching by now.

“I’ll get inside first. Hey,” he called when she didn’t give an answer.

“Okay,” she whispered. This time, she turned and faced him. Their eyes met and I was afraid I would witness another lip-locking scene for they stared at each other’s eyes for too long.

Thank goodness Karen’s voice rang out from the balcony of the lodging house.

“Hey!” she called.

Both Jackie and Dean blinked and the magic or whatever was suddenly gone. Dean cleared his throat again and said, “We better get inside.”

“Okay,” Jackie answered and straightened in my seat. They both got out and walked to the lodging house.

  *****

“You locked me out last night,” Jackie said to Karen before her friend could comment on why she and Dean were together inside Toto.

Realization hit Karen and her eyes bulged. “I did?”

“Yes,” Jackie uttered tiredly. She didn’t get enough sleep. She turned her head and found that Dean was right behind her. She consciously brushed her fingers through her hair. And then she tried to fix her shirt.

“You mean you slept inside your car?”

“Yes!” she snapped at her friend.

“With sir Dean?” Her friend looked at Dean.

“Joseph locked me out too,” he answered behind Jackie.

“Oh my God! We’re sorry! I mean, I am sorry. After we left you guys last night, I decided I wanted to sleep so Joseph took me to my room. I didn’t know he locked the door when he got out.”

Jackie arched her eyebrow. “Is it open now? I need to shower.”

“Yes. I’m really sorry, Jackie,” Karen said, leading the way to their room.

Jackie looked over her shoulder to take one last glance at Dean. Their eyes met. The most amazing thing was he gave her a small smile. She returned it shyly and turned her attention back to the direction of their room.

Once inside the shower, Jackie was finally able to understand and absorb last night’s events. She shared one, hot kiss with Dean Gamboa. Shit.

“Shit!” she said aloud. “Shit, shit, shit!”

“Hey! Are you okay in there?” asked Karen from outside the door.

“Yeah! I dropped my uh…soap.”

“I’ll go right ahead. Breakfast is ready downstairs.”

“Okay, will be there in a few!”

When she heard the door of the room close, she quickly finished her bath, wrapped herself in a towel and walked out of the bathroom. She took her phone from her bag and dialed George’s number. Dannie would be at church by now so she was obviously not reachable.

“Yeah,” George answered after three rings.

“I kissed him. I mean, well, he kissed me too, so I think we kissed. Oh my God! We kissed! And it was not a friendly kiss. Not the cheek-to-cheek kind of kiss. It was the share everything-inside-your-mouth kind of kiss and I don’t know what the hell I should do--”

“Hey!” George cut her off. “What the hell, Jackie. Please don’t tell me the gross stuff. I understood what you meant when you said you kissed. Just don’t tell me more about the--ugh. Now, I can’t get it out of my head. So what’s your problem?”

“We kissed! Don’t you understand? We kissed!”

“And?”

“And…well, isn’t that a problem?”

“You’re single. He’s single. What the hell is wrong with that?”

“I don’t know what that kiss meant to him!”

“Do you know what it meant to you?”

She closed her mouth. Yeah, right. What did it mean to her? “I don’t know,” she groaned. “I don’t know if I can face him again. But he smiled at me this morning. You think that’s a good sign?”

“Do you want it to be a good sign?”

“You’re making fun of me.”

“No, of course not. Jackie, if you can’t even decide whether you want the kiss or not, then I suggest you just go with the flow.”

“But what if I liked it?”

“I already figured that out.”

“And what if he also liked it?”

“Then isn’t that a good thing?”

“Then what if he finds out about the fake FB account and the lies I told Brian? And then he’ll hate me. And then he wouldn’t want to see me again. I’ll have to resign from my job and--”

“You are thinking way too much. Just let things happen as they should. Do we have to talk about this right now? I don’t think you’re in the right mind to even absorb everything I am saying. Just get home and we’ll talk.”

“Okay,” she said after thinking it over. “But how do I face him? Please, help me.”

“Just be your usual self. Just be Jackie. Crazy and unpredictable.”

“Great. Great, thank you,” she said sarcastically. “Okay, ‘bye.”

  *****

Jackie didn’t have to face Dean for the next few hours. Victor and Brian immediately went back to work and that meant the games and their activities started without delay. Dean, as usual, was observing everything at the background and sometimes helped in facilitating with the activities.

By lunch time, they had a buffet. Jackie was serving herself a bowl of native chicken tinola when Dean came up beside her.

She looked at him, gave him a smile and turned her attention back on her task. She didn’t know what to say so she chose to keep mum.

She heard him clear his throat. Her heart started to hammer. Was he going to say something? She wasn’t ready for that. Without thinking twice, she stopped what she was doing and took two steps toward the next dish. Dean followed, standing beside her. He took some rice and placed it on his plate. Jackie took two more steps to the left and found herself facing the desserts. Dean followed and was instantly beside her again.

She swallowed and closed her eyes. She had to be calm. She checked her plate. Shit, she took too much rice.

“Are you avoiding me?” Dean asked beside her.

Her eyes were fixed on her plate while her hand was busy scooping some buko pandan. “Who? Me? No, of course not.”

She heard him chuckle. “Is it because of last night?”

“Last night?” Stupid question.

“The kiss?”

Her head snapped up and she met his amused eyes looking at her. “Uh, Dean, no, I mean, sir, uh, mister, no, Dean--”

 His chuckle snatched her of whatever stupid thing she was about to say. “Jackie, I guess it is okay if you call me by my name.”

She could feel her cheeks heating up and she didn’t know why. Was this really happening? Did Dean Gamboa just ask her to call him by his first name? Or did he already do that days ago? She couldn't really remember!

“And after sharing our second kiss, I guess formality is off the table,” he added.

Jackie was confused for some time. “Second kiss? What do you mean--“ but he was already walking away with his plate. “Hey!” she called out. “What do you mean by--” she stopped herself when she saw Brian approaching. His eyes were focused on her. Closing her mouth, she picked up her plate and walked past Brian without a word.

  *****

By the end of the day, Jackie’s team lost. But it was a good fight. They had another chance that day to win over the yellow team, but the other team really had a good rest. All the while they thought today’s activities would be about their mental capabilities, but they were wrong. The games were more physical and critical and Jackie was drained. She didn’t get enough sleep and she figured Karen and Joseph were too.

They would be staying for another night, but there would be no more games. It was finally time to unwind. After all the games they’d had, they decided to dip in the pool and just have fun. Since it was cold, no one dared wear their bikinis. The personnel in the resort gave them permission to wear their shirt after assuring that they were all higher than five feet and that they all knew how to swim. Dean vouched for everyone and so did Victor and Joseph who didn’t join the swimming.

Brian said he was not feeling well so he went back in his room and never came out again after dinner.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” Jackie told Karen.

“Go,” said her friend who was trying to keep afloat on her back, a new talent Jackie taught her.

“Will you come with me?”

“The bathroom’s just a few feet away, Jackie,” Karen answered.

She hesitated.

“Okay, fine, I’ll come with you,” Karen uttered but Jackie held up her hand.

“No, don’t worry. You’re right. It’s just around the corner. I’ll go.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah. No one else is here but us.”

She was right. There were no other visitors in the resort. Jackie climbed out of the pool and walked to the bathroom. It was already locked. She looked over the pool where Karen was. She changed her mind and walked to the direction of the lodging house on her own. She’d have to use the bathroom in their room.

“I’m not afraid of him, I’m not,” she chanted under her breath. If Brian would show up like she feared, she could just scream. Dean and the others would hear her and they’d rescue her in time, right? Or she could just kick the man in the groin like how George taught her to do. “Yeah, I can do that,” she said strongly, walking inside the room she shared with Karen.

Inside the bathroom, while she did her thing, she remembered the last conversation she had with Dean. What did he mean by second kiss? She was still as confused five minutes later when she walked out of the room. She almost screamed in shock when she saw Brian standing just a few feet away.

She reminded herself that he didn’t do anything yet. She could just pretend she didn’t see him.

“Hi, Jackie,” he said, his voice bare of any emotion. It was almost controlled.

“Hi,” she uttered, gritting her teeth while closing the door behind her. She could see their companions from her position and the fear inside her was eased a little. She started walking away but Brian stopped her by stepping right in front of her.

“So you really like him?” he asked.

“Brian, please, don’t start again.” She attempted to circle around him but he took another step to block her path.

“Jackie, please, let’s talk.” The desperation in his voice was back. For a moment, she got another glimpse of the old stalker Brian.

The same old anger flared inside her. “How many times do I have to tell you I don’t like you? I thought you already understand that? Everything was okay until you decided to speak up again and do this!”

His face was back to the blank one he had been using the past few days.

“I am happy with him, you hear me? I am utterly happy! Why can’t you just accept that you are not part of that happiness? So please, leave me alone!” she bit out, tears of anger welling her eyes. She didn’t care what he did to her at that moment. All she felt was the same desperation she had felt for the past few months.

Without thinking, she pushed Brian and half-ran to the stairs and down the lodging house.

She bumped into someone on her way down.

“Hey, are you okay?” Dean asked, holding her by the arms.

Jackie swallowed, trying to control her tears. “Yes,” she answered.

“Jackie, look at me. Are you okay?” Dean asked, this time more strongly.

“Yes. I just need some air,” she said without looking at him, her voice controlled. He let her go and she went to the only place she felt safe.

  *****

Okay, here we go again. She was coming my way and he was walking behind, following her. I wanted to lock my doors and put up a sign that said, ‘This is not a room, so go get one!”.

But my thoughts were immediately stopped when I saw Jackie wiping her eyes. Was she crying? Okay, what did Dean do, girl? Did he sexually assault you? Because that would be hard to believe knowing you’ll jump at the chance. Or did he say the kiss was nothing? What?

But when I saw the anger in her eyes and the worried look on Dean’s face behind her, I knew it was that psychopath stalker, Brian. And I was right! I could see him standing in the balcony, hidden by the darkness and he was looking at us, his face expressionless. Creep!

Jackie girl, what’s wrong? Come on, tell me. Do you need me to run that guy over and drive him off the cliff? I’d try not to break down before he’s dead. Just tell me what you want.

“Jackie,” Dean said behind her.

She opened the driver’s door and sat down behind the wheel, trying to calm her nerves. She gripped my steering wheel tightly. And when I thought she was doing fine, she suddenly cried and buried her face between her arms which she rested over my steering wheel.

“Hey, Jackie, is it Brian?” Dean asked, bending down to rub her back. They were safely covered by my door which Jackie left open, hidden from view of the people at the pool area. Except the creep Brian who was still standing there looking down at us. Dean must have sensed his presence because he looked over his shoulder and up the balcony. When Brian saw him looking, he stepped back and disappeared. “What did he do?” Dean asked, his voice angry now.

Oh, interesting. I thought he didn’t care about the personal affairs of his subordinates? That kiss must have meant something, Jackie, because he sure is ready to kill that bastard now.

“Jackie,” Dean said when she didn’t say a word but continued crying.

“I’m fine. I’m just really angry.”

He frowned. “Why?”

“I thought he finally understood that I don’t want him! And just now, he wanted to talk! I was so afraid. The look on his face and--ugh! But I was angrier. I am angrier I can’t stop crying!”

“I can talk to him if you want--”

“I just told him to back off, so no, thank you. I think he finally understands. And my personal problems are mine to deal, right?”

“I’m sorry,” Dean said after a while.

“For what?” asked Jackie, her face still buried between her arms.

“When I told you about the personal problems.”

“It’s nothing. Just forget it. This is my problem. I’m solving it.”

“I can talk to him if--”

“No, you don’t need to. It’s okay. I’ll be fine.”

Oh, I knew why she didn’t want Dean to talk to Brian. The guy might just say something about the lies she made up and everything would go wrong and Brian would find out the truth and he’d be back in action.

But you can always tell Dean the truth, girl.

It seemed that Dean didn’t know what to say so he just squatted beside her, saying nothing as she silently cried. When she calmed down, she lifted her head and said, “I think I’m okay. I want to go back and swim.”

Dean let out a small laugh and stood up. “Okay, let’s go.”

  *****

When we got back home the next day, Jackie was quite in a good mood. I think I knew most of the reasons why. One, Brian didn’t dare approach her again. It was like she was invisible. Two, Dean took a ride back home with her like it was only natural and they talked like it was only natural, so naturally, they had fun while I braved the rough road back home and suffered a few scratches for it. Three, he gave her a very simple, short hug when we reached the parking lot of Collins Corporations after everyone was gone. He hesitated at first, but he did it anyway much to Jackie’s surprise. Four, he followed the hug with a quick kiss at the corner of her lips, giving her another shock. Five, he looked over his shoulder and waved goodbye as he walked back to his car.

All in all, Jackie was happy. I didn’t know if she should be because it only meant things were getting more and more complicated. And I couldn’t handle complications! I still had this black BMW mystery to solve. And then there was this case with George that I knew bothered her though she wouldn’t tell me or her friends. Having Jackie crying over some guy when all of this would be over was just not what I wouldn’t want to happen. She had to sort this problem once and for all.

But of course she couldn’t because right now, I was pretty damn sure she was walking on air.

  *****

Jackie knew that Dean’s actions yesterday could just be because of the trip. Though she wanted this to be real (because she just didn’t want this charade of hers to continue anymore), deep inside she couldn’t help but worry whether or not this could actually turn to something serious. But as what George told her last night and this morning, she had to just let things happen as they should. Or she could just ask Dean if he continued on with his…she couldn’t even put a word on what he was doing toward her.

The rest of her teammates were busy talking about their trip to the other team when she arrived. She joined in and when it was time to work, she went behind her desk. She never saw Dean come in and never even saw him during her fifteen-minute break.

Jackie found herself thinking about him and wondering where he could have been all morning as she stood in front of the vending machine, eating her potato chips. She was expecting he’d show up again and offer her his Coke but that didn’t happen. Punching the Pepsi button this time, she hoped to get a Coke. It dropped a blue can. She kicked the machine again saying, “Idiot,” under her breath before she walked back to her desk.

“Here, it’s yours,” she said to Karen, placing the can on her friend’s desk.

“Again?”

“Stupid machine,” Jackie answered.

  *****

When Jackie went back from lunch that afternoon, she found a Coke in can on her desk. When she picked it up, she saw a small note stuck underneath it.

“Stop assaulting the vending machine, Jackie.”

Jackie stifled a chuckle and her eyes flew to Dean Gamboa’s office. He was inside behind his desk, his head bent on paperwork. She couldn’t help but feel excited and happy. For someone who hated her boss weeks ago, she surely didn’t show it now as she popped the can open and smiled like crazy, swiveling her chair around.