Kissing The Pretty Stranger

Life's a mess. Well, life is a mess for everybody. But I thought my life was going pretty smoothly until that day. It was a nice day, the sun shining brightly in the blue sky, nothing unusual, just my fate wasn't with me that day I guess. I still remember that moment very clearly. Did you know the most embarrassing moments are never forgotten in your mind? They haunt you day and night until you are used to them. But I'm not used to it yet! Yeah, you guessed it right. An embarrassing moment that was, which I'm talking about. So, I'll start my little story now.

I swear that I checked my emails the very last night before going to sleep. But when I woke up, there was a freaking important email saying that today is the meeting day of the student council. And it was sent two days ago. I rubbed my eyes, maybe I was still dreaming. I pinched myself and duh, it wasn't a dream! It was fucking reality!

Why didn't anybody tell me about this at the university?! I could have prepared myself earlier.

Ugh, there's nothing I can do now. Except getting myself ready in under thirty minutes and reaching the university even if I look like a bear who has just woken up from its six-month deep slumber, with my hair all tangled up on top of my head.

Anyway, so I got ready and put everything in my bag; all the stuff that I might need today.

"Meeeow."

Oh right. How can I forget her? I looked up at the ceiling and sighed. Then I looked down at the bundle of furs rubbing against the fabric of my leggings and smiled.

"Mewww?" She looked up at me, blinking her crystal blue eyes. I had always found them mesmerizing, and comforting whenever I felt like I couldn't take it anymore.

"You want me to pet you? Hmm?" I picked her up in my arms gently and pecked her on her head while stroking her soft fur with affection. Her name is Meridith, my cat. And I love her more than anything, just like she loves me⎯

"Ouch." I winced as she bit me on my finger.

Or not. I take my words back.

"Hey you!" I ran after her as she jumped out of my arms and sprinted towards the kitchen. "You were just being nice with me because you wanted food, huh?" I put my hands on my waist and narrowed my eyes at her, her forelegs pawing at the cabinet door where I always keep her pet food.

"Fine, someday I'll get my revenge on you," I grumbled and opened the cabinet, taking out her food cans and serving breakfast for Her majesty.

After that, I went to the café near my home and grabbed a takeaway sandwich and coffee, and dashed off to the university. I don't care if I'm looking like a starving beast eating its meal devilishly while walking, but I need to feed myself before a long day ahead of me.

I have to hurry because I don't think Camila is going to forgive me this time. She is the leader of our council and God knows, she was already pissed off at me. Last time that I got late and messed up the documents in the meeting she had said, "I'm telling you, Jenkins. One more time and I'll throw you out of here." I had just nervously laughed that time, which I'm currently doing too.

I think it's time to get eaten alive by the she-devil.

I was on my way to the entrance of the university building but my heart stopped when I saw them in the distance. It was my uncle and aunt standing there, right in front of the entrance gates. And they didn't look pleased at all. Why, God, why did they have to be here today?

Taking a deep breath, I crossed my fingers, and started walking past them. I pulled my baseball cap a little down more towards my face so that my face wasn't in plain sight. I just hope they don't recognize me.

"Sarah?" A woman's voice called from behind me just as I managed to reach a few feet away from them. "Is that you?"

I winced.

Shit. How can I forget my aunt's eyesight is like a hawk?

I considered running as an option then, but.. wouldn't it make it obvious to them that I go to this university? And then boom, all my dreams and desires will shatter to the ground in a million pieces.

A boy with earpods stuffed in his ears and a bag slung over one shoulder passed by me, and I think my head wasn't in a great state at that time because the idea that popped up in my mind would be a freaking nightmare for me for the rest of my life.

I was so desperate to hide from them that I didn't even check who the guy was and, running a few steps ahead of me, I grabbed his collar and kissed him straight on his lips. I squeezed my eyes shut due to the anxiety growing in the pit of my stomach, making its way towards my chest. I would have died with embarrassment on the spot but his lips felt so soft and warm that I forgot everything for a moment. It felt so warm, sweet and pleasant.

This feeling. What is it that I'm feeling right now? Does everyone feel like this when they kiss? Then again, I haven't kissed anyone ever before on the lips, so how could I know, right?

I didn't notice my uncle and aunt turning away from us and going into their car, but when I heard the car's engine starting and its voice fading away in the distance, I broke the kiss and pulled back my hands from his shirt. My heart was beating so loudly that I thought it'd have already exploded if I hadn't broken the kiss. I was breathing heavily because of the loss of air in my lungs, considering I was never good at holding my breath, even in my swimming classes.

Jesus. What did I just do?!

When I got a hold of myself, I looked up at his face. Silent emerald eyes slightly widened, pale skin, and blonde locks falling down on his forehead. I had expected a flood of curses enough to make me drown, but not what I was seeing. He was… frozen in his place. I guess I really should say something before he reports me to the cops.

"I-I’m sorry. I really didn't mean to– I mean I panicked. I kissed you– I'm really really sorry. Please don't report me. Just forgive me, please." I checked his face for any kind of reaction but found none, he still wore a blank expression.

What is he? A robot?!

I squeezed my eyes shut again and gathered up all the little courage that was left in me to say⎯

"Sorry!" I screamed and ran off after that. Yeah you heard it right; without giving a proper explanation, I just ran off. I mean I was never like this, but after doing what I did, I think I have lost all my senses. I should've given a proper apology at least.

You are a disgrace, Sarah. You're a disgrace to yourself, your cat, your whole clan. How could you kiss a stranger like that? What are you gonna do now?! My inner self said, as though I already am not ashamed enough.

"Hey, Sarah! What's up, girl?" Vivianne, my best friend, who was leaning on the wall chewing gum, said as I entered the hallway. "I thought the council members were supposed to have a meeting around this time?"

"Yeah. I know. See you later, Viv."

I grimaced knowing I didn't even say hi to her properly. It's not really like me, but what can I do because I can't take my mind off what I just did on my way here?!

Anyways, the main concern right now is to make it out alive out of the meeting.

"Oh, Sarah. You came at the right time! Can you help me with these bundles, please? I have to take them to the library," Mrs. Jones asked nicely, making me stop in the middle of one of my long strides across the hallway. She was a really sweet lady in her forties. Dark brown hair always in a neat bun, light pink lipstick which was barely noticeable as it went well with her light complexion, and a motherly look in her eyes behind those glasses. She and I have become really great friends since she's the uni librarian and I, being the bookworm I am, go to the library very often. I couldn't refuse to help her so I nodded and took half of the heavy bundles from her hands and carried them to the library. No doubt I'm gonna get eaten alive by Camila today.

I opened the door to the council room very cautiously and tiptoed to the empty seat where I was supposed to sit. I slipped down on the chair quietly. Cassandra, my other best friend, noticed me and whispered from her seat, "You are late."

"I know, but I'm here now," I whispered back.

"Jenkins!"

I sprang out of my seat as the sudden, loud voice of Camila came shooting through one ear to the other.

"You think you can slip inside the meeting without me noticing? This is the fourth time in a row that you're late. For God's sake, Sarah. Why do you keep making it difficult for me?"

"I am sorry. I know that it's my fault but I had some technical issues in my inbox and the email showed up just today when I woke up. That's really not an appropriate excuse, I know, but I promise I won't mess everything up next time. I'll do my best, Camila."

She sighed and rubbed her temples trying to calm herself down. "Fine, whatever. I have much more important problems to deal with right now than you."

Phew. I am saved. My stiff posture relaxed as I sighed.

But then I think I heard my fate laugh at me saying, "As if!" because the person I spotted sitting right across from me was none other than the boy who I just kissed!

He tilted his head when he caught me staring at him and leaned back in his chair, putting his finger on his chin while studying me from my head down to the toe.

Hmph! Doesn't he know it's rude to do that?!

Well, I shouldn't be the one to say that after what I did just minutes ago, but– I swear a look just passed through his eyes– which was the most expression I have seen on his face except the blank one– when I huffed an annoyed breath at his behaviour. He had an amused expression while looking at me like I'm some kind of dolphin in an aquarium who just showed him a tail-walking trick.

Camila cleared her throat, grabbing everyone's attention but him. He still gazed at me with those alluring dark emerald eyes of his. His dirty blonde locks covered one of those eyes, giving a shade down on them and goddammit. How can someone look so breathtaking without even doing anything!

"So, everyone! I was going to introduce you all to our new member, Max. As you all know, he is our top student and we have been trying to get him to join our council for a very long time. And fortunately for us, he agreed to help us now! So welcome him warmly." Camilla started the applause and everybody clapped to welcome him.

Wait a minute here. Did she say, 'Max, a top student'? I sat back down quietly in my seat and whispered to Cassandra, "Hey, is he Maximilian?"

"Yeah," she replied.

"The Maximilian Collins, who has a bad reputation in our university?"

"Yeah, you guessed it right. Apparently, he's our top student too." She shrugged.

I gasped inwardly.

Soo… I just kissed a bad boy today?!