Chapter 48 – Moving Aggressively

“So, are you heartbroken now?” Leonel asked as he took a seat beside Jeslyn.

She glanced at him and scoffed softly, sipping her drink.

“You always know where I am. I’m starting to suspect you’ve implanted a GPS in my body,” Jeslyn said. She was seated at the bar of a downtown nightclub.

Leonel ordered a drink from the bartender before responding.

When he received his glass, he raised it slightly toward Jeslyn, as if to toast. His smile was faint, almost mocking.

“I don’t need a GPS. You’re terrible at covering your tracks,” he replied.

Jeslyn let out a quiet huff, leaning back in her chair. Her hair was slightly messy, her cheeks flushed—perhaps from the alcohol, or maybe exhaustion.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice growing heavier. “Aren’t you supposed to be in a board meeting tonight?”

Leonel stared at her for a moment, then sipped his drink slowly.

“The meeting can wait. You can’t.”

Jeslyn laughed bitterly. “Me? What’s so important about a woman who just caught her fiancé holding hands with another woman? And here I am, guilty of cheating myself, yet still feeling hurt. Funny, isn’t it?” She chuckled darkly. “I’m just tired of pretending all the time.”

Leonel sighed, then leaned closer. Their faces were now just inches apart.

“I don’t like seeing you like this, Jeslyn. So vulnerable. Did Jefran’s affair really hit you that hard?”

“And you? You always look so composed, right? Even when you’ve probably just killed someone?” Jeslyn shot back, her voice low but laced with challenge.

Leonel’s gaze hardened. For a moment, the only sound between them was the clinking of glasses and slow jazz from the small stage in the corner.

“Do you really believe I’m capable of that?” he asked quietly, deeply.

Jeslyn didn’t answer. Her eyes were fixed on her glass, her fingers gripping the edge of the bar as if to anchor herself.

“I don’t know who to trust anymore,” she muttered.

Leonel looked at her closely, then shifted his chair nearer. His hand reached out, brushing against hers on the table—just for a moment, but long enough to make her heart race.

“If you can’t trust anyone, then trust yourself,” he said.

“You know what’s right. You know what’s wrong. And you know... who I really am.”

Jeslyn inhaled deeply. His words felt like riddles.

“If I really knew who you were...” she stared into his eyes, “I wouldn’t be here right now, this late, with a glass of vodka and a heart full of questions.”

Leonel gave a faint smile, raising his glass again.

“Then let’s drink to that… to all the questions left unanswered.”

Their glasses clinked gently. A soft sound—but one that echoed much deeper than the glass itself.

“What do you want to do tonight?” Leonel asked.

“What do you think? You seem to enjoy seeing me like this,” Jeslyn replied.

Leonel leaned in closer.

“Oh? Are you hurt because you saw Jefran with another woman… or is it something else?” he whispered, his eyes falling to her lips.

Jeslyn took a deep breath, her body tensing at his nearness. His face was just centimeters from hers, and his gaze—intense, magnetic—was impossible to avoid.

“I’m hurt…” she murmured, her voice barely a whisper. “Because I feel like a fool… played by two men at once.”

Leonel smiled faintly—no joy in it. Just bitterness, like a man who knew he was part of the pain.

“And which of the two made you feel like a fool the most?” he asked calmly, his tone sharp.

Jeslyn didn’t answer right away. Her eyes fell to her drink, then back to his.

“You know the answer to that.”

Leonel’s stare deepened.

“If I’m the one who hurt you, then you should hate me… not sit here and let me look at you like this.”

“If only I could hate you… that would be easier,” Jeslyn whispered.

“But I’m not even sure if what I feel is hate… or something far more dangerous.”

Leonel didn’t say anything. He just stared, silently. Then slowly, he reached out, gently touching her cold fingertips.

“If you tell me to leave right now,” he said softly, “I will. But if you let me stay… I might not be able to hold back much longer.”

Jeslyn’s heart pounded. The room, with its dim lighting and soft music, seemed to freeze.

She looked down at his hand on hers, then slowly turned to him.

“And what if I say… I don’t want you to leave?”

A smile ghosted across Leonel’s lips. But he didn’t say another word. His gaze flared—burning, intense, and irreversible.

With one breathless moment... they finally leaned in.

Jeslyn knew this was madness. Complete madness. But at that moment, her brain had gone silent. All that spoke was her pulse and instinct.

Their lips met in a kiss—hesitant at first, slow, full of buried emotion. Years of conflict, restraint, and unanswered questions spilled out in the quietest, most powerful way.

Leonel gripped the back of Jeslyn’s chair, pulling them closer—but still holding back. His kiss wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t demanding. It simply asked for what could no longer be denied.

Jeslyn pulled back slightly, breathless. Her eyes locked onto his, full of confusion and fear.

“We… we shouldn’t be doing this. It’s a public place. What if someone recognizes us?”

Leonel didn’t reply. He pressed his forehead gently to hers.

“I know,” he whispered. “But of all the things that feel wrong… this is the only one that feels right.”

Jeslyn closed her eyes. His words cut too deep. Because the truth was… she felt it too.

A few moments of silence passed. Then Leonel pulled away, took a deep breath, and stood.

“Come on. I’ll take you home,” he said, his voice steady—but heavy, like he was holding something in.

Jeslyn stared at him, emotion swirling in her chest. Then she nodded.

Later That Night...

Once they reached Jeslyn’s apartment, everything escalated fast.

They stumbled in, colliding gently before locking in another kiss—this one messier, rawer, fueled by emotion.

Leonel pinned Jeslyn softly against the wall, kissing her jaw and neck.

Jeslyn didn’t hesitate—she tugged off his shirt, and they kissed again, deeper, harder.

“You’re in such a rush, sweetheart,” Leonel whispered, but Jeslyn didn’t care anymore.

Leonel lifted her effortlessly, her legs wrapping around his waist. Their lips never parted.

He carried her over and placed her on the table.

Their kiss broke for just a moment, their eyes burning with desire.

“Tell me you want this too,” Leonel whispered.

“Yes… I want this. So badly,” Jeslyn replied, biting her lower lip.

Leonel’s grin widened—and he didn’t wait any longer. They gave in, unleashing all the tension and longing that had built up.

“God… I’m losing my mind,” Jeslyn breathed, eyes closed as the sensation overwhelmed her.

“And I’m loving every bit of your madness,” Leonel whispered, moving faster.

“You’ll always be mine, Jessy. Never forget that,” he said, claiming her lips once more.

***