FRIENDS AND A BIRTHDAY.

       Faith sat on the stool watching Ethan eat a breakfast of cereals and milk, she was smiling as she recalled the events of the previous night. Ethan purposely refused to look at her and kept eating like he didn't notice she was staring. 

    When he couldn't take it any longer, he exhaled.  "If you keep staring at me like that, I will assume you have fallen in love with me."

      Faith scowled.  "Don't flatter yourself." 

   He turned to face her.   "Why are you staring at me then?" 

       "Why have you been acting quiet since the previous night? Where you really going to beat him up?" 

        "I do not wish to speak on that matter again." 

      "You have to speak on it, are you not my friend? Friends talk about this kind of thing, come on." 

        "Talking about other men gets me jealous." 

     Faith stared at him and he stared back. Her heart began to race again. Why is it that each time their eyes locked, she was always having that feeling? She managed and broke her gaze away from him.  "You can't be jealous, we are not a thing." 

      "Because that's the way you want it," Ethan muttered. 

     Faith looked at him again.  "Pardon?" 

      "Never mind. You asked me a question, I'll answer that. Any man would have fought any other man who tries to abuse a woman." 

       "Is just in men, isn't it? That dominant spirit." 

      Ethan spooned his bowl.  "Call it whatever you want, but men like to protect their women, especially those that are special to them." 

       "Am I special to you then?" she asked with a teasing smile. 

     He stared at her for a while.  In more than one way, he thought.  "We shouldn't be having these conversations as a man and a woman." 

      "I have these conversations with Charlie always. He even tells me that he loves me most of the time." 

     Ethan chuckled.   "It's amusing how you compare me with him. Didn't you tell me he was gay? He sees you as a fellow man or woman or whatever role it is he is playing in their relationship. It's the same as Nora telling you she loves you." 

      "You are right though." She placed her elbow on the table and supported her head with her palm.  "So what do you think about officially getting back together with Noah, like he wants to meet my friends." 

     Ethan coughed menacingly and some particles of what he was eating spouted out, splattering all over the place. Faith quickly stood up and fetched a glass of water and a towel. She took it to him. He inhaled her scent, the scent that always beclouds his judgment. He had to hold his breath so he won't grab her, but the mere sight of her makes his heart bounce, the warmth from her body as she was close to him made him want to wrap himself around her forever. 

     She was standing and he was sitting, she turned him to face her so that she would wipe away the particles on his face. His eyes fell on her lips, her soft, lush lips and he closed his eyes to relish the memories of him kissing those lips. She placed one hand on his shoulder and everything seem to go quiet and slow, he felt like they were the only ones in the world. His eyes still shut, the memories of their passion kept playing out in his head. 

      She wiped his face and when he couldn't take the torture anymore, he quickly put his arms around her, drawing her closer to him and he opened his eyes, staring into her hazel eyes. She gasped and wanted to protest, but her lips paused and her hand was suspended in the air as her eyes locked with his. 

       "I love you," he muttered.  Her face flushed and she became visibly uncomfortable. He smiled.  "This is the difference between Charlie and me. You said he tells you that always and do you always blush when he tells you that?" 

        "What are you talking about?" she tried to wiggle out of his grip, but he held her tighter. 

       "You are my prisoner. As you said, men are dominant in nature and women are submissive." 

        "I have a boyfriend..." 

       "Fuck him," he said, stood and took her lips with his. 

      The thing that troubles her was the way he makes her helpless each time he takes her lips confidently like it was his and then those fireworks would always explode in her. This wasn't their first time kissing each other, either was it the second or third, but each time, she finds herself surprised by his kiss and it so disconcerts her that common sense becomes vague and before she could jerk back to reality, she was kissing him back, leaning into him, pressing him to her, wreathing her arms around his neck, running her fingers through his lush brown hair and letting out moans of pleasure. 

      Yet another day, after telling herself that she wasn't going to try this anymore, she still found herself yearning for him, shuddering at his every touch. Maybe after this, she was going to stay far away from him as possible, but for now, she just wanted all of him. She couldn't let this fire die down, she was going to throw caution to the wind. 

      The kitchen door jerked open and Dolores walked in. She saw them but they didn't notice her until she cleared her throat and spoke.   "Get a room, would you." 

     They jerked apart. Faith pulled up the sleeve of her clothes that he had pulled down, breathing heavily as her heart pounded. 

      Ethan turned to his mom.  "Mom!" 

   Dolores ignored him and took the milk and cereal from the fridge and started leaving, before she closed the door, she turned to them and smiled.  "Continue," she whispered motioning with her hand. 

      When she left the kitchen, Ethan turned to face Faith. 

     "Ethan, I..."

     "I'm sorry…"

    They stared at each other.  "Go first," Faith said. 

       "No, you go first. Ladies first." 

       "I really have nothing to say." 

       "Alright, I'll go," Ethan said.  "I'm sorry, I'm sorry that that had to happen between us, but truth be told, I can't control myself when I am around you and we are in an enclosed space like this, I just don't know, I tend to throw caution to the wind. I'm sorry if I disrespected you in any way. I feel we should just…"

      "Keep our distance?" Faith interjected.  "Yes, I feel that too, it seems none of us can control anything." 

       "We should always stay a few feets away from each other when we are alone." 

      "Agreed," Faith said. And they stared at each other. She might keep that rule, but now she wasn't feeling up to it.  "Come on." She strode over to him and grabbed his collar to bring him down. She kissed him passionately and he kissed her back the way she liked it. Furious. Dominating. 

       The memory kept coming to Faith throughout that day, even when Nora came to pick her up that night to Charlie's place for his boyfriend's birthday. She had not taken time to adorn herself because she didn't want to appear too fake to Charlie's man. She couldn't explain the excitement that she felt about finally going to meet Charlie's man. Since Charlie has taken her as a sister, maybe his lover would also warm up to her. She had received that call from that strange man who never said anything when he calls. 

      She did one last round of check-ups before she left her room. Ethan had been in his mom's room after their steamy escaped in the kitchen. She texted him that she was going out but his mom came out to bid her farewell. Ethan's mom has suddenly started liking her, although she wasn't used to mothers, she also grew fond of the woman. Before she left the house, she remembered that it was Joshua's birthday that day too.

       "Happy birthday, brother," she muttered and opened the door.  "Wherever you are." She chuckled as she recalled telling her doctor that her brother was in Spain. What brought Spain to her head that day? 

      They arrived at Charlie and Doug's apartment. Although Faith has been there before, she cherished the serenity of the environment. It was Charlie that welcomed them. He wore a black tuxedo which looked perfect on him and his pompadour hairstyle was neatly combed. He looked extremely handsome. Faith brought a bottle of wine, while Nora brought a full cake for him. 

      "You are welcome ladies," Charlie hollered. 

      "Where is the birthday boy?" Nora yelled and leaned closer to Charlie.  "I hope screaming is acceptable here."

      Charlie chuckled.  "You can scream all you want. My Doug is not as frightening and as uptight as you think." 

     He led them into the living room where different colourful balloons were floating at the centre, a large cake was placed on the table at the centre with different drinks and glasses. Slow, soft music was playing. 

      "Let's get the party started!" Nora said. 

    Doug started coming down the stairs and Faith's phone rang, she had to go near the entrance door to take it. It was Noah and she had to convince him that she was at the party already for him to end the call. She went back into the room, the bottle of a drink still clutched in her hand. Charlie's boyfriend's back was to the door, he was at the bar, probably getting drinks. 

       "Alright, Doug, meet my favourite," Charlie said.  

     Doug turned and Faith with a smile started striding over to take his hand, but she stopped short when he turned to face her fully. Her eyes grew wid e, her jaw dropped and the bottle of wine fell from her hand and broke into pieces as she saw who he was.