Chapter 5 - Gossips

Eleven thirty p.m. My bedroom. I am wearing my brown slippers, walking towards the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth.

Tiere has gone to bed at the guest room, cause I don’t want to sleep with her. I afraid I will do anything stupid again. As I walk past by her room, I peep from a half open door and caught a glimpse of Tiere laying on the bed, playing with her phone. She tilted her head, “RYAN!” she exclaimed, “Come here”

I froze, didn’t take a step.

“Come here” it’s still mortifying when she tries to make out with me even though we are dating and there’s only two of us here.

I mouthed “Me?” by pointing myself.

“Yes! You! come here” she repeated, there’s an annoying tone in her voice.

What? Did she just ask me to sleep with her tonight? What the hell. NO!

“COME HERE BITCH!” startled by the scary looking Tiere.

I walk towards her and sit on the edge of the bed, waiting for her to response. Silence expanded for few seconds, she continues playing her phone with nothing to say.

“Now what?” I asked, without looking at her

“Really?” she said with a derisive loud of laugh. Tiere sets her phone aside and pulled me seated in the middle of the bed, dropped her knees in front of me. “Why are you so dumb, baby? I just want you to stay by my side” spoke as she pouts. Damn! My heart can’t take it anymore!

She took a deep deep breath and exhales it harshly “You know? When people date they usually do this” she grabbed my hands and put it on her waist which turns me goosebumps. She placed her arms on my shoulders. Tiere gives me a seductive smile and her brown eyes gazing mine.

“Wait, I saw your eyes are something like either red or brown earlier”

“Damn, it’s contact lens” she huffed loudly, “The real one is brown!” she pointed her eyes.

She clears her throat, I don’t know what is she going to do again, silly Tiere will probably make my heart explode again. My eyes locked on her face, she leaned her head forwards slowly. In that moment I thought we are going to kiss again. My heart beating faster and faster I think my chest will burst, it has getting tighter and tighter.

I closed my eyes shut, some cold sweat streaming down. She stopped, leaning her head on my shoulder, begin to laugh. Tiere laughs really loud followed by another surprise, she leaned her face closer to my neck, whispered to my ear, which brings my heart beats faster than before.

“I love you”

I flinched, eyes popped up wide. She pinched my nose and leaned away gagging in response “What a dork”.

She moved her body away from me, laying on the bed facing the window, all I can see is her back. What was that earlier? She is diving me insane! I don’t know how to react every time when she does that to me. I sighed. I always want to keep distance with her since this fake relationship started but somehow my heart couldn’t resist.

“Tiere” I poke her shoulder.

“Do you need me to sleep here?” I muttered under my breath. She turned her head immediately. “Sure!” she looks even more excited. “Gonna grab my pillow” I stood up.

She grumbles, “Why? Share with mine”

I rolled my eyes “No! You droll most of the time”

“Alright alright” she said with a low chuckle.

My heart doesn’t always beat for women, the only person I beat for is Caroline. But now, it’s kinda different from what I’ve expected. Tiere makes my heart beats faster, she used to be my best friend and my heart doesn’t usually beat for her. I still remember the taste of her lips and tongue which makes me flutter every time I imagine it.

ping ping ping ping ping ping

I get up abruptly, I don’t know who sent me texts early in the morning. They are too many, is that mom? Cause today is Sunday? But mom usually calls me at 8 or 9 p.m. at night cause they are 9- 10 a.m. in Miami.

Tiere is still sleeping beside me. She was so annoying along the night, she snored all night which woke me up several times cause I thought something blew up, it came from her mouth. Geez. Okay, forget it.. but when I watch her sleeping, it’s actually so peaceful.. Sometimes worry and anxiety slipped in me, a fear that I’d do anything wrong that hurt her instead. I stay on the bed, lift my hand to touch her cheek. Her cheek is soft and fluffy, then my finger touch her lips, they are soft and warm, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. I feel like it

would crack open or burst into flame or explode. The taste of her lips is something unforgettable. Wait, why do I smile?

ping ping ping

Enough staring at my own bestfriend! Jesus Christ! This is so depressing! My god Ryan, what are you thinking about. I reached my phone from my bedside table. Then plenty of text messages popped up. It’s from Caroline.

CAROLINE?

Did she just notice the new movie? At the cinema? Well, she might want to ask

me out again. I straightened my smartphone to scan my face ID. I’m so excited!

She sent me like 5+ messages at once.

Caroline: Ryan..

Caroline: Morning Ryan

Caroline: I heard you are dating now

Caroline: Who?

Caroline: How could you keep it for yourself?

Caroline: You didn’t tell me anything about the girl you date

Caroline: I heard she is still very young

Wait. This is too much. How can she know it? Did Garry tell her?

“Tell her it’s me. Your girlfriend” I tilted my head, startled cause Tiere suddenly sitting beside me.

“JESUS CHRIST TIERE! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO ME!” I moaned. “I thought you are still sleeping”

She felt an overwhelming desire to giggle “The heck. You startled?”

“Come on, tell her we date. Tell her I sleep in your apartment.. eh your penthouse” she said sarcastically, before I correct her word. I was just joking yesterday.

I took a deep breath and start typing, “Yes, I date Tiere”.

Let see what happen next.

“By the way how could the gossip spread so quickly?” asked Tiere.

I shrugged my shoulders “Maybe because of ..”

Garry.. Garry.. Garry isn’t even close with Caroline. Wait. The group chat? How could I not think of the university group chat? I immediately check my Whatsapp message, where all my university classmates are inside, they have everything to talk about everyday so I turned the notifications off that’s why I didn’t notice their messages.

ping ping ping ping ping ping ping ping ping ping

Thousands of messages bugging my phone. I clicked the chat room and found a picture. Garry took a picture of me and Tiere yesterday, but Tiere bent her head down no wonder Caroline asked about the girl I date.

Garry tweeted: I think she is the first semester junior?

The others replied, “Seems hot”, “Whoa! Carol! I’m so sorry about this”, “Carol omg” by mentioning her name.

ping

Another reply, I can’t believe Caroline replies my message that fast, usually it takes around 30 minutes. “I can’t believe you date Tiere” she replied

Caroline: Congrats :) (with a smiley)

“I don’t know, she is kinda jealous.. I think” Tiere said with a shrug.

I turn my head looking at her, “Really?”

“Yes, she is kinda pissed off. With that smiley”

“You know, girls are pissed when they give you that smiley” she stated.

I put down my phone on the bedside table trying to control my emotions. There’s a mixed feeling between happy or concern. I don’t know what to reply.

“Ryan?” Tiere called, uncertain if she should be relieved cause she is worried that I was unhappy. I give her a smile and at the same time she wrapped her arms around my neck from behind.

“This is a morning kiss, from your fake girlfriend” she whispered, then a kiss on the cheek. I tap her arms, no matter what I smile. Tiere is very sweet, how could her boyfriend dumped her.

“You don’t want to kiss me back?” she hasn’t moved away. My heart is beating against the walls of my rib cage and there’s a flutter of butterflies in my stomach. I turned my body and she loosened her arms, grabbed her cheeks with my hands, then a kiss on her forehead. I caught a glimpse of her smiling sheepishly, a pink blush on her cheek like sakura flowers blooming.

“I ever read this from the blog” I said

“Hm?”

“A kiss from the forehead means protection”

Tiere froze, she was just staring at me, the first time I saw her innocently looking at me. Then she blinked rapidly and say “So that’s how it feels dating a ****** guy” she smirked, teasing me and run away from the room.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN ******?” I rushed out to catch her up.

“So, are you going home today?” I asked.

"What? You want me move in?" she gives me a naughty grin. I rolled my eyes and fix my words "I mean.."

“Yea.. gonna start doing my designs” she said as she typed on the keyboard. “Hey how to use this” she pointed the computer screen. I stood up from the bed and grabbed the computer mouse, at the same time my heart flutters again, her hair always smells good. We used to be close but somehow my heart treats her differently nowadays.

DING DONG DING DONG DING DONG

We both startled.

“Who the fck is that?” she asked and rose from her seat.

We walked together through the hallway and I peep through the peephole, Tiere waits patiently. “Damn, it’s Caroline” I mouthed as I turned my head. Tiere smirked. I know what is she thinking about.

We brought her in, sitting in the living room. Tiere stood up leaning by the countertop and I sat in front of Caroline. Well, it makes me look like being interviewed. Caroline glanced at Tiere then me, who shrugged and trying to look away. Finally Caroline speaks, “So…” frowning her eyebrow as she was actually masking her annoyance since she arrived. She stared me and Tiere in turns. Tiere scoffed. I never saw Caroline act this way, she looks different today.

“Yes…” Tiere said. “We are dating now.. I know it’s weird cause we are friends since kids but yea.. We finally decided to date” shrugging her shoulders, she sounds pretty annoying.

Caroline quirked her eyebrow on me looking unbelievable, “So….”

“Right baby?” Tiere air kissed me, “You know.. Ryan is amazing” she gestured with her palms. Then she lifted her palm put it on her cheek, like kind of whispering but not really whispering “He is damn hot in bed.. yeaa.. even though it was actually his first time.”

WHAT? THIS GIRL IS CRAZY!

Caroline was so shocked, her jaw hanging open. I am so fcking speechless. “You crazy!” I mouthed to Tiere.

Then I gaze back to Caroline, “Yes…” I said slowly, and give her a thin smile to cover up my anxiety. Tiere slapped her thighs and says “Gotta take a bath. Will take your t -shirt baby!” and walk away.

Caroline froze, then she turned her head with eyes gazing me, “What happen?”

“Since when?” she made another question, her eyes blazing.

“We…are dating.. since.. last week” I give her a smile, damn what am I afraid of. My tongue feels stiff all of sudden. Caroline shook her head and stood up slowly. “You know …Ryan?” she shifted her bag on her shoulder, eyes still staring at me. “I have something to do.. so… bye..” she rushed out before I even talk to her, I want to buy more time but I guess she won’t stay any longer.

She leaves me without a warm goodbye or else, it’s kinda hurtful. Caroline just leave right away, she looks mad. Right, she is jealous. I kinda feel happy cause we made it this far, but at the same time I feel uncomfortable with the feelings inside my heart. I frowned in depression.

I heard the shower clicked off and footsteps racing from the bathroom.

“SHE IS PISSED OFF RYAN!” she exclaimed.

I leaned my head on the sofa, “Yes Tiere” and sigh.

“Are ..you.. okay?” she took some steps towards me, as I gazed her eyes I feel a thump in the heart. She looks worried.

“I’m sorry if I do anything wrong” she said as she looked down.

I grabbed her wrist, “Tiere.. it’s fine. I am fine.. really..”

ping ping

We both startled and turned around, my phone flashed a screen. Then a message from Caroline popped up.

Caroline: There’s a new movie. Should we watch them together? You can take Tiere with us.

Tiere and I looking at each other.

Can’t believe we really made it.

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