Chapter 5
3 months later
I knocked on the door to make my presence known. Rachael, who immersed herself with a magazine she was reading, lifted her head as I questioned, "You called for me?" I raised my eyebrow.
She gestured me over to the seat placed in front of her desk. "Please, have a seat," she said in the tone she often used when she wants to talk business. I placed myself on the plush seat. Rachael waved to me the magazines she held in her hands. "This goes on newsstands tomorrow." She reached for a new copy that was lying next to the stack of files. "Thought you might you want a copy, after all, it contains that little eye-opening article you've wrote that entitled you to a promotion," she finished of nonchalantly.
My eyes almost bulged out off its sockets. "Are you serious? Get out!" I snapped the magazine from my boss's hand. Frantically, I flipped through the pages till I saw the bold headline printed in pink 'Gaga Over A Girl'.
Rachael began reading the first paragraph on the continuing page of the article, "Bonnie, 34, came across a huge revelation with regards to her sexuality when she was an intern at a publishing company. She recalled being smitten with her supervisor, 'She would wear the most well fitted power suits and she's so successful and eloquent. It was incredibly sexy. Whenever I past her office I would envision us being engaged in a very heated work-related discussion after which, it would eventually leads to one of us pushing everything off her desk and the two of us would be getting it on right there on her desk.' Hmm…" she trailed off with a smirk. "…Now everyone knows my coming-out story."
"But I used a fake name so I don't think anyone would know it's you." I gave her a pixyish grin, "Your secret is safe with me," I winked.
"So, what did it taste like fish?"
"What tastes like fish?"
Rachael raised her brows. "I'm assuming the story at the beginning is based on your very own experience. Seriously, as if I wouldn't know whose account it was when you mentioned 'serial dater during her college years'…" she trailed off with a knowing grin. "And how did you came up with the name Anna Mariya anyway? Sounds eastern European."
"I kid you not, my parents almost decided on that name for me instead of Alexandra."
"But, but, but, what I'm very curious to know is your take on the moist area between the legs. What did it tasted like?"
I gave a general answer, "I'm sure everyone's taste is unique. But no, it was nothing fishy. Although, I think mine's probably tastes like salted vegetables –since you know my diet and all, it only makes sense to have the a similar flavor."
&
"Are you planning on telling her?"
I stared at Summer, perplexed. "Tell who, what?" My voice came out muffled since I was sucking on a lollipop.
She gave me the duh expression. "Marissa? The article?! Alex, you need to come clean!"
"Yes! You should, after all you did kind of used her Alex," Seth interjected a remark. "I would majorly be pissed if I find out that Luke used me for a gay experience."
"Hey!" My sandy-haired friend exclaimed. "Watch it. I'm all man dude. Doesn't mean I wear pink and purple shirts makes me a queer!"
"Jesus! It's just an example. Don't get so testy. You're so fucking sensitive at times." Seth pushed his trolley to the shelves on the left before picking up a can of Campbell Soup.
I looked through the massive selection of pasta sauce randomly. "It's not that she reads those kind of magazines."
"But you still have to tell her the truth Alex." Summer stayed firm of her stance. "It's the least you owe her."
I decided against denying the idea. "You think I don't know that?! I'm just afraid what if she up and leave when she knows the truth."
"Alex, this is Marissa we're talking about," Seth began. "Remember, the hot lead guitarist of a band that digs you so much! The one that tries to impress you remember? She's head over heels for you, she won't leave you."
"I don't think you have to worry about that," Luke commented. "Granted she'll get upset over it, but she'll be fine shortly."
Summer reached for my arm. "Hey, trust us over this matter alright. It's better to tell her the truth now rather then she finds out on her own. Okay?"
"And even if she decides to break up with you, so what, you'll find you a new lesbian.' Seth shrugged off.
"I don't want anyone else. I want my Marissa!"
"My Marissa?!" Luke chortled. "Dude, gag me with a spoon cause I'm about to barf!" She did his best valley-speak. Summer leaned over and swatted the back of his head. "Oww…"
"You'll still be with your Marissa," Summer comforted me, caressing my arm.
Luke cracked up again. "Gets me every time you repeat my Marissa or your Marissa."
Summer raised her voice, "Do you want to taste the pain Luke? Because I can bring it! I'm going to bring it some bad, you hear?"
&
Marissa walked towards our table with two frappuccino on both hands and her trademark quirky smile that she kept plastered on her face. She placed my drink on my side of the table. "Here is your mocha frappuccino. Enjoy, it's my treat." She gave a low chuckled and added in a goofy smile. She took a sip of hers before asking, "So, what's the important thing you want to talk about." She said in a half-joking tone. "Because I have something to discuss with you too."
"Why don't you start off first." She opened her mouth to object but I interrupt, "Please, I insist."
Marissa nodded her head. "Okay." She reached over for my hands and held it in hers, caressing the skin near my thumbs. "I was thinking of buying a new scooter for us. I know you like my bike, but I think with the economic downturn and the increase of petroleum prices, we should downgrade to a scooter. I've already given this a lot of thinking, I still feel you'll look cute on it. You looking cute on my ride is my utmost priority so, I was thinking that you could accompany me down to the showroom for a test ride. I want to see how cute you'll look on it."
"Whatever you think it's good for us by all means, I'm alright with it."
"Really? Because I don't want to feel pressured into it."
"Riss, you're not pressuring me," I assured her.
"Great. So that's settled. What do you want to talk about."
I let out a heavy sigh as I tracked back my hands from Marissa's grasp.
She saw how somber I appeared. "Okay, did someone just died?" She joked trying to lighten the moment. And when I still showed her my grim face she asked, "Omigod, who died?"
I fished for the magazine in my satchel bag ignoring Marissa. I slide it over to her side of the table. She gave a chuckle when she saw the magazine. "Alex, I know you're a good writer and everything, and you work for a reputable company but I no often I just don't read girly magazines."
"Turn to page 64," I replied gravely.
"Okay…" she trailed off flipping the pages. "Oh, here we are, page 64…" Marissa glanced at me before reading the bold headline, "Gaga Over a Girl. Hey, you wrote this," referring to my name on the byline. I watched how her faced clouded into a frown as she skimmed the article.
"Marissa…"
She held up her hand and showed her palm to my face. Her eyes narrowed into a slit. "Why did you showed me that?"
I ran my fingers through my hair huffing out a breath. "So…I had an assignment and…I don't know how to explain it clearly-"
Marissa cut me off, "Well try to."
I nodded. "I…you…well, uh," I emitted a nervous giggle. "The thing is, don't get me wrong, when I said yes to going out on a date with you, it's really because I like you and not because of my assignment and…" I rambled. "…I have genuine feelings for you, you weren't a study or something. Well maybe, I had an ulterior motive but hey, I still with you right?" I fiddled with my fingers hoping for the best, and that Marissa would not blow up.
"I'm your lesbian testdrive," she said, her voice soft and restrained.
"No you're not." I tried to grasp her hands but Marissa snatched it back.
She repeated louder and clearly this time around. "I'm your lesbian testdrive." She gave me a disbelief stare. "A testdrive?!" She exclaimed as I involuntarily winced at her overtly loud voice. She stood up, hovering over me. "Seriously! I'm your fucking lesbian TESTDRIVE!" By then everyone in the café was aware of Marissa's blowup – she became the centre of attraction.
"Oh! Wow! Gee, did anyone else see that coming?" she addressed the other patrons. "I know I didn't" Marissa went to the middle of the room. She raised her hand. "Okay, who here has been a victim of a lesbian testdrive? Has anyone here been test-driven before?" No one raised his or her hands. "Okay, who here has been made a fool, y'know given your all, everything invested to please someone that you're fallen in love with?!"
I sunk deeper into my seat.
"No one?! Well I have!" She continued with her rant walking down the aisle of tables, commanding everyone's attention. "See, I'm so in love with someone. But little did I know, she made use of me!" Marissa let out a mirthless laugh. "I mean, I tried so hard to impress her and win her over and I did! I did. But, now, out of nowhere and I didn't see this coming in a million years, she told me that she had a piece of work which required her to tell women's accounts with their respective lesbian encounters. The funny thing is I became a subject. Hah. She used me." Marissa twirled around to face me. "Why did you do used me Alex?" Marissa repeated, her voice broken. I lifted my head up and stared at her dolefully.
"I did not," I defended, pleaded. "Marissa, I never meant to hurt you. I've never meant to cause you this much pain and if I did, I'm sorry." I felt my eyes watered. I rose to my feet as I trudged forward to Marissa. I reached for her hand only to be rebuffed. But that did not deterred me, I was adamant to get my Marissa back. "I don't know what I'm suppose to say to make it all better. I just don't. All I know is I need you, and I don't want a life without you. Marissa…I need you, can't you see that?" Her anger faltered. "We've been together for three months and never once did I freaked out or wanted to back out of this relationship. Summer's been complaining because I spent too much time you with, can't you see what you mean to me Marissa?"
Marissa wiped the tears that had fallen down her cheeks with the back of her hand. Finally she muttered, "I love you…of course I could see what you've done for me."
I reached over for her and this time, she allowed me too. "I love you too…and I'm sorry," I let out sincerely. "You can punish me all you want-"
"No, I don't want to punish you." Marissa cupped my face. "I love you too much to do that." I have never been happier to see the lopsided grin adorned on her face. "Silly you." And before I could come up with a comeback Marissa closed the gap as she gravitated forward for a kiss. I returned it with the same fervor, savoring the feel of her soft lips, her unique scent and her gentle caresses.
We broke apart with similar sheepish looks on our face when the café erupted with whistles and hollers. "That's so fucking hot!" I hid my face in the crook of her neck.
&
A week later
"I'm sorry."
Marissa gave a small chuckle. "You've already said that for like, the hundredth time."
I let out a heavy sigh as I cuddled in closer to my Marissa. "I don't think it's enough though." I kissed Marissa's slender neck as my girlfriend (I think it's the first time I acknowledged her as that) reciprocates with a gentle, sweet peck on my head, inhaling floral scent of my shampoo. "I don't think it'll ever be enough. What I did…was not good. I kind of used you, to put it mildly."
"Alex, I have my resolve face. You know what that means right?" she pointed an index finger on to her face as I rolled my eyes. "That means this matter is dealt with, I've forgiven you so don't bring it up again and start apologizing. I'm sick and tired of hearing 'sorry'."
"Alright fine!" I said in mock annoyance. Marissa's mouth twitched to form a crooked grin when she caught on my playful tone.
Marissa leaned over for another kiss. I smiled into the kiss gladly reciprocating it. Our lips lingered against each other's for a moment before I grudgingly broke away while the girl below me groaned in annoyance.
"Later babe." I gave her a puckish grin before getting out of the bed. "I have a bookclub to attend to, remember?."
Marissa stretch languidly, and sat up before reaching for my romance novel on the nightstand. She huffed. "Can't believe you're still going to that stupid bookclub meeting," she paused staring at the cover of the book, "Fantasy Lover?! You're going to a meeting to discuss this junk?! Rather than spending time with me?" She shook her head. "You've disappointed me Alex."
"Hey! If it weren't for that quote unquote stupid bookclub, you would not have met me in the first place. And for your information, Fantasy Lover is smart read."
She scoffed, then started flipping through the pages before stopping at one randomly. She cleared her throat. "Let's see how 'smart' this novel is." I saw her scanned the words. "Julian stood as still as a statue as she ran her hands over his skin, raising chills all the way through him. No she wasn't going to make it easy at all," she broke in between with a giggle before continuing, "…He felt her fumble with his button and fly. Grace, he said, pulling her hands away. Hmm? She asked, her eyes dark with hunger," she tried to sound serious but failed miserably. "She left him and climbed into the bed. Julian sucked his breath in sharply at the sight of her bare bottom through the sheer negligee." She burst out laughing uncontrollably. "What is this crap? Erotica?!"
I fought for the book, snatching it from her grasps as Marissa tried to fight me off.
"I'm not finished," she complained.
"You're done mocking me." Rolling my eyes, I turned away but before I could start moving, I felt Marissa engulfed me in a hug. She leaned against my back, whispering, "I love you."
"I love you too."
&
THE END
A/N: Just want to say thank you for reading and reviewing this story, it really meant a lot to me. And just a small note, the whole chunk in italic is lifted off the novel Fantasy Lover.