Episode 2

I read it like twice and over through the notification pane. I didn't bother to open because I wasn't sure what to say.

I was out of words to say. I wasn't sure what to do.

I didn't want to get myself into another relationship.

I had already seen "that" before. I have fallen prey to it and It didn't end up well. I had vowed not to involve myself in "that" ever again.

As innocent and naive as I was two years ago, back in highschool, I fell for a guy I thought was my soulmate.

Our love story would have been your average love story if this guy wasn't using me as a punching bag for whatever boxing match he had. I was always being beaten by him.

Yes.

At age eighteen, I had already received a beaten from a guy. You would ask why I allowed myself to be beaten up without doing anything about it.

Well I was trapped under the delusion that I was in love. I loved him against all odds.

Although older than I was, I was always happy to be with him. I was willing to do anything for him as long as he stayed with me. I sacrificed a lot for him but he decided to go out with other girls.

I got broken-hearted at that very young age. My heart got torn into shreds. Thankfully it healed fast.

Since that day he said to me "I can not be with you anymore", till today, I haven't opened up to anyone. Even friendship became a problem for me.

I pushed the world behind me and locked myself up in my own little cage.

I didn't care about anyone else but myself and to me, the word love was not existing.

I have been successful with that for more than two years then suddenly I found myself in a library with a guy beside me and an "I like you." in my inbox.

I didn't see that coming. Actually I did but I didn't expect it to be soon.

As I sat beside him pretending I haven't seen the message, he would, every now and then check his messages hoping to see my reply.

I watched him repeat that routine over and over again then I finally replied.

ME: Really?

JEFF: Yes. I really like you. I've been wanting to tell you this since the first day we met.

ME: Since the first day we met? Where?

JEFF: Don't you remember? The group discussion for psychology 101 assignment.

ME: Well I remember seeing you in our group but I didn't pay attention to you. I never did.

JEFF: Oh well I did. And I was intrigued by you. Since that day, I've admired you in secret but didn't know how to let you know.

ME: ??? 😱

JEFF: That was when I started messaging you asking for notes on psychology topics but you never replied any of my messages. 😢

ME: Sorry bout that but...

JEFF: So I was surprised to see your reply when I asked you to meet me in front of the library days ago.

To me, I was just sending another of the messages which you will read but not reply. Guess I got lucky that day. 😇

ME: hmm. So Why me?

JEFF: Are you asking that? You are so perfect. 👌 You are selfless.

You're nice_(inside & out).

You write 😊. I admire writers.

I feel comfortable around you. Your personality is unique but most importantly I have a strong feeling for you that I think is meant to stay.

ME: .....

JEFF: Why what's wrong?

ME: Nothing. It's just that...

JEFF: if You don't feel the same way it's ok. I'm willing to be around until you decide to like me back.

Hope that wouldn't be much to ask.

Certainly, I didn't have an answer to that. All I did was put the phone down and get back to my studies.

Silence reigned over the library with no one making a single noise. You could hear a book flip once in a while but it seemed the library wasn't inhabited by anyone.

The silence was like a gaping void, needing to be filled with sounds, words, anything but I couldn't get myself to say a word. None of us could.

After several minutes of total silence, he broke the silence.

"The library will be closing soon. We better get going it's getting late."

I just stared him in the eye without talking. It was like I had been hypnotized.

I had never in my life struggle for a word to say at anywhere ever. At least not after I overcame my depression a year ago.

"Savannah?" he held my hand.

I got frozen. A cold shiver went down my spine. It was like nothing I've felt before.

"if you are acting this way because of what I said, don't worry about it. Forget I even said that. OK?" he added.

"No. No. It's ok. I'm to_to_totally OK."

I'm very sure I was not a stammer before.

"You are right. Let's go." I added.

We packed our things and made way to our hostels. As usual, he'd escort me to my hostel before he will go back to his.

Even after he told me that everything was OK, I couldn't get myself to talk to him when we got out of the library.

We walked in silence until we got closer to my room.

"I guess here is OK. See you in class tomorrow." I said in a faint voice. Faking a smile.

The next thing I knew, he had slammed his lips to mine. It pulled all the wind from my lungs. I hardly had a moment to react before he pressed his tongue to the seam of my lips and, at my grant of access, delved inside my mouth.

My arms reached up and tangled around his muscular strong neck. I pulled closer and arched up into his broad chest, moaning in the contact of his body heat against my own, before I delve into his lips.