CHAPTER 3

LIKE SHE SAID earlier, things change when their lips touch. She could say that because she couldn’t remember a time when Alvin kissed her in a private place like his condo or her apartment without it ending in a heated encounter.

She was too soft, and she admitted she was weak. Meanwhile, Alvin was naturally passionate, something she hadn’t seen before because throughout their long friendship, he had always remained a gentleman to her.

“Please, stop,” she whispered when she had the chance.

But it was as if he didn’t hear her. He lifted her effortlessly and carried her quickly into her room.

The moment Alvin laid her down on her bed, her senses were flooded with his presence. The room, dimly lit by the bedside lamp, seemed to close in around them, cocooning them in an intimate atmosphere. Alvin stood at the foot of the bed, his eyes locked onto hers with a burning intensity. He began to undress with rapid, almost frantic movements, as if fearing she might change her mind and run away.

Yes, she could do that, but why did it feel like the bed had a magnet pulling her in? Why did she find herself savoring the sight of his beauty, laid bare before her?

Tracy’s eyes burned with warmth as she watched the handsome man undress in front of her. The defined muscles of his chest and abdomen flexed under the soft light, casting shadows that emphasized every contour. His skin glistened slightly with a sheen of anticipation. Why shouldn’t she give in?

Her mind quickly dismissed the thought.

Was it only Alvin who wanted this, and she just had to oblige? Or was it that she truly desired it and was just afraid to admit it?

Patricia took a deep breath to ease the tightness in her chest. Even if she lied to herself, her heart knew the truth. She wanted to say goodbye to this man properly. She wanted to give him a heated memory that he could look back on. And she wanted the same for herself. So, she decided to finally remove her mask and admit the truth to herself.

They had done this many times before. What was one more time that signified a farewell? She would do everything to make it special. She would give Alvin an experience he would never forget, ensuring he would always remember her.

Her eyes burned again at the thought.

It hurt to think that Alvin only needed her in moments like this, but she couldn’t change that. Her consolation was that their friendship had gained a deeper meaning. Anyway, whether she admitted it or not, she enjoyed it. Especially when their passion was at its peak, she would even ask for more, knowing Alvin could give it to her.

She was resolved when Alvin joined her on the bed again. So when he kissed her, she didn’t just kiss him back. She matched his passion, kiss for kiss.

In many of their encounters, she had always been like a child waiting to be fed. But this time, she was actively participating. It was her first time feeling such intense emotions, and she knew why. They would soon part ways, and she had no intention of changing or withdrawing from that decision.

“Even if you want to do this until tonight, I’m fine with it,” she whispered after breaking their kiss.

Alvin’s lips curled into a smile before he kissed her again.

It was true. She was willing, even if it took all night. She wanted to make sure Alvin was asleep when she left. That way, she knew nothing could stop her. Unlike her current plan to leave, one kiss from Alvin, and everything changed. She became soft and yielded once again.

Finding an opportunity, she pushed Alvin to sit up. She then took her place on his lap. Without a second thought, she removed her dress and tossed it somewhere in the room.

“Patricia, you’re beautiful, so beautiful,” Alvin murmured, pulling her close and kissing her deeply.

His hands began to roam, quickly unhooking her strapless bra. When her breasts were fully exposed, his skilled hands tenderly caressed them.

Patricia moaned between their heated kisses. She had no plans to stop. Like Alvin, she felt the intense heat coursing through her body. Maybe because she had said she was willing to do this until nightfall, she felt like she was in the middle of a passionate battle, and she needed to give her best.

This was the first time she felt such intense emotions, and she knew why. They would soon part ways, and she had no intention of changing or withdrawing from that decision.

“ISN’T she the one you introduced to me as your best friend in college? Look, she’s married now, and she married a very wealthy man,” Alvin’s mother, Daisy, said one morning at breakfast, handing him the newspaper she was holding.

A pang of intense jealousy hit Alvin as he saw who his mother was referring to. None other than Patricia Solomon. And his mother was right; he had introduced her to his family during college.

Patricia was his best friend, but he knew that two years ago, their relationship had evolved beyond mere friendship.

He quickly set the newspaper down on the table and continued eating silently.

He would never forget everything that happened between them. For him, it was all beautiful. But he never imagined he had misjudged her. After everything, she left him abruptly, as if nothing had happened.

It was true.

She was a woman, and he was her first. But he couldn’t understand what heavy reason she had to leave him like that.

He woke up alone in Patricia’s apartment the next day. She was gone, and she never showed up again. He tried calling her, but he couldn’t reach the number saved in his phone.

And now, a year later, here she was, featured in a prominent newspaper, married to a famous businessman’s son. Alvin tried to ignore the intense jealousy gnawing at his heart.

But how could he ignore the fact that she had moved on so easily, leaving him with nothing but memories and questions?