Chapter 3 The Kiss

"Ring, Ring!"

The alarm jolted me awake. Morning had come too soon.

I dressed, grabbed my bag, and headed for campus. The lectures dragged on. I barely paid attention. My mind was... elsewhere.

After class, I got a call from Jess.

"Hey Dad, I didn't go to lectures today. I'm bored. Can you come over?"

Without thinking, I agreed.

When I arrived, she had popcorn and a movie ready. We watched, played board games, and laughed like old times. It felt normal again. Warm.

I helped her tidy up her room since we run out of what to do. Jeez cleaning wasn't easy I exclaimed.. " I guess I've finally found your weakness "she replied" and we both laughed and continued our cleaning by the time we were done it was already past 6pm.

But as I got up to leave, something inside me snapped.

"Thanks for today," I said, standing close to her.

"You're welcome," she smiled.

I brushed a strand of hair from her face. My fingers lingered.

Then... I pecked her lightly on the lips.

She froze..eyes wide, lips still. Stunned.

I saw the fear. The confusion.

Guilt flashed across my chest. I slowly removed my hand from her cheek.

But then, something reckless took over.

I leaned in and kissed her again, more deeply this time. Brief, but intense. Then I pulled back, not saying a word. Picked up my bag and left her standing there, staring into nothing.

I didn't know what came over me.

Later that night, I went to a bar.

I sat there, drinking. Trying to forget the look on her face.

My phone buzzed.

"What's wrong with you? Are you becoming a pervert now? If you've started sexualizing me, I'll avoid you. I'm scared of you, Andre. I hate you."

I didn't respond. I just kept drinking.

"Bro. You still there? I'm coming back with something wild 😏"

Then again a minute later

"Just landed. I've got gist. And a surprise. Where are you??"

I stared at the texts, debating if I should respond. Geoffrey had traveled to Brisbane earlier in the week for a family thing. Said he'd only be gone for three days.

I'd forgotten he was coming back today.

My fingers hovered over the screen.

Me:

"Still around. At that bar across from The Galleria."

His reply came fast.

"Say less. On my way. Be there at 15."

Great.

I wasn't in the mood for company, but Geoffrey didn't care about things like "moods." He was a carefree soul. Loud, shameless, always full of gist. And somehow, still one of the few people I tolerated.

I leaned back, finishing the rest of my drink slowly. My head was getting heavy, and I could already feel the dull ache of an oncoming hangover crawling behind my eyes.

Fifteen minutes later, I saw him enter the bar, spotting me almost instantly.

"There you are!" Geoffrey grinned, dragging a chair beside me like we were meeting for brunch. "I thought you ghosted me, you idiot."

I offered a weak smile. "Didn't realize you were back today."

"Yeah, yeah. The flight got delayed, and then my sister wouldn't stop talking about her wedding plans like I'm not the broke sibling. Anyway," He sat down, dropping his phone and wallet on the table. "You look like hell. What happened to you?"

"Long week."

He squinted at me. "Long week like assignment long or long week like heartbreak long?"

I shrugged. "Something like that."

He eyed me suspiciously, then leaned in. "Is this about that girl?"

I tensed slightly. "What girl?"

"Jessica or whatever her name is. The one you've been lowkey obsessed with since the semester started. I've seen the way you look at her. Don't play me."

I looked away, jaw tightening.

He raised a brow. "Damn. That bad, huh?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

Geoffrey held up his hands. "Alright. No therapy session tonight. Just vibes. And speaking of vibes..." He leaned in with a sly grin. "You're coming out with me tonight."

"Not in the mood."

"That's exactly why you're coming. You need a distraction. A drink. A girl who won't make you question your sanity."

I gave him a look. "I already drank."

"Then keep going."

He pulled out his phone and showed me a screenshot of an event flyer.

"A new club just opened in Southport. Velvet Room. Members-only, but I know a guy who knows the bouncer. Clean aesthetics, fine girls, crazy music. You're coming alright. End of story."

I wanted to say no. I wanted to go home, take a hot shower, and maybe sleep until I stopped feeling like a human trash fire.

But instead, I nodded.

Maybe Geoffrey was right.

Maybe I needed to feel something else. Anything else.

"Fine," I muttered. "Let's go."

Geoffrey clapped his hands once and stood. "My man. Let's get you out of this emotional coma."

I stood too, tossing a few bills onto the table without really counting and calling the waiter's attention to them. My head was spinning, not from the alcohol, but from everything else.

The guilt. Jess's message. The way her words were still echoing in my head.

As we walked toward the exit, something in me hesitated. My steps slowed.

By the time we reached the door, I had stopped completely.

Geoffrey noticed. "What?"

I ran a hand through my hair and shook my head. "I can't tonight."

He blinked. "What do you mean? We just"

"I'm exhausted, man. Mentally. Physically. All of it," I muttered. "Let's do it tomorrow. Saturday night. I'll be more alive by then."

Geoffrey raised a brow, studying my face like he didn't recognize me. "You sure?"

"Yeah. I just need rest."

He exhaled dramatically but nodded. "Alright. I'll let you off the hook for tonight."

I managed a faint smile. "Text me the time and location."

"Done. And bro, whatever this is you're going through? Sleep it off. You're not even acting like yourself." I'll come pick you up tomorrow.

I didn't respond. Because I wasn't sure who I was acting like anymore.

We split up at the lot. Geoffrey headed off to catch a ride. I walked home alone, hands in my pockets, the chill evening breeze doing nothing to cool the fire in my chest.

As I pushed open the door to my room and collapsed on the bed, my phone vibrated one more time.

Jess.

"You scared me, Andre."

I locked the screen without opening it.

Tomorrow, I told myself. Tomorrow I'll feel better.