Chapter 38: First Kiss of Another Life

*Kizuisho*

"Kizu," the opal girl, Shina called out, snapping me out of my shocked state. "Hey, are you a statue or the real Kizu?" She leaned in close and kissed me.

I froze up again.

"Ahh, I think that I made things worse," she yelled, backing away.

I shook my head. "No. I mean... Oh damn it! Why did you do that?" I wiped my mouth. My first kiss was supposed to be with Xūn Yi. Though technically this was my second. My first kiss was actually two years ago.

***

[Two Years Ago]

"Hey," I called out to Alfonso as we prepared our beds. "You've kissed many girls before. How does it feel, to kiss?"

My best friend leaned back against his bed and let out a hearty laugh that shook the entire room.

"Don't... don't laugh!" I yelled, face reddening. "I've never kissed anyone, so how should I know?"

He wiped away the tears from his eyes and sat back up. "Oh gods, you're such a child."

I pouted. "I'm not!"

He gave me a sly grin and straightened his back. "I can help you."

"You can?" I asked, my eyes glimmering. "I want to kiss the princess!"

He leaned back against the wall and chuckled. "Well, that will take some work. The princess probably has more experience than you do, considering all her suitors."

My eyes dropped down to the orange-pink carpet below. She did have several people that she's been with but I had never seen her kiss any. But... maybe she wasn't one to show public affection? "You really think so?" I asked.

"Yeah. Heck, she might even have more than me!"

I sat down on my bed and rolled around as I covered my ears. "Shut up! Shut up!"

He muffled a chuckle. "Though like I said, I can help you."

I stopped rolling and sat back up.

"Really?"

"But promise that you won't tell anyone about this," he answered with a wink.

I nodded eagerly. "Now, tell me how I become an expert kisser to impress the princess!"

He muffled another boisterous laugh. "Oh gods, you're going to kill me. Has anyone ever told you that you're too cute and innocent for this world?"

My face flushed. "Don't call me cute! It's fine when a girl says it but you're a guy!"

**

I thought at the time that he was just teasing but looking back at it now, he probably meant that from the bottom of his heart. My best friend was in love with me.

**

"Alf," I said before his lips pressed against mine. He had claimed that one could become a better kisser by making out with someone who already was one.

He pulled away and smiled. "You're surprisingly good at this for a beginner."

I looked away as my face flushed. The feeling of his soft lips against mine lingered. "You seem to be as good as the girls say you are."

His face reddened. "Damn, don't make this moment more homo than it already is." His eyes widened. "Hey, don't tell me that you're gay."

"You're the one who suggested it! So if anyone is, it's you!" I yelled.

His smile vanished.

***

Was he already aware of it back then or did he realize it after that moment?

"Kizu," Shina, the opal girl, shouted again. She leaned in but this time a hand blocked her.

"What do you two think that you're doing?" Alf asked, glaring at Shina. "You're trying to seduce him or something?"

She snickered. "You're jealous or something?"

Alf's face grew pale as his brows furrowed.

She glanced back at me and noticed my red face. Caressing my face, she said, "You're so cute!"

Why was she teasing me? I liked her better this morning when she was pretending to be a helpless girl. Wait, was that her way of getting a guy's attention?

"Let go of him, you vixen!" Alf snapped, yanking her hand away from me.

She smiled at him and put a hand against his chest. "You really are something."

Alf's face flushed. "Let go of me." He pushed her out of the room and slammed the door shut. "Stupid girl!" Running over to me, he frowned. "Did she do anything to you?"

"Other than kiss me? No." I sat down on my bed and thought of what had just happened. "Are you feeling better?"

The color from his face faded again. "I am." Ruffling his hair, he sat down. "Listen, I was only joking. I'm don't like you that way."

He was lying. Alf never was a good liar. All of his best lies were white lies. When he couldn't make one, he would fidget.

Leaning back against the bed, I reached a hand toward the ceiling. "I can't respond to your feelings, but know this, you're still my best friend. No matter what your sexuality is, that will never change. Even if I am the object of your affection."

Alf's face regained its light brown color with some additional red. "I really don't. I mean it."

I stood up and walked over to him. Shina's kiss had given me this idea. Leaning in close to him, I pressed my lips against his.

Alf didn't push me away at all. Instead, it was me who pushed him off. "See." I wiped my lips with my sleeve. "You should be honest with yourself."

Alf's eyes widened as he grasped his pillow. "Why did you do that? Are you trying to make fun of me?!" He threw the pillow at my face, sending me flying into my bed. His footsteps echoed as he stomped out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him.

Oh gods, why did I kiss him? It was bad enough that I hurt my best friend's feelings, it also made me feel like I was betraying the person I did love. Even if we weren't dating, I promised myself that I would never look at another girl. Yet Shina's kiss was something. Not to mention that my kissing experience wasn't limited to girls.

"He's the one who started it first!" I yelled as I threw his pillow back to his bed. I already had to sacrifice my life in order to save the world, so why did I have to deal with this shitty drama? All I wanted was the princess's love! Why did Alfonso had to go ahead and make it more difficult!

**Sou's Perspective**

I opened my eyes and saw Sehun and Ava staring back at me.

Ava hugged me tightly. "Thank gods," she said.

I was back in my room. What had happened? Why had I fainted?

Also, why did Ava remind me of that guy who kissed me?

I snuck a glance at Sehun who was scowling. Was he jealous? I laughed. He also reminded me of someone. That girl who kissed me. Well, not me, but my past life. Still, it felt like it was me.

'Sou,' a voice echoed in my head. It was Purpura.

'What's up?' I asked mentally. 'Where are ya?'

'I'm hiding in the closet. Thus far your friends have been too concerned with you to notice. However, that might change soon. Get them out of here now.'

I glanced at the closet. Had he been the one who took me here?

'Hey, can't you teleport?' I asked mentally.

'I would, but last time I did so, 'Father' picked up my location.'

Ohh. Yeah, that would be bad. I sighed. This was why I told him to stay home. I got up.

"Sou? Where are you going?" Sehun asked.

I smiled. "You can go on ahead. There's something I need to do," I said, walking toward the closet. Just as got to it, the world around me grew dark again.

"Sou?" he asked. 

I pressed my head against the closet door.

"Sou!"