The Haunted’s Kiss of Regret and Repentance

I woke up with the sun shining brightly outside my room’s window. I felt great for some odd reason, and I chose to ignore it.

“Well, looks like our sleeping beauty had no nightmares last night. I hope that this continues on throughout the entire day.”

Perry was smiling ear to ear as she brought me breakfast in bed. It was an odd thing, but I decided to believe that she might just be happy to get a good night’s sleep for once.

“Well, I can’t say that I’m complaining either. I feel like I haven’t had a good night’s sleep for ages.”

Perry gave me a plate of omelet, rice, a glass of water, and hotdogs. Everything looks appetizing, and I felt myself salivating.

“By the looks of it, Perry, I’m guessing you decided to cook me breakfast because you got the beauty sleep that you wanted. I hope you sleep well every day so I can get the perfect breakfast in bed from you every single day.”

“Well, I could do that a few times if I’m in a great mood. However, as much as I love you, I’d rather cook an amazing breakfast for myself. You need to learn how to cook the little miss heir of the De Leon clan.”

“Oh come on, I would rather hire a cook, Perry. BUT, you COULD teach me how to cook meals so I don’t starve in case you’re not with me.”

“As if that would happen, little missy. You know I’m far too busy to do that. However, you could ask Brixton to help you since I know you two have been missing each other these past few days.”

“First of all, you know I’d rather bake than cook actual meals. I would just give the fire department more work if I cook. I’m lucky enough that mom allowed you to join me so I could somehow live normally without the extra extravagance. Second, I can’t deny that I’ve missed Brixton, so I’d just ask him.”

I whispered the last part, and I saw Perry shake her head and leave without saying another word. She had a small smile on her face that tells me she already knows what I’m thinking about when it comes to Brixton.

The day was amazing, and everything was surprisingly going smoothly. I haven’t felt the odd presence, and I haven’t had any breakdowns or hallucinations of Rian.

I was now at a cafe waiting for Brixton to finish his classes. We were supposed to meet in thirty minutes and I went early since my classes ended already.

“I didn’t think that I would get the opportunity to spend time with my heiress friend.”

Brixton’s voice echoed in the empty cafe, and I looked up at the smiling guy behind me. He took the seat opposite of mine, and everything else that I was thinking about instantly faded away.

“I think heiress is a bit much, babe. I prefer being a normal girl with a complicated life who just wants to enjoy her coffee at peace. Plus, I expect you to give me a free slice of chocolate moist cake because I graced you with my normal presence.”

I earned a laugh from Brixton, and he did as I requested. I allowed myself to just close my eyes and relax while I waited for him to finish ordering.

“So tell me, babe, what have you been up to aside from worrying? I haven’t seen or spent time with you for a few days, and it’s not a nice feeling. You make me a little bit too worried for my liking, babe.”

“Well, I have been a bit busy these past few days. Ever since I’ve found more clues about Rian and the past, it feels like the days are longer and on repeat.”

“You really need to rest from time to time, babe. I’m sorry if I can’t really help you as much as I want to.”

I felt the sincerity that Brixton had, and it melted my heart. Today is an amazing day, and I sat there explaining to Brixton everything that happened for the past few days in better detail.

“You know, babe, I’m really happy that you’re getting closer to God. I know that it doesn’t sound possible, but I know that you’ll get through this.”

“I know, babe. I don’t know why I’m blessed with people like you who are there to support me. Though I’m not yet as keen on calling the almighty as often as you guys do, at this point in my life, I’m willing to try anything and everything to get this stupid curse over with.”

The both of us held each other’s hand as a comfortable silence fell between us. I looked at Brixton’s eyes and it felt so right being in the warm moment with him.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t my favorite princess. I didn’t think I’d meet you here, hon.”

Rex was walking towards us, and his words were a bit louder than they should be so the four other people who just came in looked at us curiously.

“I didn’t think that I would see you back here, Shyne. I thought that you would spend at least a few more weeks back home.”

Rex stopped in front of us and I didn’t have a choice but to break the moment that Brixton and I were having so I could stand and shake Rex’s hand. However, Rex pulled me into a hug instead of just shaking my hand, and it left me a bit shocked.

“I missed you, Shyne, honey. If only I had known that you were going back earlier than expected, I would have hung out with you much sooner.”

I was able to break free from Rex’s embrace and politely took my seat while he took a nearby seat from a different table. He didn’t know anything about me and Rian so I had to think of a little white lie to make sure he remained oblivious about the topic and problem.

“Well, I haven’t been here long, and I’m sorry but I guess I was a bit too busy with deadlines and other things. Brixton and I are having one of our food dates to help me relax from all the problems that I’ve been trying to solve lately.”

“Brixton? Oh, yeah, you’re her friend who goes to a different school right? Nice to see you again, man. It’s nice that Shyne could have a little friend by her side when she needs it.”

“Yeah man, nice seeing you again, I guess. I’m glad that Shyne comes to me every time she needs someone to feel relaxed.”

“Anyway, Shyne, right now, I’m just all over the country and my father is making me travel all the time. However, now that you look like you’ve relaxed more and I’m almost done with my father’s biddings, do you want to hang out with me sometimes? We can hang out anywhere you want.”

Rex was speaking to me as if Brixton didn’t exist and I saw how much effort it took Brixton to stop himself from punching Rex. I looked at the two men in front of me, and I felt like the perfect day had turned into a perfect day for a drama.

“Well, thank you for the offer, Rex, but I’m afraid that I really need to focus on my studies and my other extracurricular activities. I mean, I can’t just ditch all of my responsibilities just so I could go on different trips.”

“I understand that hon, but you gave your little friend here the time to hang out, so I thought that I could also ask you out like old times. I mean, you said you were single, which means that no one would get a man if I took you out to dinner or something.”

I didn’t have an answer for Rex, so I just gave a small nod that made him give his charming smile. Meanwhile, I saw Brixton drink his coffee in silence at Rex and I’s exchange, and by the way, he was holding his cup, I was guessing he was almost at his limit of tolerance.

“Hey, Rex, I just remembered that Brixton and I have somewhere else to go. It was nice seeing you again. Come on, babe, we need to get going, or else we’d be late.”

I gave Rex a polite smile while I semi-dragged a confused and pissed Brixton out from his chair. I held his hand as I was pulling him out of the place and into the parking area.

“I’m sorry about Rex, Brixton, I didn’t think that he was going to be there, and I know you don’t like him. Plus, you and he are always on edge even if you guys have only men twice, and-”

Brixton pulled me and hugged me tightly in the middle of the parking lot. My heart felt like it was going to explode, and the perfect day became somewhat perfect again.

“I’m sorry if I was being a jealous idiot back there, babe. I just-I-”

I hugged him back with equal force, and the both of us just stayed in comfortable silence. We hugged each other for ten more seconds, and I could feel both of our heartbeats going from intense to calm before we eventually both let go of each other at the same time.

“I’m sorry for the sudden hug, Shyne. I guess that idiot made me so angry that I just needed to hug you to calm me down a bit. I’m sorry if I startled you a bit.”

“It’s fine, Brixton. I understand you.”

The both of us looked at each other’s eyes, and as I closed my eyes, I felt cold lips touch mine. He tasted like the coffee that he drank. Our bodies moved, and a few seconds later, I felt a car door behind me.

“Shyne, I’m sorry, I-”

“Shut up and just kiss me, Brixton.”

I felt myself being lifted and sat down on the hood of a car. Brixton and I moved as if we were both in a daze because of the heat of the moment.

“You taste divine, my love.”