Bubble Gum Kisses
CHAPTER 23

**Kapittel 23** ***Vanessa***

**"Hey there, my homegirl."** He shook me, tapping on my shoulder. I looked at him with a big smile on my face. I missed this guy, his optimistic and playful personality kept me up whenever I was down back in middle school. Just as soon as I'd see this guy, I always visualized there was a shining halo above his head because of how brightly he spoke and interacted with anyone, and I still did now, the only difference was, he was somehow emitting a playboy-like aura. "It's been a long time," I pat his chest as I observed his features. He sure had changed a lot. His body was now hard and muscular, his face had gotten pretty much mature, and most of all... "You've gotten taller," I told him what was in mind.

An arrogant smirk formed on his face as he moved his hand from my shoulder to my head and ruffled my hair like I'm so hair dog. "Who's the shorty now, huh?" he teased. *"¡Callate!"* I told him to shut up and removed his large hand from my head.

"Oh, and you've got a little naughty too," he said with the same arrogant, amused smirk plastered on his face. I was about to rebuke him when a voice reverberated and echoed.

"Lazarus!" it was a guy wearing the same varsity jacket that Lazarus was wearing. There were other people with him wearing the same jacket too. I assume that this old friend of mine had gotten in a sports club since he played five sports, as far as I could remember. He excelled at soccer best of those five sports.

He looked at the person who called him and nodded. "I gotta go," he said, pulled me by the waist, and leaned down to kiss my cheek before running off to his peers. "See you around, sunshine!" I only watched his figure dissipate as he ran to his friends, shocked by what just happened.

"Oh. My. God!" I turned my head and almost lost my heart when I found Georgia beside me, staring in the direction where Lazarus left. "You know Lazarus Caballero?!" she asked me, facing me with bewilderment in her eyes. "And he kissed your cheek!" she added, pointing at my cheek. I could still feel the texture of his soft lips on my epidermis. He was definitely a playboy, our skinship back then was only limited to high fives. It was the first time he pulled me close and had his lips on my skin.

"Yeah, we used to go to the same middle school together," I nodded and touched the spot on my cheek where he kissed me.

"Don't wipe it off!" she said and grabbed my hand.

"Calm your nerves, I wasn't," I said and began looking around. "Where are we sitting?" I then asked.

"You two go to the same middle school?!" she ignored my question. "I am so jealous." She bit her lower lip and began letting out a muffled shriek, her hands making their way to my shoulder and waist that Lazarus had just recently touched as if she was scared and excited to touch my body parts at the same time.

"Yeah, he's a bit playful back then but he's gotten more playful now," I took a few steps backward and trailed off awkwardly, "I see that you got a big crush on him..."

"Well yeah? Like, he's the..." then she began listing all of Lazarus' achievements that I already had known of since middle school. "Who wouldn't have a crush on him?"

"I would," I smiled at her, "Now let's forget about him and study math okay?"

"You're no fun." Georgia pouted as we walked to the spot where she was sitting and I just laughed, nervously wondering if Lazarus unknowingly ruined my plan for having a genuine friend.

**The rest of the day was half a bore and fun.** The morning classes were a complete headache because the subjects were mathematics and science, the afternoon classes saved me though, the subjects were geography and history, subjects that I both love because they were partly memorizing and I didn't need to overthink to solve problems and hate because the teachers were pretty much boring-from my experience in my former school but fortunately, the instructors were unlike in the ones in the former school who were all talking and changing slides. They were teaching as if their life depended on it, which I replace good.

After the bell rang, I went straight to the library to borrow some books. It had been my habit to borrow books after school and read them during free time or on weekends, especially when I realize I got too immersed in studying and reviewing, I read them as a form of a five-minute break. It was my only fun aside from doing my hobby, playing tennis as I didn't want to ruin my eyes by spending most of my time with my phone. After borrowing two books, I headed towards the parking lot since the gate's that way as well. "Ooh... mhmm..."

I heard a small moan coming out of nowhere along with deep groans. Gosh, I was having encounters with sexually active students again. But it was kind of weird though, they were doing it in an open parking lot. The students I encountered earlier did it hidden and even had their friends cover for them. Looks like they were the likes of exhibitionists. Maybe they took advantage of the small parking space and decided to do the nasties in hiding. I shook my head and removed my rambling thoughts. Why should I care? People were free to do whatever they want, if they were caught then they were caught. Seeing them receive a penalty and doing community service wouldn't be a surprise. I continued sauntering to the walkway when the moans got louder, my peripheral vision seeing a pair of figures stacked together and humping. One had a familiar face, the other wasn't.

That person with the familiar face... wait-

I immediately covered my mouth when I realized who the other person was, particularly the guy. He had messy dark hair, sharp eyes that had grey irises, a wonderfully sculpted nose, and red, thin lips. That face... I knew it all too well. It was Friso.

I walked faster and faster. Nothing to think of but just to get out of here, to be far away. Of all people that I could see fucking in an open space, why him?!

**

Thank you for reading Bubble Gum Kisses! To keep up with my works, future works, and endless frustrations on Twitter: https://twitter.org/RiosMorpheus**