His Punishment by Pia Marie Page A

doesn’t
understand himself why he’s looking for her.  He doesn’t know if he wants to
apologize or he wants to kiss her again.
    The kiss was fierce but he was
surprised to feel himself aroused while kissing her and it bothered him to see
her crying when he did so. Of course she would you brutal jerk! He
glanced again for the hundredth time he thought.
    “Dude? You looking for her?”
Christian nudged James at the elbow.
    “What?” he looked at Christian.
    “Tara.” His best friend points his
lips at the empty seat.
    “Hell, no!” James grunted.
    He heard Christian chuckle.
    “You miss her dude.” Christian
continued bantering him.
    “Quit it!” he referred to his best
friends’ teasing.
    “Then why do you keep looking?”
Christian asked.
    “I’m just wondering if she passed
our project.” James said nonchalantly.
    “Fool me!” Christian said
knowingly.
    “Really!” James convinces
Christian.
    “Fine! Fool yourself!” Christian
smiled.
    They both remain silent and tried
to focus on the lecture. James is actually just staring on the board. He can’t
understand a single word his prof is talking about. He was thinking about what
happened in the parking lot.
    He was surprised at what he did.
Yet he can’t hide the fact that he enjoyed kissing and feeling her. It was what
he wanted ever since they talked at Samal. Her lips were full and soft. He knew
it would feel that way, but he cringed at the thought of how he found out.
    When he let her go, he instantly
felt that he missed her body and her lips already. He went inside his car when
he felt her crying. He was so ashamed of himself for what he did. When he moved
the car, he concluded that he had to apologize, but as soon as he made a little
space for her to get in, she zoomed away.
    Now that he has not seen her for a
few days already, he is missing her. He still wanted to apologize, but not with
as much eagerness as on that day. For the first time, he was basked in
uncertainty.
    He glanced one more time on her
empty seat and heard a soft chuckle from Christian. He slapped his own forehead
as if it could clear it from his confusion.
    ***
    Tara went back to school on
Wednesday. She felt brand new. A few days at Boracay Island made her think. She
had her early orientation which was not due until a month and a half from now.
    She went to her professors to check
what she has missed and there was not much, aside from the midterm exams coming
up next week. She made sure she gathered all the papers that she missed from her
three days leave from classes. It’s good she’s doing well with her remaining
subjects.
    She entered the classroom and found
James’ eyes lit up when he saw her. She just looked at him for a bit and went
to her seat.
    It is the first time she didn’t
greet or smile at James. She sat back to her chair and skimmed through the
printed materials she got from her Profs. She can feel James’ eyes still
intently looking at her but she didn’t turn to face them. She pretended she’s
busy.
    She already found a new parking
area which was a bit far from school, the farther the better. At least there is
no chance she would see James somewhere near it.
    “Tara,” she heard James beside her.
    She just looked up and didn’t say a
word.
    “Can we talk?” He asked.
    “I’m a bit busy now catching up on
what I’ve missed.” She said looking back to her papers.
    “Just a few minutes before class
starts,” he urged again.
    “Next time.” She answered not
looking at him.
    James felt the brush off and went
back to his seat. He felt hurt and miserable. He waited so long to see her
again. He was so determined to apologize for the way he acted the last time she
went to school.
    For the entire period Tara never
glanced at James. The class was over in no time and she went out of the
classroom to go to the library and study.
    It’s another U-break and Lyn is out
on a secret date with Christian. Tara didn’t want to eat at the mall as she
might