Chapter 5 5

I dabbed cotton with alcohol on Atreo's wound. I may not know much about medicine, but I knew how to clean a wound. Sebastian removed the bullet from Atreo's arm. When we arrived on the island, he was immediately treated to avoid excessive bleeding.

"Are you sure the Bandido group is no longer on the island?"

"Yes, General. Every corner of the island is clear, and the people are safe now."

Atreo nodded, and I looked at him as I gently dabbed cotton on his wound.

"Sorry," I made a peace sign, smiling apologetically, but he avoided eye contact. I shrugged and continued cleaning his wound.

"Alright, Vipers, take some rest."

The Vipers stood and saluted Atreo before dispersing towards their camp, hidden behind Atreo's rest house.

When Atreo and I were alone, silence filled the air. After finishing cleaning his wound, I applied cotton and taped it to prevent infection. I then covered it with a bandage.

"Done," I packed up his medical kit, ready to stand up, but he stopped me by grabbing my arm.

I looked at him, and his eagle-like eyes were fixed on me. I tried to convey that I was about to leave, but he held me back.

"How did you learn self-defense?"

"Well, my dad taught me. Why?"

He released my arm, not answering my question. Instead, he asked, "Now it's my turn to ask you."

"Go home," he said as he was about to stand up. I blocked his way.

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Why do you want to know?" he asked seriously, looking into my eyes.

"Because I like you," I confessed straightforwardly.

He chuckled, seemingly amazed. What was so amazing about that? Was I the first one to confess to him without beating around the bush?

"You don't know what you're saying. You're too young."

"Answer me. Do you have a girlfriend?" I asked desperately.

"What if I don't?" he grinned, as if challenging me, and I smiled.

"Then... let me be your girlfriend."

He laughed for the first time that I saw. He was so handsome, and I fell for him even more when I saw and heard his beautiful laughter, especially now that I learned he didn't have a girlfriend.

"I don't go for someone so young," he said, standing up after saying that. I gulped and stood up too. I immediately blocked his way.

"Just because I'm young doesn't mean you can belittle me. Remember, I can still get you even if I'm younger."

I said seriously and tiptoed to reach his lips. I closed my eyes and felt his lips. It was just a moment, and I quickly let go, looking at him. I wondered what he was thinking. He seemed blank.

"Good night."

I quickly ran out of his house, smiling freely and touching my lips. I stopped for a moment and restrained myself from screaming in joy.

"His lips felt so good. God."

I lay on my bed when I reached Aling Consuelo's house. I still touched my lips and giggled in happiness. I rolled around in bed and sat up because I couldn't contain the joy I was feeling. I might not be able to sleep. I felt like I was going crazy.

He's my first crush. My first kiss. I want him to be my boyfriend. Just thinking about him being my boyfriend makes me uncontrollably happy. God.

So the next day, I went to his house early. I caught the Vipers having breakfast. I glanced at Atreo, wearing an apron, black loose pants, and nothing else covering his beautiful and delicious body. As delicious as breakfast. My morning was so beautiful.

He placed the dishes on the table as if he cooked them. I looked at it and marveled because he apparently knew how to cook.

"Did you cook all of these?"

"Sit down." I still smiled even though he was frowning again. I sat on an empty chair and smiled at the Vipers, who seemed uneasy. It's like they were the ones embarrassed in front of me.

"Why are you all shirtless?" I asked, and some choked on their food, while others spat out their drinks. "Why that reaction? Is this the first time you've shown your bodies to a girl? In fairness, your bodies are handsome. You know, you could do modeling."

"Enough, kiddo."

I looked at Atreo as he placed the coffee he made on his spot. I couldn't sit beside him because Sebastian and Von were on either side of him, both equally sullen. So I couldn't vibe with him.

I kept quiet because Atreo seemed to be in a bad mood again. Tsss. Don't tell me he's angry about the kiss? Was that his first kiss?

I giggled, catching their attention. I apologized and tried to stop my smile. I stabbed the hotdog with a fork and bit into it.

I chewed while looking at Atreo, who was eating seriously. When he looked at me, I winked and bit into the hotdog he bit into, so I smiled, thoroughly enjoying the hotdog.

He wiped his mouth with a napkin before standing up, and the Vipers and I lowered our hotdogs.

"I'm done," he avoided eye contact with me and left the dining area. I followed him with my eyes.

"I wonder what happened to the General? He hasn't even finished his meal."

I continued eating and pondered. But I secretly smiled because I knew, thanks to me, he didn't finish his meal.

When I offered to clean up, the Vipers left the dining area. After finishing cleaning, I decided to look for Atreo.

I glanced outside upon hearing a splash. I immediately headed to the garden and, upon reaching the last step, I saw a staircase leading up to the rooftop of Atreo's house. So I decided to climb up. I peeked when I was almost at the last step and saw a swimming pool. I noticed a guy swimming, and when he stopped at the edge of the pool and faced me, I smiled, knowing it was Atreo.

I pondered and went down the stairs. I returned to Aling Consuelo's house and grabbed my new bikini bra and panty. It was a good thing I was wearing this when I landed on Atreo's island. It could come in handy.

Once I put on my bikini, I wore the flowy one-strap dress that was tied around my neck. Excitedly, I headed back to Atreo's house, walked to the stairs, and climbed up.

I saw Atreo leaning against the pool wall with his eyes closed, his arm hanging on the wall. I walked towards the pool.

"Can I join you?"

He opened his eyes and looked at me. He stepped away from the wall upon seeing me. I smiled, removed the strap of the dress around my neck, and lowered it to reveal my beach body.

I smiled when I saw that he was looking at my body. I took off my slippers before walking to the edge of the pool. I dived in and swam underwater towards him. When I saw his legs and noticed he was only wearing black briefs, I smiled and surfaced in front of him. I pushed my hair back and looked at him.

He looked at me in disbelief. I smiled at him, teasingly and placed my hand on his shoulder. He tried to remove it.

"You don't know what you're doing," he said sternly. He held my wrist tightly, and I could feel the tension. Why was Atreo Ripler Alvarez nervous?

"What's wrong with this? I'm not doing anything," I asked, smiling, and leaned closer.

He closed his eyes, and I felt the heaviness of his breath on my face.

"This is not right," he whispered, which I heard.

"What's wrong with this?" I whispered back, and he opened his eyes, staring at me. I could see the restraint in his eyes, as if he was struggling.

I smiled and stepped back, and he let go of my hand.

"Okay, I'll leave." After saying that, I turned away from him and swam towards where I left my dress. I surfaced and walked towards it.

I squeezed my hair and wiped the water off my face. I glanced back at the pool when I heard him resurface. He looked deep into my eyes and walked towards me. He hugged my waist, pulling me towards him. I looked at him with a serious expression.

"I'm trying to control myself, but you always tease me. You don't know who I am, so why do you insist on getting close to me?"

I felt the pounding in my chest and his as well. Our chests were pressed together, and our faces were so close that our knees almost touched.

"Would it be enough if I said I'm in love at first sight with you? You can tell me your full identity now. Is there something I need to know for me to stop liking you?"

He swallowed hard while looking at me. I held onto his shoulder as he turned me towards the pool. He walked, and I stepped back. I looked back and saw that we were about to fall into the pool. I glanced at him and screamed when he kissed me.

I opened my eyes underwater and looked at him. He was kissing me passionately, holding onto me tightly. No water entered because we didn't release our lips.

I held onto his hair and wrapped my legs around his waist. I didn't expect to experience an underwater kiss. And I didn't expect that Atreo would be the first to give in.

He held onto my waist, squeezing it tightly as we continued exchanging kisses. When I couldn't take it anymore, I let go of the kiss, and he opened his eyes. We resurfaced, and I took a deep breath.

After catching my breath, I looked at Atreo, who was smiling while still holding onto my waist.

We both couldn't say anything, just smiling and looking at each other.

"Let's keep this a secret."

When he said that, my smile disappeared.

"Why?"

"I don't want the Vipers to think I'm falling for you."

I didn't know how to feel. Yes, he was right because he was older, and I was too young for him to pursue. But was he embarrassed of me?

"What if they think? They already know I like you."

He held my chin and squeezed it tightly, looking deeply into my eyes with his eagle-like gaze that made my knees weak.

"I'm the General of our group. I don't want them to lose their respect for me as their General."

I took a deep breath and looked down. He held my chin and lifted it again to make me look at him.

"Don't you want to?" he asked and planted a kiss on my lips, which I swallowed.

"O-Okay..."