Fuck, she was beautiful.

I liked my shirt on her. She wasn't tiny, but it still ate her up. With her sleeping like this, nobody could tell she had a smart mouth. She looked too pure.

When she stirred, I kissed her cheek. A smile made its way to her lips, mirroring mine.

"Good morning," I whispered.

She covered her face and turned away from me.

"Why are you getting all shy on me?" I chuckled. Damn, she was cute. "Nothing even happened. I was a good boy."

She pulled the blanket up to her nose, before facing me. "Nothing happened because you were too sore to do anything."

I barked a laugh. "If I wanted something to happen, something will definitely fucking happen."

"So what stopped you?"

I leaned closer, and added, "I was just being the perfect gentleman."

"Sure you were."

I chuckled. "Why are you hiding your face?"

"I haven't brushed my teeth yet."

"Do I look like I give a shit?"

"Do I look like a savage?"

"Come on, I wanna make out."

"After I brush my teeth," she said firmly.

"God, you're such a girl," I muttered.

"Excuse me?" she scoffed. "It's proper hygiene."

"Fine." I sighed. "I already brushed mine when I went to the bathroom earlier. I'll go make us breakfast while you freshen up."

Without waiting for her reply, I kissed her forehead and got off the bed. But then I quickly turned back and jumped on her, nuzzling my face in her neck. She burst out laughing, and tried to push my face away. I grabbed her waist and tickled her. She squealed and squirmed under me.

"Stop!"

I only laughed.

"Alfred!"

Laughing, I released her and walked to my dresser. I grabbed an old football shirt and put it on. I felt her eyes following me, making me smirk.

When I glanced over my shoulder, I caught her staring. She was sitting up now, no longer covering her face. She didn't bother looking away.

"I know," I breathed out, nodding. "You're such a lucky girl to have this sexy specimen all yours."

"It's not luck if you offered it on a silver platter."

I laughed. "You have yet to eat it, though."

She grinned. "We'll get to that soon enough."

With that, she jumped off the bed and went to the bathroom. I shook my head in amusement as I headed downstairs to the kitchen.

I took care of the rice first, since it took the longest to cook. Next, I took out the bacon, butter, and a few eggs. While I defrosted the meat, I scrambled the eggs.

I melted the butter on the pan and cooked the bacon first. When that was done, I did the eggs.

"That smells good."

I glanced around and saw Arisa still in my shirt and boxers. Her bed hair was gone, her hair now up in a high bun. She looked all fresh and clean.

"Bacon always smells good," I said.

She hopped on the island counter behind me while I transferred the eggs on a plate.

"Aw, you cooked rice, too?" Arisa asked, seeing the rice cooker out. "I trained you well."

I chuckled, as I turned off the stove and faced her.

"You knew I'd be your boyfriend, didn't you?"

She shook her head innocently. "I swear I didn't. I thought you didn't have the balls to ask me out."

My eyebrows shot up. "I came on to you too many fucking times to count."

"Yeah, but you never really asked me out like on a date. You offered sex. There's a difference."

I walked over to her and placed my hands on either side of her, caging her in.

"I didn't think you'd say yes."

"Like I said," she started, pursing her lips and patting my shoulder, "no balls."

The corner of my lips turned up. "What made you say yes?"

"Can't turn down a sexy specimen."

I was grinning now. "For real, though."

I watched as the smug look on her face slowly disappeared, replaced by a soft one. Her eyes traveled all over my face, as if memorizing it.

"I saw how hard you tried," she admitted. "You didn't use your sport as an excuse not to study. You played hard, and studied even harder."

She tilted her head and stared at me.

"Yeah, you had your setbacks and dumb moments. But you only needed a little reminding of the bigger picture to get you back on track."

She reached up a hand and brushed my hair out of my face, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips.

"Even if it seems impossible, you still try. I guess I've always admired that about you."

"There were times when I gave up."

"Setbacks." She shrugged. "We all had them."

I smirked. "You liked me all this time, huh?"

"I liked you as a person – as a friend."

"What changed?"

Before she could answer, her stomach growled. The plate full of bacon caught my eye. I reached for one and I bit into it. Then I offered it to her with my mouth, making her laugh. When she mellowed down, she leaned forward and bit into the other side of the bacon. The crispy strip broke off easy.

I stepped away and got her a glass of water. When she was done drinking, I took the glass from her and placed it far away. The moment our eyes locked, I knew she knew what was about to happen.

I leaned closer and she met me halfway. Ah, fuck. Every time I kissed her, it felt like it was the first time. I just couldn't get fucking enough.

I pressed my body against hers, while her arms snaked around my neck. My hands were on her hips, slowly making their way inside her shirt. She had an intake of breath when my fingers brushed against her bare chest. Her wrapped around my waist, holding me tight against her.

While my left hand was playing with her, the right one wandered down her stomach until it reached the hem of the boxers she was wearing. My mouth left hers and kissed its way from her cheek, then to her jaw, and finally to her neck.

"I still owe you an orgasm," I murmured.

"Uh-huh," she breathed out.

I took that as my go signal and my hand went inside the boxers and her panties, immediately finding that sweet little spot. She gasped, and her hold on me tightened. My tongue darted out and licked her neck before sucking it gently, just enough that it wouldn't leave a mark.

"Alfie..."

She sighed into me when my fingers went further in and slid into her wetness. I pulled it out and went back to the little nub.

"Fuck," she mumbled.

I grinned against her skin. Alright, no more teasing. I slid in my middle finger while my thumb remained on that sweet spot that I wanted so goddamn bad to play with my tongue – but baby steps.

"Faster," she ordered in a whisper.

I did as I was told and worked my fingers faster, until she was literally riding my hand. I decided to add another finger inside while my other hand that was on her breast pinched the nipple.

"Come for me, Ari."

I sucked her neck harder, and that seemed to do the trick. She trembled against me, while I slowed down my fingers while she rode her high.

There was a triumphant smile on my face when I pulled out of her and was about to lick my fingers. Her dazed eyes widened at what I was about to do.

"What the—"

We immediately stopped and pulled away from each other, our heads turning to the voice.

It was Byron.

His shocked eyes went back and forth from me to Arisa. Yep, he totally caught us doing the dirty.

"Breakfast?" I offered, like he didn't just catch us in the middle of a heavy make out session.

Arisa jumped down from the counter and crossed her arms, trying to act cool.

"Not until I get this whole kitchen sanitized."

"Oh, come on. We were only making out. It's not like we had sex in here." Although, I bet that was where we were heading if he hadn't interrupted.

"I saw more than making out, man," he said, shaking his head like he wanted to get rid of the image. "I have two eyes."

Arisa groaned, and covered her face. Byron walked to the fridge and took out a water bottle, before staring at us.

"Are you guys officially together now or just fooling around?" he asked.

The group knew that we were spending a lot of time together these past couple of months. We didn't bother hiding how comfortable we were in each other's company, and I was touchy as hell. They knew something was going on, but we just didn't put a label on it yet. They didn't ask, anyway.

They just let us be.

"It's official," I answered.

"I knew it," he hissed, throwing a fist in the air. "I won."

"Won what?" Arisa asked.

"Gwen and I had a bet," he explained. "She doesn't think you're compatible. But I know sexual tension when I see one."

As if on cue, the rice cooker dinged.

"How are we not compatible?" I asked, while Arisa checked on the rice.

Byron shrugged. "I guess she thinks you guys are too good as friends to cross the line."

"And you don't think that?"

"Call it instincts," he said. "But hey, I'm right," he added, gesturing to us.

"Want to join us for breakfast?" Arisa asked, preparing the bowl of rice.

Byron looked at the food. "Noah's coming over. I'll make some more bacon."

Before Arisa and I could prep the table, Byron raised an eyebrow at me and flashed a smirk.

"Dude, wash your hands first. I saw where those fingers had been."

Arisa's face reddened, and she quickly took out four plates to place on the dining table. I flipped him the bird as I walked to the sink. I felt him studying my face now that we were up close.

"What happened to you?" he asked, in a low voice.

"Just had some run in last night."

Byron frowned. "With who?"

"Fuck if I know."

"And you didn't report it?"

I shrugged. "They didn't get to mug me 'cause I got away, so I didn't bother. I don't want it to end up on the news or something."

"You just didn't wanna look weak."

"I'm far from fucking weak, man."

"I'll be right back," Arisa said. "I'll just head up to the bathroom real quick."

I nodded, and watched her run up the stairs.

"Are you sure you don't want to take a cold shower?" Byron asked. "You still have a boner."

I sneered. "Noah won't be too happy when he finds out you're gawking at another man's junk."

He shook his head. "He's too confident to care. Besides, he knows his is bigger."

"Hey, you haven't seen my dick in all its glory."

"And I have no intention to."

"Damn, By. Why you gotta hurt my ego like that?"

"I doubt it even made a dent. Your ego is too thick."

"Like my dick."

He only sighed, making me laugh. He knew he'd never win an argument against me.

Only Arisa was capable of that.

* * * * *

I heard my best friend sigh from the other end.

"I just need to talk to them, man," I explained.

"They could be scattered all over the fucking country, for all we know."

"Check their instagram."

"Why don't you do it?"

"I'm going on a vacation soon."

"They don't have internet where you're going?"

I sighed. "I just need their numbers, man."

I needed to call them on the spot and talk to them without giving them time to think of a lie.

"I have to track them all down," he said.

"Get Clyde to do it, then."

He barked a laugh. "You're shitting me."

"I'll call him if you won't."

"Dude, what's this about?"

"I'm solving a mystery."

Oz didn't answer for a minute. I let him think it over, while I waited for Arisa to come back from the kitchen with the popcorn. We were about to watch a movie. It was a Filipino film about a girl dating a gangster or some shit.

"Are you gonna tell me about it when I come visit you in Boston next month?" he asked.

"I will," I promised.

"Where are you going, anyway?"

"Philippines."

"What?"

"Yeah, Arisa invited me to spend Christmas and New Year's with her."

Oz whistled. "Big step."

My eyes landed on Arisa who was walking towards me on the couch. A smile made its way to my lips when our eyes locked. She stuck her tongue out playfully, before sitting next to me.

"I know," I told Oz, not looking away from my girl.

"You happy, man?" Oz asked.

"Fucking over the moon, bro," I said, before pecking Arisa's lips.

She looked at me weird, and I only grinned.

"Glad to hear that," he replied, chuckled.

"So will you help me?"

"Yeah, but you owe me an explanation."

"I'll tell you everything next month."

"See you then."

"A'ight, bye."

I hung up and put my phone on the coffee table. I turned to Arisa who was now munching on the popcorn with one hand, while the other was poised to press 'play' on the remote.

"I told my parents we'll fly to Manila next week," Arisa said. "Those bruises on your face will be gone by then, right?"

I nodded. "You sure you want me to come, though?"

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't."

True.

"Besides, my little brother can't wait to meet you."

"Ah, I'll finally meet Othelo."

"Don't call him that to his face. He hates it."

"What's his nickname?"

"Othie."

I chuckled. "That's cute."

"Since we're on the subject of family..." Arisa trailed off, biting her bottom lip. "I have to warn you..."

I turned my whole body to face her, waiting.

"I have a really big family," she continued. "We can be rowdy and boisterous during reunions. It's one huge chaotic mess. My aunts and uncles – as well as my parents – will interrogate the heck out of you, and my little cousins will flock you nonstop."

"Sounds fun," I commented.

What, did she think that would put me off? I was a fucking expert on chaotic mess.

"It can be overwhelming," she warned.

I snaked my arms around her waist and pulled her to me. I lightly kissed the crease on her forehead. She was hella cute worrying about me like this.

"Thanks for the head's up."

"I'm serious."

"I know." I chuckled, squeezing her to me. I kissed her cheek, and whispered in her ear, "And I'm serious about you."

A small smile stretched her lips. Then, she cleared her throat and nodded towards the tv.

"We're gonna watch some Filipino movies to give you an idea on what to expect."

"Game on."

Yeah, I had no fucking clue what I signed up for.