Evening set in when I finally left the closed walls of my room. The surrounding was quiet but far than calming. Even though I had somehow readied myself of the fact Alfie might choose to leave, my feet brought me to check on every room, hoping he would be there.

The funny thing was, I even checked under the bed. It was five years ago all over again.

On the last bed I inspected, which was empty, I sat hugging my feet. It was easier to tell myself to let Alfie go than to face his real absence.

Sadness was starting to possess me, but shock decided to intervene when two hands wrapped me from behind. My startle diminished in the instant recognising the scent. And the desolation I felt mere seconds ago replaced with a sudden content.

A firm cheek grazed over the side of mine, following it was Alfie's voice. "Why are you sitting here?"

I sighed, "I thought you left."

"Why would I? I took a leak outside. This house is really odd, there isn't any bathroom. Whoever designed this house expects us to do our business in the wild or something?" He said with such seriousness.

After hearing his jabber, my laughter burst. The truth was, I didn't think it through when I locked myself inside the room where the only bathroom was located.

Should I feel guilty?

"What's funny?" he asked.

My amusement deflated and replaced by stupefaction. The whiff of Alfie's breath was doing weird things to my body which I couldn't understand. I cleared my throat, hastening myself off from his embrace. "The toilet is in my room," I stated.

When I was appropriately gapped from him, I straighten myself. "And I am not used to you talking so fluently. I mean, the last time I saw you--"

"I can still be that. If it's the way you want me to be," he assented with a pout.

A small smile crept across my lips upon seeing how cute his expression was at the moment.

Each time he moved towards me, I reversed. Eventually, I got up to make a space between us. The sensation I felt when we were near was scaring me. My eyes kept straying towards his body, and I was ashamed with myself because of it.

"What's wrong?" he asked, the words came out slow, evidently hinting his confusion.

"Put on your shirt Alfie," I demanded.

"Yes, but-"

"I have to prepare for lunch... Breakfast," I sputtered, failing to support my excuse. I convinced myself this situation would ease up after I got used to his appearance. So the only solution was to avoid him. With quick steps, I made my way to the door. But the sound of his heavy sigh halted me.

"Charis, are you afraid of me?"

"No, I'm not," I answered.

"Then let me hug you."

I gulped.

"No," I replied instantly.

"Why not? Don't you miss me?"

From the corner of my eyes, I saw him walking towards me. When we were finally standing next to each other, he grabbed my shoulders and spun me to face him. "Look at me," he muttered. The baritone in his voice made my spine tingle.

"I miss you--" he bent down, stopping just a few inches from my lips "-- I want you," he whispered.

I didn't have time to brace, nor to react. My eyes clamped shut when he closed in the distance, fusing our lips together. The pounding in my rib cage was going crazy. For a moment, I forgot to breathe.

Helplessly, my knees buckled, failing to receive brain impulses from the sudden lack of oxygen. But he swiftly hoisted me up, holding both my thigh. Under reflex, I curled my arm around his neck.

I didn't feel butterflies in my stomach like those stories I heard, nor did I see fireworks. Instead, my whole body felt like I had a sudden fever.

When he finally pulled back, he smiled at me, "That was amazing."

Those beautiful words, combined with the way his eyes were gaping at me, made me flushed. But I didn't want to be carried away. The fact he had spent five years with my friend would have meant a possible romance between them. "What about Amy?" I questioned.

His face faltered slightly, "There's nothing between her and me to begin with."

"You said she's beautiful."

"I was saying that about you, Charis. I couldn't get my eyes off you."

Again, my lips curved into a smile. My heart kept its fast pace. I couldn't explain it, looking into his face was enough to convince me.

He didn't say a word as he started walking. I didn't know where he was taking me, or it was actually my mind uncaring about the destination.

When he eventually stopped, I felt us descending, and his strong arms were holding me from falling. I landed on a soft surface which I figured was the bed. My eyes fasten once more when Alfie's lips grazed over my neck.

My breathing was fast and heavy. The fabric cloaking my chest suddenly felt tight, and the drumming under my folds was attuned. Yet, I didn't understand what was going on with my body. Of course, I'd seen this in the past on a movie. But the feeling, it was exhilarating.

As he put a trail of kisses on my neck, I was lost in euphoria, until something hard poked my stomach. Being oblivious, I reached down, thinking something got between us.

Since I couldn't get my hand on it straight, I ended up rubbing against it a couple of times. When I finally got a hold, my eyes boggled up to discover it was attached to him. He grunted harshly and bit his lips in response.

I cringed, shocked by his sudden reaction. And it made him abruptly stop.

"Charis, did I scare you? Do you want me to continue?" He stared deeply into my eyes, like he was seeking something.

Truthfully, I couldn't fight the feeling of need and curiosity. I wanted to experience it.

However, I was too prideful or too shy to say that I was giving in. "I... I--" I stammered.

Like a shot, he retracted from the bed. "No... I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."

A glimpse of his crestfallen expression flickered before he spun around. He pushed back his hair a couple of times as he walked away and there was something about the act that seemed queer to me.

"I need a cold shower," he mumbled.

Then I was left lying on the bed, swallowing the regret and confusion.

To be continued...

***

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