Surrender Your Sensations

Gelo looked at me before shrugging his shoulders. He sighed before he nodded. “I know you know how much you really deserve, Meredith. Don’t settle with this.” Then, Gelo left.

I immediately pulled Rupert away and we stopped in the hallway out of the building. When I saw no one else was around us anymore, that’s when I stopped walking and let go of his hand.

“That dude is really annoying. Is he really the other person who made it to the roster? Come on, that dude is an asshole, Meredith.”

I stared at Rupert. Gelo’s words kept ringing in my head.

How much is what I deserve?

I blinked repetitively just to make sure I was seeing right- his face was red and his jaw and hands were clenched. I could feel his tension… and nasty temper.

“Don’t ever talk to Gelo like that again,” I said, heaving a deep sigh.

“Are you siding with him?”

“I don’t take sides. But it’s obvious that you’re wrong.” I ran my hand through my long hair before giving Rupert a hard punch on his shoulder.

He winced, looking at me in disbelief.

I glared at him. “Do you really have to say what you had said earlier? Do you really have to let Gelo and the other people there know about our set-up? What? Things we do when we’re alone? Really, Rupert?” I expelled a deep and irritated breath before rolling my eyes out of annoyance.”Did you even think about the effect that would have on me before you said it?”

He paused before taking a deep breath. He touched both my shoulders. “Sorry.”

“Sorry?”

“I’m sorry, Meredith. I-I was just carried away. I mean … Who is him, anyway? Why is he acting like that to you? Are you fucking him too?”

I could no longer stand what he said. My hand spontaneously popped out and landed on his right cheek. I immediately felt the intense annoyance and insult as if I wanted to cut the thing in between his thighs.

“What the heck?” He looked at me appalled, holding his right swollen cheek.

“What the heck?” My jaw and fists clenched. “What the fuck, Rupert! Did you hear what you told me? And of all people, that question comes from you- am I fucking him?”

“Meredith …”

“Fuck you!”

I immediately turned my back on him to leave. When he tried to stop me, “AW! MEREDITH! FUCK!” I kicked him on the part where it hurts the most.

He immediately jumped, holding his groin while wincing terribly.

“I am so angry with you! Don’t even show yourself to me because I swear,” I looked at his groin, “I am going to cut that!”

My breaths were as fast as I walked away from him. Maybe if I was in the cartoon, my nose would probably be smoking with anger. How dare he accuse me of such a thing? Is he crazy? He’s my first time and yet he had the audacity to say those things.

“Meredith!”

“I said don’t you-” I bit the insides of my cheeks when I turned around and it’s not Rupert who called my name. I realized who owns the voice. “Gelo, it’s you.”

“Did something happen? Where’s that jerk you were with?”

I chuckled with what Gelo called Rupert. “Yeah. He’s really a jerk. Can we not talk about him?” I heaved a deep sigh, trying to calm myself. I ran my fingers through my hair before smiling at Gelo. “Where are you going? I didn’t expect to see you after that scene.” I hesitated to smile at him before bowing. “I’m sorry for Rupert’s attitude. And please don’t mind what he said.”

I could feel the embarrassment burning my being now. Rupert and his mouth were only good inside the bedroom. Other than that, he’s no use.

“I’m about to celebrate what we achieved, Meredith. Wanna come?”

Gradually I lifted my head and met his gaze. I could not believe what he said. Did he just ignore the topic about Rupert’s disrespectful stint earlier?

My shock turned to laughter. Somehow, the embarrassment instantly disappeared and I ended up nodding at him. “Where are we going to celebrate? Are you treating me?”

Gelo put his hands in the pockets of his pants before shrugging his shoulders. “You want milk tea? You seemed really in a bad mood because of the asshole you were with earlier.”

“Oh come on! Stop mentioning him please,” I sighed in frustration. I approached him and immediately wrapped my hand around his arm. I grinned before tugging his arm so we could start walking. “I want sweets then let’s play in the arcade? I’m up for a celebration now.”

“Hmn… Good idea,” he simply answered before tapping the top of my head. “But can I give advice?” He suddenly stopped walking so I stopped as well.

I raised my brow at him, waiting for the so-called advice he’s pertaining to.

“Stop hanging out with that Rupert guy. He’s a dick and you deserve someone better than him.”

I bit my bottom lip and expelled a deep sigh. The hard part about Gelo’s advice was the fact that Rupert and I were not just hanging. What we have involves intimacy and sex … But with defined measures. Rupert may be a jerk … But I couldn’t deny the fact that I enjoy his company in bed.

So instead of responding to the advice Gelo gave, I ended up dodging his words with an absurd joke. “Is this the part where a love triangle is forming between the three of us and I have to choose between the two of you?” I laughed, trying to lighten up the mood.

“This is not a love triangle, Meredith.” I immediately fell silent because of his quick response. “This is only about you and Rupert and the relationship you have with him that will only lead you to ruins.”

A bitter smile spread on my lips … Lead me to ruins?

“Don’t worry about me.” I winked at him, my smile turning into a wide knowing grin. “I’m not scared of those ruins. I’ve been the worst because of cancer, Gelo. You know that. There’s nothing worse than that disease.”

He sighed but then put his arm around me. “But still … Consider what I said as advice from an older brother.”

“Older brother? So this is really not a love triangle?”

He laughed at what I said but nodded immediately. “I told you, I’ll protect you- like an older brother should do.”

“Okay.” I giggled. “I guess I was put in the sibling zone.”

I walked out of the building with Gelo, my new older brother, for desserts and to the arcade. And for Rupert, maybe he put ice on his cheek and his manhood. I don’t really care. He deserved those blows.

I don’t want to ruin my beautiful day because of him.

***

I received numerous missed calls and texts from Ruper but I didn’t budge to answer any of those. Instead, Gelo and I enjoyed our mini celebration. We went to the arcade and ate at a famous restaurant as planned. After that, we went to Angela’s tomb before finally going home.

Gelo took me to my dorm which was only a ten-minute walk away from the university.

“I really enjoyed today, Gelo. It’s really worth it for me not to enter my SocSci class,” I said when the two of us got out of his car.

“I thought you didn’t have class today?”

I just laughed when he was about to pat my forehead but I quickly avoided it. “You know, I deserve this celebration! Don’t scold me anymore, Big Bro,” I teased him before waving the mini-spiderman stuffed toy that he got for me from a claw machine. “We don’t have a quiz or exam in that class, anyway. There’s no harm in taking a day off,” I reasoned, running to the gate of my dorm building.

He chuckled before forcing a nod. “Stop calling me Big Bro by the way!” He groaned which made me laugh.

Well, he volunteered himself to be my big brother even though we’re the same age. He did not like it though whenever I was calling him ‘Big Bro’. But I liked pissing him off. He was such a grumpy dude.

“I’m coming in, Big Bro,” I sing-song, hopping my way inside the building.

“You’re really reprehensible!”

“That’s what you get for asking me to be your little sis!” I laughed, flipping my hair.

I like this feeling- having someone that I could consider to be my ally no matter what happens.

“Whatever. I’m leaving. See you tomorrow. No skipping of classes, Meredith Kaye!”

“Whatever!”

I just waved at him. He smiled before he finally got in his car. I watched his car speed away and when he was no longer in my sight, that’s when I finally entered my dorm’s lobby.

“Meredith.”

Gradually, my wide grin disappeared before I gasped. That deep and naturally husky voice. It was Rupert. What the heck was he doing here?

“Sorry. Please let us talk.”

“I don’t want to talk.” Then I faced him. But I was stunned with the scene in front of me.

Rupert was standing at the lobby of my dorm building, holding a bouquet of flowers in his hand. This scene could be an exact situation straight from a romance fiction if only he didn’t do what he did earlier.

I am still annoyed with his childishness and immaturity. So I just stared at him and then passed. I walked straight to the stairs.

My unit was on the second floor and yes I have a roommate there. I just really hoped Venice wasn’t there yet. Ever since we became roommates this semester, I rarely saw her going home to our unit. She would just be there once a week and then she would disappear. There was no chance for us to be close so I didn’t think I had the right to ask her about her whereabouts. Also, I liked having the whole room by myself so it was a bit of an advantage to me that she was not coming home.

“Hey, Meredith.”

“Meredith your face,” I snapped at him, shaking off his hand. When he tried to hold my arm again, I pushed him away. He was almost off balance and fell down the stairs. Good thing, he managed to hold.

It’s not really safe to have a fight in the middle of the stairs but I didn’t expect Rupert to be this persistent. I mean, he’s definitely a jerk.

“I don’t think being a player and a jerk like you thought you to be this persistent. I did not expect that.” Sarcasm laced in my voice and I didn’t bother to hide it in the first place. “I want to rest now, Rupert. Will you just leave for now. I’m not in the mood to fight with you.”

“Sorry.” He lowered his head before backing down the stairs. “I’m really sorry for what I said earlier. I was so wrong,” he added before hiding the bouquet he was carrying behind.

I was stunned by his attitude. Well, I didn’t expect such behavior more than his persistence. I mean, Rupert has a very strong personality. It’s so not of him to act this submissive.

I stared at him and waited for him to say more. But he remained standing there, head hanging low. I gasped when he said nothing. Fine. I had nothing to say to him either so I turned my back on him and continued to climb the stairs to my room. I had tons of work to do and I don’t think I have the energy to deal with Rupert today.

Without looking back I went straight to my room. Once inside, I immediately locked the door before leaning against it. Venice was not inside as I expected, so I had the whole room by myself and the opportunity to relieve my stress.

“Argh!” I groaned out of frustration. I was annoyed with Rupert but I felt guilty that I just left him there. “You’re more annoying than him, self!”

I was still pacing back and forth in the room before I ended up opening the door again. I was stunned when I realized what I was going to do. Wow. My weakness for him was severe. I was immediately shaken before closing the door again.

To prevent myself from running back to him, I immediately went to my bed. I put down my bag and then got a change of clothes. That’s right. Even if I insisted on talking to him now, my conversation would have no purpose because of my temper.

I immediately frowned when I remembered what he said earlier. It’s really final. I had to really end this day without talking to him.