[17] One Step Further

"You may be right," I said as I snaked an arm behind her back and pulled her hastily to me, pressing her back strongly against the closed car door.

Anyway, I was sure that no one was spying on us, so this just might be the perfect time to land a kiss.

I'm going to end this night right.

I will have to appease this desire one way or another anyway, so why not settle for this. I'm sure it'll be better than nothing.

"Uh..." Her eyes grew wide as I held her chin with one hand.

Those eyes haunted me day after day. The very same eyes that I assumed to be always dull had sparkled lovingly under the moonlight that was entering the hanging garage door. I wanted nothing else, but to feel how those pure pink luscious anticipating lips will move against mine. But as I leaned in, she shied away and ducked her head against my chest.

"What's the matter?" I asked as I was surprised by her hesitation.

I thought we were on the same page.
I thought I was not assuming anymore.

This frightened me, I never had to be unsure of anything... women were supposed to be open books.

Her fists curled against my shirt as she tightly bowed her head to avoid looking at me. I didn't let her go even as I promised myself at that moment that if she did squirm—even just a little bit—I will immediately release her.

"Are you scared of me?" I muttered, surprised with myself as well.

She shook her head softly on my chest and murmured something incomprehensible.

"Then what is it? Come on, look at me." I pried her head from my shirt and tried to look at her eyes.

Her bright eyes would usually talk to me; they almost always give her away. And finally, I saw them. They were watery with an expression I could not quite recognize. Her small shy dimples were there on her face, telling me that she was actually smiling widely. Her face was pink from the moonlight and at that moment, I've decided that nothing could ever be more beautiful.

"Tell me." I whispered.

"I'm starting to like you, Anthony." She whispered back.

"Call me Tony." I interrupted her. "Only the people I consider as family can call me that."

Her eyes stared right through my soul and I could slowly feel the barriers being shattered one by one. She then smiled wider, if it was even possible, and softly closed her bright brown eyes. "I've never been like this with anyone. I've never been kissed."

I stood there, motionless as I took the time to look at her face. It was still lusciously pink from the moonlight. I can't see her eyes anymore, but I could see her lips. I could see those plump anticipating lips that have never been touched and I was just aching to be the only one to taste them.

But something was still holding me back. Could I take that responsibility? The responsibility of being the first one to kiss her... the first one to—

and she gave a weak shuddering breath—

I was immediately done for.

All my worries went out the window—if there was one. "Then let me be the first." And I leaned in.

It was more than what I had expected if I even expected anything. Her lips were soft and tender, but they were powerful with emotions I didn't understand.

It didn't resist me, but it didn't seduce me either. I had the chance to press on her lips a little more just to let the force take us, and she allowed me to overpower her, to lead her.

The fire inside me was ignited and I felt my fingertips crumple the back of her shirt, straining the tender cloth against my stronghold. Although the kiss didn't last as long as I wanted it to, I was quite fulfilled by it. It also left me wanting more, but I decided to let go—thinking that I might turn it to something else if I didn't stop now.

As I opened my eyes, I saw her face, red with burning heat while her eyes remained softly closed.

As I felt a different kind of heat, I immediately let go of her before it amounted into something I would definitely regret tomorrow. "Are you okay?" I chuckled as I opened the passenger seat behind her, bringing her closer to me.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She said breathlessly and got in.

I brought her home that night. When we reached her house, she didn't immediately get out of the car. Instead, she thanked me again for a wonderful evening. I replied courteously of course, but if she didn't get out on that split second, I would have proceeded to what I had in mind.

Out in the open with the gentle fresh breeze circulating us, I was able to calm my system down as I escorted her to her front door. A few minutes later, her mother answered the door. I politely greeted her mother even as she didn't look very happy to see me.

I told her that my parents had invited her daughter to dinner and since everything was going so well, we weren't able to notice the time. She smiled politely at me and sent her regards to my parents. While clutching the things on her chest, Felice went inside as if floating on a cloud.

This couldn't have made me any happier.

When I got home, I immediately sent her a text. "Good night, sweet dreams. Hope you give me another date soon. – Tony." And I drifted lazily into sleep—slipping into a nice warm and cozy dream.

Upon waking up, I didn't expect to see a text message waiting for me... well, let alone 3 messages. I checked to read them, and all of them were from Felice. I scrolled down to the very first message received and I found that she replied to my last night's message.

"You too, Tony. As for a second date, I didn't even know that today was one. -F."

The second, "Good Morning, I was thinking about what happened last night. Are you sure about this? I don't think I'm ready. Hehe. Just like I said, I don't have any idea with what I'm getting into."

I frowned as I read this. Was she regretting the kiss? I was surely hoping not.

The third, "If this is like what you did to me during high school, well, I'd rather you won't take any step further. It will certainly break my heart."

Reading this, I immediately call her up. With a few rings, she picked up. "Felice, are you alright?" I asked as my voice was laced with sleep and worry.

"Uh, hey Tony." She sounded as if surprised that I'd call.

"What happened? What's with the texts?" I was frantic; I just woke up for God's sake! I woke up from a very good dream, to top it.

"I was just thinking, you know. Because I really had a hard time with you spreading rumors last time, and I can't go back there now... especially that I... I—

She stopped.

"Felice, can you take my word for it? I'm not that person anymore. I will not do such a thing. Maybe I haven't really told you how sorry I am for that. But I am, believe me, I am." I said as I actually thought about what I was saying.

A few weeks ago, I didn't care, but today, I just felt wretched.

"I... I'm really confused." She said finally.

"I like you. I like you more than you think. And I want us to be more than friends." I finally said and she didn't reply. "If you want," I smile as I thought about it. "Okay, since you seem to not trust me even a little bit, we'll take it slowly, the way you think it should be."

"What?"

"Do you like me, Felice? Or that dude Justin?" I was being fair, was I? I mean one day or another she would have to choose. We can't be both waiting at her command.

"No! I mean... I..." She stops and chuckles a bit. "You think this is about Justin? I can't believe it! You're jealous!"

"Answer my question." I said firmly.

"Well, then. If you're smart, you'd know the answer to that question." She says. "And if you meant what you said and what you did last night, then I bet you do know." She quickly adds. That was really a confusing convoluted sentence.

"Hmm. Fine, I'll take that as a yes. I'll see you soon." I dropped the phone and order a large bouquet of flowers to be sent to her house.

She seemed to be too surprised at the pace, and then I'll just slow it up for her. Courting is not as overrated as people regard it to be.

Sometimes, it's just called for.