Disgusted by the idea of love

The feeling of the soft lips which tasted like strawberry, was constantly on Joshua's mind since the previous night. He could not get the scene out of his mind at all. He could still feel her touch, it was still lingering on his lips. For the first time, he was left flustered and bothered by a woman. Usually, it was the opposite; he was the one who left women on their edges.

He was in the meeting room where the graphics team was presenting the new ideas for the video game design. Yet, all his attention was somewhere else. He was not in his usual state of mind.

His secretary, Lucia noticed his absence of mind, he was staring blankly at the manager who was giving the presentation. His employees have seen his lack of concentration too and they looked at Lucia to do something.

"Sir," Lucia called out his name.

"Yes Ivy," Joshua answered absent-minded, but he immediately realized his mistake. He looked his employees staring at him with her jaws wide open.

Lucia's heart skipped a beat. 'Who was Ivy? Is she his girlfriend?'

Joshua cleared his throat awkwardly. "Sorry, can we continue this presentation tomorrow? I have other things to attend to."

"Sure sir." All the people in the room obliged and left the room one by one.

"Sir, are you alright?" Lucia asked him when they were left alone.

"Yes."

"Do you need something?" She was worried.

"No Lucia. You can go." Joshua dismissed her.

Lucia looked at him for a while and walked out of the reluctantly. Joshua sighed. He couldn't comprehend what was happening to him, why he was constantly thinking about the kiss he shared with Ivy.

Although he had other matters to handle and think about, like his new video game which was going to be launched the next month or about Rachel whom he had met in the afternoon in the hospital. Yet, everything became a void when he reminisced Ivy's face. He suddenly started to have a bad feeling.

'Am I sick?' He thought and shook his head.

Without further delay, he called Ian.

"What?' Ian answered without an ounce of interest.

"Can't you be more cheerful? You spoil the mood." Joshua lamented.

"Okay." Ian cut the call.

"What the hell," Joshua yelled when he heard the end dial tone. He called him again.

"What?" Ian asked the same question.

"Why did you cut the call?"

"Because I felt so. Now what?"

"I think I am sick."

"Hmm. Okay."

"Okay? Just Okay?"

"What do you want me to do?"

"I am sick. You are a doctor, you must treat your patients."

"Okay." Ian cut the call again. He was very busy and Joshua was only wasting his time. He had to find out more about the Litner family. He had to find out if he was actually related to them.

Joshua stared at his phone when the call ended again. He was seething in anger.

"Why did you cut the call?" Joshua asked Ian as soon as the call connected again.

"I am busy. Tell me what do you want?"

"I told you I am sick."

"Okay. Tell me your symptoms."

"I don't know."

"Then how are you telling you are sick? Listen Jo, if this is your prank, then I don't have time for it."

Before Ian could cut the call again, Joshua interrupted him.

"Wait."

"Hmm."

"I don't know. I haven't felt like this till now. I am unable to sleep."

"Insomnia, next," Ian noted down Joshua's words.

"I stare blankly into space."

"Absent-mindedness. Next?"

"I keep thinking about something."

"What?"

"Kiss."

"What?" Ian was perplexed. This man had gone crazy.

"Yes. I keep thinking about her."

"Who?"

"Ivy."

"Aria's sister, Ivy?" Ian asked, widening his eyes. Shock was an understatement of what he was feeling after listening to his friend's words.

"Yes."

"What happened?"

"I had met her a few days ago and some circumstances led her to kiss me."

"So?" Ian did not understand where the problem was.

"You are not getting it. I keep thinking about Ivy and the kiss. This has never happened before." Joshua sighed.

"This has never happened before?" Ian repeated the question to confirm his words.

"Yes. Tell me what is wrong with me."

"There is nothing wrong with you."

"Then, why am I feeling this way?"

"That's because my friend, you are falling for her."

"No way."

"Believe it or not it is the truth. You are attracted to her." Ian said smiling. Of the three, two wickets were down.

"It's impossible."

At that moment, a nurse came running to Ian.

"Doctor Davis, the patient in room number 12 is having a stroke. Please come with me, it's urgent."

"Listen Jo, I have an emergency to attend to. I'll talk to you later." Without waiting for his reply, Ian disconnected the call and ran towards the room.

On the other hand, Joshua was contemplating what Ian had told him. It was not possible that he was falling for Ivy. He had made a promise to himself to never fall for anyone eight years back. How could he break his promise just like that?

He thought about all the things that had occurred after he had met Ivy. He couldn't deny, she was interesting. She was different from all the other women he had been with or flirted with. She had never shown an interest in him nor had acted coquettishly in front of him. In fact, every time they met it looked like she repulsed him. What was it that made him like her?

Her boldness? Her weird nature? Her straightforwardness? Her indifference to him? Her sarcasm?

He couldn't decide what it was. He found everything about her quite fascinating. He had never felt anything like that for eight years.

Seeing where his thoughts were going, Joshua shook his head. How could he fall for anyone? No way. He made a promise to himself and he was going to maintain it. There was no way he would fall in love with Ivy when he was disgusted with the idea of love.

Although he encouraged other people, but he personally hated the concept of love. It was disgusting, painful, miserable and selfish. It was not his cup of coffee. He had tasted it once and it was nothing but bitter and had destroyed him completely. Not again. Never.

After thinking for a long time, he made a decision. If what Ian was saying was true and he was having feelings for Ivy, then it had to stop. He had to put a brake on them completely. He had to stay as far away as possible from her and this was for his own good.