TEACH ME NOT 2 HATE LOVE

36

👧Tajea POV 👧

Oh my. It feels so good to be in bed. It's so soft and comfortable. Oooh, I could stay like this all day. Forever and ever.

Wait! What is this? So hard and muscular next to me. Mmm. It felt warm and smelled wonderful, too.

Is it a body? Ooh, it's a nice body.

Eyes open.

What the heck!

Why is Nik in my bed while I'm not properly dressed?

And how did he even get there?

The last thing I remembered was calling a cab to take us home. And, oh no, I told him it was alright for him to stay over. That it was alright for him to sleep next to me—to put his arms around me, even. And that I liked it. I like him. Damn it, I must have been really out of my mind.

Anyway, I pulled out of his embrace, waking him up. He's got to go now.

He seemed bewildered at first. But when he saw me and the state he was in—which was naked, by the way—he asked. "Did we?"

"No!" At least, I hope not. Just kidding, we didn't.

"Where are my clothes?" he asked, seeming to be suffering from a hangover, and he ain't the only one. I have a terrible headache right now and feel like I'm going to barf. Maybe it's not the alcohol, but this whole situation.

"How should I know?" I answered as I looked around, but there was no sign of male clothing anywhere.

He got up butt-naked, searching for his garment.

"What are you doing?" I threw my pillow at him. "I'm still here."

"It's not like you haven't already seen me like this before," Nik teased. How out of character of him. But yeah, that's true. "And beside, we slept together, so there is no need for modesty between us."

"Stop saying it like we had sex. And please, cover that thing." Oh, I tried to cover my face. Heed not to temptation. But girl just had to look. The flesh is too weak, I tell you.

"You mean this thing?" he asked, waving that thing about like a flag. It seems he's still out of it. I doubt that. The effects of the liquor should be gone by now. So why is he behaving in this manner? And girl, stop acting like you have a problem with it.

"Boy, go get dressed right now," I demanded.

"And what if I don't want to?" He protested. "What if I want to stay here like this with you, cuddle up in my arms?"

That would be fantastic. A disaster. "Are you making a joke right now?"

"Am I laughing?" He asked firmly. His eyes were burning with desire. His lips were moist and hungry for a kiss. But I pretend not to notice. The last thing I want to do is entertain his flirting, and then things take a wrong turn. Or maybe right.

"You must be out of your mind."

"Maybe I am." He smiled chirpily. "And it's not such a bad thing."

"Yes, it is."

"I like you, Taj." Oh no, why did he have to go and say it? I can't do this right now. I don't want to hear it. La. La. La. La. "Like, like, like you. A lot. But you already knew that."

"No Nik. We can't be together." Why can't you understand that? It will ruin everything. No. I'm scared of getting close to another man.

"Why?" He got a little upset, and I can understand why. What I said hurt him. I don't want to hurt him, but we just can't cross that line ever again. It's for our own good. For the safety of my heart. "I like you. And I think you like me, too."

"Pish, I don't like you." That wasn't very convincing at all.

"Stop playing games!" he voiced frustratedly, and that awakened the warrior spirit within me.

"Who's playing games?"

"You know what? Forget what I said." Nik laughed it off, but his eyes showed how disappointed and heartbroken he was. "I'll see you at work."

He then exited my room. And I presume he found his clothes, because by the time I showered, got dressed, and went out to the living area, he was gone.

And when I thought this morning was horrible, what happened while I was on my way to work was the worst. I stumbled into Travis outside my apartment.

Oh great, what does he want now?

"I'm sorry, Tiaji," Travis said. This again. I swear, if this is a stunt to hit on me again, I'm going to kill him. "That I hurt and humiliated you. But please don't let my family suffer for my wrongdoings."

What is he talking about?

"Just please leave them out of this. Punish me instead," he pleaded.

"OK. What's going on here, whatever your name is?" I'm confused. But I'm curious to know the reason for his pathetic action.

"You don't know?" he asked. That is why I asked. I don't have a clue about what he's ranting about. "Your rich boyfriend ruined my family just to punish me because of what I did to you."

Rich boyfriend? Is he talking about Nik? Why would Nik do such a thing? This just doesn't make any sense to me.

This guy just can't stop telling lies, can he? I'm done with this crap. "Look, Travis, whatever your name is. I don't have time for your BS. So get out of my way. You're making me even later for work."

"Just please, please tell him to leave my family out of this," Travis pleaded, and it seemed really genuine. But when you are an actor and a liar, you have perfected the art of deception.

"OK, I will." I said this just to get him to stop begging and get out of my way. This is a crazy, messed-up day. First Nik was naked in my bed, and now this. Ugh!

"Just please, Taiji, or they'll kill me." It sounds serious, but that's not my problem. I just nodded and got into the cab that was already waiting to take me to work.

But I definitely need to find out what that's all about, and something tells me Nik has the answers.