Chapter 55: Chapter 55

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The teacher's pet. The straight-A student. The class valedictorian.

Voted most likely to succeed in life. The typical overachiever only child...

"Work hard to get what you want"—it was one of her mantras. She enjoyed striving for her goals to an extent some would deem compulsive and self-centered. But she also knew the difference between right and wrong.

How could she be this stupid?

"Dammit, Jessiah..." she scolded herself under her breath while trying not to make any sudden movements. One wrong move and she could startle him awake...

Before she could leave the bed, she stared one last time at the guy sleeping soundly next to her, not a care in the world, still half-naked under her covers.

He slept on his side under the blanket like she usually did, with his tan and hairy forearm almost touching her face. Tiny, pale white scars lined on his knuckles and intrigued her for a moment. A smaller scar on his lower lip also made her imagine a full-blown fistfight.

She always wondered whether they were purely work-related injuries—like he'd said that one time she just had to ask. However, considering what she found out about his sketchy family background and his even sketchier uncle slash boss, she couldn't help entertaining more doubts, just constantly imagining a lot of things about his personal life.

But Jenson could also have been truthful. Maybe they were just scars he got on the job. The show was also heavy on action scenes, besides the fantasy and horror themes.

Maybe. Maybe she should stop being so suspicious of him. Besides, it wasn't her problem how he got those scars. Better to just mind her own business, like his uncle vaguely advised.

With a frown, Jessi snuck out of bed after carefully peeling the covers off of her. She closed the bedroom door behind her as quietly as she could before she ended up on the couch. For a moment, she just sat beside herself while trying not to swear out loud. She'd had better days, for sure.

Sleep deprivation still glued her eyelids together, her body ached worse than post-gym day, and her head felt like an overripe melon about to go bad. What they did the previous night shouldn't have happened, but she wouldn't deny that some part of her also wanted it to happen.

It was the longest, hottest, best sex she'd ever had. Not that she had many experiences to use for comparison. But, no more. Time to stop thinking about it.

She was a proponent of safe sex as she had absolutely no plans of having kids, but last night... Fuck. Her brain just failed to operate correctly. "What a cliché..." was her common sense's repetitive and scornful remark before she dozed off in Jenson's arms.

A one-night stand with her boss. They had sex at least twice. She also let him stay over and sleep in her bed.

That wasn't even the worst thing about it—they had sex without using protection! Like two thoughtless rabbits just going at it till the exhaustion just caught up.

Shit. Downright stupid. Just sheer carelessness in every way...

Well, since they weren't in a relationship and she was leaving this place in a matter of hours with no intention of going back, it would be apt to call it a mindless one-night stand.

Darn it!  She was never a fan of those, but her stupid feelings and his eagerness to spend the night with her just overpowered her common sense last night. The emotional barriers she put up just collapsed then and there.

It wasn't really his fault. He'd tried to walk out on her, but she stopped him from leaving in the middle of another storm.

"How could you be so stupid..." Jessi muttered to herself as her palms covered her face. Her shame wanted to blame him, but her conscience said otherwise. After all, she didn't really say no to him when he kept kissing her. She didn't even try to push him away when he asked if she wanted him to stay the night.

Despite being somewhat drunk last night, he still showed her how he pleased a woman in bed. Properly. For an hour. Or maybe even longer than that?

Shit. She couldn't remember all the details anymore. The exhaustion, self-hatred and utter embarrassment... It was just too much to handle right now.

"Fucking stupid. Stupid. Stupid." Jessi slapped her forehead repeatedly. She kept her eyes shut and stayed on her couch while anxiety consumed her thoughts, forcing her to berate herself for everything she let happen last night.

Why did he have to be such a great kisser? Why did he have to be so good in bed? And why did he have to be so sweet and loving?

How was he so...freaking...perfect?

It was like everything about him and last night badly wanted to test her mental strength. It just wasn't fair. Especially at a crucial time like now. She was going to leave the city tonight. Her luggage and her plane ticket were all ready. Just waiting for her by the door.

But first, she badly needed to get her hands on something. Immediately. She had to get a morning-after pill. More than one, the better.

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× 9:19AM ×

"Hey, loves. Morning." Jessi bit on her lip and cringed. She forgot to use her cheerful voice.

"Morning, babe," Kel greeted over the phone. "What's up? You didn't reply to my last text. What time did he leave last night?"

"He didn't," Jessi murmured after a moment of hesitation. She stayed hunched over on the couch, alone and enjoying her momentary privacy. Judging from the total silence in her bedroom, she'd say Jenson was still dreaming heavily under the covers, with a bad hangover just waiting for him to wake up.

"Oh no. No, no, no, no..." Kel moaned on the other end.

"I-I just couldn't let him drive alone. He was drunk again, and the storm was just..."

"Where is he right now?"

"He's..." Jessi sighed and pinched the skin between her brows. "Still asleep. In my bed."

"Jessiah Marionne, what were you even thinking?" Kel was using her big sister voice now, almost shouting the words over the phone.

"I wasn't. Obviously."

"Oh dear..."

"It was just..." Jessi sighed. "It wasn't like..."

"Please tell me you used rubber all night," her clearly worried friend muttered when she lost her train of thought. "Jessiah."

"He didn't," she confessed with a frown. "It's just stupid. I know. I still wanna bash my head in."

"I thought you're leaving tonight?"

"I am. I'm so ready to leave. Already packed my things and all. But he's..." She glanced at the bedroom door. "I don't wanna wake him up."

"He knows you're not on the pill. Right?"

"I, uh...maybe." Jessi sat back and massaged her throbbing temple.

"Maybe?" Kel repeated in a louder, more high-pitched voice. "That selfish jerk needs an earful. Seriously."

"No. Don't call him, or text him or anything."

"I should, Jess. At this point, he's just taking advantage of you. You realize that. Right? Is he still using the same number?"

"No. Don't talk to him. Please? I just... I just wanna forget about it and go home." Jessi got up from the couch, her frantic thoughts still in utter disarray. Her brain didn't want to forget about last night, but, it shouldn't stop her from making the right choice and following through with her original plans.

"So, what now?"

"Do you use ella? The morning-after pill?" Jessi stood alone by the windows now, checking if anyone was hanging around Jenson's truck. So far, so good. "Or you only used it once? I mean, that time you and Enzo..."

"I didn't. But I tried to. I actually bought four," Kel murmured, sounding slightly ashamed. "He found the paper bag and flushed the pills down the toilet." Kel snickered after they both fell silent. "He said he pulled out, but, we all know how that one went..."

"Yep." Jessi failed to suppress a giggle. Talking to Kel always made her feel better, no matter her current situation and their long-distance friendship. She understood now why Enzo badly wanted to marry Mykaela.

"Then he just threw away my birth control pills," Kel droned on. "It's been a great argument starter ever since." They both laughed for a moment, then Kel switched to a more clinical tone. "Ella is still most effective. But Levonorgestrel is easier to get. Over the counter. No prescriptions. You gotta take it within the first 48 hours. If you take it after three days, you're just pushing your luck. Okay?"

"Okay." Jessi bit on her thumb and glanced around the quiet living room.

Where did Jenson put his keys?

She should go to the pharmacy now. There was one in the next block, but she wasn't in the mood to walk by herself during a cold, gloomy and rainy morning like this. "So, I should take one now. And then another one?"

"Two at once. Or take the second pill after 12 hours. Not necessarily after meals. Buy at least four. You're not on any medication right now. Right?"

"Not anymore. Just taking some supplements."

"Ask the pharmacist if any of them will counteract the pill's effectiveness," Kel advised.

"Okay."

"If you throw up after taking the pill, tell me. If not, you may get a heavier period soon. Normal side effects: bad cramps, breast tenderness, nausea, headaches. In any case, tell me."

"Okay. Thanks."

"Just text or call me. And don't tell him. Ignore him if he asks what they're for. Better yet, just shove him out the door. Why was he drunk last night? Oh shit. Was he at another party? Darn. He knows you're both unvaccinated. The heck's wrong with him?"

"No. No party."

"But why was he drunk?"

"He said, he was just drinking by himself. And Charmaine just left for Beijing." Jessi pulled a face. Just saying the woman's name was enough to ruin her mood. "Maybe it's just, his coping mechanism. Like Darren." She sighed. She didn't take advantage of his lack of sobriety last night, but now she was starting to feel like it was solely her fault.

"Jeez... Just tell him to get lost," Kel murmured.

Tell him to leave?  "I-I can't just kick him out."

"I know. You like him too much. Anyways, call me later. Enzo's up. He wants pancakes."

"Okay. Thanks, babe." Jessi walked away from the windows and tried to smile. Her love life was a complete mess right now, but at least Kel and Enzo were going strong. "Sorry for... Y'know."

"I know. But you still got time. Text or call me later. Mm-kay?"

"Okay."

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