Us

Melissa

Busy morning it was for me. I started by cleaning the entire house. It has been a while ever since I did some serious cleaning. Being occupied with my new fake love life and tantrums from Bibi took lots of my time.

I closed my eyes when I felt a faint headache, reminding me that yesterday was real and not a dream.

Thanks to Nicky's coffee in the morning, it saved me from a hellish hangover.

I know you are surprised. I mean, how come my number one enemy overnight gave me coffee. Well, things changed after she apologized.

I could feel the sincerity when she said sorry and how she didn't know who I was. She was used to women trying to join their circle of friends by seducing her friends than trying to create a rift between them, which has never been successful.

So they made a pact. As long as the woman is not their official girlfriend, then they should not hang out together with them.

I understood her point of view, but it did not change the fact that I was not comfortable with her way of handling matters.

Eventually, I gave in to her persistent apologies that she even offered to buy me a drink. Ken also joined and, being as dramatic as he was, faked crying that he was touched everything was alright between us.

I had to admit that Nicky was fun to be with. She was jolly and sassy, not to forget daring. She and Ken made me drink a couple of shots, getting intoxicated.

The other guy, who arrived with Nicky, Jake, also apologized on Nicky's behalf.

He claimed that Nicky is a spoiled brat who doesn't know how to shut up, which led to an endless argument.

Seeing how Ken and Max sighed, I could guess they were used to their banter. Anyway, the night turned 360 degrees and what looked like the worst night turned into my best.

We had fun, joked, and even danced. Max, however, is another story.

I only forgave Nicky but not him. Nicky's behaviour was excusable but not him.

He knew me and was the one who invited me, yet he chose to act cold. He tried a couple of times to get me to talk to him but ignored all his advances.

But he did not stop there. That annoying man went as far as acting like we were dating for real. He tried acting cute, seductive, and even pouted, earning endless teasing from her friends.

I was finishing the last round of laundry when I saw snake-trimmed leather sneakers in my line of vision.

Without looking at the face of the owner of the shoes, I already knew who it was.

I thought that I would feel nothing to seeing him again: that I would not have any funny feelings in my stomach, but my breath hitched looking at him.

He was clad in beige survivor belted cargo shorts with a navy blue classic jersey T-Shirt that held his body, outlining his muscles.

His hair today was a little bit more curly than before. All I could think of at that moment was, did he just come out of a fashion magazine.

"Hello, beautiful," His voice made my eyes snap to his.

Beautiful.

If he had called me like that yesterday when I arrived at the club would have made me happy, but he did not. He called me Melissa. He only changed to beautiful when he was asking for forgiveness.

It hurt, annoyed me, and made me restless to the point I was losing myself. I came to understand that Max does not care about me.

He never did, and it would never happen. Once our deal is done, he will leave without even looking back, while I will be left with a broken heart.

I needed to stop myself before I got to the point of mutilating beyond the point of repair.

Yes, I just figured that I like this heartless man.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, going back to my chores.

He started towards me, his hands in his pocket, looking like a hot model straight from the magazine.

"I came to visit my girlfriend," he coolly answered as if everything was okay. I scoffed.

"So you remember that you have a girlfriend now," I said dryly, placing the basins in the corridor and going behind the house furthest from it so we could talk.

"Mel, I am sorry," he said, sighing rather loudly as if frustrated with me.

"Sorry for what? Since yesterday, those two words were the only thing you said to me. Why are you sorry?"

"Am here now, isn't that enough?" I looked at him in wonder. Did I mention he is so insensitive?

"So we are just going to pretend that everything is fine?" I snapped, releasing a frustrated breath.

"Everything is fine, isn't it? Nicky apologized, I apologized, and my friends now like you." I could not believe my ears. Who is this man again?

"Nothing is fine, Max! You rejected my calls and didn't bother to reply to my text!"

"Stop being dramatic." he continued, and I couldn't help but feel dizzy from anger.

I can't believe I don't have a boyfriend, and I am already being driven crazy by this annoying man.

Just how crass can he be?

"Max," I started slowly, taking deep breaths to calm myself down. He was just too infuriating.

"It's not about being dramatic or taking a role of a clingy girlfriend, but do you know what I was thinking? That you were sick, maybe you got into trouble or worse dead. I didn't expect you to consider how I feel. The least you could have done was ask me to back off instead of staying silent, making my thoughts run wild."

I have never been so frustrated to the point where I felt like crying. I could feel my eyes sting but managed to hold them.

Max stepped closer, holding my shoulder firmly.

"I am really sorry, Mel," He began looking directly at me. I quickly averted my eyes, looking anywhere but him.

I felt his cold hand cup one side of my cheeks, making me shiver in delight. Slowly, my head tilted so that I could face him. I inaudible gasped when I noticed how close we were.

"For everything, for ghosting you the last couple of days and acting so selfish. Please forgive me. I promised to be liable." He cupped my face until I focused on him.

I bit hard and pressed my lips together. The closeness we shared was starting to make me dizzy. Especially when he spoke. I could smell his minty scent.

My eyes unconsciously lingered from his eyes to his lips. All I could focus on were the perfect, soft-looking lips that were only inches from mine. So pink and moist, making me swallow to get rid of the dryness in my throat.

I wondered how one feels when kissed...

My eyes circled at where my thoughts were heading to.

"It's okay. I forgive you." I hastily removed his hands and turned around quickly before my thoughts could wander more. I heard him clear his throat.

"Thank you," he said after a while.

"No worries," I started to walk towards the house.

"Mel," I stopped in my tracks and turned around to face him. He walked up to me slowly and pulled me closer to him, wrapping his arms around me.

I froze, my mind trying to digest what was happening. I was taken aback by Max's sudden reaction that I didn't know what to do.

Why?

His embrace was warm. His big, strong arms seemed very protective when wrapped around my frail body.

"I missed you," I heard him say, nuzzling his face into my neck.

What...What is happening? Is it possible for someone to stop breathing?

His breath tickled my neck, and I was reminded of that day when he kissed my neck.

I must say, it was the most terrifying but pleasant feeling ever.

My legs turned to jelly as the world around me melted away as I snuggled and hugged him back, not wanting this moment to end.

I missed you too,

I never thought a hug could be so healing and powerful, maybe not physical but definitely for the mind and the soul. It was like we created a connection. It wasn't just any hug. One of those tight hugs that take away my breath, give me butterflies, and make me smile like crazy.

Our moment was ruined when someone cleared their throat. I let go quickly, only to turn and find Jessica grinning at us mischievously.

"Hi Max!" she greeted, a bright smile gracing her features.

"Hi, Jess."

"Sorry to interrupt your moment, guys, but Melisa needs to be at work," she said, pointing in the direction of the kiosk.

"Oh right," My face was burning from embarrassment. Jess wasn't going to stop teasing me today. I was about to walk away when Max's pulled me back, hugging me from behind.

I am not used to this.

I was secured back in his warm embrace. My back against his chest made me gasp.

"No, you are not going. I just got here." He mumbled in my neck, sending jitters up my spine.

I elbowed him softly in the ribs, making him grunt.

What's with being clingy again.

"I need to work. Get off." I tried to get out of his hold, but he tightened his arms around me.

"Haze." I groaned, starting to get annoyed at his behavior. I just forgave him, and he was already acting like this.

I felt my body vibrate from the effect of his low rumbling laugh.

"Jessica, mind If I keep her for the rest of the day?" he asked Jess, who looked at us confused.

"What? You can't be serious." I said, craning my neck to look at his face.

"I don't know, Max" Jess massaged her temple. I knew she was not going to allow it. Jess cared much for money to let me go.

"How about I pay you her salary for today, a thousand?"

"Really?" Jessica almost jumped.

"Really, you will collect it in the evening from Melissa." He confirmed, placing his chin on the crook of my neck.

"Deal, you can have all day, bye." Jess scampered away, leaving my jaw on the ground.

I couldn't believe it. Jess just sold me for a thousand bob!

Damn that girl. And with that, she turned and left. I elbowed him again, this time hard enough for him to let go of me.

"Damn it, woman, do you want to kill me." he cried, holding his ribs.

"That's what you get for messing with my job," I smirked and walked away.