Chapter 5: Yes I do the dating!

I felt someone's hand touching my face. It was so warm and comforting. Then I heard someone talking. I recognized the voice, it was Luke. I tried to open my eyes but a headache rushed in.

"How are you feeling?" Luke was on my side, he seemed so worried.

"Uhm... My head still hurts a little bit." I said as I got up.

He grabbed the medicine box from his bedside table. He read the label of one of the pills before giving it to me.

"Take this. It will help you feel better."  He stood up and headed to the kitchen to get some water.

I just realized that I'm on his bed. He came back and gave me a glass of water. I took the pill and drank the water. "What happened?" I asked.

"I saw you lying on the floor when I got back.. you passed out," he answered.

"Oh.." then I remembered what happened. 

"I picked you up and you were burning up," he added.

"Sorry... How long did I doze off?" I asked feeling bad for the trouble I caused.

"Just a couple of hours... your fever went down gradually," he explained.

"I'm just exhausted, that's all," I said as I brushed my hand through my hair.

"You should have told me that you're not feeling well". He scolded me like a child.

"Do I have to?" I told him with a stiff tone as I looked at him.

I can tell from his eyes that he got annoyed... But his eyes changed its expression, it became mellow. I got the feeling of being drawn to his beautiful eyes. I still can't explain why it kept on happening.

"I'll.. review the research file again," I asked breaking the tension from his stare and I got up. He grabbed me on my arm but he did not say anything. I just pulled my arm off his hand and went over to his laptop.

I saw a folder with our names written on it and I picked it up. "I already printed out the paper, we just need to submit that tomorrow," he said walking towards me.

"Oh.. That's.. That's great," I said trying not to look into his eyes.

He walked closer to me. Every step he made caused my heart to tremble. I'm shaking but I'm not scared. He's right in front of my face, I glanced to his eyes, and they were pinned on me. It made my heart beat faster and faster. He's right there but he's not talking. He moved a bit forward and I'm already at the edge of the table. I put my hand over my chest to feel my heart quivering. What's about to happen? What he's doing so close to me? He raised his right hand. He's going to touch me and I can't breathe. I closed my eyes and uttered, "Don't!"

"Let me drive you home, you look pale." then grabbed his keys on the table behind me. Now, I can breathe again.

"You need to rest so you won't imagine things." he gave out his usual smirk then moved back.

He's making fun of me! What an asshole!

Later that night, he drove me home around almost midnight. We didn't talk much while on the road. I made some glances to him but I can't think of anything to say. We got out of his car and walked to our doorway.

"Thanks for the ride," I said, still feeling a bit uneasy of what happened. He just nodded and gave me a tap on my shoulder then he walked back to his car. Before he got into his car I called him out.

"See you at school tomorrow!" That's all I was able to think of.

He got into the car then drove away.

I was in my room trying to sleep when I thought back to what happened in Luke's apartment. I got no memory of what came about after I fainted. How did I get on his bed? What's that look in his eyes? I shook my head to rub out the thought of him being concerned for me. Well, it's normal to feel concerned for your friend, right? Are we friends?

I just closed my eyes to not overthink about it then I heard my phone got an alert. It's from Luke.

--> =)

I smiled.

I scrolled up and realized he replied to my message before. I let out a deep sigh then drew out my note from the drawer and crossed out 'Stage Two'.

Now we will proceed with 'Stage Three'.

-----

"So? You're not going to tell me what really happened last night?" Jen asked me and she's being meddlesome again.

"I told you... We finished the business report, then I suddenly got a fever and he drove me home... That's it!" I explained.

"There's something you're not telling me," she's still unconvinced.

"Believe whatever you want... I already told you everything, " I mumbled.

"Jeez! You're boring, Tope," she uttered then took her phone out and started typing.

If I remember it right, I was not able to thank him for taking care of me last night. He is a good guy for sure but when I thought of all the tricks he played on me, that compliment went straight to the gutter.

"Wait, so what happened to your plan with Luke?" She asked.

"Well... So far so good. I'm on 'Stage Three' and it seems like he's interested to chat."

"Is that so? If you will ask me, I want Luke to end up together with you and not with that plastic barbie doll," she said sulking.

"There you go again... Why do you always visualize your BL fantasies to both of us, huh?" I asked.

" Uhm... No specific reason actually...  Besides... there's nothing wrong for two guys to be together,". She responded.

"Yeah! In your fantasy land, but in reality that's not possible." I blurted out.

"I like girls and I can only fall for a girl, okay?" I added, persuading her to stop.

"To whom? To Pam?" She uttered.

"How did you know about her?" I asked sounding confused.

"Niko told me," she said. Niko never kept his mouth closed. Then I saw him came inside the room.

"Hey, bro!" Niko called my attention, "Do you have a shift tonight?" he asked me.

"No... I called the manager this morning and told him I won't make it. I need to rest for another day to fully recover.." I answered.

"You're still sick?" He asked.

"I'm fine now, I just need a day off work," I answered.

"Good! Come with me later! Miya and her friends will hang out tonight." He sounds excited about it.

"And why should I go with you ?" I asked.

"Pam will be there and I told her that you will come with me. so you can't say 'No', " he said. He's really pushing me to be with her.

"Sure! I'll go," I conceded. I smiled and  asked Jenna, "Do you want to come with us?"

"No, I got things to do tonight," she uttered but she's not looking at us. She just kept on typing. She looked upset but I didn't bother to ask her about it.

"Just let her be!" Niko said. Jenna didn't say anything but her eyes don't lie.

"Okay!" I uttered.

"Yes!" Niko exclaimed. "I'll send you the details," then he walked out of the room.

"Hmmm... Now, who's the one who's not telling everything?" I said teasing Jen.

"What are you talking about?" She asked.

"Nothing... I just thought you have something to share, " I said.

She just shook her head with a smirk and went back typing on her phone.

I'm curious about what she's doing on her phone so I snuck behind her back and look over to her phone.

'Luke came closer to Kris and gave him a passionate kiss.'

"What the!" I exclaimed. I can't believe she's actually writing a story about us.

She jerked out of fright. "What are you doing, Tope?!" She hid her phone and stood up. "You can't read this... it's not done yet."

"So that's why you kept on asking me things between me and Luke," I told her giving her a mean look.

"Sorry.." She said it with a fake smile and made a peace sign then ran out of the classroom.

-----

Jenna headed home first after school. I told Niko that I need to go home first and change. I'll just meet them at the place they chose to hang out. I was on my way out of the school when I saw Luke walking towards the parking lot.  He did a great job for our project and I thought he needs to relax as well so I decided to ask him and join us.

"Hey, Luke! Are you busy? Do you want to come with us tonight and hang out?" I asked while walking towards him.

"You should be resting and not playing around." He reprimanded me sounding like my mother.

"I'm doing fine.. and I feel like drinking actually," I said. "Just come with us. there will be girls.." I added teasing him.

"And what? Make me worry again?" His voice was intense and I felt like being scolded.

I was not able to react. I was in fear that he might get real mad and I don't know the reason why. He looked away and opened his car door.

"Do whatever you want, I'm meeting my friends somewhere else, I got to go." He got into his car and drove away.

I still don't get it. There are times that he was so warm, he smiles, and act like normal. But there are also times, like this, that he was as cold as ice. Maybe I need to dig deeper into his personality, find out reasons, and really get to know him, so Claire won't be disheartened and will be ready for his mood swings once they're dating for real. I took out my phone and sent him a message.

<--Hi Luke, I saw you at school. Is there anything that bothers you lately? You can talk to me.

<--I'm here for you.

-----

I arrived at our meeting place, a local bar in the area. I checked my phone but he has not responded yet. I went inside and look for Niko. I saw them sitting at a table.

Niko was sitting beside Miya. Claire was next to her doodling on her phone, she looked bored. There are two other guys that I didn't know. I found out later that they're part of the cheerleading team. And there is Pam sitting next to Claire. I sat beside her and greeted her. The boys were drinking beer and the girls were enjoying their cocktail drinks. Niko opened a bottle of beer for me. The music in the bar is quite loud so I can't hear much of what they are talking about.

Pam asked me to take a picture with her. I agreed and I saw her posted it in IG.

I checked my phone every now and then but there's still no response from Luke. I still wonder why he acts differently sometimes.

Niko and the other guys looked drunk for drinking too much but I was still on my second bottle. I can hear them laughing so loud. Claire and Miya joined the party on the dance floor but Pam was left sitting beside me. Her face turning red, she's tipsy.

"Are you okay, Pam?" I asked checking on her then I heard her chuckle.

"I'm fine Kristofer. I'm fine. As long as you're here beside me I'll be fine.." She said then took another sip on her cocktail. She only had a few drinks but she's already drunk.

"I think you had enough already, Pam." I took the glass off of her hand and put it down the table.

She laughed. "You are so sweet, you're worried about me," then she wrapped her arms around me. I tried to break free from her but she kept on clutching back to my arms.

I heard Niko and the other boys applauding. I glared at Niko to shut up.

"I really like you, Kris.. you're handsome.. you're hot.."She said with a sexy voice. "..and... you... make me hot.." She then took off her jacket unveiling her very revealing outfit. The neckline of her top is way too deep, I can see her brassiere.

"She's a beast! I told you she's perfect for you!" Niko exclaimed.

"Yes, I am! Roar!" She giggled. Then she slid her finger from my cheeks to my chest. "I want to eat you alive."

"Pam.. stop it... you're drunk!" I told her and snatched her hand away. I want her to know that she can't do this. I want her to have more respect for herself.

"Oooh... so you want it rough huh?" She smiled and shifted on my lap.

"You like this baby boy?" She whispered seductively to my ear.

I can't believe what I'm witnessing right now. Every time I see her at school she is so prim and proper. She's modest when she's not drunk. But now, she's a totally different person. She turned to a succubus ready to attack her prey which is me. I'm starting to feel uncomfortable.

"I need to go to the bathroom, Pam," I said as I hold her down back to her seat.

"Don't leave me here baby boy," she pleaded and she's not letting go of my hand.

I can't take it anymore. I need to get away from her. "Pam, please let go of my.." But before I even finished, she threw up.

"Aw shit!" Niko exclaimed.

She wiped her mouth with her hand and touched my face with the same hand. I was completely disgusted. She gave me a drunk grin and fell back to her seat. She was totally wasted!

"What happened here?" I heard Claire as she got back from the dance floor.

I just looked at her and took a deep sigh pointing to her friend.

"Eeewww, Pam!" Miya exclaimed as she came back as well.

"What's that on your face?" She asked me with a disgusted look.

I just took another sigh and said "Will you take your friend and help her clean up."

Miya assisted Pam on their way to the girl's bathroom.

"I will just clean myself up as well," I said. Then walked my way to the boy's bathroom.

I can't believe that this is happening to me. The girl that I had my eyes on for the first time turned out to be a freak when she's drunk. I wonder what will happen for the coming days. I guess... my first chance of love is no longer in existence.. it went down fast like her vomit.

-----

I pulled out some paper towels from the dispenser and wiped my face dry. I disposed of the damped towel and rushed my way out of the bathroom but then I bumped to someone.

"Sorry!" I blurted out.

"Hey, Kris!" It was Jessie, one of Luke's friends. "What are you doing here?" He asked.

"I came with my friends.." I replied. Then I remembered something. "Why are you here? I thought Luke supposed to meet you and Mike?" I asked.

"Well, yeah... But Luke dragged us here after seeing a post on Instagram." He answered. What was he talking about?

"He's here? Wait. He got Instagram?" I asked in surprise.

"Yeah,  and you know what... we were watching girls getting wild on the dance floor.." He shared. "Then there was this girl who threw up on her date, that was so hilarious... you should have seen it." He added then let out a big laugh.

"Yeah, That's me." That was really embarrassing.

"What?" He asked quizically.

Then I thought of Claire. If she sees Luke she might do to him what Pam did to me and that would ruin the whole plan of her being his secret admirer. I have to stop her.

"It's nice to talk to you Jessie but I have to go and get my friend" I tapped his shoulder and went to find Claire.

She was drinking her cocktail till it's empty when I got to her.

"He's here. Luke is here." I told her.

"Really? Where? Let me see him, " She sounded drunk already. This is not good.

"You can't... You have to remain anonymous until I've done with 'Stage Three'," I said making sure she would understand.

"But why?" She asked. Nope, she did not get it.

"Cause you paid me to get you a date with him, remember?" I tried to explain.

"Oh.. Then I guess I have to ask him myself.." She said while pouring beer into her glass.

"I'm sorry?" I asked.

"Well, it's because you're not doing your job." She drank the glass of beer up to the last drop. She belched like a man and stood up. "And. Uh. I need that money back!" Just like that, she turned around and roamed the place.

This is getting out of hand. My mother already settled her debt from the bank and I haven't got any pay yet from my part-time job. There's no way I can pay her back. Unless she gives me enough time for our deal. I got to get her to listen to me. I followed her to convince her.

I saw her busting her way through the crowd on the dance floor, I looked over the crowd and saw Luke with his friends.

"Shit!" I uttered. I must get to her first.

I rushed my way through the crowd. I apologized to every person I stepped on. I've been pushed so many times. Then I saw Claire just a few steps away. I called her name several times but she didn't hear me. She's almost there. I called her name once more and I saw Luke gazed in our direction.   He took a few steps forward while squinting his eyes. Claire was already standing in front of him. She's about to open her mouth when someone nudged me so hard and I lost my balance. I was knocked forward and went pass through Claire. Then suddenly the lights shut down.

----

The darkness is blinding and at the same time, deafening. I felt a warm breath. I want to say something but somehow my lips were sealed by something... it's soft.

I lift my head up the same time the power went back on. I felt like I've been struck by lightning the moment I saw his face. He was just lying there below me, his eyes stuck on mine. I felt like I'm floating, a feeling that I never felt before. Somehow, his eyes, made me feel light-hearted.

Wait. What touched my lips earlier?

Then there were flashing lights everywhere, My senses came back when I heard a scream from a woman.

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