LOGINShare
Sixteen: Zachary Mason
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56She propped up her chin with one hand, spun her pen on the other. She was done with her exam and was waiting for the announcement that time was up. All the other students were still deep in thoughts, you can hear a pin dropped in the classroom. Out from the corner of her eye, she saw a figure outside the window. When she took a glance, Preston was waving at her with both arms up high.
His hair was long enough to be tied back in a tiny ponytail. He was wearing a worn-out T-shirt, the collar was loose, his necklace hung out, the top of his chest was visible. He was mouthing something that she couldn't make out. It didn't take long for the other students to notice him, and the girls were starting to murmur, "It's Preston Hicks." There was giggling sound. Preston pointed to the cafeteria, his mouth was moving, "I'll wait for you at the cafeteria."
Julie nodded, but then he was mouthing something else that was harder to understand. The classroom
Related chapters
The Boyfriend Seventeen: I Love You
She swept it under the rug. She knew what Kelsey was like, but she thought it was different with Nathan. She was willing to ignore what Preston had told her for the sake of salvaging the only decent relationship Kelsey ever had with a guy, also the fact that Nathan had become someone that might stay in her life as a friend and professionally.She had booked her ticket to Bhorma, Kelsey was tagging along to surprise Nathan. She was definitely keeping the relationship, it was easier for Julie to forget what Preston had told her.She came back early to the dorm that day to start packing. She was in a good mood after receiving her final exam result. As she was entering her dorm room, Zach was getting out from it.Helooked like he just got out of bed, Kelsey was in the background tidying up her dress like she was just getting into them. "Hey," Zach greeted her casually. Julie gave him a half nod. Her gaze immediately mo
The Boyfriend Eighteen: A Sad Asshole
He walked back to the dorm feeling like a total loser. How could he have been such a jerk that even when he poured his heart out, told the naked truth to the person he most cares about, she didn't believe him? He suddenly felt so aware of himself, eyes gazing at him along the way to the dorm."Hey, Preston." Pretty girls greeted him here and there. Somehow they all knew who he was around campus. "Where are you going, Preston?" another voice came.It was getting late. Girls who came to him only had one thing in their minds. He realized it was who he was, that was why Julie would never agree to be his girlfriend. He leaned lazily on the doorway of his dorm. "Hey ... Preston ... need some company?" A girl in a miniskirt greeted him by the door.He smiled at the irony, "Hey..." He didn't even know her name."Samantha, from Corporate Psychology ... I sat right behind you," she said."
The Boyfriend Nineteen: Bhorma
Three days later, she was leaving for Bhorma. She hadn't heard from Preston since that night, nor she had tried to contact him. There was a knock on the door, it was Preston. Standing with both hands on either side of the door frame. Looking at his beautiful face, she was relieved."Hi ... can I talk to you for a second?" She nodded and let him in. "Is Kelsey here?""No, she went out to get some last minute stuff," she said casually.They stood facing each other awkwardly. He saw the suitcases, a sense of loss crept inside him. "Wow ... you're all packed and ready to go," he commented.She sat on her bed and nodded, waiting to hear what he came to tell her. He sat next to her, and faced her. "I just want to tell you something ..." he began. "I understand your decision ... I'm okay with that... I guess I was just selfish that I wanted you for myself, but I know one thing is for sure ... I want y
The Boyfriend Twenty: First Day At Work
They drove about twenty minutes to get to Nathan's villa. There were a lot of motorbikes in Bhorma traffic. Nathan said that people usually go on foot for a shorter distance. He lived alone in his three-bedroom villa. The lower ground was for the garage and household tools. The living space was on the upper ground. A wide living room with cushions around the floor sofa facing the TV.The pantry was on the other side of the room, along with a six seated dining table which looked like it's rarely used. In between the two parts of the upper floor was a corridor with two doors on each side, three bedrooms, and a bathroom was the last door on the left. Nathan occupies the master bedroom with an internal bath of his own.The guest room was across the external bathroom, and the bedroom across from Nathan was reserved for his parents whenever they come to visit. A local lady was hired to keep the place clean and organized. A huge balcony can b
The Boyfriend Twenty One: My Good Boss
Nathan was a good friend, and a good employer, not just to her, but to everyone. He made everyone feel like they're in one big team, each person was equally important. Anybody can contribute their ideas to improve the restaurant, the food, the working environment, and he took everyone's opinion into consideration.He didn't get angry whenever there was a screw-up, he knew everyone was learning as they go just like he was. And that it would take years to build something substantial, Nathan wanted to bring the team to grow with him and the company. He learned to tackle everything that the team was lacking, he has this calmness about him in overcoming problems that made everyone felt secure.Julie was observing strong leadership from Nathan. Whenever they were short on staff, Nathan never hesitated to go down and dirty in the kitchen or serve food to the customers, always with a smile on his face. He chatted with everyone, his extroverted vibe
The Boyfriend Twenty Two: Plans For The New Year's Eve
She worked together with other staff to decorate Ardor for Christmas. Even though it wasn't a popular festivity in Bhorma. Most people go back to their home town to celebrate, those who stayed are people like Julie who doesn't celebrate the holiday with her family."You don't go back for Christmas?" Andy asked."No ... just a phone call would do," she didn't want to explain."When do you go home, then?"She shrugged, "Maybe after graduation ... before I officially start working, what about you?"Andy poured some milk into the fresh cup he just made, "My family lives here, we see each other every day, I actually need an excuse to get away from them."They laughed. He handed her the cup, it smelled better on Christmas."Thank you so much ... oooh I love it," she inhaled the aroma before taking a sip."I noticed you alwa
The Boyfriend Twenty Three: The Rockabillies
They parked the car at a five-minute walking distance parking lot. The streets were filled with parked vehicles and people getting ready for midnight. The Rockabillies entrance can be accessed from the narrow street where rows of bars, cafes, and restaurants lined from end to end. They were playing all kinds of music that were jumbled up as they walked up to The Rockabillies.Some people were too drunk to stand up and just sitting on the pavement or leaning against the street lights still in their party mood. It was a warm night with no breeze. A tropical December night, something she never experienced before.They walked over the long entrance over a wooden bridge. The jungle-themed bar had swimming pools and a large whirl pool filled with visitors in their bathing suits holding their drinks. There were bars in between the pools. They walk past huts for people to sit and gather around tables with their group.At the end
The Boyfriend Twenty Four: The Morning After
She woke up to the sound of her phone ringing, dazed, and tasted the smell of her drinks the night before in her breath. She pierced her eyes to see who was calling, pressed the accept button under Kelsey's beautiful face."Hey girl ... Happy New Year!!" her usual cheerful voice greeted her, then her dazzling morning look was visible on her screen."Hey babe, Happy New Year!" her hoarse voice surprised herself."Whoa ... you looked like you had a pretty good night," Kelsey laughed. She was descending some stairs outside an unfamiliar house."Where are you?" Juliewiped her eyes and yawned."I had to crash at a friend's house last night 'cause ... well ... you know," she pressed her car alarm, Julie heard the tweet."Who?" she was curious.Kelsey entered her car, sat on the driver's seat, and took a deep breath, "Zachary's ... he held
Latest chapter
The Boyfriend Epilogue
She wouldn't let me take her out on a date. She wouldn't let me kiss her, or touch her. Three months after she came back to Ardor, she went island hopping with Kelsey on her 21st birthday. I wasn't invited, obviously. I couldn't sleep that night, wondering if she was going to get wasted and ended up with some strange guy, willingly or unwillingly. There's no other girl that has kept me up all night as often as she did. For all different kinds of reasons.But to end up with a strange guy was not the problem with her, it was only that one guy. I hate him. He calls her much too often for my liking. They would talk for hours, it burned me, and I couldn't do anything about it.The almost-kisses we had was driving me insane, but I've promised her I'd wait however long it takes. I think she was torturing me on purpose.Six months after she was back, she finally let me in. We kissed. Every kiss was better than the last. I love k
The Boyfriend Thirty Nine: Graduation
Her mom and dad came on her graduation day. They took pictures together, a pat on the back, a clumsy hug, a kiss on the cheeks, a congratulations. The three of them again after eight years. She was smiling the whole day.She told them about her plans, they told her how proud they were, shared one last hug and asked her to call them more often. That was pretty much the depth of their relationship.After her parents left, Kelsey was there. They shared a long hug, enough to replace a thousand words they wanted to say to each other.Kelsey tilted her toga hat with a smile, "I hope I'll look good in these next year." They laughed. "I guess this cause for a celebration ... let's go get some coffee, my treat," she added.They went to The Morning Brew, still in her toga and her diploma in her grip."I can't believe you're leaving in a few days ... do you realize we've never been apart si
The Boyfriend Thirty Eight: Your Biggest Mistake
Despite of making up at the end of their argument, Kelsey was distant. She kept to herself. Julie woke up the next morning feeling like a zombie, lost all sense of directions. She had to come up with a new plan for her future. There was no way she could go back to Ardor.She made the report and told the faculty that she had to finish early because of a family emergency. The only time her family was useful for her. She didn't have the courage to contact Nathan, but to her relief, the faculty informed her that he had turned in the assessment sheet for her internship. She passed with flying colors. She texted to thank him, he didn't reply.Two weeks in after she got back to Gastonburry, she started to prepare her final presentation. Finalized her internship report, created slide shows, crunching numbers, drew diagrams, and all the bits and details needed for the final show. She also submitted a new application through the University to find emp
The Boyfriend Thirty Seven: Going After Kelsey
She managed not to cry when she left his hotel room. She told him to take a shower as she left because she didn't want a sappy farewell that will make her weep the entire day. So they left it at that. The memory of their last day together was to be remembered as something extraordinary and beautiful.When she arrived in front of Nathan's villa, she took a long deep breath to ready her for what's waiting. She took long, slow and dragging steps toward the house, expecting to see both Nathan and Kelsey for another awkward social situation. The house was quiet, she opened the sliding door from the balcony and stepped into the kitchen. There was only Nathan."Where's everybody?"Nathan sat on the island stool, not looking his best. "Kelsey ... umm ... she left."She raised her eyebrows, put down her bags on the floor. "Left where?"He looked down on the kitchen counter, played with hi
The Boyfriend Thirty Six: Hostage
Their silence speaks more volume that night. They poured drinks back in the room, browsed through the movie selections they wanted to see. They put on the one they agreed on, not really caring what it was because their minds were wandering to places that don't exist. A place where they would go through life without each other by their sides.She laid her head on his shoulder, stared blankly into the TV. He held her hand and played with her fingers, something he will miss terribly. He took a deep breath.She remembered when she first saw him, his smile, his cheeky comments. His playfulness, his laughs, his annoying ways to get her attention. Those dark blue eyes, and his beautiful face. She glanced over to the tattoo on his chest, and she touched that "J". He looked down and shivered from her gentle touch.He turned to look at her. That was when she pulled himgently and pressed her lips against his. She closed her e
The Boyfriend Thirty Five: One Fine Day
It was a good night's sleep she needed. Her sweet smile was back on her face the next morning. Her mood was lighter, and she couldn't wait to spend the day with Preston. He wanted to explore the island with her and end the day at The Rockabillies. She took him to her favorite beach, favorite hangouts, a cool vintage clothing shop that Preston would love. Nathan Sommers was not in her mind that day.He didn't want to ruin her mood, so he held it for a while longer. The thing he was going to tell her will be hard to hear, as much as it was going to be hard for him to say. She was laughing at his jokes, mocked him as he was trying on funky clothes. Preston loved to shop. He had a wide collection of strange outfits that he can pull off easily. Julie was probably the only girl he knew who had the patience to wait on him while he shopped.She always chose the items for him, he always listened to her. She's the one he goes to for any advice, school
The Boyfriend Thirty Four: Saved By Preston
She hugged Kelsey as she pass, and then lingered her tight embrace on Preston."How's my favorite girl in the world?" he put both arms around her and swayed her."I'm so glad you're here," Julie said.Nathan had his arms around Kelsey but his eyes were on Preston."Trouble in paradise?" he sensed the hostility from the host."Please get me out of here," she whispered."My plan exactly," he said with a naughty grin and kissed her forehead.Preston helped them put their stuff inside before excusing himself. "You have a very lovely home here, Mrs. Sommers, but I need to check-in at my hotel and get some drinks with Julie ... we have a lot of catching up to do.""Oh ... butI hope you'llbe joining us for dinner at Ardor? I've arranged a nice private dinner for all of us there at 7," she said.
The Boyfriend Thirty Three: Surprise?
Neither of them could sleep that night. They laid on their own matrasses in silence, in the dark, pretended to be asleep. She got out of bed just in time to see the sunrise. She thought Nathan was sleeping, just when she inhaled the first-morning breeze, he was already standing behind her."It's the best sunrise I've ever experience anywhere," he said startling her. She smiled. "That's another reason why I brought you here ... an island getaway," he added."It wasn't supposed to be for me, I wish the circumstances was different."Silence.He walked over to her, stood right behind her, he put his hands on the railing. She felt his breath on her hair, on her neck. He didn't touch her, but it felt like he was undressing her.He was having a moment. In his mind, she was the lover that he always wanted to bring to that island. But she was still afraid of him, how she felt about him.
The Boyfriend Thirty Two: Welcome To Uomo
Nathan asked her to pack light but prepared a few outfits just in case they get wet. So she packed a few changes of clothes and a beach towel. It seemed like Nathan wanted to do the video by the water. It's a remote area where not many people know, it's barely touched by tourists.They packed up all the equipment needed in one giant backpack. Nathan stuffed his seasonings in a duffle bag. They made it as light as possible, but it was quite some baggage. They rode on a pick-up truck that came to take them to the beach. Julie chose to ride on the back, Nathan joined her and leaned on their stuff while enjoying the scenery along the way.She filmed their trip across the island when they pass the paddy fields, through narrow roads in villages, sometimes rocky roads by local farms where there were cows and goats fed on the green grass. She turned her camera to Nathan who at some point fell asleep. The trip to the beach took almost four hours only
