Chapter Twenty
Mike's rented house was not at all what I was expecting. It was a very average, normal looking house. It certainly looked rented, that's for sure. And it was not bad. I mean by my standard, the house I live in, it was like a rich person's house. But to normal people's standards, it was a very average house.
I felt my hand being squeezed, "You like it?" Mike asked me from my side. We were currently standing outside his place and he was waiting for my reaction. We would have walked inside but I had stopped him from going in, and stood in my place to take a look at it from far.
I nodded appreciatively, "Yes. Absolutely. It's great." I answered him. He pulled my hand and we began walking in to see his place. I gave him a curious side - glance. "It must have cost a lot. How did you manage to pay for it? I mean you are just a high schooler." I asked him. "I told you earlier, I have been working and saving for this for a very long time." He said.
He dropped my hand, pulled out the keys and opened the door and led us both inside. Shutting and locking his door behind us, he walked in deeper into his house and went straight for the kitchen. He pulled out two soda cans from his fridge and handed one to me. I took a sip before continuing the conversation.
"What work do you actually do? What job provides enough for you to rent a house like this when you're just a high schooler? I have seen people work two to three jobs and still not be able to pay for a house, and you just got it while you're in school." I asked him, looking around. There was no fancy decor or anything. But it still looked good. There was a lot of free space for the sunlight to pour in. It did not feel constricting at all.
"It's nothing." He said, before taking a sip from his own soda. I was checking everything when he asked me his next question. And it caught me off guard. "You know, you ask a lot of questions about costs, money and things related to finances. Is there a particular reason for it?" He questioned me. My whole body tensed and I spun around to face him. What the hell? Panic hit me, like an unsuspected bullet.
How did he ... ?
Was I really talking about all the finance questions without realising it? Was it apparent that I was poor?
I am economically cautious for obvious reasons, in my family. I had to, because I did not have the luxury to play around with money, but did I really become so conscious about it that it seeped into my behaviour, in our conversation without me even realising it?
"Uh ..." I could not find anything to reply to him. My mind was blank and my mouth was unable to force any response.
"You also use an outdated version of Nokia phone. And by the way you talk about your finances, it's pretty obvious that you are highly money conscious. Is it your habit or is there a reason behind it?" He said, insinuating I was poor without actually saying it.
"I ..." I started to say something but suddenly, he cut me off in the middle of the sentence. " ... Forget about it. We are not here to discuss anything like that." He said, offering me a smile. I knew he was changing the subject for my sake. Maybe he had seen me being conscious about the question. I was uncomfortable for sure. Also, maybe he had noticed the change in the mood.
Whatever it was, I was happy that he gave me an easy way out. But that did not change the fact that he made me realise how I was behaving without even realising I was. I needed to be very aware of my behaviour. Especially with the things that I say.
"We're here to hang out and enjoy our time together. So, we should do that instead." He said. With his last word he took his last sip from the can and slammed it down on the kitchen counter before striding towards me with a predatory look.
He came to the other side of the counter, where I was standing, took the can out of my hand and placed it behind me. I did not even finish my drink. He trapped me with both arms on the different side of the counter. He leaned in close, very close and then whispered in a low voice.
"You know what else are we here for?" He questioned, never looking away from my eyes. Not trusting my tongue, I just merely shook my head. "To have fun." He said. I swallowed thickly.
He started to glide one of his hands on my leg, pushing my skirt up with it. His eyes followed its path. His hand reached my upper thigh where he stopped. I let out a shaky exhale. His eyes snapped to meet mine. "But, today I want so much more." He said, his voice low deep in his throat.
I licked my lips before responding to him. "What do you mean?" My voice came out timid and soft, it was almost like I was afraid of him. But I was not, far from it actually.
Out of nowhere he bent down, and picked me up in a flash. I let out a squeal from being startled. He leaned on my lifted figure and whispered smoothly. "I'll show you."
And just like that, with my arms around me, he carried me to his bedroom.
Once inside his bedroom, he kicked his door shut with his leg and carried me onto his bed, where he gently placed me on his bed. After that he, himself climbed up on me. My heart started beating like a drum. I knew where this was going, even being new to this dating thing, I was not naive enough to don't know where this was leading to.
Mike dipped his head to kiss me and I let him do that, but before Mike could go too far, I stopped his advances in the middle, because I was not sure about this. I was not uncertain about taking things that far but, I was scared a little.
"Wait, Mike." I said, when Mike tried to make his move again. His brows furrowed, he looked at me with a little knowing look. He buried his face in my hair before whispering out loud. "You don't wanna do this right?" He asked me, without lifting his face. I shook my head a little but I did not think he saw it.
"No, that's not it." I told him. This made me lift his face and look me in the eye. His eyes sparkled with a little bit of hope. "Really? So, what's the problem?" He asked me. I felt ashamed and embarrassed as I tried to comprehend how I would break this news to him.
"I ... I - I have never done that." I told him. Not meeting his eyes. For a moment, there was only silence but then I felt Mike hook his finger underneath my chin and forced me to meet his eyes. "What do you mean that you've never done that?" He asked me. When I did not answer, he did it himself. "Wait, you're a virgin?" He asked me, his voice gentle.
I wanted to look away but I forced myself to face him. Nodding my head, I whispered, "Yes. I'm a virgin."
For a few seconds, he kept gazing in my eyes before he lifted himself on his hands and brought our faces closer. "So, you're telling me that you've never gone that road with somebody else?" He questioned me. I opened my mouth to tell him that I have never gone that end with anything with anyone else but I did not. Instead, I just nodded my head and looked away. I did not want him to know how inexperienced I was.
"No." I said. Unable to hide how embarrassed I was. I could feel Mike's eyes boring down into mine, even though I wasn't looking in them. After a few more times, the weight of his gaze still did not disappear, I hid my face with my hands. I knew that my cheeks were on fire and probably buring with blush.
Right as I hid my face, Mike pulled my hands off my face and made me look him in the eyes.
"Do you want to?" He asked me, his voice filled with patience and sincerity. I glanced away for a second but then I nodded my head. "But, that's not it." I told him, interrupting him even before he could say something. "What is it?" He asked me.
"I'm ... I'm - uh ... I'm scared." I told him. "I've never done it before and the thought of doing it scares me." I said. For the first time feeling vulnerable to anybody outside aside from Shirley. Mike stroked my cheek lightly. "Do you trust me?" He asked. I hesitated at his question. What?
"Do you trust me Viri?" He asked me firmly, certainty pouring out of his features. For a second, I thought about Shirley's warning about not trusting a guy easily but shook the thought away. I needed to stop taking Shirley's warning so seriously.
Decision made, I exhaled a deep breath and let out a breath. "Yes." I answered him.
"Then leave everything to me." He reassured me and then lowered his head to continue where we were left off.