Chapter 25

MORE THAN SERIOUS

Diane’s P.O.V.

Ever since he kissed me, I wasn’t able to speak anymore and remained tight-lipped of voicing out even the slightest of my thoughts. I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, but I didn’t know.

Until now, my heart was beating so loud that I didn’t have the power to control it. I couldn’t understand why I felt like this. It was my first kiss. Yes, it was only a peck, but I would never change the fact that his lips brushed with mine. Liam stole my first kiss, and it was something I could never forget easily.

But in contrast, I couldn’t explain the feeling, and it was even driving me insane. I liked Liam. I really do. But I did not expect that he would do that either. I didn’t mean to call him ‘sir’ in the first place. I was reserving my first kiss to whoever would be my first boyfriend. I wanted my first kiss to be extra special and not just a product of a mistake.

Hmm, does he feel the same way about me? He would not kiss me if he doesn’t, but I didn’t want to expect anything. Oh my God! I’m so confused right now. Does he really have to kiss me? Why does he keep on bothering me when never in my entire life that I allowed myself to be bothered by men? My conscious mind was hysterical enough to scream inside me.

Oh, really? You might have regretted the kiss because he didn’t go way further! My subconscious mind interceded to oppose my previous thoughts.

Perhaps, there must be something like that. I was actually thinking about how it would feel if Liam played with my tongue. I had never experienced admiring a man, so I didn’t have any idea. I used to immediately ignore all those who showed me interest—even those who were chivalrous enough to send me love letters and bouquets in the university.

Leandro was right. I had many suitors, and I denied them being my suitors by not giving them a chance. Not just in the club but also at my school, and that was what triggered his paranoia. Even Leandro, whose unquestionably handsome, competitive businessman and already a boyfriend material, still did not pass to my standards.

Actually, I didn’t even know if I had standards in the first place. All I knew was I had to concentrate on my studies because I had to graduate next year, pass the CPA board examination, and work decently in an accounting firm. In parallel to that, I had to focus too on Mom and my siblings. I had no time in entertaining men’s feelings about me. I already had so much on my plate, so I wouldn’t want to be a burden to someone else.

Leandro promised me everything a woman could ask for—name, money, and power. He was willing to take me out of the club and support me financially to the point that I would no longer need to work my ass off just to earn money. He was ready to pay for my siblings’ tuition fees and even for my mom’s medication needs. He promised to do anything for me, but still, I didn’t say yes to him.

In fact, Liam and Leandro just looked alike. But what does Liam possess that made me want him? Why couldn’t I stop my heart from whipping so fast that all I asked was for the time to stop so that I could be with him longer than I could ever imagine? Why couldn’t I stop myself from falling for him? In less than twenty-four hours, I found myself fascinated by him, and I couldn’t suppress the feeling.

The more I was resisting it, the more I was being drawn to him. The more I wanted to let go, the more I was holding on to him tightly.

“Hey! I’m sorry for what happened a while ago. I told you not to call me ‘sir,’ right? I feel like I’m already old when being called ‘sir.’ It seems like we’re not that far apart when it comes to age. I’m only twenty-six,” Liam said while driving.

Even though I was not looking at him, I knew that he was smiling, and his stunning dimple was already out on his right cheek again. I only heard his voice for a few seconds, but something lurched inside me that I could no longer stop myself from yearning for more.

Yes. When it comes to age, we’re not that far apart. But in terms of social status? You are in heaven, and I am on the ground. I vulnerably thought.

With non-stop and quite sticky lumps forming inside my throat, I swallowed hard before speaking. It was cold here inside his new car, but I did not know why my body felt hot. It was great that someone delivered this to him, so we were going home by now. But since Liam had lots of cars, he should have instructed his assistant to come and bring this last night.

“Hmm… just turn right there,” I attentively remarked while pointing at the side of the road. “Once we enter the main gate with the ‘New Era Residences’ banner, the second house with a brown gate is what we own. I was raised there,” I changed the topic. Fortunately, he was not able to notice that I didn’t want to talk about what happened to us this morning.

Before we could enter the main gate, the guard stopped us. It was their standard operating procedure to inspect those who were getting in and out of the subdivision. It was great and safe for our part as homeowners because you could not just enter easily if your car does not have a yearly subdivision sticker. Meaning, you are not living here and an outsider.

Liam opened the window on his side, and I just talked to the guard. No one had ever owned this kind of luxury car here in our subdivision, so there was a hint of confusion on the guard’s face, whom I had known as Uncle Greco ever since I was a child.

“Good morning, Uncle Greco. How are you? Anyway, he will only take me home,” I assured the guard.

“Hey, Diane. It’s you! Is he your boyfriend?” He couldn’t help but ask.

“Uncle!” I yelled. “Please, he’s not my boyfriend!” Then, I smiled.

Uncle Greco always made fun of me, and I treated him like my own father. He was close to my dad, whom he had always been with during their drinking sessions. He saw all of us grew up together and treated us like his own children too.

He had a son whose name was Luke, who used to bully me before. The last time I saw him was before his flight to Europe to study Commerce, and that was four years ago. Uncle Greco was separated from Luke’s mom, who already resided in Belgium.

The old man had already made a go signal that he allowed us to pass through when I got surprised because Liam peeked through the window and talked to him. “Who knows, sir? I might be her boyfriend soon.”

“Smart move! So, I’m telling you this now, Hijo. You are very lucky with her. Aside from being such a nice kid, she had never been into any relationship! If I were you, I would court her as soon as possible before my son gets back here. Who wouldn’t like Diane to be their daughter-in-law?” Uncle Greco giggled before Liam, and I finally entered the main gate of the subdivision.

Oh, so Luke is getting back? I frowned.

Just hearing about him made me want to puke already. I dismissed the idea because I wasn’t interested in him and just focused on Liam.

“Hmm, Uncle Greco wasn’t my uncle by blood. He was my dad’s friend and already a father-figure to us, but hey! Don’t think otherwise, Liam… and you even had the guts to tell him that you’ll be my boyfriend soon? You’re impossible! The old man was just kidding, and here you are, making amends with that joke!” I felt like my face was burning hot right now. It got even hotter when he solemnly avowed…

“What if I am the one who’s not joking, Diane? That I am more than serious about what I told him earlier? Am I not qualified to court you?”