"Joel, did you do something to Miss Nicole while you two were together?" Cielo suddenly asked.
Joel glanced at him before answering calmly, "I didn't do anything to her."
"Are you sure?" Cielo pressed, eyes narrowing.
Joel sighed. "I just talked to her. That's all—and she understood."
Cielo didn't question him further. He exhaled sharply. "Fine. I'll leave you guys now." He walked ahead toward the waiting car that would drive the cousins home.
Joel turned to Raymond. "So? Are you two okay now?"
"Yeah, we're okay," Raymond said, smiling lightly.
"So? How is it?"
"Don't worry about us. We understand each other now—and she really gets it," Raymond replied.
Joel didn't ask further. They got into the car, and Raymond tucked his phone away.
"So, did you really not do anything to Nicole?" Raymond asked again.
"How many times do I have to say it? Cielo already asked—I said nothing happened." Joel muttered, annoyed.
Raymond chuckled. "You're a terrible liar. Cielo always catches your white lies."
Joel glared. "You think you're clever? Your girlfriend now, right?"
Raymond's face gave him away.
"Damn," he muttered. "I'm too happy to hide it. Yeah, she's my girlfriend now. But we can't make it public yet. I need to talk to her friends—and especially her sister—first."
Joel nodded. "Yeah… that part will be hard. But if Melissa loves you, Kelly will eventually understand. Just don't get tired of her."
Raymond laughed. "She's my last girlfriend, Joel. I'm serious. I really love Melissa."
Joel didn't comment further. He stared out the window, watching the traffic crawl by.
Was that her first kiss?The thought replayed in his mind—Nicole's frightened face, her wide eyes staring at him.
Maybe I went too far. She's such a scaredy-cat… that's why I did it.
"Hey," Raymond said suddenly, "you still haven't answered me. You really did something to Nicole, didn't you?"
Joel sighed deeply. His cousin wouldn't stop until he confessed.
"I was just teasing her," Joel admitted. "Scaring her a bit so she wouldn't go look for Melissa. She's too annoying to deal with… so I used that trick."
Raymond frowned. "Teasing? You call intimidation a joke? Did you hurt her physically?"
"Yeah… I might've grabbed her arms. Pulled her a bit too aggressively. She fell, got scared, so I used that."
"Are you stupid? I told you not to do that. You hurt her because you lost your temper."
"Yeah," Joel admitted. "I really lost it."
Raymond rubbed his forehead. "I hope you didn't go further. After you hurt her—you didn't do anything else, right?"
Joel didn't answer immediately.
"You didn't… right?" Raymond repeated sharply.
"She was already scared, and I didn't know how to calm her down," Joel muttered. "That's why it took a while. She was crying."
"OF COURSE she'd cry! Anyone would after what you did! Then what?"
Joel swallowed. "She kept trying to leave. I held her again. She kept resisting… so I—"He looked away."I kissed her. To calm her down."
Raymond stared at him, horrified. "You idiot. You kissed her? For THAT reason?"
"What? Nobody saw. Unlike you."
"I'm speechless," Raymond whispered.
Joel smirked faintly. "I think it was her first time."
"You're an idiot. Don't ever do that again. And besides—you've never kissed anyone except your ex. And now... Nicole? Seriously? Do you… like her?"
Joel didn't answer."Maybe. I don't know."
"Then don't make her feel anything if you're not sure," Raymond scolded. "Don't play with her."
Joel didn't respond. They eventually reached home. He went straight to his room, changed, and worked on his assignment.
But Nicole's face wouldn't leave his mind.
Her shock.Her blush.Her tears.Her trembling voice.
Joel grinned despite himself.
I'm her first kiss, huh… Never expected her to be that girl.
He shook his head. Focus. Classes tomorrow.
Monday Morning
Joel arrived early. Chris's sister was already there.
Right. Faculty duty with the president today.
"Hey, Raymond," Julie said, interrupting him.
Raymond looked up. "What?"
"So you really made up with Melissa? She forgave you?"
"Yeah. Why?"
Julie sighed. "You're lucky she's so kind."She stepped closer."Ha—don't think I completely forgave you just because she did. Guys like you don't deserve forgiveness that easily."
Her words stunned Raymond.
"Sorry for punching you, though," Julie muttered. "I wanted to hit you twice."
Raymond glanced at Joel. "Yeah, I deserved it. I don't even know how Cielo handled you that day. I'd feel guilty if he got hit."
Joel didn't react.
"Anyway," Raymond continued, "I plan to court your friend. So you two better give me time with Melissa."
Julie blinked. "Yeah, yeah. Who are we to stop you? But take care of her—or I'll punch you again. Not once—multiple times. Right, Nicole?"
Nicole, who had been silently listening, forced a smile. "Take care of her. Also—you still owe me a slap."
Everyone laughed except Joel, who froze slightly.
Raymond rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Hey, aren't you the class representative today?" he asked Joel.
"Yeah. I'm going," Joel replied.
Before leaving, he glanced at Nicole—catching her off guard. She quickly looked away, cheeks burning.
She remembers, Joel thought.
As he stepped out the door, he noticed Nicole sneaking one more glance—before blushing again and turning away.
Joel smirked.
Somehow… I like teasing her more.