Age-Gap Romance

01

"That was my first kiss, Kim. You owe me for that!" This handsome guy's warm hand rested on my waist, his eyes filled with a mix of confusion and desire as he stared at me.

"Owe you? Of course, I'll owe you for my entire life!" I exclaimed, waving the bottle in my hand, feeling exhilarated.

"Then, your grace, would you be willing to take me home tonight?"

Hearing those words, I instantly sobered up, but it was already too late!

02

He carried me back home.

Once we arrived, his gaze landed on a pair of men's underwear on the sofa. The next second, he gave me a look of hint.

I understood what he was thinking and reassured him that my ex-boyfriend was "gone."

Before I could finish speaking, he walked straight over to me, pressing me down, "Tonight, let me help you move on from him."

I was taken aback by his sudden assertiveness, instinctively pulling my neck back, but he pulled me into his embrace.

Evil thoughts flitted through my mind, and before I knew it, my face was flushed.

"Dummy, it was just a teasing." He in front of me chuckled instinctively, turning to leave, but I grabbed him.

"Just do it." I glanced away, my heart pounding, thankful that the dim lighting hid my blushing face.

Click, the only light was turned off, and the sudden darkness startled me.

Before I could react, he jumped onto the bed, pulling me into his arms.

For a moment, I was at a loss. I only heard him whisper softly in my ear.

"Kim, have you been... so eager lately?"

Before I could answer, he led me into a world of pleasure.

03

The next morning, he was nowhere to be found.

I moved my tired body, wincing at the pain...

I casually opened WhatsApp, and a notification indicating a friend request caught my eye.

It was a adding request with a sentence, "Can I see you again?"

Recalling his enthusiastic efforts last night, I clutched the blanket, quickly accepted the request, and buried my face in the covers in embarrassment.

Before I could receive a message from him, Skye Ford messaged me first.

"Hey, sorry I couldn't make it to your birthday yesterday. Did you pick up my friend?"

I panicked a bit. What friend?

When did you ask me to pick someone up?

I quickly scrolled through yesterday's chat history on my phone.

It seemed Skye mentioned his childhood friend was visiting for a trip, but he couldn't pick him up and asked if I could help arrange it.

I was half-asleep at the time and casually sent him the location of the bar, telling him to find me himself.

Shit...

Skye was still unaware, typing in the chat box.

"He's my neighbor, also with the last name Ford, and I've treated him like a brother since he was little. He's only 19. How is he? Quite handsome, right? Last night, he said you two had already met. And then he didn't answer me anymore. Is everything alright? He didn't have much luggage, I suppose."

Her brother? Really?

Looking at the messages on the screen, I replied with a face of despair, "Everything is good."

Except I had sex with her brother.

What had I done?

He was only 19 years old!

I had sex with a teenager, in every way.

What a mess I'd made!!

No, it was clearly not my fault. It happened because of his initiative.

He was the one who kissed me first! It was not my fault!

I stopped messaging, but Skye called me instead.

"He just messaged me, saying he's grateful to you. He didn't know it was your birthday yesterday and wants to make it up to you today. I also want to treat you to a meal. Let's go. How about the Bulgari restaurant? By the way, should I have him pick you up?"

04

Pick me up?

Did he even leave my apartment complex?

After taking a deep breath, I decided to come clean with her.

"Skye, please listen and stay calm. I had some special relationship with your brother last night, in an intimate way. I was really drunk, sorry."

"Why be sorry?"

Suddenly, the voice on the other end turned into a male voice.

What was going on, why was he answering the phone!

"I haven't even thanked you for taking care of me. Oh, by the way, I threw away that thing on your sofa for you. But I seem to have left something at your place. I mean my socks, of course."

Darn, this guy!

05

I quickly styled my hair, put on makeup, slipped into a dress, and headed to the Bulgari restaurant.

Skye waved at me from by the floor-to-ceiling window, wearing a white feather dress that swayed elegantly.

Across from her was someone in a denim jacket, seen from the back.

I took a deep breath, tossed my hair, and walked over.

As I got closer, I realized there was a bag on the chair next to Skye, and only the seat next to him was empty.

I saw through his trick.

I was familiar with men and their little schemes.

I sat down and winked at him, but I felt my emotional defenses crumbling inside.

This feeling was so strange!

"Here, this is for you."

He handed me a bag of Matsuo incense, the same brand as the one almost finished in my bedroom.

I blushed a little, but Skye didn't notice my reaction and joked, "You two seem like you've known each other forever."

Jorge Ford heard this and whispered just loud enough for me to hear, "Agreed."

Agreed on what?

That was quite misleading.

This meal seemed ordinary, but the atmosphere was somehow weird.

I appeared composed, but in reality, I was just stuffing food into my mouth, hoping to finish quickly.

The reason was simple. Although Jorge was handsome, I was already 25.

The age gap was too big; there was no future in it.

Besides, I had to go back to work and had no time to entertain him.

Suddenly, a wine glass filled with clear liquid was held up to me under the light. He wanted to toast with me.

I smiled at him and clinked glasses, downing it in one go.

"Don't drink like you did last night, " he said, looking at me. "Or do you want me to drive you home again?"

I almost spat out my drink.

Finally, when we were almost done eating, Jorge naturally went to pay the bill.

At the table, Skye propped her chin on her hands and gave me an amused smile.

"What are you laughing at, huh?" I glared at her.

She shook her head and sighed, "You've really been through a lot."

What?

"Just cut to the chase!"

Skye scratched her head and asked, "Huh? What chase?"

I was even more confused.

"Jorge said you agreed on his plan. He'll be staying at your place for a while."

"What?"

"Your place is close to the training center he needs to go to, convenient for his exams."

06

"Is he really planning to study?"

Skye looked puzzled, "Of course he is. Jorge is a good student!"

No way.

"What's up? Do you have something to tell me today?"

I nodded, then shook my head vigorously.

Before I could say more, Jorge returned and teasingly said, "Is it inconvenient for you? Will your boyfriend be upset for this?"

Just as I was about to speak, Skye laughed, "That's not going to happen. Her boyfriend's been gone for ages. Did I ever tell you about their story? It's quite something-"

"Hold on, hold on!"

Afraid Jorge might say something shocking, I quickly agreed.

Skye sighed in relief.

I looked aggrieved and turned to glare at Jorge.

He wore a triumphant smile and said, feigning grateful, "Kim, I'll have to trouble you a bit more.

I won't cause any trouble."

His soft voice made me blush again.

07

Jorge had actually left his luggage at our community's security booth.

So, it was all planned out.

How could everything have gone wrong like this?

Jorge explained, "I wasn't sure where to go this morning, so I left it there first."

"Fine."

"Are you angry?"

"Why would I be angry?"

"Then why didn't you reply to my WhatsApp?"

Confused, I opened WhatsApp and found two voice messages.

"Can I stay at your place for a while?"

"I won't trouble you. I'll make breakfast for you."

He really did tell me.

I sneaked a glance at him. In the rearview mirror, his eyes were clear and bright, with long, thick lashes-truly a rare beauty.

How could such a good-looking young man still a bachelor?

Suddenly, I remembered last night and blushed furiously.

Jorge glanced at me, "What are you thinking?"

"You have... a lot of friends, right?" I tentatively asked, "Do you often stay over at their places?"

"Hmm?" Jorge frowned slightly.

He seemed a bit unhappy.

I felt a bit anxious and tried to make amends, but before I could speak, he calmly pulled over.

He looked into my eyes and said earnestly, "It seems there's a misunderstanding that needs clearing up. Frankly speaking, yesterday was my first time."

I was dumbfounded.

"I have many friends, but not many female friends, and I don't like getting too close to women other than my girlfriend.

You're different from them."

08

All of this was too unexpected for me.

I couldn't process it, so I just laughed it off and then assigned him slippers and a room when we got home.

"You should take some rest. I'm going to bed."

I hurried through my nighttime routine, slammed the door shut, and locked it tight, automatically blocking out his temptation.