CHAPTER 2

MELISSA QUIZON

"Babe, are you jealous again?" he said to me.

He sat on the table while I stood between his thighs. He hugged me from behind, and he squeezed his face between my shoulder and neck. In the back of my mind, I didn't want to respond to that question. Because—wasn't it obvious? Raquel had feelings for him. Was he naïve, or did he know but not mind?

I pinched his arm. "Why is she so close to you?"

I didn't bother to say her name because I knew that he had an idea of who I was talking about. Wright was the lead guitarist while Raquel was the band's vocalist. I couldn't stop them from seeing each other. Earlier, as they were practicing, I noticed she was looking at Wright like he was a delicious meal! And I was sick of the stares she was giving him! Damn, this was why I didn’t want to get involved with him. He was making me crazy.

"She's my bandmate. What do you want me to do?" He pulled me even closer to him. I looked up, and our eyes met. Three months into our relationship, and I was still mesmerized by his brown eyes.

"I don't want you to leave the band. I can't stop you from doing the things that make you happy, but…" My eyes narrowed. "Be aware. Do you think I don't notice that she likes you?"

"Judgmental Princess," he said, laughing and giving me a quick kiss on the side of my lip. "'Don't give some malicious meaning to our friendship.”

"And I'm still the one who’s malicious?" I pushed him away. I grabbed my bag that was on the seat and put it on my shoulder. "I'm going home."

I was about to leave when he pulled my arm. He was looking at me seriously. "Don't you trust me?"

"I do. The one I don’t trust is her. She is a flirt."

His eyes darkened when I said the last word. I know it was too harsh, but I couldn’t take back what I said. The key to a healthy relationship was communication.

"That 'flirt' is my friend, Melissa." I raised an eyebrow at him. He took a deep breath and combed his hair back with his hand. "You don't have to worry. I cannot reciprocate if she wants something from me. I'm just yours."

I smiled. Wright and I had only been together for three months. It took me two months to get used to his behavior and the behavior of the women around him. I couldn't blame them; a lot of them wanted Wright.

I thought he only wanted to play with my feelings. You know, make me fall in love, then drop me like a hot potato kind of thing. So I continued to reject him. But he kept on pestering me for a month, and his sweet side made my knees melt.

It was a crazy roller coaster of feelings. After a month of his pestering and courting, I became his girlfriend officially.

The faculty didn't use this room often, so it became our hideout. The reason why we were using hideouts was that we couldn't be alone! Anywhere we went, there would be girls clinging to him like I wasn’t there!

“Hey, I’m about to kiss you. What are you thinking?”

I blinked twice and raised my head. “H-huh?”

His face dropped to mine. I closed my eyes as our lips touched. The effect of his kiss on me still hadn't changed in these three months. It was as if I were still flying in the clouds, and my knees were softening. I hugged him and reciprocated his soft kiss. The arms around my waist tightened even more.

We stopped after a bit. We looked at the doorway and found Raquel leaning on the frame while her hands were crossed over her chest.

"Wright. Practice again," she said.

Wright nodded. "Yes. We'll be right there, Racky."

Raquel looked down at me. Her stare was heavy. Then, she looked back at Wright. She nodded as a response and left.

"What? Are you jealous again?" I sighed as his lips touched the tip of my ear. I bit my lower lip as his lips slowly dropped to my cheek. "Come on, let's go. Otherwise, I might forget we're in a public place."

When we entered the music room, Wright's bandmates turned to us: Fier, the drummer, Leon, the bass guitarist, and Raquel, the lovely vocalist. They were sitting on the sofa and holding canned drinks. Fier stood up and hugged me, and I just smiled at him while Leon stayed with Raquel. I heard Raquel click her tongue.

In seconds, Wright pulled my body away from Fier. He glared at him. “Don’t be too familiar with her.”

“Brother, you’re too possessive.” Fier jokingly tapped Wright’s shoulder. “Remember, we are your friends, not your enemies.”

"Fier, don't tease him too much, or he'll cry," Leon said coldly.

“Wright, you’ve changed.” Fier made a sad face, but it was fake. He stood in the corner, removed the flower from the vase, kneeled, and placed the flowers on the ground. “Here lies Wright’s playboy image. You will never be forgotten!”

“I’m not a playboy, for God’s sake! Fier, I will smash your head in that corner.”

“Here lies the face of the sexiest man alive.” I couldn’t help but laugh at Fier’s punchlines.

“Don’t laugh at his jokes! That is his way of making women go crazy for him!” Wright scolded me and tightened his embrace.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” I said, smiling. I tiptoed, and my lips touched his earlobes. “That made you jealous, huh? Now, you know how it feels.”

"Alright! Enough, mom and dad! We are not used to watching romantic scenes. We're minors," said Fier.

Wright looked at me and gave me a quick kiss on the lips. His comrades whistled. "Watch me."

I smiled at him. "As always."

I sat down as I watched the band put things in order. I turned to Raquel, who was looking sharply at me. I just made a face. When they finished arranging the equipment, they took their places one by one. Wright looked at me. My cheeks warmed as he winked at me before playing his guitar.

Raquel began to sing. If I didn’t know her, I would think she had a good attitude because of her angelic voice. It was very serene. She drew men in as they listened to her angelic voice. That was why Kiss n Tell fans weren't just women.

I felt the call of nature, so I entered the bathroom, which was also located inside the music room. By the time I exited the bathroom, the band was deciding on their next song. My eyes narrowed when I noticed Raquel talking to Wright. I approached him and held his arm. He kissed me on the forehead and turned back to Raquel. She was frowning.

The displeasure was noticeable in her round, expressive eyes.

"Ah. Go ahead, Wright. I'll wait for you, alright?"

"I'll think about it." Wright put his arm around me.

She nodded. “Okay.”

“Should we play some more?” Leon asked.

“I’m tired. I’m going home.” Raquel said as she walked towards her bag and put it on her shoulder.

When Raquel left the room, I turned to Wright. "What was she saying? 'I'll wait for you'? What was that for? I'll make her swallow my shoes!" I said, pissed.

Leon and Fier had also left the room. Now that we were alone, I would be honest with my feelings.

I sat down on the sofa and folded my arms over my chest. I didn't like Raquel. Ever since Wright had introduced me to her, I had hated her. Wright kneeled in front of me and rested between my thighs. He reached for my waist.

"Tsk! How many times should I say this? Don’t let the green-eyed monster get you, baby." He pinched my nose. "It's her brother's birthday tomorrow, and she invited the band."

"Oh. Are you going?"

"Yes." He smiled. I frowned. He didn’t consult me before accepting the invitation. "You're coming with me, babe."

"I wasn't invited. I have no place there. They’ll just outcast me."

"Alright. You don’t have to come. I'll drink all the liquor they have and get drunk." He laughed.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Alright. Let's break up. Is that what you want?"

It was not that I forbade him to drink with his friends. But Wright was different when he got drunk. He lost his mind. He was a huge monster. I didn't know what he looked like when he was under liquor's magic, but that was the first thing we argued about. Fortunately, we had fixed it.

He winced. "Hmm...On second thought, I'm not going anymore."

"Good. Now we're talking." I looked at my watch. "It's six o'clock. Let's go home."

I was about to get up when Wright pulled me to sit down again. "Wait."

"Hmm? Why?" I asked.

He grinned. His eyebrows also went up and down. My cheeks turned red, and I looked around. I knew that look; I knew what he wanted. "H-here?"

"Uh-huh." Wright squeezed my waist.

"M-maybe someone will see us. I don't want to."

"Come on, baby. It's just a kiss."

"A kiss?"

"French kiss." His grin widened.

My forehead furrowed. "What's that?"

I unconsciously bit my lower lip when his eyes looked at it like it was sweet candy. "Lips and tongue, babe."

I blushed. I didn't know that. "I-I don't know how."

"I'll teach you."

He covered my mouth with his. He held me close against him. Oh, God. It was mouthwateringly good! I gasped when his tongue darted out to lick my bottom lip. His fingers threaded themselves further into my hair while his thumb traced slow circles on the sensitive skin at the back of my neck.

He lifted me onto his lap, arranging me so I was straddling him. My dress hitched up around my legs. He deepened the kiss, thrusting his tongue in between my lips. He sought out my tongue and swirled over it. The taste of him assaulted my senses and made my knees wobble.

This was a French kiss!? Shit, was I doing it right?! Hot! I sighed as his hand dropped to my chest. "W-Wright..not t-there.."

"Hmm...Sorry," he said and continued kissing me. My eyes rolled as his lips pressed against mine once more. The hand on my chest dropped to my waist.

I was still a virgin. I was not ready to give my virginity to Wright yet. We were only three months into our relationship. I wanted to take it slow and savor the moments we spend with each other.

We were both catching our breath afterward.

"Awesome! Are you sure you haven't done that before?" Wright said.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "You're my first boyfriend. What do you expect?"

"Makes sense." He laughed a little and kissed the palm of my hand. "I’ll take you home. Thank you for the treat, by the way."

"You are crazy."

We got up and adjusted our clothes. We went to the parking lot where his car was and quietly drove towards my house.

When we reached the gate, we saw Grandma sitting in front of my house, sewing. We got her attention, and I kissed her forehead.

Her eyes narrowed, but it didn’t look like she was scolding us. "You're here again, handsome. Are you courting my granddaughter?"

Wright looked at me. I shook my head in response, and he sighed.

"I'm serious about her, Granny," Wright said gently.

"Hmm. I can see that." She stood up. "Let's go inside. It’s chilly in here. You can eat here, handsome."

"Okay, Granny. I missed your cooking!" Wright said, holding my granny’s arms to support her weak knees.

I prepared the food. Sometimes, I was embarrassed to let Wright into our house because it seemed to be the size of a bathroom in his condo. Grandma and I were the only ones living here. I was an orphan, and I only got a scholarship to study at the prestigious university Wright and I attended.

"Young man, you look familiar. Have I seen you before?" Grandma said while eating.

Wright laughed as I rubbed my forehead. "Well, I'm Wright. Melissa’s boy—"

“Ah, yes! You’re my granddaughter’s suitor. I’m too forgetful this past few days.” Granny laughed.

After dinner, Wright said goodbye to Granny. It was late, and he had to go home. The condo he lived in was a bit far from here.

"Good night, babe," he said, kissing me on the forehead.

"Take care?"

"Always."

After that, he got into the car and started it. I waited for his car to disappear before I entered my house again.