18 The Goodbye Rites

"Is that you Xhem?"

Dug.dug.dug.dug.dug.

A familiar silhouette emerged from the darkness.

The beast.

He was topless.

Topless. I swallowed the liquid in my mouth and blinked a couple of times! Shocked as hell.

The heck!

He was standing in front of me. His pale and wet skin was glowing in the darkness making his gorgeous body very visible. I stared amazed at his well-defined abdominal muscles. This was the first time I had taken time to stare of his naked body since the bedroom incident. Six muscular packets just below his chest. His arms that had held me yesterday was that muscular? Jeeez! Why does this beast love to flaunt his body that much? I thought of drooling over the delicious physique in front of me.

He was brushing his wet hair with his hands. From the looks of it, I could tell he was returning from an early swim. I remembered there was a swimming area near the dorm. Was that where he came from? I wondered.

The place was still clouded with darkness, but I could clearly see his gorgeous body— my stomach suddenly did a backflip.

"Xhemin?" He called me again, snapping me back to reality.

"M-M-Morning." I managed to reply still dazed by how good he looked shirtless. My eyes then fell on his abdominal muscles. They were rather toned and looking at it make a lump swell up in my throat. Oh My Gosh, he was so hot…damn hot! I looked away in an instant afraid he will notice my flustered face.

Subconsciously, I reached out close to my jaw and wiped a bead of sweat that had dropped from my hair. I was having hard time composing myself.

I saw him lean against the wall a few feet away from me. We were both facing the university streets now, the streets where the boys and I trailed onto when we had our morning jog.

A light wind blew and I felt shivers rising on me. I couldn't help but close my eyes.

"Tired?" He asked breaking the awkward silence between us. Was he looking at me? Nervous, I didn't dare to spare him a glance. I was too preoccupied with complicated feelings his shirtless body was causing me right now. I was afraid I might explode if I saw his face and his abs again!

"Sort of…" I answered politely, feeling my cheeks warm up a little at the thought of the beast and me being, you know. Together and alone— just now.

I opened my eyes and saw him smiling in the corner of my eyes, for reasons I don't know. Was the sight of me sweating that entertaining to him? Ehhh....I hope he didn't notice my uneasiness.

A cool, fresh and natural morning breeze blew —but why I do feel so hot?

At the moment, my mind was full of bizarre things. I planned to start out a conversation to make him stay longer, yet I couldn't make up something. Oh dang, I couldn't even say a word.

"Do you believe in love at first sight?" He asked. His tone was so serious it made me more uneasy, yet curious as to what he was wanting to say. Why would he asked such question?

"No..." After a minute of pondering I responded. I seemed very calm with my words but to be honest, every part of my body was shaking.

"Why not?" he continued. Can't he think of some other topics? The one we have now, feels so awkward.

" ...For me it takes you to know a person better and deeper to love him— for what he is. Love at first sight seemed to be just an admiration of someone's outward looks…" I spoke maturely with certainty trying to imitate my literature instructor.

I answered perfectly right?

"How about if they are both destined to be together? Is it possible for them to feel love at first glance?" He continued asking me questions. I wondered if he was picking on me again. However, he seemed very serious. I tried to be casual as much as possible even though his muscles, his voice, and everything else about him was distracting me.

He turned toward my side. I was still looking at the same street but I could clearly see he was now looking at me, with one of his shoulder leaning on the wall.

"Errr…. The truth is I don't know. I don't really know anything about that kind of stuff…" I answered with the safest answer I could think of.

"Really?" he asked as if he couldn't believe what I was saying.

"Yeah… how would I? I'm just sixteen, I've never fallen in love." Except with you. Of course I did not say the last statement.

"Really?" he asked again.

I gave him a glance and nod, hoping I convinced him to end the discussion. I don't know until when I can endure such torture.

He smiled—a wide smile flashed across his face. His hazel eyes glinted at me, almost taking my breath away. As always, with their brilliance as they looked down gently at me.

"Then how come you told me yesterday that you think you are in love with me?"

I was taken aback with his question. Oh yeah, I did tell him I love him yesterday! I was cursing myself now.

"Errr…. that one…" I wasn't able to give him a good answer. Therefore, I ended up telling him about Sir Gem's 'How to know you are in love theory'.

He was laughing hard at my story. Was it that funny? Really? I wanted to laugh with him but I was so flustered from embarrassment.

"So, you tried all of those with me?" He asked while laughing.

" Well…yeah.." I answered in hesitation, feeling even more embarrassed.

"So that was the reason why you were acting weird yesterday?" he answered as if he was relieved of something.

He brushed his hair from his face as he mellowed down from his laugh. "I really did think you were still angry about…what I did the other day."

He was referring to the time we had an encounter outside Huzey's competition building. I looked at him intently, did he really think I was angry with that? Angry with his hug? With his sweet words?

What an irony because, I wasn't angry—I had been so happy. Thinking back to that time, amused me now. I tried to hide my amusement to avoid further embarrassment. Conversations like this— I need more training to be comfortable.

"Of course not." I replied as I furrowed my brow causing line to form on my forehead.

His smile grew bigger as rays of sunshine which had slowly light up the sky poured down his face. A minute after I found myself in his embrace. It happened so instantly I didn't even get a chance to react. He was taller than me, so my face fell against his hard chest.

Is there any part of this man that isn't hard? He was so athletically built.

Gosh! His warmth was killing me, sending a mixture of emotions through my body. His natural smell mesmerized me, giving me some dose of fantasy. His skin had dried now.

"My goodbye rites." I mumbled to myself few minutes after he locked me in his arms. I was enthralled by his actions, I couldn't control myself as emotions came rushing in. I felt so relaxed and every worry I had about not being able to see him had vanished completely.

"Goodbye rites?" he asked when he heard me.

Opps! Again, my mouth failed me. Why do I have this outstanding reputation of being so careless with my words?

"...Well this is what I call goodbye rites.." I tried to explain as I bit my lips. There was no point in lying now, I already had my guard down around him. "It's like a sweet encounter before going on our separate ways." I answered him.

"So you are Merriam now?" he was referring to a dictionary brand.

"I'm his mentor." I responded, proudly. Thinking about how I only made up those words. The 'goodbye rites' word.

"Bossy girl"

"You like bossy girls? right?" I asked with courage hoping I will get a positive response.

"I like you"

Dug-dug-dug-dug-dug.

What? Did I hear it right? I was not prepared for that. He likes me? I guess the positive response was a bit too much.

C'mon, don't kill me with this romance. He likes me. He likes me. He likes me!

For the first time in my life, I had no idea what to say.

There was a huge silence between us as we just stood there holding onto each other. I bit my lips harder when I noticed that the ambience was becoming more intimate. I felt like this was the perfect time to share a kiss. I let go of a deep sigh as I prepared for the next event I was hopefully anticipating.

He carefully caressed my hair. Then he lifted my chin with his finger tips, so I was looking up at him. I was melting under his mesmerising hazel eyes. His other hand left my shoulders and travelled down to my waist to prevent me from falling backwards.With his hands still on my chin we continued our locked stare forgetting the world around us.

His eyes had this passionate glint. He looked at me, as if he was trying to memorize every angle of my face. I couldn't help but be conscious, yet I let him, I gave him the liberty to see through me. I loved every moment of it.

He slowly moved his head, lowering it to mine. I suddenly closed my eyes when I felt his warm breath on my face.

I was anticipating his kiss. His lips against mine tasting every inch.

His warm kiss before we left each other for good.

Just this one kiss and I know I would be able to endure our departure.

Just this one.

I slightly opened my lips to welcome his— my eyes still closed.

"Cough….uhuhu…cough..." An intentional coughing break the current intimacy.

I almost swallowed my tongue as everything I hoped for fell down in an instant. Who in the hell..?

The beast and I instinctively turned toward the two boys who were now staring at us with complicated looks. Huzey stood there taking a sip on his water bottle while Ziggy was wiping beads of sweat from his face with his sports towel.

"Cough..uhuhu…cough." Ziggy repeated his fake coughing. His second attempt made me realize what was happening.

I was caught under the arms of a topless man! Early in the morning!

I pushed the beast away in an instant to put some distance between the two of us.

"You're done?" I asked in panic, referring to their jogging.

How could I forget about the boys? They were just jogging around the dorm and they never missed waving at me when they pass this side. Of course they would catch us!

"I was wondering why your stamina was weak this morning, didn't think it was an excuse to go on a date." Ziggy complained giving me a glare. From the tone of his voice, I could tell he was implying that I betrayed them.

"No-no, it's not what you think..!" I tried to explain waving both of my hands in front of them. I moved farther from the beast and stepped closer to the boys.

Oh man! The boys caught me. How could their timing be so wrong this time!

I needed my kiss yet how could I have a kiss in front of the boys?

They already thought I avoided being with them to go on date! Crap!

Aside from my failed kiss, the boys for sure will tease me and make me an outcast for a week!

"I was just resting here and he happen to pass by." I tried to continue explaining. Yet no matter what I said, I knew I can't change what the boys were thinking.

I needed to exit. This was so embarrassing and at the same time frustrating. I was caught hugging a topless man. I cannot even look at the beast now.

"If you guys are done, we should leave now." I suggested as I tried to reach for Ziggy's arms.

"We are done jogging, but we are not done watching you." Ziggy brushed me off teasingly. "Mr. Lagdameo is just half naked, looks like you are just starting..."

"Ziggy!" I glared at him with my sharpest look. He withdrew in an instant and rushed to Huzey's arms. Huzey who was now locking the opening of his water bottle looked at him in a nonchalant way, unaffected by his sudden movement.

"Are we done Huzey? If we are then we should leave." Ziggy begged him as if my sharp gaze had frightened him.

Huzey glanced at him quietly as he curled up his brows. He later shifted his eyes to me.

"Are you guys done?" Huzey was referring to the beast and I. I didn't know what Huzey was thinking, but from the looks of it, he wasn't mad at all. I guess he knew I was really wanted to see the beast the previous night and didn't want to mess up the opportunity that I had.

"We aren't!" The beast suddenly answered, shocking the three of us.

I was not able to open my mouth to question the beast shocked at how quick his iron fingers found its way around my upper arm. I suddenly found myself being dragged forcefully away from the boys. The beast pulled me close and made me face him.

He tore his gaze from the boys behind me and stared down at me. Then he reached out and crushed me into his chest.

What is he going to do? Haven't we been embarrassed enough in front of the boys?

The next thing I knew, he leaned toward my face and pressed his mouth on my soft life.

Is he kissing me? He kissed me!

In front of the boys!

I was so stunned I didn't even managed to close my eyes. They grew bigger in shock as the beast made his kiss deeper.

"Hey both of you!" Ziggy shouted helplessly as he saw the beast kissing me without any hint of

embarrassment front of them. "Hey coach Darryl, that isn't—"

He stepped forward to stop the beast but Huzey grabbed him.

"Huzey, look at what he is doing to Xhem!" He tried to reason out but Huzey didn't let him go. "Xhem, you promised Huzey and me that there will be no other man in the team!"

"You betrayed us!" Ziggy shouted a couple of times, but the beast ignored him.

Instead, he took my arms and put them around his neck. I didn't react, I was too weak to refuse. All I could do was be obedient to him. He was getting me drunk with so many emotions, that I couldn't even support my own weight. The beast supported me with his hand around my waist, pressing me against his smooth skin.

He kissed me for few minutes.

Minutes of nostalgia and bliss.

Minutes of enchantments, like I travelled into wonderland back and forth.

His kiss was so warm it defeated the morning breeze. Every part of me was warm too—under his embrace, under his kiss I felt so loved.

He let go of my lips, just as I was about to lose my breath. He looked at me tenderly before he turned to the boys.

"Now we are done, you can take her." He said, as if nothing happened.

Ziggy was pouting and was faking a cry under Huzey's arms. Huzey was expressionless, I think he knew how important the goodbye rites was to me, so he chose to let me have it. Thanks Huzey, I smiled inside.

The beast turned to me for the last time. He gave me one short kiss on the lips and held my head and landed a soft kiss me on my forehead, leaving a dot of hotness on that spot.

"Take care." he said before he left.

Everything was surreal to me. I was stupefied, I can't even believe what just happened.

He told me he likes me.

He pulled me into his embrace.

He kissed me sweetly.

What else could I ask? I can even die right now. Such a perfect goodbye rite!