STEAMY ENCOUNTER

He looks dashing in his tight fit uniform. I couldn't stop peering at his strong arms while giving him a mild tour inside the house with me secretly barring him out of the utter mess. 

 

Engaged in my exposition, Liam suddenly asked a query about the whereabouts of Dad in which I immediately parried. 

 

"So, why musical arts?" I asked. 

 

"I love music ever since. I feel like a different person when playing. I love to see people dance and relate to songs that I write," he replied enthusiastically. 

 

I'm envious of Liam's intrinsic passion for music since I'm still at the phase of exploring myself, of what I want to achieve in life. I vividly remember my Grade 10 essay that basically asks us of what do we want to be ten years from now. I penned that I just want to have roof above our heads, stable job, and a complete family which is never ever going to happen anymore. The tragic departure of dad had a dire consequential effect to me and Mom.   

 

Mom decided to made herself reticent from the outside world and wasted herself in alcohol and depressive episodes. It made her restless and hysterical at some point. I couldn't bear to look at her skinny physique caused by starvation. 

 

I was wrathful at that time as I watched mom slowly losing herself in the process. Gladly, my knights in their shining armor, came to the rescue in the nick of time. 

 

Ashton, who's family had connections to multitude physiatry facilities, persevered me to get Mom treatment. I wasn't confident in my skills of persuasion so Blake entered the picture in which he easily put mom in the hands of specialists. As an only daughter, Blake and Ashton are as much as close as I can call my brothers. They never bailed on me and they've planned a get-together this Saturday because they've missed me.   

 

"How about you?" he spoke. 

 

I couldn't say because of Mom, which is literally the principal reason why I chose this field.   

 

"I love to watch a lot of documentaries. Brain-related type. I got hooked and immediately fell in love with the brain's anatomy," I uttered.   

 

He smirked and looked at me with contentment in his eyes. 

 

We arrived at the living room and seated at a cloud sofa, so cottony, you'll sink. But never deeper than Liam's glinting blue eyes. 

 

" Do you like some espresso?" I preferred as I try to ignite the unheated fireplace. 

 

The rainy season made the town a bewildered maze. The downdrafts made it hard for a safe travel outside so a lot of people prefer to stay dry and warm inside their homes. 

 

"I won’t take long but sure," he replied. 

 

I went to the kitchen and instantly started brewing while putting away all the ingredients of my halted venture of cooking tomato soup. I was rattled at first when Liam stepped foot inside the house, but his charismatic and gentle way of talking put me at ease.   

 

As I was grabbing a mug, Liam unexpectedly set foot in kitchen that made me flinch. I accidentally dropped the mug and tried to pick up the pieces when a shiver cut my index finger bleeding.  Liam jumped at the scene, held my hand, and inhibited the bleeding by sucking my finger.   

 

The twinge ended so suddenly as he conscientiously lapped the blood in my finger. His soft pink lips tickling my finger felt so electric and heavenly. The sensation made me moan in pain and satisfaction. He looked at me in a raunchy way that intensified the atmosphere. Only to be interjected by Mom, who went straight down in the kitchen to know what’s happening. 

 

“What’s going on here?” Mom asked in bewilderment. 

 

I pushed Liam away like a loaded gun. We both got startled and we both tried to save our faces. 

 

“I dropped the mug on the floor because of my buttery fingers and Liam tried to stop the bleeding on my nicked fingers,” I said storming out the kitchenette to get a band aid. 

 

“Hello. You must be Ms. Brooks. I’m Liam. It’s nice to meet you,” said Liam who’s sweating incessantly. 

 

Mom is sensible that she always tries to get the bigger picture of everything. 

 

“Nice to meet you too,” Mom said smiling. 

 

Liam sighed in relief and instantly renounced the tete-a-tete that was supposed to be another unofficial coffee date.  He told Mom and I that there’s been an emergency so that he could leave. 

 

If Mom didn’t even barge in, I would have almost kiss Liam and who knows what could have happen next. Mom’s timing couldn’t have been more perfect. 

 

“He looks good, doesn’t he? Is he your secret boyfriend?” Mom asked at the dinner table. 

 

“Gosh! Mom! He’s just a friend,” I said tacitly blushing. 

 

“Who knows you better more than I do?” she teased. 

 

Mom looks like in the pink of health now. The medicine that the doctor prescribed worked like a charm. I bet she’d be out and about tomorrow.   

 

I tried to kill my time that evening staring at the twinkling stars outside the patio. Sipping hot cocoa on my favorite unicorn onesie cross-legged. I tried to get a crystal-clear picture of everything that happened today. 

 

As I was about to get inside, I saw a stray, bony kitten, rummaging in the neighbor's pile of garbage. He's probably quivering in cold and feeble from starvation. I felt a punch in my gut. So, I trod towards him and lift him up from the rubbish mound, caressing its bristly hair and ensconced him on my onesies Kangaroo-like pouch. 

 

"Hello there," I said in the swathed kitten.  

 

I can feel it's scrawny body shuddering, and realizing how lucky those domesticated cats are at Frankfurt. 

 

I got everything planned out for Kit (that's what I named him). I'll lay down some bunch of discarded foam in our tool shed, which is 

miraculously soft and replace the defunct bulb with a new one. it will just be his makeshift residency for the night until I can buy a cat bed and a kitten-friendly cat shampoo. 

He's purring and his spiritless tail started to dance a bit. 

 

And so, I let him take his time until he can slumber in his newfound home. 

 

My dripping hair, after a sweet lavender bath, postponed my regulated sleeping schedule before 11.  I played some pop music to keep myself awake as I rest my back on my bed's headboard. 

 

Then, all of a sudden, a secret caller beeped my phone in the dead of the night. I wondered who it is. 

 

"Hello?" I asked. 

 

"Hi. Is this the Brussels car repair shop number?" He asked giggling. 

 

He sounded familiar from the tone of his voice. It's almost at the tip of my tongue but my lapse in judgement is playing in the hilt right now. 

 

"You've got the wrong number," I replied. 

 

I can hear him constantly laughing on the other line despite the static. 

 

"Whoever this is, this isn't funny," I replied irately. I was about to hung up my phone when... 

 

"Hi Serena. Did you miss me?" he said. 

 

I scratched my head in confusion and realized how pathetic I am not immediately realizing who's on the other line. It's Liam again making fun of me. 

 

"You're such a jerk," I said reddening. 

"I would like to know how's your nicked finger," he said. 

"And I'm sorry about earlier. Rushing to leave without formally saying goodbye," he added. 

 

It's so obvious why he did that in the first place. Apology isn't necessary. Then, it came to me, the sultry look on his face when he nursed my cut finger. Pain turned into pleasure. At least sensually. 

 

"It's fine," I said staring at the band-aid like a diamond wedding ring feeling unhinged. 

 

I heard a sigh of relief and then he continued... 

 

"By the way, my birthday is this upcoming Friday, but I'm going to celebrate it this Saturday. I would like to invite you," he offered. 

 

I tuned up my groggy voice a little bit and placed my hand on top of my head secretly smiling. 

 

"Yes, of course. Is it okay to bring a plus two? I don't want to become a wet blanket to your party," I asked shyly. 

 

"Sure. I just need a head count since it's kind of an intimate party," he said. 

 

He sent me the invitation right away and to Blake and Ashton's mail as well. Probably, change of plans for the get-together this Saturday. I meant change of venue. He hung up since he's also early tomorrow. 

 

Dress code was written on the bottom left corner of the invitation. 

 

"Following the rules is essential to get in the gates of Poseidon. In swimsuits and in trunks". 

 

Sounds too cheesy though. I could feel the second-hand embarrassment to whoever coined it. I felt like it was rushed for a virtual invitation. 

 

Better to contact Blake and Ashton. Checked if they're willing to come. And gladly, they did.