Some things… that makes him look silly? My brows raise at that, but I didn’t pry. I don’t want to make him feel uncomfortable with my prying.

  But I tease him a little bit.

  “You have this silly look on your face,” I bump his shoulders. “You look like you’re thinking of something… memorable. You didn’t even pay attention to the movie.”

  I turn up the volume of the television. William isn’t even watching at all, so I change the channel to my favorite one.

  “What are you doing?” William grabs the remote from me.

  “You weren’t watching it,” I reply to him as I grab the remote from his hands. We start a grabbing contest. I didn’t even realize that I’m already on top of William.

  He’s lying, halfway down on the couch while half of my body’s over him. William’s left-hand is up, while his right hand is pushing me away.

  Pregnant silence ensues when we finally realize our position. I move away as I try to compose myself. Damn, we’re close since college… but this time, everything has meaning.

  Isn’t this because of our sham engagement? Isn’t it because of this that I’m having wayward thoughts?

  I surreptitiously glance at William, and he has a grin on his face. How can he act so nonchalant? I face him and pout.

  “I hate that smug look in your face!” I snap at him. I can’t deny it, he looks handsome when he grins. There are times that he makes my heart race in overdrive.

  “What? Do you hate this face, for real? Don’t you know how many women love this face?” William asks me, his face full of innocence. Even his eyes are wide.

  I grimace. This guy… he’s trying to give me his innocent look to me again!

  “You won’t convince me with that,” I shake my head as I roll my eyes.

  “Convince you? I don’t have to do anything at all because I know you’re already convinced. My face is doing the talking,” William says proudly.

  William’s so goddamn cocky! The ass! Even if he points a gun at me, I’ll never admit in his face that he’s handsome, or else, his already inflated ego will inflate more.

  But he’s an excellent person, no matter how cocky he is. He’s the type of man that hides his heart of gold.

  “If you’re really ‘handsome’ as you say,” I gesture with quotation marks while I glare at him. “Then, why is it that you’re in this sham with me? I don’t see any good coming up with this. Well, you’re the talk of the company like you’ve always wanted.”

  William can be a ‘diva’ sometimes, wanting to be the center of attention. His games sometimes are over the top.

  “Did you ever thought along this line: Maybe I just wanted an excuse to spend more time with you?” William says to me. I’m shocked because of this revelation, but I can’t take him seriously!

  Come on, he likes to play with people. Gosh, I can’t remember how many times he caused havoc in my life.

  “Why?” I scoff. Me? Really? Jeez, no way.

  “Because I’ve had a thing for you for a long time,” William says solemnly. He looks serious as he states this answer.

  What the fucking hell? Come again?

  Seven

  William

  Faith looks shocked. Did I scare her too much? Damn it! It seems like I just gave away my game plan. Shit this fucking hole that I dug for myself!

  I kick myself mentally. This is really giving me a headache. This isn't the right time for me to act all romantic and say these things to Faith! This might cause her to distance herself from me.

  This is crazy! I can't help but curse my stupidity more when I look at Faith's reaction. She looks like she's ready to bolt at any time, and disbelief is written all over her face.

  From pale to a red face in an instant.

  "No way!" Faith composes herself and laughs it off. "Come on, it's impossible. You won't love me that way, ever."

  Faith slaps me on the arm, hard. I grimace because of the pain, not physically but in my heart. The pain in the inside offsets the sting of her slap.

  "Oh, my gosh! Did I slap you too hard?" Faith hurriedly checks my arm, and thank God that it's red.

  "What do you think?" I ask her. What I really want to tell her is, of course, you hurt my feelings!

  I really want to voice it out, but I know I can't. Now isn't the right time to say such things to Faith. It's not the right time to open up entirely. My game plan isn't now, I'm still far away from the goal.

  "I'm sorry," Faith says sheepishly. "I didn't mean it. It's because you tell me such things! It's not a good joke, and you shouldn't bring it up, you know? I'm not crossing that line, ever. It's as clear as NASA going to the moon."

  "NASA, really?" In short, she's saying that it's very, very far from happening. Well, it might be light-years away, ever. And like the moon, the line that places me in the friend zone is as bright.

  That's an ingenious way of saying it. Damn it, I don't have any comeback to that! It barely makes any sense. I wrack my brains for a smart reply; then, I calm myself.

  No need. I don't plan to open up now.

  Also, I don't like the way she phrased her sentence. What is it about not loving her that way? Does she mean that my feelings for her aren't real or she's not worth it? Well, she might think this way, but it's definitely not.

  If Faith said that our friendship line is as clear NASA going to the moon, then, I'm going to say that my feelings to her are as bright and blazing as the sun. NASA can't even measure it, and it's going to be there… until the day I die!

  Cheesy words? Nah, it's the truth. I can admit it straight. If my intent is something else, then I would have let it all out and pursued her relentlessly. Then, we'll just break up, maybe, we can still be friends.

  Faith's the only woman for me. She's the only exception because she's extraordinary. I don't want to hear her repeat these things.

  "Anyway, let's watch a movie," Faith bends in front of me, looking at her collection. Damn, her ass is better than any other movie. I keep staring at it.

  "Careful with your eyes… my ass might melt if you stare too much," Faith turns towards me. She has a DVD in hand. "Let's watch old movies."

  "Again? I don't understand why you love watching old movies. We can watch new movies through Netflix, you know," I grumble.

  "I guess you're the type of man to forget the old, and in with the new," Faith sits beside me as she glares at me. "Well, we can watch Netflix now, but next time, we're watching Titanic!"

  "Sure, but you should also know, I'm not into the habit of forgetting the old ones. They're the trusted ones, don't you think?" By this, I mean Faith. I want her to know that no one else will be able to replace her in my heart.

  Faith owns my heart. Totally and irrevocably.

  "Well, I don't know!" Faith looks away and switches channels. "Let's just watch a movie."

  "I like this movie," I say to her when she tunes in to Ex with Benefits. "This is very interesting!"

  "Well, I like the actor. He's smoking hot," Faith tells me. I frown at her. Damn, why does almost everyone I know likes this Timberlake something man?

  "What's so good about the person? I bet he doesn't look that good in person," I smugly say to Faith. "He looks like a sissy. Too pale."

  "Pale? Sissy?" Faith gasps. "Don't you know that he was once named as the sexiest man alive? Gosh, I bet you also like empty-brained blond bombshells!"

  "Oh? You think so? I bet this man will surely disappoint you in person. He won't live up to expectations with his suppose-to-be-sexy-ass-and-huge-dick," I grin at Faith.

  She glares at me, then, she moves closer as we sit on the couch. Faith expresses her opinion with hand gestures.

  "Ugh, well, I know your type! You like those bleached women with their blonde hair, all bimbos. You like them lying down with their thighs spread," Faith scoffs at me.

  I laugh.

  "Jealous?" I love to tease her. Faith's so funny, and cheeky to boot.

  "Jealous? Me?" Faith asks exaggeratedly. "Nope, never! Jealous is a word that I won't associate with you. I don't have it in me when it comes to you."

  "It's obvious," I tease her more.

  "The only thing that's obvious here is your an ass," Faith says to me as she rolls her eyes at me.

  "Wow, I'm glad to know you're checking out my ass! Is it nice?" I ask Faith. She looks scandalously at me.

  I chuckle louder; Faith's really cute. I think that crossing the line with her won't hurt our friendship. Instead, it will make us fall in love with each other, and our relationship will be stronger.

  The chance had presented itself when I blurted all of my feelings.

  What should be my next move? I already took the first step by telling her about my game plan. What now? Faith's sitting so close to me, and I can't help but be tempted. I need her.

  "What?" Faith looks at me and smiles. This gesture of her melts all my doubts and defenses away. I can't stop the outpouring of my feelings.

  I grab Faith's chin, and I swoop down to kiss her. I close my eyes, feeling the moment. This is just fucking perfect.

  Eight

  Faith

  I gasp when I feel William's lips touch mine. It's… heavenly. The feel of his lips feels like magic. Everything stops, and he's become the center of everything and has become my whole being.

  William deepens the kiss when he doesn't feel any resistance from me, his tongue sweeps in and starts giving me long strokes that make me shiver. Our tongues tangles, and moves in an erotic dance.

  I can feel my blood rushing in my body, and the roaring in my ears turns me deaf. William grabs hold of my hips, and I hold on to his shoulders. He slightly pushes me down, and I'm leaning on the sofa.

  This is insanely good!

  I can't help but feel the moment more. At the back of my brain, there's a thought telling me it won't be so bad to do this with William; to be with him. His kiss deprives me of my rational mind, and fill me with thoughts and needs of him only.

  William's saliva flows in my mouth, and I can taste it. Is his saliva an alcoholic beverage? Why is it that I feel like I'm drunk, and greedily sucking on it. He makes me feel euphoric!

  I hold him closer like I'm holding on to my salvation.

  "William," I moan when I take a deep breath. We gaze at each other's eyes, then, he caresses my face.

  "Faith...I love you, I really do!" William declares huskily and solemnly. I can only stare as he moves away from me. My mind can't process his words fast. He just left me there, gaping at his retreating back.

  Do I have to give him an answer? I can't even process my feelings yet… but I think that the kiss is phenomenal and he's not that bad in that department

  I examine myself… and it's in William's favor. I can't help but touch my lips and think of our kiss. My lips are still warm because of our shared kiss. In short, it was phenomenal. It stirred up my deeply buried feelings.

  Yes, deeply buried feelings physically and emotionally, that I thought have been buried years ago when my priority was only Ayana. I didn't have time for other things, and I chose to hide my feelings for William.

  Who wouldn't have feelings for the man who has always been there for you? Who's in their right mind to look at someone else when you have a very handsome, kind man beside you?

  I'm guilty of having such feelings for him first. If its a crime, then I'm willing to be jailed. I shake my head, darn it, I need to clear my mind.

  But William insists on staying in my mind, no matter what I do and think it's not helping. I remember all the times that we've been together. Both the tough and happy moments of my life were witnessed by William.

  He was there through thick and thin. William managed to occupy a permanent place in my life and heart. An area where no one can replace him.

  William was there all throughout my college years, helping me with my projects and always protecting me. He'll punch anyone who'll say a bad word about me. He's that protective.

  He was there when I got pregnant with Ayana, and her father died. William was there to help me get through my pregnancy.

  The one running errands for me during my pregnancy was him. I called William in the middle of the night to find some yogurt or anchovy pizza, and he's ready to go no matter the time.

  Sometimes I craved for some weird food, and he went to buy it for me no matter how hard it is to find. I smile as I remember that when I had nausea, he was the first one that came running towards me.

  He was the one that carries me to the bathroom and bed when I'm sick. William's one of the best things that happen to me. Only second to Ayana's place in my heart… but now?

  It's like William has his own category in my life.

  I don't know, they're on an entirely different category and can't be compared! I cover my face with the pillow on my side as I moan.

  What to do? What am I supposed to say to him?

  The best love stories start with a solid friendship, right? I mean, the best foundation for love is knowing each other, and friendship is the best way to do that. In so many ways than one, William ticks all the right boxes.

  And the heaviest criterion is Ayana. William's like the father figure that Ayana never had. He's the best choice for that since he has always been there.

  William was the one that carried Ayana first. Yes, he accepted my baby girl from the nurse before William passed her to me. He was ecstatic. People thought that he was the father.

  He was there in every milestone of Ayana's life, and he wasn't absent in any of her birthdays. Also, William has this habit of taking Ayana out when he has time.

  Every parent's day all throughout these years, William was always around. He was playing the doting dad. I smile as I remember all these sweet memories. I wonder what Ayana will think? I guess she'll be ecstatic if I tell her that she can call her uncle William daddy.

  I remembered back then, Ayana asked me if she can call William daddy, but I refused. But this time, will it be a dream come true for her? Ayana really likes him- correction- loves him.

  Ayana always looks up to him… and I think she needs a father too. I sigh, thinking of these arguments in my head. Why not try?

  I mean, I can try because I really like him too. Ayana loves him, so what's there to consider? We're both consenting adults.

  I think a relationship with William is worth pursuing. We can try, and then, we'll go from there. Perhaps, this time, it's going to be my happy beginning and my forever; a happy family for Ayana too.

  Nine

  William

  I don't want to leave Faith.

  I don't want to stay away from her, even for a minute!

  But I had to, or else, I might just get something else started, such things should be done when she's ready and open to me. I don't want Faith to accept me through other means.

  What I want isn't only her body, but her heart. Above all, Faith's heart is the only thing that will make me the happiest man alive. I want to be the only one for her; to be with her forever.

  I cover my face with my arm as soon as I'm out of the house. My car's parked outside, and I lean on it. I feel weak on the knees, and I want to go back inside and be with Faith. Be with her and never leave her.

  I want us to be a family, Faith, Ayana, and me. Isn't it wonderful if it happens? I think that it's the right thing, and it's not as if I didn't have enough practice. All these years, I've practiced about being a good husband and a wonderful father.

  Also, I love them both. Ayana's like a daughter to me, and Faith's my love. I smile as I set my mind on pursuing her. Whether she says no or yes, it doesn't matter because I won't stop showing her my love.

  I'll forever be her shadow. I'll forever be her support… until she tells me that she doesn't want me anymore.

  But judging from our kiss… I bet that Faith feels the same way. I can't help but smile. I'm so happy, why? Because the kiss we shared was amazing. It was out of this world. It's off the charts, and I'd never had it with anyone before.

  I had my parade of girls too, but no one comes close to Faith. All those women are flings and never the one. They didn't matter to me.

  "I'm sure," I murmur to myself and get in my car while I'm still staring at Faith's house. I chuckle to myself… damn, if anyone sees me now, they'll think I'm crazy!

  Faith, judging from the kiss, loves me, right? A person won't kiss a person that way when he or she doesn't feel anything. And of course, the feeling of magic won't be there.

  When our lips melted against each other, then and there, I know that it's going to be the best kiss of my life. It didn't disappoint. The kiss cleared my mind and made my own resolved harder and bolder.

  As I've said, I'll pursue her no matter what. I can't possibly miss out on one of the best things that happened in my life.

  "When did this all start?" I ask myself as I lean my head on the window.

  It was more or less gradual. I didn't delve any deeper, what's the importance? All I know is that I love Faith, and I'll do anything for her.

  Yep, either way, I'll stop at nothing to prove to her that I love her with all my heart. All bets are off, and I'm gunning for her. I won't stop until she gives me her love and commitment.

  I rev the engine and drive away, thinking that I'll start my offensive attack to her heart tomorrow.

  The best offense to Faith's heart is the most important person to her: Ayana. I smile as I thought of the kid. She's my child by love if not by blood.

  "Wine, check. Fresh roses, check. Favorite Minnie Mouse Stuff toy, check," I try to calm down as I check the things in my backseat. Great, I have everything covered!

  "Wait, where's the chocolate eclair I bought?" I rummage, and I find it under the stuffed toy. I breathe a sigh of relief, both mother and daughter love this particular brand.

  I get down and pick up the gifts. It's a miracle that I can carry it all. The stuffed toy and the flowers are huge. The door opens, and Faith appears in front of me.

 

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