...

"But I'm a gentleman. So, I'll make it a long, dirty, yet fun night."

Flustered, Fil's already red face turned beet red. She hurriedly faced the windshield, holding her breath with her lips tightly pressed together. 

"Breathe," Jackson chuckled. "It's only natural to make the best out of it. After all, you're making me wait. If only we did it in the lounge, we could've finished by now. I mean, maybe halfway?"

He cocked his head back, casting her a knowing look. "But well, I'm in the mood to be magnanimous."

"Can you please make it… sound less embarrassing?" she murmured, pouting. "Goodness. You make my fingers curl."

"Right." Jackson nodded but then smirked. "Should we kiss?"

"What?!" 

Fortunately, Fil was driving slowly — very slowly. Therefore, pulling over out of nowhere didn't have much impact on them or on anyone driving behind her. The cars on the wide highway were already driving past her, anyway. 

"Why are you so flustered?" Jackson asked, glancing at the backseat for a moment. "You said I should make it sound less embarrassing. So, I asked if we could kiss. I'm sure you don't prefer me saying I should put my hand inside your skirt to condition you."

Her face turned red as if all her blood rose to her head. Looking at her face, Jackson grinned from ear to ear. 

"Which one do you prefer?" he teased, crawling his hand on her lap. "I have an idea. I won't say things anymore, but just do it."

Just as he touched her lap, Jackson flinched as he retrieved his hand after she slapped it. His eyes widened a little, almost in disbelief at what she did. 

"Goodness," he uttered in surprise. "Did you just slap my hand like a merchant would slap a young beggar from touching his merchandise?"

"What — how can you call it a merchandise? My…" she trailed off, thinking of how to call her lady part more nobly. "My lady is noble. At least! Until now."

"And later?"

"It'll fall from her grace."

"Pfft —"

Fil looked away, swallowing down the shame bubbling in her heart. "So, please. Until then, behave. Just a bit."

"Why do you make it sound like you're about to step into the gallows?" Jackson shook his head, glancing at the back of the hand which she slapped. When he raised his head, his eyes instantly landed on her blushing side. Her face was all red and even her ears. 

"Making me wait, slapping my hand, telling me to behave, and even calling me a mistress," he muttered, rubbing his chin as he set his eyes ahead. "I hate inconveniences, but I guess it's inevitable after living this long. I can only hope this is worth it."

Fil cast him a quick sidelong glance but kept driving. This time, she picked up her pace a bit.

'I hope so too,' she thought. 'I hope taking a stranger home is worth it.' 

*****

After over an hour on the road, Fil reached the entrance of the parking space of a luxurious condominium. Jackson glanced up at the building before they fully entered the parking space. 

"Your boyfriend's place is pretty nice," said Jackson approvingly. "No wonder he was keeping women on the side."

"Is that a compliment?" she asked as she pulled over to the parking space designated for her. "Does having a lot of money give justification to cheating?"

Jackson smiled as he faced her. "No, but at the same time, did catching him red-handed give justification for you to do the same thing?"

"My morals tell me no." Fil forced a smile.

"Then why do it?"

"Because…" she lowered her gaze as her forced smile turned bitter. "Just because." 

When she turned her head, her lips stretched. "You're handsome. Surely, you're the most good-looking person I've met in my entire life. If I'm going to lose my virginity, it's not half bad to lose it to someone like you. Moreover, you're not anyone I know and probably, this might be the last time we'd see each other. So, that only makes it perfect."

"One-night stand with a stranger, huh?" Jackson was almost astounded at how talented she was at rendering him speechless. "Lady, you have no shame in making sure I'd feel I'm being exploited."

"Because you are." She giggled shamelessly. "Let's go?"

"Oh, goodness, no."

But Fil just stepped out of the car, ducking her head down to look at the passenger seat. She motioned her hand, urging him to get out. 

"Fine." Jackson clicked his tongue and stepped out of the truck, following her to the elevator that would lead them to the twentieth floor. 

*****

After the seemingly long travel to this place and the short journey from the parking space to the unit, Jackson sighed in relief when they entered the lavish unit. It was a two-bedroom condominium unit with a great aesthetic of warm-tone colors. 

Standing in the middle of the living area, Jackson simply looked around once. When his eyes fell on Fil's back, he took a step to her and wrapped his arm around her waist.

"So?" he wiggled his brows knowingly. "Can we do it now?"

Fil held her breath, nodding, and watching him lean his face forward. But just as his lips were an inch from hers, her entire body suddenly trembled. She panicked, pushing his shoulder away. She didn't use too much force, but still, Jackson leaned back with furrowed brows. 

"What?" he clicked his tongue, now frustrated. "Don't tell me you changed your mind?"

"No — no," she stuttered. "It's just… I think I need to brush my teeth first."

"..."

"You too! For hygiene purposes! We don't know what our mouth touched, and it's embarrassing if we smell bad!" she added. "There's a bathroom over there. Brush your teeth — there are disposable toothbrushes in there. Just use one of them."

Fil hurriedly freed herself from his arms, turning back and almost sprinting to the bedroom to use the master's bathroom. Jackson, on the other hand, was left alone in the living room, baffled. 

"Hah!" He planted his hands on his waist, looking at the master's bedroom in disbelief. On instinct, he raised his palm in front of his mouth and breathed out. Smelling that he didn't have a bad breath, he looked at the bedroom in dismay. 

"This girl…" he shook his finger, turning on his heel to go the other bathroom and brush his teeth. "... she better look good naked."