Chapter 20

Alitha's POV

"Crazy?" He smirked. His face was only inches away from me. I held my breath when he suddenly close the distance and kissed my cheek. Ah, no. He sniffed my cheek and continued on my ear. I gasped. The tickling sensation made me close my eyes. My hands touched his chest and was about to pushed him when he abruptly hugged me. He hugged me tight so that I can't get away from him.

"Niko! Let me go!" I angrily groaned. Afraid that someone might hear us if I shout.

"No!" He's panting and his lips pressed in my earlobe. I almost moan loudly because of the effect. I bite my lower lip to suppress a moan. What's happening to him?

"Why are you doing this?!"

"I can't sleep! I want to try lest I just not be satisfied with what happened earlier." He said in a desperate low tone. He grabbed my waist with both hands and harshly squeezed it I could almost punch him. I think all the hairs on my neck stood up. I didn't expect the next thing he did. One of his hands touched my face and without a word he pressed his lips to mine.

I could not move. He kissed me hard. He opened his mouth and suck my lower lip. He keeps on doing that on my upper and lower lip, again and again. He presses his lips to mine with every kiss he gives me. Confusing me with every hasten move of his lips. He's like a thirsty mad man who had just tasted and drunk water through my lips. This was different from the way he kissed me earlier. There was a hurry and he seemed so eager to kiss me now.

I did not respond to his kiss because I don't know how to. But the way he kissed me suddenly changed. It became soft, slowly and sweet. I didn't realized I slowly closed my eyes and felt the sweetness of his kisses. The softness of his lips and enjoy the deliciousness of our bodies pressed together.

"Hmm." He groaned.

'You need to limit yourself. You need to set boundaries."

The voices of my Aunt and Uncle echoed in my head. I quickly opened my eyes and pushed Nikolai away. Shock and astonishment register on his face. His moist lips were still parted. Suddenly my face became hot because of embarrassment. Not only to him but especially for myself.

I ran out of the kitchen and went straight to our room. I leaned against the door when I arrived and could enter. I gripped my chest because of the speed of my heartbeat. I closed my eyes tightly and felt my lips. Like what I have seen to Niko, my lips are also moist. I moaned in frustration.

I tugged at my hair and walked over to the bed. Something went wrong. Really wrong. Why did I allow him to kiss me? Why did he do that? He makes me nervous too much. That stupid brute! He told me that we're friends. Friends don't kiss like that. He even told me that I'm a lousy kisser. He's really a fool. He kissed me just to prove himself that that's why he couldn't forget me because the kiss earlier at the beach was not enough. He satisfied himself to forget me. Was that it? Was he satisfied enough already?

I could not sleep until morning. I kept thinking about him. About what happened in the beach and in the living room. I was thinking about what was his reaction when I ran away from him. And there's this confusion about my feelings when he was kissing me. I couldn't name the feelings rushed in each corner of my body. Glaiza woke up but my eyes were still open.

"Good morning." She sat and looked at me.

"Morning." I lazily answered.

"Did you wake up early?"

"Ah, yeah." Should I tell her what happened? Maybe when we go home. Not here and not now. I hesitantly got off. What happens when we meet later? Shall I complain? No, I can't. Those with us may see and notice us.

"Shall we go?" I didn't realized she readied herself to go out of the room.

"Okay." I said and prepared myself. Glaiza and I went downstairs at the same time. Whether we meet, cross paths in the hallway or get together, I will do nothing. If possible I don't want to look at him so I have nothing to say. Because I also don't understand myself. I was annoyed with him but not as intensely as I expected.

We went straight to the kitchen and caught up with them in the dining.

"Hi, sweetie." Cedrick greeted us. He is in front of the stove and cooking. "I was going to wake you up but that I was ashamed of Ali." He says.

"It's okay." Glaiza said and we both sit in the vacant seats.

"What time did he left?" They continued the conversation after they greeted us.

"I don't know, when I woke up he was gone."

"I heard his motorbike. He left last night." Cedrick said looking around at his friends.

"Nik is really like that. He always leave and go somewhere."

Was Nikolai the one they were talking about? Probably. He is the only Nik here among his friends. I felt at ease when I found out that Nikolai was gone. He left last night after that incident maybe. I eat well because of that. But why do I feel any regret for not having him around? Ugh! Maybe I just didn't expect him to be gone and went home.

Three days after the incident at Cedrick's beach house, I informed Glaiza what had happened. We are in our usual spot under the tree when I told her. She was stunned and couldn't believed what she heard. She seemed surprised but there's a glint of amusement in her face.

She seemed happy but she quickly hid it by frowning. She was surprised but she was not angry. Why? Knowing her, I expected her to get angry because of the audacity of her boyfriend's best friend.

"I was surprised by what you said. And what? He did that just to felt contented and for him to be able to forget the kiss his friends dared?"

"Yes."

"What did you tell him?"

What am I supposed to say? "I did not say anything."

"He just kissed you?" I nodded. I looked at her as she laughed out loud. "He's shameless, he really stands to be your first kiss, huh?"

I shook my head and turned my gaze at the other side. There's a lot of students passing by because it's lunch time soon. Cedrick wii be here any minute now. During those three days, I did not see Nikolai. I only see Cedrick when he goes to Glaiza. We only eat lunch together. It's because we don't have the same breaktime right now.

"Maybe he still can't forget your kiss because he still doesn't come to school." I turned to Glaiza.

"He's not coming here?" I was surprised when she told me that.

"Yes. He hasn't been in in three days, Cedrick said. I think it's not about the kiss. I think he can't get over you. Did your kiss last long?"

"Glaiza? Shut up!"

"No. Because wasn't he said he kissed you again because he thought he would stop thinking of that kiss once he kissed you again? In that way he could get rid of the memory of that kiss but was it really the kiss? Or was it you he couldn't get off of his head?"

What?

"Think about it."

"No. I don't."

"Ali, can I ask you a question? Do you always think of him?" She asked me with a smile on her face which made my heart beat faster.

"No." I lied. Even if I wanted to say yes, I can't. I always think of him. His face kept on popping up in my mind. I don't want to think of him but his face spontaneously popped into my mind. Even if I wanted to forget him, I couldn't.

"Really?" She doesn't seem to believe me but I haven't commented yet. Soon Cedrick arrived. I didn't expect Niko to be with him because Glaiza said that he doesn't come to school anymore. We went to the cafeteria together and had lunch.

"How's Nikolai?" Glaiza asked her boyfriend in the middle of our lunch. I didn't look at them because if I did, they may think that I am interested even if my ears suddenly become alert.

"I couldn't find him. His phone is off we couldn't reach him."

"Don't you know a place where he can go?"

"There is. We went to those places but he was not there." Cedrick's tone seems worried about his best friend so I also felt a little anxious. But then he was self-sufficient and then he was big enough to take care of himself.

"What was his problem then? "Glaiza asked exactly when I looked up. Cedrick looked at me but that was only for a moment and looked at his girlfriend. He shook his head.

"I don't remember him saying any problem. But knowing him, he had a big problem when he wanted to be alone."

"Just let him go first. Maybe he just wants to be able to think." I wanted to bite my lip because I couldn't stop responding to them. They both looked at me.

"Maybe so. We've stopped looking for him. There's no problem with his studies because our professors won't let him down." I know what he means. That would be unfair to other students but I will not interfere. That is their problem and not mine.

What I don't understand is why I'm being frustrated? Gradually, I began to feel annoyed. And I don't understand why. I don't want to think but it seems like that already. That it was because of Nikolai that I was irritated. Because he seems to be hiding and avoiding me. Is he afraid that I might hold him accountable for the kiss he did to me?

Huh! If he thought I was going to sue him for that, he was mistaken. He was my first kiss that didn't put me to sleep for a few nights. Thoughts of him keeps on bothering me especially when I'm alone in my room. He is what I always think of whether day or night. But I won't force myself on him. And I will never tell him that! That stupid fool!

I hate him and that can't be changed by just kissing me. We were friends but he kissed me even without permission. Good thing and my bodyguards didn't see him that night. They were just outside the house and observing that night.

"Do you think he will come to our acquaintance party?" Glaiza asked Cedrick.

"I don't know. It's not like he'll attend that kind of party. Sometimes a whole group of us doesn't attend such a party at school."

"What are you doing then?"

"We're having a party at Josh's house. We also had our own party, you know?" Cedrick said with a laugh.

"And there are women, like that?"

"Not like that. My friends, they have girlfriends. I already told you that. Shall I repeat it? "

"Don't. Ali and I also had dates at that time." Cedrick suddenly fell silent at what Glaiza said. I knew she was lying because we were the only two who were always together and no one else. She's just making Cedrick jealous.

"Liar." He said accusing my best friend.

"Woah. I am not."

He sighed. "I know everything, sweetie. I come here and check you out if you're with anyone. And I haven't seen you date even Ali. So don't lie to me."

My friend's lips parted. "You mean you're my stalker?"

"Just a little." Cedrick blushed and laughed softly. He seemed embarrassed suddenly because he opened himself up.

Glaiza's eyes lit up as she looked at her boyfriend. I know she is galvanizing now because of what she found out. My eyes widened as she suddenly kissed Cedrick in front of me. Right in front of me? Is she that happy?

My God. She's scandalizing me by what she's doing. I shook my head. It's as if I am watching a kissing scene in a movie.