Chapter 60 Sweet Moments

"Good thing this place is safe. I don't think I can sleep inside the car in case it will rain again," Li sighs after he puts down the induction on the table and Timothy gets the supplies for the lunch. It's almost 2 in the afternoon and we haven't eaten anything yet. We're already starving.
"Yeah," Jayson grimaced at the heat of the sun that dazzled his eyes from the hole in the roof. "We can stay here for a night and tomorrow, we must reach the border of this Zone. Just pray they are still in that place waiting for us or we'll be doomed."
"Don't be too pessimistic, Jayson. You can't like that when all our stomachs are empty. It's depressing," Timothy told him as he slumped himself on the couch and the dust from it exploded, making us all cough he quickly stood to get away from it as he gasp desperately for air, reaching for his inhaler in his pocket.
"Oh, you have asthma?" Roanie asks him as he sucks in the medicine while clutching his chest.
"Are you alright, Tim?" I asked him worriedly, looking at his face.
After taking his medicine, Timothy gasped and inhaled deeply, trying to catch up for air. "I don't think I'll last long in this place. It's too dusty in here," he complained.
"Then we just have to take the furniture out of the room. The mattresses are good though. I can get rid of the dust on them so we could somehow enjoy a soft bed." Li volunteered and lifted the couch to take it out from one of the wide rooms in this building that we chose to use.
He seems strangely helpful and not complaining too much which he used to do before. Maybe his fight with Mona makes him a bit restless that he has to do something to keep his mind busy.
Jayson and I and the others just let him do what he wanted to do and I glance at Mona, her face seems unhappy about Li refusing to talk to her since we left the last building we stayed for almost two days. I feel bad about the two because they're both the best tandem but I guess even best friends have matters that both of them won't ever agree on.
Roanie volunteered to do the cooking though and she seems to be very good at it. Although we don't have fresh vegetables or meats, she made a good porridge from the rice grains, the can of corn, green peas, and powdered chicken stock. It was so good that I couldn't stand up after eating.
"Oh, we're so lucky to have you on the team, Roanie. You have no idea how badly we need a cook," Timothy praised Roanie after the scrumptious feast we had. Even Jayson looked satisfied and I somehow envied Roanie for it. She's an image of a perfect wife someday.
I thought of brushing my teeth so I took my small pouch where I put my facial and teeth hygiene and went to look for a place to do it. I grabbed a bottle of water and exit the room as the others continued praising Roanie.
I am not jealous or something but maybe I'm just in that state of adjusting myself to her presence. She's a kind-hearted girl anyway and I promised her we'll take her to bunker four with us.
The toilets are not a good option now so I chose the window in the corridor. The toilets in this place are separated from the rooms, thank goodness because if they're not, we won't feel like staying here.
After I cleaned my face and teeth, I turned to walk back to the room but I almost lost my balance in surprise to see Jayson so close in front of me. I looked up at him and he smiled at me. His green eyes look concerned, maybe he must have noticed the change in my mood since the insensitive joke that others laughed at me. I don't think about it anymore though. I know it's childish so maybe I just forget they somehow lost their respect one me.
Or maybe they just need something to laugh at to lose the tension on themselves.
"Are you fine? Are you still feeling upset about the joke?"
"No, I'm not," I told him as I laughed dryly, making him know that I'm not affected anymore. "Maybe I'm just tired. I didn't sleep well last night so apparently, that's the reason I have short patience right now. Plus, the heat never helps so..."
"I see... go get some sleep then. I and the others will take care of everything while you're resting. You don't look well by the way. Your face looks so pale."
"Yeah, I don't know why I always feel so dizzy. Maybe it's the heat." I answered him back and scratched my nose as I smiled to let him know I will be ok. But I got baffled when Jayson pulled me into a tight embrace and kissed the top of my head.
"You're my girlfriend, right? You can tell me everything that bothers you. I'll do what I can to make you feel ok. Understand?"
I'm...I'm his girlfriend now? Does he think we're already dating when we kissed inside the car the night we both saved Timothy from Melvin's men?
I didn't know I was the only one who didn't know about it and laughed. Like genuinely laughed in amusement as Jayson looked at me with puzzling eyes, his lips stretched into a smile too.
"What? Did I misunderstand what happened?" He asks me chuckling but the nervous tone in his voice is clear.
"N-No, Jayson. It's just..." I paused to stare at his face and then at his thin lips. I don't what came to my mind but I tiptoed and reached for his lips and kissed him, my unexpected move made him moan a little.
But as my lips moved against his, he pulled me and pressed his body against me, his arms wrapped gently around me as he moved his lips with the same passion I have for him. I could smell his minty breath and his lips tasted so sweet on my tongue as he pushed it into my mouth, deeper until we almost run out of air. How many days did I wish for this to happen again? We've been so busy surviving in this place that we almost forget our feelings for each other. Our needs and desire to let each other feel what is in our hearts.
I caressed Jayson's hair, pulling it gently as we kissed, his mouth pressing against me with the hunger he must be suppressing for days. I welcomed his mouth by opening it, our tongues intertwined with each other, as his hands moved inside my white tank top, kneading on the skin of my waist.
But before others see us here, I pull myself from him and we both gasp for air, panting as we touch each other's forehead and smile, his hands are still on my waist and my hand on his dark, wavy hair. He kissed the tip of my nose gently and lovingly, his eyes full of desire that I couldn't help but melt against him.
"You're the most wonderful girl I ever saw, Harriet. I didn't know I am already falling for you and I was just so scared to admit it to you, worried you would just ignore my feelings just because I have nothing to offer that could make your life easier. I'm a fugitive and I lived a life of a criminal before—"
"Shhhh... just like you said, it was before. I believe you are a good person, Jayson and I trust you with my life. You've been saving us all from danger and if it wasn't for you, we would have already died in that airport." I whispered to him as I put my finger on his lips.
He took my hand and placed it on his chest. Jayson is just so sweet and a gentle guy that I believe he's not the person he thinks he is. I love him. And I want to be with him even after all of this is done and we all come back to bunker four with my dad and my brother.
"I love you, Harriet."
"Even if I don't know how to cook?"
We both chuckled at what I said because Jayson is very aware of my talent in cooking and he knows I'm bad at it.
"It doesn't matter. We can split on doing things that we know we are capable of. I can cook for you and you can wash the dishes," he winks at me, teasing because he knows how badly I hate to wash the dishes.
I rolled my eyes at him and put my arms around his waist, his hands on my back as I looked up at his face with a smile on my face. It's the first time we share a moment like this and I am happy with it.
"Fine," I answered him and he kissed me again gently on my lips, sealing our love with this.