Surrender Your Sensations

Rupert and I went to school together because I slept in his unit. Today is D-day. The results of who would be the final two to complete the debate roster would be announced today.

I’m nervous. Ever since I woke up earlier, I have had nothing else on my mind but about the debate team. I am really desperate to get in. Let’s just say, I consider it as my last shot.

I attended one class first before I headed straight to the Alpha Battuere’s office to see the list.

I was literally running towards the CAS building when someone grabbed my arm. The shiny thing on his face made me recognize him, “Rupert?”

“Hey, sweetie.” He immediately caught my arm and then his hand slid down to mine. He clasped my hand. “Let’s go see the result?”

My mouth fell open because he was here. When he started tugging my hand and we started walking, that’s when I realized he’s really with me.

“W-Wait, don’t you have a class anymore?”

“Your hand is cold.” He chuckled, slightly teasing me. The excitement in his voice somehow calmed my nervousness, “Don’t worry. I could feel it. You will get in.”

I slowly smiled because of what he said. My heart was literally beating like crazy against my chest, but that simple sentence increased my faith that I would get this. “Do you know every time I’m too nervous, that means something good will happen to me?”

“Really?” He laughed at what I said before stopping to walk. “Then, it looks like we both feel the same way. You can get it, Meredith. I believe in you.”

When we finally reached the debate team’s office, many people were already there. I was about to turn at the door of Alpha Battuere’s office when Rupert stopped me. He cupped my face with both of his hands and I was shocked when he kissed my forehead.

“Rupert …”

“I’m so proud of you.” Then he dropped his hands on my shoulders then he slowly turned me around until I was facing the door of the office where the result was posted.

My heart stopped beating for a split second before realization hit me; on the sheet pasted at the door was my name, printed in black bold letters. “Shit. Oh my gosh,” I murmured, my eyes staring at my name- Congratulations, Meredith Kaye Santiago.

Did I really make it? Isn’t that my name?

MY. GOSH!

“I really made it, Rupert! My gosh, I got in!”

“Congrats, Meredith. You don’t know how proud I was when I saw your name,” Rupert said from behind me, his hands gently squeezed my shoulders.

“So, you already knew?” I look at him over my shoulder, a bit confused.

He smiled at me before tucking a few strands of my loose hair behind my ear. “I was here earlier than you, then I checked right away.” He scratched his neck so hard before like a child smiled broadly at me. “Let’s just say, I’m even more excited than you so I took a look at it first.”

I laughed at what he said and then gasped in surprise when he gave me a peck on my cheek.

“There’s a lot of people, Rupert. You’ve been kissing me too much,” I scolded him before pushing him slightly because he would kiss me again.

“Just kiss me,” he whined and my laughter doubled.

“Kiss your face!” I raised my fist to his lips when he was ready to kiss me again. I gasped when he actually kissed my knuckles, “Rupert! Get a hold of yourself!” I widened my eyes at him.

“Give me a kiss, sweetie!” Then he held my right fist and pulled me closer to him.

I looked at the other people around us and my cheeks immediately warmed when I saw that we were getting their attention now. “Rupert,” I hissed, glaring at him and he just grinned at me, mischievously.

“You have a reward for me, sweetie. Don’t you want it?” The glint of pleasure automatically combined with his playful grin.

I swallowed an invisible lump in my throat, feeling a bit embarrassed and turned on, at the same time.

“Rupert, we’re in a public place.” I had to step back from him when his hand held my waist, “You’re not gonna do what you did at the cafeteria,” I warned him and he immediately nodded.

“Fine. I don’t want us to fight.” He sighed before extending his hand at me. I took it and he smiled again. “But I’m serious, I have a reward. Will you come with me?”

My eyes narrowed and I smiled at him, “That seems like a different reward, bad rockstar,” I teased him before actually wrapping my arms around his right arm.

He chuckled before he winked at me. “Well, I’m thinking of giving you a wholesome kind of reward,” he grinned at me before moving his brows, up and down, “but if you want that unique reward, we can go home to my unit.”

“My gosh, Rupert!”

We ended up laughing with each other. It’s actually nice to receive good news with someone who could sincerely celebrate it with you.

“Thank you for being here with me,” I said, smiling sincerely.

He intertwined our hands before he lifted it and kissed my knuckles. “It’s time to celebrate this, Meredith. Let’s go?”

“So, you really have a ‘wholesome’ reward for me?” I could not hide the glint of playfulness in my voice.

He nodded, eagerly. “Let’s skip classes for today. Please? Come with me?”

Skipping classes … With Rupert?

“You’re sure a bad guy. Did you just hear what you ask me? You invited me to cut my classes. Oh come one, you know I am currently irregular.” I smirked at him when he leaned his face closer.

He winked at me, tugging at the piercing on his bottom lip. “Bad guy can bring you to heaven.”

“Very naughty, Mr. Santos the bad rockstar.”

Holding each other’s hands, Rupert and I decided to go with his plan, for the so-called ‘wholesome’ reward he supposedly had for me.

But before we could even exit the hallway, someone called me. “Meredith Kaye!”

Rupert and I both looked at the direction where the voice came from. Not until he was just a foot away when I realized who he was, “Hey, Gelo.”

I felt Rupert’s grip on my hand tightened.

“Congrats to us!” I didn’t expect the next thing Gelo did. He suddenly came over and hugged me. “We did it, Meredith Kaye,” Gelo whispered, tightening his hug around me.

It was only a few seconds before I answered his hug. However, I was able to only do that with my right hand because Rupert didn’t let go of my hand that he was holding.

It was only then that I realized, I didn’t see the name of the other person who got the spot on the roster because I was so overwhelmed with the news about me. So, Gelo and I really did make it.

“So, time for celebration?” Gelo asked as soon as he broke away from me.

“You can celebrate by yourself.”

I gaped at Rupert for what he said to Gelo. I simply pinched his side as he stepped forward to slightly move Gelo away from me.

“What is your problem?” I tugged at the hem of his shirt to pull him backwards. “Sorry, Gelo.” I turned to Gelo whose attention was now turned to Rupert.

“Your boyfriend?” Gelo asked and I wasn’t able to answer when Rupert interjected again.

“Meredith and I are going to celebrate. Congrats to you, Dude. But we really have to leave now.”

“Rupert!”

“What? Do you two have a plan?” Rupert let go of my hand, only to wrap it around my arm like a kid. “You’re coming to me, aren’t you? You said you wanted to see my wholesome reward.”

I was just stunned when he looked like a gentle kitten who even rubbed his forehead on my shoulder before looking at me pityingly. You know, he looked like the Puss in the boots? Those wide and teary kinds of eyes were looking at me.

“You don’t have a fever, do you?” I even put my hand on top of his forehead.

“Meredith! Let’s go, please?”

“Don’t you think you’re being childish here, Rupert?” I hesitantly smiled at Gelo who was just as embarrassed as I was with how Rupert was acting right now. I gave him a shrug before having a deep sigh. “Uhmnn, congratulations on getting the other spot, Gelo. I mean it. I would love to celebrate with you but it looks like Rupert was having some sort of a situation here. I think I have to bring him to the doctor.” I apologetically smiled at Gelo. “We really have to go.”

Gelo rubbed his nape before he nodded, giving me the same awkward smile. “I guess we can celebrate next time. See you at practice.”

I was so embarrassed on the way Rupert was acting right now plus he was giving Gelo unnecessary glares. I pulled him away. But he didn’t budge.

Rupert faced Gelo again. “My name is Rupert,” he suddenly returned to the serious version of himself, “and as long as I’m with Meredith, she’s off limits, Dude.”

“Off limits?” My mouth dropped open when Gelo laughed. He moved forward just to tap Rupert’s shoulder. “Funny. If you don’t want any other guy around her, be her boyfriend. But if you can’t do that, stop fooling around and taking claims of her. You’re not a teenage boy anymore to not discern your emotions and to blur the lines by playing like this.”

And I was just stunned by the scene in front of me. I was aware that I was quite beautiful but I never thought that I would ever reach the level of my beauty where two guys would talk like that because of me. I was like the female lead in a Korean drama.

“You’re no longer a child too to not understand what Meredith and I do when we’re just the two of us,” Rupert retorted back and that put me in an awkward place. Especially when I realized what he was trying to point out.

My jaw clenched and my cheeks burned in embarrassment. I avoided Gelo’s gaze by slightly lowering my head and then I pulled Rupert’s arm to leave before he could utter some information that would surely ruin my reputation. “Rupert, that’s enough! Come on, let’s go!”

Rupert snorted. “What? Does he not know what we have? Does he not know how I can pleasure-”

“You’re such a jerk, do you know that?” I was stunned by what Gelo said. But I was even more stunned with the next thing he said, “I hope you don’t let yourself settle in this kind of treatment, Meredith Kaye. His mouth is sick and rotten.”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Gelo…”

“What! Hey! Be careful of your words! How dare you say that?” Rupert was about to punch Gelo but I was quick to stop him.

I could already hear the whispers of those around us. “Rupert, I said that’s enough!”

“I’m not insulting you. You just showed who you are right now. A complete douchebag and jerk.”

“Gelo! We’re making a scene already!”

Gosh. Just what’s the deal between these two?