Chapter148 Kiss Me
Eddy felt a rush of excitement, faced with the woman’s unexpected boldness.
He watched her lower her head, dark hair and the bangs that hid her features. His slender fingers twined through a lock of her dark hair.
"You're pushing me into this..." Alvin Curtis whispered hoarsely.
The voice was too faint, Eddy didn't catch it.
"What did you say?"
Alvin had a mischievous smirk, then he whispered sharply, "Close your eyes."
Obediently, Eddy closed his eyes.
Alvin Curtis lifted his head, his teeth clenched.
“Since Eddy betrayed him, he can't be blamed for not showing any mercy.” He thought.
"Open your eyes."
The heady scent of alcohol wafted before him, and Eddy anticipated the vision of alluring red lips upon opening his eyes.
However...
"OMG!"
What Eddy saw upon opening his eyes wasn't the seductive female image he expected, but a familiar face crowned with a woman's wig.
Alvin Curtis's exaggerated lipstick was wildly imprinted on his face.
"Come on, give me a kiss!"
"Don't you love smooching?"
"Kiss me!"
"Let's have another one over here!"
Eddy's face was streaming with cold sweat as he gripped Alvin Curtis's face, cursing vehemently, "Get away from me... do it... now... just go..."
The haunting memory of the flirtatious things he had said to Alvin Curtis, and the regrettable physical contact they had shared, filled Eddy with agonizing embarrassment.
"Hey, Eddy, that's not what you were saying just a moment ago. You're missing a lipstick mark on your forehead. How about another one?"
The pair was caught in a tussle, utterly oblivious to Luann Weaver and Myron Curtis, who were stifling their laughter behind a pillar.
Luann laughed, bumping her head against Myron's chest.
When she looked up, she saw Myron holding up his phone, seemingly capturing the chaos unfurling before them.
"Are you recording this?" she asked.
Myron Curtis hummed in confirmation and opened the family group chat.
He hit send.
"Wow, you're awful!" exclaimed Luann Weaver.
This time, there was no need for Myron Curtis to step in; Alvin Curtis's parents would undoubtedly take the responsibility to lecture him.
Myron Curtis was satisfied, pocketed his phone, not even bothering to check the group reactions.
He wrapped his arm around Luann Weaver and they headed home.
Ten minutes after their departure, Alvin Curtis's phone blew up with relentless messages.
At first, he ignored them, but eventually he couldn't avoid picking up.
It was his father's raging voice: "You little disappointment! You have ten minutes to get your ass back here!"
"Huh?" Alvin Curtis was in confusion. He hadn't... done anything wrong recently, had he?
He quickly agreed and freed Eddy before awkwardly making his exit.
Eddy collapsed to the ground.
Arriving home, Eddy sensed a strange atmosphere.
He rushed upstairs and, upon seeing his reflection—his face plastered with smudges of bright red lipstick—he shivered with fury. After taking a shower and scrubbing his face three times with face wash, he changed into clean clothes and went downstairs.
Eddy's mother sat on the couch, staring blankly at a TV commercial that had been on loop for ten minutes.
White crept through her hair at the temples, her face marked with the pallor of sickness, and every so often, she coughed softly.
Eddy made her a cup of tea, sat down beside her, took an orange from the fruit bowl, and began to peel it methodically.
Only then did his mother's rigid gaze shift to glance in his direction.
She seemed to think better of saying anything.
The TV show started soon after.
The drama's male lead was exceptionally handsome and radiant, just over twenty years old, with a presence that sparkled even in stillness.
"Do you think this kid is handsome?" Eddy glanced over casually, handing her a peeled orange and replied nonchalantly, "Pretty sharp-looking, yeah."
There was a sinking feeling in Eddy's mother's heart.
"Oh... Eddy. When are you going to bring home a girlfriend for me to meet?"
Mention of women abruptly brought Alvin Curtis's face to Eddy’s mind. Eddy said, "I'm not planning on that for the time being."
His mother observed his uneasy demeanor and the tone of his reply, recalling the video sent by Alvin Curtis's mother.
"What's wrong, Mom?"
Eddy sensed something was off.
His mother shook her head, gently taking his hand. Her fingertips felt cool to the touch.
Her lips parted and then closed again as though she was about to make a momentous decision.
"You've probably had a hard time keeping this secret from us all these years."
Eddy's face was a mask of confusion, "Huh?"
"No wonder you've never had a girlfriend."
"Don’t worry, I haven't told your father."
"I've thought it through carefully before you came back."
"Alvin is a good kid, just a bit rambunctious."
"He's young and still finding himself, it's natural for him to be playful..."
"I've made up my mind, you’re my only child..."
"Rest assured, no matter who you're with, I'll support you."
The more Eddy heard, the more something seemed amiss.
"Wait, what are you exactly talking about?"
"Alright, bring Alvin over sometime soon, reintroduce him to us."
Eddy was stunned, "Mom, are you alright?"
"Eddy, why are you still denying it? The video was sent to me!" She handed him her phone.
The moment Eddy played the video, he stood up abruptly, his face reflecting utter disbelief.
"Damn it! It must be Luann Weaver and Myron Curtis’s doing! What the heck is all this mess?"
"Mom, it's not what you think! Let me explain!"
His mother shook her head, "Don't worry, we respect your choices, whatever your orientation may be."
Eddy: "..."
In contrast to Eddy's relatively calm situation, Alvin Curtis faced something a hundred times worse.
As soon as he entered the house, his parents dragged him for a thorough interrogation.
"Are you serious about Eddy or not?"
"Delete his contact information!"
"And look at what you're wearing! What is this supposed to be?"
"Go to your room, and you're grounded for three days!"
Tears streamed down Alvin Curtis's face as he wailed, "No, Mom and Dad, that's not how it is, it's not..."
His pleading eyes sought solace in his grandfather, Mr. Curtis, who had been quietly observing. "Grandpa, please... I just want to go out and play..."
After a moment of silence, Mr. Curtis spoke up. "Don't be too harsh on the boy."
Alvin's parents turned to Mr. Curtis with surprise.
"Alvin has been quite the prankster and needs to learn his lesson," Mr. Curtis continued.
"But Grandpa, that's not true," Alvin interjected.
His parents exchanged a glance, seeking clarity. "What do you suggest then?"
"Ban him from places of entertainment and have him reflect on his behavior!"
Alvin fell silent, unable to counter his grandfather's words.
