Chapter 2
I used to love the rain.
I remember because of that rain, because of the heavy storm on that private island, everything changed.
I woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of the storm raging outside. The wind howled, rattling the windows, and the rain poured down like it was trying to drown the entire island.
We had four rooms in the villa we rented, but somehow, we both agreed to sleep in the living room together.
Not because we had to. But because we was afraid.
Well...I.... I was the one who was afraid. of ghost
You? You had already met them before. It was one of the many stories you loved to tell, the only one I never wanted to hear.
Lightning flashed outside the window, illuminating the empty island. We were almost the only tourists there. A tour meant for ten had become just us.
Oh, sorry.
Not us.
Not yet.
Just you and me.
I was mesmerized by the storm, my gaze fixed on the sky splitting apart when suddenly, I felt your breath behind me.
"Hey… why aren’t you sleeping?"
"I can’t. The thunder is too loud. Too close."
"And you?" I turned toward you. "Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping? You always sleep through anything."
You smiled, soft and sleepy. "I miss your warmth next to me."
My heart pounded so fast I was sure it could match the speed of the lightning outside.
I had never been sure of my feelings. Never knew if what I felt was right, or if you felt the same way, too.
The touches, the hugs, the casual "How was your day?" and "Did you eat?"
Little things that I told myself were nothing. But deep down, I knew I’d miss them if you ever became too busy.
The light in the room was dim, a compromise we made, because you couldn’t sleep with bright lights, and I couldn’t sleep in the dark. So, we left the light from the other room on, letting it spill softly into our space.
That’s when I saw it. The change in your expression. The hesitation.
Our eyes locked, searching for something.
An answer, maybe.
Then you moved forward, cupping my chin.
Your lips were just a breath away when I stopped you.
"This will change our friendship forever."
"I don’t mind," you whispered.
And then you kissed me.
It wasn’t my first kiss. But it was the first one that made my stomach flip, the first one that sent butterflies fluttering through my chest.
My heart raced even faster.
It was a hovering kiss, a teenage kiss, soft, hesitant, teasing. A kiss that, to this day, still makes us laugh when we remember it.
But then I pulled you back, and the laughter faded.
This time, the kiss was different.
This time, it was hungry.
You melted into me, pressing your body closer, your hands sliding up my arms, then tangling into my hair. The soft, teasing kiss turned desperate, your lips parting, your tongue sweeping against mine like you’d been waiting for this just as long as I had.
My fingers gripped the hem of your shirt, curling into the fabric as you pressed me back against the couch. You deepened the kiss, tilting your head, angling yourself perfectly so you could take me more, tasting, teasing, devouring me like you couldn’t get enough.
I couldn’t get enough either.
The storm outside faded into nothing. There was no thunder, no lightning, no wind howling through the villa, just the sound of our breath mixing, our lips moving, the small, soft noises you made when my tongue met yours.
You shifted, your thigh pressing between my legs, and my body reacted before my mind could catch up. A small gasp escaped me, and you swallowed it, smiling against my lips before trailing kisses down my jaw, your mouth hot against my skin.
"You taste better than I imagined," you murmured against my throat, your voice lower, rougher.
I shivered, my fingers clutching at your shoulders, but you were relentless. Your lips grazed my pulse point, your teeth nipping gently before soothing the sting with your tongue.
God.
I felt like I was burning, like every inch of me was coming alive under your touch.
You pulled back just enough to look at me, your lips swollen, your pupils blown wide.
"Tell me to stop," you whispered, your hand trailing down my side, slipping under the hem of my shirt, fingertips grazing bare skin.
But stopping was the last thing I wanted.
I grabbed the back of your neck, pulling you down into another kiss, one that was messy, needy, full of everything we had been holding back.
You groaned into my mouth, your body pressing against mine, heat pooling between us as your fingers traveled higher, grazing the curve of my ribs.
If we didn’t need oxygen, I think we would have kissed forever.
When we finally broke apart, both of us breathless, I traced my thumb over your lips, watching the way they parted slightly, still pink and swollen from me.
"Did I hurt you?" I asked softly.
You shook your head, a small smile tugging at the corner of your lips.
"No."
And now, I want to hate the rain.
Like I want to hate you.
But I can’t.
I just can’t.
I still love the rain, like I still love you.
Me and my stubborn heart.
Me and my stubborn mind.
Me… still loving you.