Listen to Love Again by Dua Lipa

Diane Jewel

I stood outside Simon's door, nervously waiting for him to open the door.  

I can't believe I got myself drunk before meeting Simon.  I sobered up by swigging two cups of coffee.  Above that, I can't believe I sat on an unknown man's lap for a piece of money.  Even if those five bucks can buy me dinner.  There's no kind of coffee that would undo that. 

Simon's smile reached his eyes when he opened the door.  My stomach swirled with butterflies at his sight.  The silver in his eyes twinkled when he said, "Hey, girlfriend!" 

His contagious smile slowly infected me, making me smile too.  "Hey, boyfriend.  I bought us pizza."

"Ah!  Thank God!" he heaved.  "I'm starving."

"And a rose," I nervously muttered, lifting my hand to show the red rose I held.  

Simon's lips parted as his eyes fell on it.  "Oh my God, Dy?  Really?" he asked, taking it from me.  

I blushed.  "Don't make me feel embarrassed," I frowned, shuffling past him inside. 

 Before I could jump on the cosy-looking couch though, Simon caught my hand and twirled me around, his eyes gazing at me with adoration.  "Thanks, Dy!"  

In the sudden proximity of his burning body, I held my breath.  I hung my head, sheepishly.  "I just wanted to make you smile."

"Wait!" he said as if he'd just noticed something.  "You're wearing makeup?"  

I nodded as his intoxicating scent consumed me.  "Are you going to tell me that I don't need makeup to be beautiful?" I laughed wrapping my arms around his shoulder.  

Simon examined my face again before shaking his head.  "No!  This is hot.  And that lipstick better be smudge-proof, 'cause I'm going to-"

I snorted, stopping his sentence.  "Kiss me?  Remember you promised me you won't touch me today?" My expression was laughingly challenging.

He shot me a cocky, defiant glance before leaning in to peck my lips.  "I lied."

I gasped in fake shock.  "You Liar! How dare you?"   

We both burst out laughing as we fell on the couch.  Simon placed the rose carefully on a table before his hand quickly reached for mine.  And it felt so natural.  I looked down at our intertwined fingers, my heart stuttering at the feel of his skin.  My eyes travelled to his face that was deeply examining me.  "Dy, if you really want me us to just talk, I am okay with that." 

Smiling, I leaned on his shoulder.  "Okay."  Simon's arms wrapped around me possessively and we stayed like that for a while.  I felt his heart softly beating on his chest.  His eyes fell down on my face every two seconds as if he couldn't stop looking at me.        

Everything about Simon made me smile.  Everything about him melted me a little. 

I nestled my face in the nook of his neck and inhaled his addicting scent.  Simon stiffened.  I breathed him in again.  

"If you don't want my kisses, don't do that.  I can control myself only so much." 

I looked away to hide my blush.  

I couldn't even remember a time in my life where I felt strongly cared about, but Simon---he couldn't resist me.  He made me...happy.

"Let's watch TV then," I muttered, reaching for my bag and pulling out the pizza box.  The aroma hit my nose and I moaned.  

From the corner of my eyes, I watched him glare at me.  I chuckled inaudibly.  I knew what he wanted, but I can play around for a bit.

Simon pulled me onto him again but I wriggled off his grip.  

"Really?  You're not going to kiss me?" he demanded. 

I shook my head no, barely hiding my amused smile.    

"Okay, fine," he barked, a daring look on his face.  "Let's see how long you can go on like this." 

Confidently, I smirked at the TV screen in front of me.  "We'll see." 

_

After a long movie and a lot more chatting, Simon and I were both tired.  He was especially tired of being upset with me.  He slowly rubbed at his sleepy eyes, yawning.  

"Simon?  Are you tired?" I asked, putting a hand on his arm.  

He nodded, standing up and stretching his arms above his head.  His shirt rode up and I took a quick glance at his bare skin underneath.  "Do you want to go to bed?" 

My breath caught in my throat. 

What was Simon's idea of going to bed?  Was I ready if I wanted to--?

"No, no, no, no, no!" he called at me, eyes widening at my panicked face.  "I know what you're thinking.  I...won't try anything.  For real.  Not lying." 

"Umm...I want to have..." Gosh!  I couldn't even say the word sex, even after all the dirty jokes I've been cracking for years.  "Just not now...I don't think I'm ready yet."  I gulped, searching his face apologetically.

Simon nodded.  "I get it.  If you don't want to sleep on my bed, I can crash here on the couch.  I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable."  

I stood up, biting my lower lip.  "Let's go to your bedroom," I sheepishly replied.       

Simon lead the way and opened the door for me, still running his hand through his dark hair from the awkward conversation back there.  

It felt refreshing to see his room.  It had more stuff and was messier than the squeaky clean living room.  Some books were thrown around, a few photos and a cosy bed.   As he pulled himself under the blanket, I awkwardly sat at an edge of the bed, staring uncomfortably at the photos of his parents on the wall.

Should I lie down too?

"Dy!" he whispered loudly.  I turned back to see him lifting his thick blanket up to let me in.  "Come inside!"

I giggled, letting myself cram into the tiny space beside him.  

He whispered again.  "Hi!  Welcome to my palace."

"Fancy!" I commented, looking around the remaining space under the blanket.  "Why are you whispering?"

Simon pulled me towards him and wrapped his arms around my body.  I encased his legs in mine.  "I don't want anybody to listen to us."

"Why?" I asked, leaning my head on his softly heaving chest.

"Because someone might steal you from me."  When I shot my head up in amusement, the smile on his face was sincere.  His palm caressed my shoulder possessively.   

 "Why?" I murmured, taking up a serious tone.  "Am I that important to you?" 

He stared at me in disbelief, removing the blanket off our faces to see me better.  "Don't you know that, Dy?"

I shyly shrugged.  My voice came out raw and throaty when I spoke.  "Yes.  I know.  But..." I trailed in frustration.  "It's hard to understand why you like me, when-"

Simon's finger touched my lips, freezing me on my tracks.  His smooth hazel orbs were like a caress as they locked with mine.  "You want to know why I like you?"

"Ugh...I..."

"Shush!" he whispered, pressing his finger harder before starting to speak.  "Listen to me.  You're smart, you read poetry that nobody cares about anymore...you sound like a cynic, but you care about the people you love, you sister, and Lena, even if she broke your heart...fuck, you care about people whom you don't even know.  You try to climb in their skin and understand them, just like your favourite author says in that book To Kill A Mockingbird.  You care about your neighbours and even go out of your comfort zone to give them a pep talk.  Like that time with your neighbour's son.  What was his name?  Nikhil?  Yes." He smiled, recalling the memory of me vividly explaining it to him.  "You preach your crazy ideas about beauty and love and people.  Moreover, you're thoughtful...you brought me a stupid rose just to make me happy." Simon took a long breath before continuing, his eyes boring into mine.  "Listen, you might not be the most likeable person.  And I won't call you the best girl in the world, because I have only been with two other girls...but, Dy? Can't you see why I like you?" he stressed, his final words pouring with emotion.  

My heart collapsed and I just stayed in his arms, stumped.  Simon slowly took his finger off my lips.   

I wanted to say something.  I wanted to say a lot in one breath, but I couldn't find my voice.   

His eyes gradually lost the tension and were gentler when he said, "I go crazy every time you smile.  And I lose my mind when I know that I'm one of the very few people who make you smile like this..."

"Simon!" I gasped, drowning in the vigour his words.   

My heart welled up with emotion as I caught his shirt and pulled him closer.  Nobody has ever said such things to me before.  It almost hurt to know that this is what he thought of me.  "I-I don't...don't know what to say."  

"Don't!" he whispered, his voice turning husky.  "And I just can't stop thinking about kissing you.  Can you please let me ki-"

Before he could finish his sentence, I crashed my lips into his, pushing myself into him.  His hands claimed my face knowingly as I teased his lip, a pool of tears blurring my vision.  I moaned when he hungrily licked the seam of my lip.  

I didn't know when or how I started having feelings for Simon, but now that I knew it, my mind went berserk.  

The sheets flew away as I climbed up on him, kissing him harder. 

Please vote and make me smile.  

I'm so nervous right now.  Did I write this well?  Did it make you feel something in your heart?  God, this literally feels like I'm waiting for the test results of an import test.  TELL ME SOMETHING!!!