The Girl Who Stole My First Kiss

Chapter One - Stolen Kiss

Orm

"Prigkhing!" I yelled, sprinting towards the girl I missed dearly. Prigkhing had been my best friend since elementary school, but she'd moved to Hong Kong during high school. Now that she was back, we were going to conquer college together. Even though distance separated us, we'd always stayed in touch, video chatting and meeting up during holidays to keep our bond strong.

"Orm! I miss you too!" Prigkhing exclaimed as we squeezed each other in a hug, then bounced around excitedly. We were both nervous and thrilled about starting at a new school, meeting new people. We just hoped to avoid the kind of attention we got in high school - guys hitting on us just because of our looks. Neither of us were interested in them; our hearts belonged to girls.

"Do you think I'll find a great girlfriend here? I never had a serious relationship back in Hong Kong," Prigkhing said with a pout.

"Because you get bored easily and dump them no matter how amazing they are, you player!" I teased, rolling my eyes. We both laughed.

The school was surprisingly quiet, which was a relief. I hated the constant chase for autographs - even though I wasn't a celebrity, being the daughter of one kind of made me a target.

We enrolled quickly. Prigkhing chose tourism, while I dove headfirst into my passion for art. Even though it was expensive, Mom assured me she'd support me in achieving my dreams. I was incredibly lucky to have her. She was the reason I kept pushing forward, the reason I was in college instead of six feet under.

"Orm? Orm? Hellooo!" Prigkhing nudged my leg gently, snapping me back to reality. "Wh-what did you say?" I stammered, trying to catch up.

"I said, we should check out this new cafe later. It has awesome reviews and I'm craving sweets," she explained, batting her eyelashes at me. I just shook my head and rolled my eyes again. I wasn't a huge sweets person; they made me feel bloated.

I was putting on makeup when Prigkhing barged into my apartment and flopped dramatically onto the couch. "I waited outside for like half an hour and called you a million times, but you wouldn't answer. I hate you!" she whined. I checked my phone, seeing her messages and missed calls. A sheepish smile spread across my face. I hadn't noticed - my phone was on silent.

We found ourselves outside a cute cafe Prigkhing was dying to try. She ordered two slices of cake for us, and being the coffee fiend she was, she snagged one for me too. The atmosphere was cozy - comfy seating, soft instrumental music playing in the background. Whoever designed this place had put a lot of thought into it. I even noticed some books tucked away in a corner, though I suspected they were more for decoration than reading.

I scanned the cafe for Prigkhing, who was taking forever. Then I saw her talking to a tall woman, probably around my height. I just shook my head, knowing Prigkhing was already working her magic. When my friend returned, a wide grin plastered on her face, I smirked. But my smirk morphed into shock when a gorgeous woman in dark jeans and a white long sleeve entered the cafe. It felt like time stood still, my eyes glued to her every move as she approached our table.

"She's definitely a catch," my best friend remarked. I simply nodded. The woman brushed past our table, settling into the seat behind us and placing her thick books down before ordering something I couldn't quite hear. Since Prigkhing was blocking my view, I politely asked her to switch places. She smirked, deliberately keeping the beautiful woman out of sight, which earned her a frown from me.

"Move, or I might have to get rough later," I grumbled, trying to sound threatening. She just chuckled, seemingly unfazed, before finally scooting over, granting me the view I craved. The captivating woman seemed completely absorbed in the hefty tome in front of her. I couldn't help but notice how she'd occasionally crinkle her nose in concentration, followed by a flurry of note-taking.

Completely oblivious, I took a large gulp of my coffee, forgetting to blow on it first. The scorching liquid scalded my tongue, eliciting a laugh from my best friend. The sound echoed through the cafe, momentarily drawing everyone's attention except for hers, the girl lost in the world of her book.

"Ugh, are you ever going to finish that? It's just a piece of cake! What's taking forever?" my friend whined. I could easily devour it in two bites, but the desire to steal another glance at the girl kept me lingering. I feigned disinterest in his comment.

A short while later, she lifted her gaze, and our eyes locked. A jolt of electricity shot through me as I was struck by the sheer beauty of her eyes. Mortified, I quickly averted my gaze.

From the corner of my eye, I saw her rise from her seat, gathering her belongings. She walked to the counter, bought a matcha cake, and exited the cafe. "About time," my friend muttered as I too began packing up. I snuck a matcha cake into my bag, earning a questioning look from my friend that I brushed off with a shrug.

Outside, I spotted my muse, not far away, gracefully hopping onto her bicycle. The air of serenity she exuded filled me with a sense of calmness and a strange, exhilarating joy.

From then on, I kept coming back to the cafe, sometimes with Prigkhing, sometimes alone, even though I hated the sugary treats and coffee. It was because the beautiful woman was always there, in the same spot. Our eyes would meet occasionally, but I'd quickly look away. She was simply too stunning, and her beauty was almost overwhelming.

Tonight, however, her usual spot was empty. I waited, hoping she was just running late. But after an hour, she still hadn't shown. I had a feeling someone was watching me, but I was too focused on the girl to care. Finally, I glanced around the cafe and saw her staring at me from across the room. It seemed she'd been watching me the whole time.

Our eyes locked, and I found myself unable to break the connection. An invisible force held my gaze captive. When she rose from her seat, her eyes never left mine as she approached our table. My heart hammered in my chest, a frantic drumbeat that echoed the guilt of feeling like a creeper for secretly watching her all this time.

As she stopped right in front of me, the urge to bolt seized me. I scrambled to my feet, only to realize she was shorter than I'd imagined despite her imposing aura. With a flustered movement, I pulled my hood down, ready to flee. But before I could turn, a gentle hand clasped my arm. Then, in a soft touch that sent shivers down my spine, her lips met mine.

She stole my first kiss!