Love Means ...... Part 3

It had been a week since Tina broke off with her stead. She called Joel one evening to tell him that she had found a new boyfriend. Joel was in two minds when he heard that. On one hand, he was glad that Tina was happy again but on the other hand he was disappointed that he was not the chosen one. Sometimes, while consoling her either after she had a row with her stead or after she ended her relationship with one, he had wanted to tell her that if he were her stead he would treasure her and would never make her cry. Somehow, those words only got to the tip of his tongue and never came out of his mouth. He knew her well enough not to take the risk - the risk of losing her as a friend. He couldn't imagine having her out of his life; having her not going to him for advice or worse, having her avoiding him. Thus, rather than confessing his true feelings for her, he was satisfied just to be there for her when she needed him and to bring back her smile.

One afternoon after school, Tina met up with her stead to go to his house to revise for their coming exam. They studied in his room while his mother was busy with the housework. After about 2 hours of revision, they stopped for a break. Tina rested on his bed and he joined her, lying facing her. Suddenly he inched forward to hold her face with his hands, saying how beautiful she looked. Then he gave her a peck on her cheek. She didn't turn her face away and taking that as a sign of approval, he went on to give her a second peck on her lips. It was a long peck and as the two tongues touched, Tina felt a chilling sensation down her spine. Then she felt his hands against her chest. Again she didn't resist as she had always been curious as to how it felt to be kissed and to be touched at that 'private area'. She would have allowed him to explore further if not for the knock on the door by his mother.

That evening, she called Joel to tell him of her 'experience' with her stead. Joel couldn't believe what she was telling him. Just as he was wondering what he should say to her, Tina asked him a question which caused him to become speechless. Having experienced the feeling first hand, she was curious to know if guys would have the same sensation. She asked him how he would feel if he were to be touched 'down there' by a gal. Not knowing how to respond, he kept silence. Somehow, Tina who had allowed her curiosity to get the better of her, insisted that he tell her. She said that she just wanted to know how a guy would react when his 'private part' was being touched. Not being able to hold his embarrassment any longer, Joel blurted out that he wouldn't know as he had never been touched 'there' before. But not wanting to disappoint her, he said that it should feel the same way as she had felt. Then he went on to say that she shouldn't be too inquistive about such things and that she must know how to protect herself from her boyfriend's 'exploration'. Sensing that he wasn't comfortable talking about such personal 'feeling', Tina didn't probe further and assured him that she knew how to protect herself and that she wouldn't do anything silly.

Somehow, knowing her well enough, Joel was worried that she wouldn't stop at just asking about it. He wouldn't mind being her 'guinea pig' though as long as he could satisfy her curosity and make her happy. But will he ever be given the chance?