The Game of Love

The Game of Love Chapter 19

“I wanted to try this out,” he replied in a somewhat cheerful tone. I shake my head, rolling my eyes, and smiling. “So…why do you want me here?”

Shrugging, I answer, “Uh…I’m not tired, I don’t want to bother Leanne and Sophia since they’re with their boyfriends, and I don’t want to have the company of Leon.” Seriously, why am I stumbling on my words? I don’t know, but deep down, my real answer to that question was “I miss you,” or “I just want you by my side.” Oh God, stop thinking these thoughts, Sarah.

“Plus,” Seth added, “Leanne and Sophia aren’t so big on coming over this late.” I nodded in agreement.

“You know, we could’ve just talked over the phone.”

Seth shook his head. “Nah…I’d rather talk to you in person. It’s…livelier, more fun, this way.” He flashed a smile, causing me to do the same in return.

“All right then.” Lying on my bed, hands behind my head, Seth did the same beside me, the both of us getting comfortable. “What do you want to talk about?”

Seth shrugged. “Beats me,” he sighed. After a beat of silence, he turned to his side, asking, “Anymore problems between you and Leon? Anything I should be concerned about?”

“Not really,” I answered slowly. “Hey…I’m just curious—and this may be a rhetorical question—but why are you so protective of me?”

Seth hesitated before answering, “Because I—we’re best friends.” At first I thought he was going to say something along the lines of “I love you,” but I shook my thoughts, unable to think that as a possibility.

Even more curious, I ask, “Because you…what?” My eyes stared at him, waiting for an answer, and I bit my lip as I had done so.

“So I’m sorry for leaving you like that…you know…on Christmas.” Seth changing the subject always annoys me to no end. Still, did he have to bring up that topic?

I shrugged. “Why are you apologizing?”

Seth shrugged as well. “I don’t know…I just thought I’d bring up the subject.”

“Why?” I asked, feigning innocence. Still, what my thoughts were telling caused me to blush, but I turned away, hoping that he hasn’t noticed. “Um…I’ve always wondered this, but why did you start being so protective and caring towards me even though you hated me…you know, after I broke your arm then…”

“Your thoughts are drifting that far back in the past?” he asked while laughing softly. “Well…do you really want to know? Like…the one-hundred percent truth?” I nodded. “It wasn’t until later that I realized how precious you are to me. I mean, back when you were sick, I missed your caring for me. Even though you knew I hated you then for what you did, you still wanted to take care of me. I guess I never realized how important you are to me.”

The way Seth said it sounded so intimate, and I was drawn for some apparent reason. “I’m that important and precious to you, huh?”

“Damn right… I just can’t stand it every time I see you get hurt. And I hate to admit this, but it pains me to see you around Leon—even though you dislike him. It seems that, bit by bit, I’m losing you…”

Looking over to him, I noticed the somber expression Seth held, avoiding eye contact with me. Outstretching my hands so that they cup his face, turning it to face me, I mutter sincerely, “You haven’t lost me. I’m still here.”

“How did you feel about it?” Seth asked after a quick moment of silence.

The question was so random, so out of the blue, I had no idea what he meant by that. Puzzled, I asked, “About what?”

Then suddenly, Seth is leaning over me, closing the gap between us as he presses his lips against mine softly. The feeling overwhelmed me, rushing past me like a tidal wave. And deep down, I was pleased with this sensation. Being kissed by my best friend—I don’t know why but when he kisses me, I wish for these moments to last longer. My lips now moving against his, I wrap my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss.

His arms slide down to my waist, pressing me against his body. When Seth’s lips ask for entrance, I don’t object when his tongue meets mine. I can’t believe I’m making out with Seth—my best friend. And I actually like—no—love it. For God knows how long, we kissed languidly before parting our lips. “This…how do you feel about this?” Seth asked.

Before I could stop myself, I answer quietly, “I love it.” In response to that, Seth smiled, pressing his lips against mine for another make out round.

The only questions surfacing my mind were: Where exactly do we go from here? What are we now? What am I to him? What is Seth to me?

Instead of contemplating over that, I was more focused on kissing Seth. The next thing I know, my legs are wrapped around his waist while my hands tugged at his blonde hair. Then in between kisses, I ask stupidly, “Why are we doing this exactly?”

After a moment, Seth replied, “Because it feels right…” Now isn’t that the truth? When he pulled away, I held a disappointed expression. “You want to keep going?” he asked, quite surprised. Taking a look at my legs around his waist, he added, “You seem to have been enjoying yourself, huh? You love it that much?” Almost immediately my face went red.

“Stop teasing,” I argued.

Seth leaned close to me, only a breath away. “I thought that it’s obvious to both of us that I’m not teasing about this.”

“Well, it is obvious, but”—

“Then don’t argue,” he interrupted in a clam manner. Moving away from me, I released my legs from his waist as he said, “I think that’s enough for today.”

Just before he could get off my bed and head out the window, I ask, “So where exactly do we go from here?”

Cocking his head to the side in confusion, he asked, “What do you mean?”

“Like…why exactly did you kiss me?”

A smile crept up on Seth’s lips as he leaned towards my ear and confessed, “I love you.” When he moved away, he laughed in amusement at me surprise. “I thought it was obvious enough…”

I kind of figured, I thought, but I was just too in denial to accept the truth.

“The question is,” he began, “do you love me?” When I don’t respond, completely at a loss for words, he clarifies my feelings for me. “Well…lately you’ve been getting a little…giddy around me. Not to mention, you’ve been stumbling over your words a bit. Not only that, but from what you told me earlier—that you weren’t tired—didn’t you really mean that you wanted me by your side?”

“Oh, shut up,” I mutter embarrassedly, feeling my cheeks get hot.

“You’re blushing again,” he noted as that smirk of his stayed etched on his face.

“Well…you—you’re—ugh! I don’t know, Seth!” I screamed nonsensically. “It’s just that—ugh! I don’t know what to say!”

“Well…” Seth began, “why don’t we figure that out for ourselves if you’re still unsure?”

“Huh?” I asked confusedly.

“Will you go out with me? If we do, then maybe you’ll find out how you feel if we’re together in a romantic way.”

Reluctance kicked in as I bit my lip, trying to decide. Well…why not, for the heck of it? Who knows, I just may actually be in love with Seth. If no other way will get me to realize the kind of feeling I have towards him, then this’ll be best.

So after really thinking it through, I reply, “Yes, I’ll go out with you.”