chapter 7

...Cassie...

I hated lying to Miggy because he knows me too well and I'm not much of a good liar either. I was afraid he would see right through me. I didn't want him to know what I was thinking...the speculation I had in mind as to why I saw blood on my underwear. I was troubled that he would worry even more about me if he ever found out. I didn't want him to worry about something that's not even important. I could just be having my period and PMS is a real bitch. I rarely have PMS but when I do, boy, do I hate being a woman. So I figured, I don't have to be paranoid. I took a napkin and placed it inside a small box, that I found laying around my dresser, with my underwear ...I'm not shy about having my period, just to be clear. I just don't like flaunting it in front of men most especially because I'm with a man who just witnessed me curling up in pain just a few moments ago. Even though I wanted to just let it pass and not get in my head, I still wanted to be sure. Cancer runs in my mother's family line and ever since I was a kid, I've been more than afraid of inheriting that family heirloom so I called out a doctor I had previously consulted before and made an appointment to see her tomorrow morning.

I went to take a shower while Miggy started cooking. I didn't worry much about him there; in fact, I was really excited to know what he'd be cooking for dinner. I wasn't much of a good cook but he's great at it. I'm the type of person whom you can't really rely on cooking. I mean, if you need a cake, you can come to me anytime but ask me about a recipe, no matter how common the dish is, I'm not really as valuable. People often perceive that being a chef and a patissier is the same but they're really different from each other. For instance, a patissier needs to follow strict measurements while a chef weighs more on the balance of the flavors. A patissier is focused on baking while a chef is focused on main courses and appetizers, and stuff; however, a chef can be a patissier and a patissier can be a chef. Both parties just need to study the other first to gain optimum success in the field.

The moment I got out of the shower, the whole condo smelled like a restaurant. Hell, you can even smell the richness of the dish he's making all the way from the bathroom. I put my bathrobe on and went to the kitchen to check on him. The whole place never smelled this good. I can hear sizzles and lids clinging as it boils. It's never been like this for as long as I have lived here.

"Hey, how's everything here? What are you cooking for dinner?" I asked as I peeped through the lids.

"Well, I cooked your all-time favorite..." he pauses as he turns to me. His face all flushed and...stunned. He looks frozen in time.

"What is there something on my face?" I added.

Miggy didn't answer and just gulped.

...Miggy...

I froze as I look at Cassie in a robe in front of me. It was as if I was looking at her bare naked...like I was undressing her in front of my very eyes. There was something in the way that she looked that made her so stunning. I felt my body heat just going up as I saw beads of water rolling down her face down to her neck then disappear into her chest. There was a certain glimmer in her eyes that made her so irresistible to me. I gulped. I could feel myself longing to kiss her...feel my hands touch her...I felt every inch of my body just wanting to strip her down and make love to her.

"Miggy! are you feeling faint? Why are you sweating so much?" She asks while taking a towel and wiping my forehead with it.

I felt my heart thumping even more as she drew closer. Her breasts pressed against my chest. I could feel her nipples protruding against the fabrics separating us. I felt her warm breaths caressing my neck. I could feel the intensity from within my body going to my knob. Believe me, I'm trying to stop myself but I can't...I just can't. I hold on to her wrist tightly and pull her closer to me. The tie on her robe loosened so her bare body touched mine.

"Miggy, What are you..." she stutters.

"What are you doing to me?" I muttered under my breath.

She searched my eyes as I leaned closer to kiss her. I felt my heart thumping even more that it felt like it was going to jump out of my chest anytime soon. I wrapped my arm around her while the other still held on to her wrist so tight that I think she might have a bruise once I let go. When we were an inch closer, Cassie suddenly made a move and kissed me. My hand loosened its grip on her wrist. She then pressed my cheeks between the palms of her hands as she kissed me some more. I didn't know what came over me but I just let her and I kissed her back. She was like a forbidden food that I have longed to eat...the smell of her newly washed hair was like that of a perfume I couldn't resist buying. I pressed her body closer to mine and carried her to the top of the counter. I felt her bare ass on the palm of my hands then I lingered to the rest of her body. She looks so beautiful. I could feel her heart pulsating as I kissed her neck. Her hand brushed my hair as I sucked her breasts. She moaned as my tongue played with her nipples and her crotch. I toyed with her inside. She looked so beautiful as she moaned to what I was doing to her. I felt her intensity as she roughly pulls my hair while I play with her clitoris with my tongue and I felt her body vibrate as I sucked on it. She then pulls me up to kiss her...her tongue against mine. She kissed my neck and climbed down the counter. She then waves her hands before me. I just nod at her and tell her not to stop.

...Cassie...

"Miggy!" I called out again.

"Huh?" He replies as if he was in a trance.

"what are you doing to that poor defenseless chicken?" I giggled.

He looks down. He was stuffing the chicken so much that it looked like the chicken was about to burst.

"I like a good stuffed chicken but it looks to me like your chicken has had enough stuffing," I giggled some more.

"I was just...um...the chicken looked thin so I...um...did that. Go and get changed. Dinner will be ready soon," he finally answers, stuttering.

"Everything okay? why are you so sweaty?" I took a towel and went near him to wipe his sweat off but the way he stared at me made my knees weak and my face blush.

Miggy and I lock eyes. I could feel my heart racing as he stares into my very soul. I wanted to kiss him so bad. His eyes shimmered in no way that I have ever seen them before. There was a certain spark between us but I can't quite put my finger on it. I gulped. I felt my body flinch as he seemed to have gone closer. As our lips nearly touched, the pot whistles breaking off whatever it was between us.

Miggy pulls away and turns around, "you should change before you catch a cold."

"Yeah. I should," I turn on my heels and sprint to my room. I lean on the door, trying to calm myself. My heart was still racing. My face was red and hot. I felt like I was on top of the world. I wanted to shout at the top of my lungs but I didn't want to risk it. I wanted time to freeze at that moment because I know it would never happen again. I know Miggy doesn't feel anything for me and right now, I regret not kissing him when I had that chance. It was the most perfect opportunity but I didn't do anything.

A few minutes later, when I had calmed down, I quickly changed to help out in the kitchen. When I had gotten out, the table was set and Miggy was almost done cooking.

"We just need to wait for the chicken to finish cooking then we can eat," Miggy said. "Do you want some wine?" he asked while holding two wine glasses and a bottle.

"Sure," I went near and took the other glass.

We sat at the table and shared a bottle of wine. We talked about work and about our childhood. We also talked about our parents and about each other's plans for the holidays. When the chicken was cooked, we ate our dinner. We just enjoyed each other's company as if there was nothing to talk about really. I wanted to ask him so bad about that kiss and...about what happened a few minutes ago...there was something with the way he stared at me...when he bent down, did he want to kiss me again? This was what I really wanted to talk about but I was too scared. It wasn't that I was scared he'd get mad; I was scared that he'd confirm what I really think happened. I was scared of the truth. I'd rather have those moments with him and still have moments with him in the future than to lose him and never even get a chance to experience that again.

Dinner was done. We had finished cleaning up as well.

"Thank you very much for the lovely meal. I had a great night," I smiled.

"You're welcome. I guess I better get going then. Have a rest, okay? I don't want you to get sick."

I nodded. "I will. Drive safe."

I walk with him to the door but before he went out, he turned to me. There was uncertainty in the way he looked at me. It was As if he was hesitating to say something.

"did you leave anything behind?" I asked.

"For how long have we known each other?" he stutters.

"I don't know...for as long as I can remember, Miggy. Why do you ask?"

"Okay...um...there's this saying that for if you know the person for so long things change and that feelings change...and that...change is the only thing constant in this world," he stuttered.

"And that's relevant to your question, how exactly? Will you please get to the point,"

"This is gonna sound childish...and most probably the craziest thing that I've ever said my entire life," Miggy said, panting. "I think I have feelings for you," he added.

I stood there, completely frozen. "what?"

"I don't know how and I don't know when...but I think I just did...I can't explain it. I can't confirm it either but I know deep down it's there. I've been wanting to tell you that for quite some time now but I just didn't know how until today because I wanted to get this out in the open."

I felt my heartbeat go fast again. I was speechless. I've always loved this man and to know that he might love me back is...I don't even have the words to describe it.

"Miggy, please don't do this. I've tried for so long to suppress how I felt for you. I don't want to lose you, Miggy...not again. You, of all people, should know how much I want this to happen but...please, don't give me a false sense of hope." I stuttered. I felt my hands shake uncontrollably. I could feel my whole extremities weaken every minute that I look at him. I wanted to laugh at him but by how serious he looks, I think it would upset him.

"I'm not trying to give you any false hope, Cass," he comes near me and caresses my cheek. "I really do feel something for you...something that I have never felt before. I don't know how to go about how I feel for you right now and I don't want to say the L-word but I can promise you that I will sort this out. Why do you think I'm still single right now?"

"Wait, what? Did you...break up with that guy because of me?"

He nodded. "I already felt something even before that. I think...it started when...we started to work together. I can't say for sure, okay, but I know deep down that that was the start. That was why..."

"That was why you left," I cut him off. "Why did you have to go and say that. I told you. I don't want to lose you again."

Miggy bent down to kiss me and I kissed back. He pressed my cheeks in the palm of his hands. I felt his warmth piercing through my skin. I felt my heart jumping.

"I'm not going anywhere. Whatever this is that I feel for you, I'm not letting go of it anymore. I'm not even gonna try. You mean so much to me and if I have to admit how I really feel, so be it," he bent down to give me one last kiss before I leaving. He waved me goodbye and I closed the door behind him.

I felt like jumping for joy. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs. I was so happy that I could still feel his lips against mine. I was so happy that my whole body is just pulsating in adrenaline. I felt my stomach turn upside down...like it was being curled up into a knot...like I wanted to vomit. I ran to the bathroom and what do you know? I did puke. I was all turned up inside that I could feel my whole body vibrate with happiness...well, up until I puked my guts out. That was the last thing I wanted to happen.