Chapter 4- The Unforgettable Kiss

Vera Anderson's POV

I stopped for a while in recalling what happened in the past. As much as I could, I don't want to remember it anymore. But when I saw Royce earlier, I feel like my heart seems to be racing again. It's been three years already since it happened, yet, I can't forget how those sultry lips of him touched mine. 

I closed my eyes as remnants of the past continuously muddled the tranquility of my mind.

Alexa began counting.

"The kissing game begins in 3,2,1 go!"

As soon as the lights turned off, I slowly made a few steps back to the dressing room to hide there for the meantime. But someone grabbed my waist and kissed me. I felt like millions of volts were running through my veins as the unknown lips touched mine, The kiss was warm and passionate which made me respond to it. 

Until the lights were back on and girls were screaming out loud when they realized whom I was kissing with. Oh my God! it was Royce! I felt so embarrassed when he looked at me intently. I hurriedly ran down and left the pool area. I went inside the dressing room and stayed there for a while. I couldn't believe I had given my first kiss to someone, I don't even know. I took off my swimsuit and put on my dress. 

I  felt so ashamed and I don't have enough guts to face all of them. How could I get out of here? I thought.

Suddenly, the door opened and Alexa stepped inside with her mouth in a flat grimace.

"Oh, I'm sorry gurl. I did not mean to offend you. It was just a game. It was nothing. I can assure you, that the kiss was not a big deal for Royce. You know, he has plenty of women, and that kiss was just ordinary for him. So please, don't take it seriously okay?" Alexa pulled me a hug and patted my back.

"If it's nothing to him, then it means a lot to me", I started to get emotional. Until I was not able to control my tears and they rolled down my cheeks. Alexa comforted me and wiped my tears with her palm.

"Ssshhh.. stop crying. You're like a kid, gurl. Don't cry anymore, or I will cry too", she uttered giving me a serious look.

I thumped her shoulder as I pouted my lips.

"You brat! You did this on purpose!", I blurted out.

"Of course not! Who was expecting that Royce would be kissing you?", she softly chuckled.

"That means, he likes you gurl", Alexa grinned and tickled the lower part of my torso.

"And how does it feel to be kissed by a womanizer like him?", she asked curiously trying to read my facial expression.

I did not respond. But Alexa continued teasing me around until I confessed to her what did I feel when Royce kissed me. And when she heard about it, she was giggling to the highest level and I couldn't help but laugh at her. 

When Alexa announced that Royce and I won the kissing game, everybody was shrieking as we stood in front to receive the prize. Both of us were given the latest model of iPhone. At an unexpected time and place, I got a new mobile phone because of that kiss!

Yes, that kiss was unforgettable.  Since then, I could not take him out of my mind. Was that love at first sight? Or I was just sexually attracted to him?

After that party, I haven't seen him anymore because the following week I went to Harvard to take my master's degree. I stayed there for three years because right after I took my master's I applied for a job.

Because of that kiss, I lost my desire for a relationship. Although I experienced dating men but getting into commitments? That is way too far from my dreams. Maybe because I am a conservative type of person and I have this strong notion that the man who happened to be my first kiss, would be the one I will spend the rest of my life with.

"Oh my God! So, it means I want Royce to be my future---"

"You're unbelievable Vera!" I scolded myself.

But what else could I do? I love him. The other side of my brain insisted. 

Wait...

Did I say "I love him?" oh my gosh. What kind of foolishness is this? I don't know if the person still remembers me. Royce Miller was known to be a womanizer, and a  happy-go-lucky guy who doesn't know anything but to hang out with friends. If I'm going to think about it, I know there are already plenty of women he slept with. And even plenty of them ended up heartbroken.

I shook my head because I couldn't imagine myself being one of those women who would also end up hurting. Maybe it's time to forget everything about him. That kiss happened three years ago and it was just a part of Alexa's game.

After fixing myself, I pulled off the driveway going back home.

When I reached the house, Nanny was already setting up the table for lunch. I smiled at her and kissed her cheek. 

After I'm done eating, I went to the sala to watch noontime shows. My eyes get droopy so I lay down on the sofa bed.

There was a moment of silence. Suddenly, I heard the sweet music that echoed on the dance floor. Then, a handsome young man offered his hand to me.

"May I have this dance Vera", the man said gently.

I raised my head slightly to see who it was.

"Royce!", I exclaimed.

He nodded and gave me a tender smile. I took his hands and together we went to the dance floor. I did not expect I will meet him again after three years and now, he is dancing with me. I could clearly see his blue tantalizing eyes, which are full of affection. He held my waist and I encircled my hands around his neck. I feel the sensation of tingles run through my spine especially when he pulled himself closer to me. I looked around and noticed there are no other people on the dance floor except the two of us.

"I missed you Vera", he said and lowered his head. He gently cupped my face and threaded his hand through my hair. He was intently staring at me and I feel like I was drowning in the ocean of his flickering eyes. It seems I am frozen in a moment in time and the only thing that I can hear is the beating of his heart.

His grip became even tighter as his passionate kiss landed on my lips. 

"Vera", he whispered into my ears.

"Royce", I mumbled

Beep..beep..beep...

The sound of my cellphone woke me up from a beautiful dream. I did not know I had fallen asleep on the sofa bed while watching noontime shows.

And...

I was dreaming of him!

My heart was beating fast when I tried to recall about it and before I could realize, my blouse was already wet with sweat. I stood up, grabbed my phone, and went inside my room to get dressed. I hurriedly picked up the call upon knowing that it was coming from my best friend Alexa who is now living in Westwood. 

"Hi gurl, wassup?", the voice of my friend from the other line.

"I'm fine gurl, but--", I paused for a while and yawned.

"But--what?", Alexa asked.

"I guess, you were sleeping when I called you. Did I disturb you gurl?", she asked again.

I cleared my throat for a while and then told her everything from the time I met Royce at the Cellphone Care Center until I was dreaming of him. I heard Alexa's shrieking voice from the other line.

"Oh my God! You're in love with Royce gurl, I'm sure of it!"

"Of course not!", I scoffed.

"It's just because we met again after three years, and I remembered that kiss", I said gruffly.

Alexa was just laughing like she was teasing me around. Well, she was always like that ever since. 

"It's because of that kissing game, you initiated stubborn brat!", I spoke bluntly. 

"Well, who knows you're really destined for each other gurl and that kissing game was just a blessing in disguise", Alexa giggled.

I was stunned into silence because I don't know what to say. I thought it's really impossible, knowing that Royce is a womanizer and just enjoying the pleasure of having plenty of women. There's no way he would get into a serious relationship. And maybe he doesn't remember what happened three years ago. It was just an ordinary thing for him. And what I dream of a while ago, was just a dream and will never come true.

"Gurl? Are you okay?", Alexa asked when she noticed I did not anymore speak.

"Yes, I'm fine gurl. Ahm, by the way, are you not coming here?", I said, trying to change the topic.

Alexa told me she was planning to visit me here in LA in two weeks. Of course, I already missed my best friend. We seldom see each other since I took my master's degree in Harvard while she also decided to live with her parents in Westwood.

Although Alexa and I have different personalities, but I love her as much as she loves me.

After some time of having a conversation, we bid goodbye to each other. 

I grabbed my towel and went inside the bathroom to take a quick shower. 

But as I'm enjoying the warm water dripping into my skin, the thoughts about that dream flashed back in my mind.

The passionate kiss Royce and I shared together seems to be real and again it flutters my heart.