His height gave him the advantage of lifting the piece out of my reach.
I tried jumping as the mocking laughs filled my ears. "Someone needs a ladder."
"Not funny!" I hissed punching his abdomen.

Immediately, the pizza fell on the floor and Alex started coughing hard... Damn!
"Alex? Oh my gawd!"
I hurried to grab a bottle of water from the counter, but when I turned around again, he was on the floor, motionless.

My heartbeats vanished.
My breathing went deeply shallow that it felt as if I was dead at that second.
With the water in hand, I knelt beside him, placed his head on my lap.
"Open your eyes Alex. Wake up you idiot!"

But he didn't.
I checked his pulse, it was still there. That caused some relief to wash inside me like cold water in the desert.

Even with the bottle in his mouth, I couldn't get him to swallow the water.
What was I supposed to do? Mom was a nurse, yet I had no clue on how to handle the situation.

"Air. I should try the kiss of life. But, shit, it'll be like kissing him again."
At that point, I had to try everything, if it'd not work, then I'd try the slaps.
I laid Alex's head on the floor, setting the bottle aside.

A little hesitation interfered as I lowered my head down to him.
As our lips met, a tiny spark ignited within me, and the butterflies that weakened my system awakened.
Right then, a hand grabbed me down, and I fell on him.

"So you wanted to kiss me you little snake?"
"What? Never!"
He laughed. "But your lips were on mine Daisy."
I fought the good feeling of being so close to Alex. With his charcoal-black eyes stiff on my face. They lowered to my lips, as if studying them for traces of previous kisses.
"What happened?" He asked returning the beautiful gaze to mine.

I slowly rolled off of him to lie by his right side.
"And why is my shirt wet. Don't tell me you were drooling over it!"
"Don't be stupid... But why did you pass out? It was only a light punch."

His head turned to my direction. "Why do you care? I'm sure you would have left me to die after kissing me."
I inhaled.
But he was right, I had no reason to care about him. Yet I wanted to know why he had lost consciousness... Alex was the most egocentric guy I'd ever met. He was pretty tough and strong, ruthless and emotionless at times. So what could possibly weaken him like that?

"I believe you'd have done the same... Besides, I'm sure you encouraged your ex to upload that video so that I'll get in trouble."
A frown stole away the little light in those dark eyes. "What video?"
I huffed.
"Don't act innocent. It's going viral. That Oriya girlfriend-"
"She's not my girlfriend!" He barked springing to sit, before standing.
Heck! Had I caused the anger raging on Alex's face?
I stood up innocently.
"Show me the video!" He ordered.

"I believe you have a phone. And that you know how to use the internet. And-"
I was quickly pushed back till I went flat against the wall. Alex's body came smoldering on mine.
Never before had I ever seen him so furious with me.
"Show me the damn video Daisy!"

It had to be a dream.
But why was the dream so real? Why was this imaginary Alex so solid with his hands gripping my arms so harshly?
"Okay! Okay!"
He retreated to give me space.
After playing the video from Oriya's Web, Alex pushed the phone in my hand and stormed out.

"Not good!" I muttered before running after Alex.
"Alex stop!"
He didn't. He just ignored all my pleading yells and drove away.

I did what I could think of, calling his best friend, my brother.
"Alex left here pretty angry. I guess he's gone to Oriya. Can you please make sure he doesn't get in trouble."
"Fuck! Okay D. I'll find him, then you can explain about last night to me later."
"Whatever! Just go!"
The line went dead... One minute of clear thinking on the porch had me running back in for the car keys.
I was sure I'd find a car in the garage.
* * *

Stew texted me, giving directions on where Alex was.
But when I arrived at Oriya's house, an ambulance drove out fast.
I squeezed shut those globes. Praying hard that whoever was in that ambulance was not Oriya after an attack from Alex. Or that angry male like the scary scene from back home.

There were some college students murmuring outside when I drove in.
Upon seeing Stew walking out of the house, I ran to him with such heavy thoughts.

"What happened? Where's Alex Stew?"
He cupped my shoulders, leading me away from the crowd. "Calm down D. Alex is alright."
"Then, then who was in that ambulance?" I cried feeling so helpless.
"That was Stephanie. She had a heart atta-" "Alex!" I squealed when his frame showed up from the porch.
How I got into motion of dashing to him hit later when I found myself wrapped up in his arms... He kissed my head, whispering something that hauled me back to reality. "Everyone's watching us."

I snapped, ungluing myself from Alex to look around.
They were all staring, with some busy recording.
Oh gawd! I should scream.
My face suddenly heated up.
And the embarrassed blush had to be obvious.

But Alex cupped my jaw, and did the last thing I'd have thought he could in front of such an audience, he kissed me. Kissed me hard and deep.

"Oh...my...gawd!" Windy's voice hit from behind. But right then, I didn't care. Only Alex could take me away from that place without me making a fool of myself. Even if he'd lie that we were dating, I didn't mind. The tears in my eyes were too painful to let them fall before everyone.

"Be prepared Daisy. Cause from today, we're officially a couple honey," Alex whispered in my ear before backing.
He faced the nosy audience.
"What you all looking at? Have you never seen a guy kissing his girl?"
That earned a lot of gasps from the girls.
"Yes, I'm dating her." He tucked me under him arm.
"And if I realise that anyone of you is trying to wreck her, whether in the social media or physically, trust me, you'll wish you're in hell."

My breathing was frozen.
I just stood there listening to Alex's speech, wishing I would have stayed at home rather than come find trouble... As clear as daylight, Stew had no consent for that union. Of course, he was looking out for me. Not to get trapped in the world that player boy that had had me worrying my chest out a while ago.