Lost in a Love Maze (completed)

8 | No Trail Left

Jenny awoke with a tight feeling on her chest. She felt sore all over. She moved to stretch her arms but found it locked by toned muscular arms draped on her midriff – which explained that tightness she felt.

Then she saw her bare breasts and all of sudden, she felt like a cold bucket of water had been poured on her as she realized what happened.

She was naked for God's sake! None of what happened last night was a dream. It did happen. She let it happened. She was even the one who initiated it. How could she have given in to years of sensual fantasy as soon as she found the perfect face and body to do it with.

How could she have reacted that way? Was she some deprived wanton woman to have easily given her virginity to a stranger whom she knew only by two articles she read?

How could she escape this situation? Drake's chest seemed glued on her back. It was impossible for him not to be awakened if she moved his arms away from her. She still tried to do it anyway, hoping for some miracle.

This was reality though so Drake just pulled her back to his chest when she tried to get up. "Don't you want to sleep some more? I like you here in my arms." She could feel his breathing near her neck when he pulled her closer and it was giving her goosebumps.

She did not respond. She was hoping he would be able to sleep soundly again and naturally loosen his hold on her so she could escape. She didn't think she can look him straight in the eyes after the intimacy they just shared.

Silently she scanned the room, looking for her dress and underwear so that she could smoothly pick them up and change quickly before he got fully awake.

When she had the chance, she gathered her clothes and almost tripped going to the bathroom in her haste not to be seen naked in broad daylight. She hurriedly wore her clothes not caring whether these were wrinkled. She had to get out of this place before he gets up. She honestly had no idea how to handle this situation.

As soon as she stepped out of the bathroom, she almost had a heart attack to find Drake leaning beside the door obviously waiting for her as he pulled her close to him and attempted to kiss her.

"Wait! Morning breath," she murmured while pulling back her head as far away as she could.

"Hmm, liar. I heard you gargling your mouth in there."

Jenny decided to stop making excuses and answered honestly instead. "Sorry. Truth is, I find this – our situation – awkward," she said, still not looking up at Drake's face.

"I'm not sorry it happened but I want to apologize just the same if you feel I have taken advantage of you. Just know I'm not that guy who will disappear on you after this. I am sincere in wanting to get to know you better."

Jenny gave a bitter smile. He indeed got to know her better physically instead of them first knowing each other's personalities and inner thoughts. "Can we take a few steps backward and start again? Slowly. As friends. No repeat of what happened last night."

"You mean, you do not consider us in a relationship yet as of this moment?" Drake suddenly had a grim expression. He shifted stance, his legs apart and arms akimbo, ready to convince Jenny to treat this as the beginning of their relationship.

"Does having sex an initiation to a relationship? Should't it be the culmination instead? We got it wrong Drake. So I'm asking you, can we just pretend that last night did not happen?"

Drake's enthusiasm was doused down with what Jenny said. Jenny had a valid point there. Their encounter started on the wrong foot from the very beginning.

Much as he wanted to appeal and tell her to reconsider, he knew Jenny was a rational woman rather than a romantic one. That he was in love with her would be unacceptable to Jenny's logical flow of thoughts. For how could you love someone you don't even know yet, right?

His impatience over wanting to know more about Jenny and her daughter had to take a backseat. This was not the proper time to bring up any of those personal questions. There would still be time for longer and deeper talks between them, at least long enough before he leaves to study abroad.

In the meantime, there was nothing else he could do but ask for her number. Jenny just handed her phone to him so he could type his contact number on it. Then he called his own number so hers would appear on his phone book. It did ring so he was at least assured that this would not be the last time they will see each other.

The next day he called her after his office meeting was over but he only got a dead tone, saying the number is out of coverage area. He tried again the next day hoping he could invite her for a dinner so they could continue talking. Still, the number was off.

They may have started on false impressions and identities but he wanted to set things right. He wanted a serious relationship with her. It was just unfortunate that they had accidentally shared that one night of intimacy even before they get to establish friendship or trust.

The third day he could not help but think that she was deliberately avoiding him. He tried to contact her using the business line she uses but it only gave a dead dial tone. He stalked her in her social media accounts but there was a notice of "In Hiatus" plastered on her FB wall and on her pinned tweet. It seemed that she deactivated her account. It was disheartening.

Still, he refused to think that it had something to do with him. No woman in her right frame of mind would give up her means of livelihood just to avoid a guy she doesn't like to see again.

He always thought he would be the one hiding after spending a night of unplanned intimacy with an almost stranger. He never thought he would feel agitated for being clueless. He could perhaps trace through friends of friends but what could he tell them – why was he even looking for her so desperately.

He was nowhere near any answer to his questions. He thought their shared intimacy would bring them closer. He thought it would expedite things between them yet it was the opposite which happened. He lost her instead.

Nico was so mad that he ended up like a lovesick teen. "Don't you find it odd that you got her on your first date? As far as I remember from what you told me, you two did not even managed to share basic info about yourselves but she ended up in your bed. Perhaps, that was her M.O. to check for compatibility. Perhaps that was how she got pregnant out of wedlock."

"Bro, it may be my first time but I could tell it was her first time also." Drake retorted as he chugged another can of beer.

"Damn, you're so clueless. You said her child looked about three years old. It could have been that long so it would seem her first time again. Don't be misled just because you were hoping for something else."

For the first time in their friendship, it was the easy-go-lucky Nico who was spewing advice to his dumb heart. "It was your first relationship. She was your first love. And she was your first time. It's normal for you to react that way. Cry if you must. Mope for a week but please get back on your feet soon. You have a business to run, okay. Act like an adult first. Then pine like a teenager on your own outside office hours."

Drake could only smile bitterly at that piece of advice. Indeed, he should get his act together. There is so much to do to turn over his files. Work would surely be a welcome distraction at this point.

"Stop this nonsense, okay," Nico pleaded again, "In a week you will be leaving and I had never thought I'd say good riddance when you go. Because I know you need this. Time and distance will heal your wounded pride."

Drake could only hope that his best friend was correct – that it was just his wounded pride acting up; for how could he carelessly say that it was love when they do not even know each other enough to develop that kind of emotion. He hoped that his study abroad would distract him enough so he could eventually forget that sweet but brief encounter he had with Jenny.