Page 30 of Falling for My Ex Next Door

“He’s good.”

“Hmm.” She knowingly nodded.

“Yeah.”

“I think I have to go now. My shooting starts in,” she glanced at her wrist. “Five minutes.”

“Sure.”

“Ah, lest I forget, Mom asked me to tell you to give her a call.”

“Alright.”

Chapter Nine

Clara

Shrouded in the warmth of my duvet, my eyes slowly opened to gaze upon the bright sun’s rays that played in through the window. I was feeling sick in a way I couldn’t explain, but then I couldn’t remain in bed for the entire day.

From the comfort of my bed, Sunnyvale slowly unfolded what that morning held for me; a pretty blue sky brushed with strokes of golden yellow, pink, and white. A passerine bird perched on my window. It was morning, which could only mean I had slept through the night.

I had never thought I could get myself to sleep after that close encounter between me and Jacob.

I could remember how I had just stood there, my hands fidgeting nervously. I had wanted to turn and disappear inside the house to escape the situation’s awkwardness, but I had not been able to move for a moment. It was the most uncomfortable I had ever felt, and I just wanted to disappear.

My fingers absentmindedly touched my lips.

I felt a tugging in my heart, a medley of sweetness and melancholy. I felt like I was longing for something I had once had but had then been lost.

What was he thinking? I breathed heavily and turned on my back. My eyes began staring widely at the ceiling.

His eyes had boldly spelled disappointment after the kiss had not come through. He had looked as though he had been denied life and breath. I had hardly brought myself to say harsh words to him, but I was thankful I managed to let him know my mind.

Did he think he was doing me a favor by flirting with me? Did I appear to be starved of affection?

He deserved to be disappointed. Though I was curious as to why he chose to do that, I could only conclude that he wanted to play around with me. I would never allow that to happen. I had long been resolved about the status of our relationship, and I couldn’t see a change soon.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t let go of the memory. It was stuck in my head, and it rendered me helpless. However, I tried to register the fact that it was not right. It was not right to try to kiss your ex. It was only right I avoided the kiss, yet it was not right that I could not stop thinking about what would have happened if I had not.

Determined, I flung the covers off my body and slid down the bed. I must prepare breakfast and immediately get down to business.

While my sunny side up simmered, my mind would shift into oblivion, and I would renege on my initial resolution. The event that preceded our last passionate kiss before we broke up slowly appeared clearly in my head, and it felt just like yesterday when it was not a crime to gaze lovingly at each other and lock lips.

Jacob and I had gone on a date at some fancy restaurant one May evening and took a short stroll afterwards.

The night breeze, cool and refreshing, swayed both my hair and the skirt of my dress and carried with it the scent of rain and dampness. It was not a cold day, and I felt relaxed by the gentleness of the air and the lovely illumination of the moon. The night was peaceful and still. Jacob was standing very close to me, a hand in one pocket and the other settled on my hips.

The car was a short distance from us, and its lights bounced back and forth on our skin.

“Let’s get away from here for some time.” He proposed. I felt it was spontaneous and not very much like him.

“Where do you want to go?”

“Anywhere. What matters is that you and I can be alone together.”

“I’m cool with it,” I said, smiling.

“Then I’ll find somewhere for us,” he said.

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