15th Kiss

"Hey, jerk!" I yelled at Kevin, whacking him with my bag. He was taken aback by my sudden attack, tumbling off his skateboard. Good for him! I saw him scowled at me. I scowled back. I knew I'd find him here, and I was right. I so wanted to get back at this guy for lying to my face.

"What's your problem!?" he said irritably, dusting off his clothes from the fall. I rolled my eyes at him. I came to this park just to confront him for his lies yesterday.

"You! You're my problem!" I said. "Jerk! I even treated you the other day, and you were just lying this whole time!"

"Huh, which one is it?" He feigned innocence.

"Seriously, you're so annoying! I hate you!" I said, hitting him with my bag again. He tried to dodge, but I still got him.

"Which one is it!? I can't remember!" he said. This time, he grabbed my bag. I pulled, but he held on tight. He was stronger than me, and I couldn't retrieve my bag. "Tell me!"

"UGH! You lied about it. That Joseph helped you bring me to the hospital!" I angrily told him. He suddenly burst into laughter. It annoyed me even more, so I hit him with my bag again, making him let go due to laughter.

"I didn't know you took that seriously!" he said, still laughing! Can you believe this guy? That was not funny at all.

"Just forget it!" I said through gritted teeth and marched away from the park. He followed me.

"Hey, Arianne!" He called after me, but I ignored him. "Arianne..."

He kept following me, riding his skateboard, but I chose to ignore him. I was near the exit when he blocked my way.

"Wait a sec," he said. "Don't be mad."

I just gave him a disdainful look and walked in another direction, but he promptly grabbed my arm.

"Let go!" I angrily told him. "I said, let go!"

"Arianne, please," he said. His eyes pleaded, and I didn't know why.

"I said let go!" I insisted, trying to pull my arm away, but his grip tightened.

"Come on! Are you deaf? I said let go!" I exclaimed, attempting to push him away with my other hand, but he held on.

"I'm sorry," he said. I struggled to break free.

"Seriously! Don't touch me!" I said. My voice trembled. That's when I noticed I was crying. No wonder. No wonder I suddenly felt weak.

"Arianne, I'm sorry, okay!" he said. He looked devastated, seeing me cry. It seemed like he didn't expect me to cry. He just looked like me like he did not know what to do.

"Sorry? Sorry? Don't say anything if you're not sincere!" I said. I couldn't control myself. I started hitting him on the arm again. This time, he let me, as if he knew that it was a way to ease my irritation. When I felt okay, I stopped.

"Are you crying because you're in love with me?" he said seriously. My eyes widened at what he said. How shameless! Did he really have to ask me that? What a jerk!! I glared at him. If looks could kill, he would have died a while ago. "Hey! Hey! Just kidding. Come on."

"All you ever do is annoy the hell out of me, huh?" I said to him.

"Hmp! Not really," he said. "I really thought you were falling for me. Did you know that no woman approaches me without falling for me? So, be careful. Sooner rather than later, you'll cry again because you've fallen in love with me."

"Seriously, your arrogance is unbelievable," I commented.

"Does that mean you're forgiving me now?" he asked, putting on puppy eyes. Yuck! He looked like a crazy dog.

"You don't suit acting cute. You owe me big time for that lie!" I told him. I should be going, but there's something about Kevin that I can't pinpoint. He's so mysterious despite being talkative. It's like there's something he's hiding.

"Why?" he said. "It was just a plain joke, okay. What did you do? Don't tell me you thank him or don't tell me you cooked for him?"

I avoided eye contact with him. He quickly noticed that. His grin widened, almost reaching his ears.

"Aha! So, I was right," he said, nodding. “You did cook for him!"

"Shut up. It is none of your business," I said. "Can you please not bother me? I don't want us to be friends."

"Oh, why? Are you scared of falling in love with me?" he asked with a cheeky tone.

"Ugh! You're so annoying!" I said, walking away.

"Okay, I'll admit it now. You didn't call Joseph, you called Chito. Happy now?" he said. I faked a smile at him. I made it obvious that I was forcing a smile.

"No," I said, avoiding his gaze.

"Oh, you're in the first stage now. Different women, but no doubt, you're falling for me," he said. I threw my bag at him again, but he dodged it skillfully. He laughed.

"Damn it! Aren't you tired of saying that? You're so full of yourself!" I said.

"Of course, when you're born handsome, that's how it is!" he said. I shuddered at his statement. This guy is hopeless.

"How are things with Joseph?" he asked. Ugh! How could he ask that? How close are we? Seriously?

"Mind your own business," I said.

Suddenly, someone shouted at us. I was frozen on where I was standing.

"MOVE ASIDE!!" shouted the cyclist racing toward me, but it felt like I was glued to the ground. Suddenly, someone yanked me, and we both tumbled down. As we lay there, our faces were super close. I could smell his fancy cologne and minty breath. He stared, and his gaze went to my

lips. I couldn't help but wet my lips, but...

"You're such a maniac!!" I snapped, quickly getting up. His hand, though, was on my chest. He caught me when I fell, but to stop me from falling, he grabbed my... my chest!

"Have some shame! I'm the one who helped you, and you're accusing me?" he protested.

"W-why did you touch my chest?" I demanded.

"Huh? Your chest? I thought it was just a small bump. Why is it so small?" he said. I gasped at his words.

"YOU'RE SO ANNOYING! YOU'RE A TOTAL MANIAC! Never, ever come near me again!" I fumed at him. My face was on fire from what happened. I knew he didn't mean for it to happen, but still...

"Tsk! I'll still approach you. Even if you don't want me to. I'm not selfish like you," he declared.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, clutching my bag close, confused by his words. Dealing with this jerk requires a life vest, apparently.

"I know you're going to miss me. So don't worry; starting today, you'll see this handsome face. Well, it's challenging to fall in love with someone like me. So, I'll make your life easier," he said, as if he had just hatched a brilliant plan. This guy is hopeless. "But don't really fall in love with

me, okay? It's fine if you fantasize about me. I'll only make you fall, but I won't catch you if that ever happens. I'm a heartless bastard. Well, at least now you know."

I slapped my forehead. Is he really Chito's brother? It doesn't seem like it. What audacity. His thick skin surpasses even an encyclopedia. I motioned for him to come closer, using my finger. He approached.

"You know, because..." I said, smiling sweetly at him. "This is what suits your arrogance and your debt to me."

I kick him where the sun doesn't shine. He writhed in pain. Serves him right.