It happened in a flash before anyone could do anything. In her instant fit of anger, Azumi raised her hand and slapped Ashley across the face. The impact from her hand was extremely quick and hard and it caused Ashley to double back. Although she did not fall, she tried to regain her composure and not cry.
Cleo felt helpless after Azumi slapped Ashley. People were standing there in shock and no one was interfering. What the hell is wrong with them? Cleo thought when nobody tried to stop Ashley. His eyes caught Azumi's hands curl up in a fist as she got ready to strike Ashley again. He definitely could not let that happen.
Before Azumi could strike her, Cleo swiftly intervened, pushing Azumi away from Ashley. However, Cleo hadn't anticipated the exact position they would end up in.
A hushed silence filled the room as mouths dropped open in shock and all eyes were fixed on the two figures lying on the floor.
Calex's eyes widened in disbelief. "Oh no! This can't be happening!"
Lucas smirked, finding amusement in the unexpected turn of events. "Well, well, they certainly make for a surprising sight..."
In their tumble, Cleo managed to pin Azumi to the ground. But, by an incredible stroke of luck, their lips met in an accidental kiss as Cleo's landed perfectly atop hers. Did this count as his first kiss? Cleo hoped not, as the circumstances were far from ideal.
"After that, I quickly got up and just left them there. I didn't dare look back. Ugh, I can't believe it happened. I can't believe I kissed her," Cleo confided in Luke, recounting what happened after he accidentally landed on Azumi at the party. It was the following Monday at work.
"Wouldn't you want to be kissed by her?" Luke asked, surprised by Cleo's boldness in kissing Azumi or even pushing her away.
Cleo scoffed at the question. "No, it was horrible, Luke. I can't describe it any other way," he replied bluntly.
Luke couldn't help but voice his thoughts. "I wonder why your enemy would kiss you..."
Cleo glared at him, annoyed by the remark. "Can we just leave it alone? I don't want to relive that moment."
"But your first kiss was stolen by the person you despise the most!" Martin suddenly appeared behind them, causing both Cleo and Luke to jump at his sudden outburst. "It's a kiss that seals your fate, bringing you two together!"
Cleo gaped at his comment. "That can't be true."
"Mr. Martin, please refrain from making such statements," Luke warned.
Martin chuckled at their reactions. "But it happened in front of the person you like the most in B4, didn't it? Kissing your most hated person in front of the one you admire the most. Hehe, this is quite intriguing!"
"Why are you so interested in Cleo's personal life?" Luke asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise.
Martin disregarded Luke's question and turned to Cleo eagerly, continuing to prod. "So, how was the kiss? Was it everything you imagined it would be?"
Cleo didn't feel like answering and went over to the counter to fill up a candy bowl.
"Hmm, that was quite an interesting situation you found yourself in," Lucas remarked as they all sat around a table with Azumi and Calex at Azumi's mansion. "It seems like you must have developed feelings for Cleo. Otherwise, how else could you have ended up in that position?"
Azumi rolled her eyes at his comment, thinking back to when Ashley was acting so friendly toward Cleo. "Pfft, no I don't like him. How can I intend to kiss a bastard like him? No way."
"That was your first kiss, right?" Calex asked. He sure as hell didn't make any moves on Azumi back when he liked her. He also didn't recall Azumi ever getting close with a boy to take it to that level.
Azumi looked away. "No… you don't know what you're talking about."
Calex scoffed and decided to dig in deeper. "Okay, so if this wasn't your first kiss then when did your first kiss happen?"
"What?" Azumi acted as if she didn't hear his question.
"I said when did your first kiss happen?" He repeated, seeing her tension arise.
She hesitated and started twiddling her fingers together. It took almost half a minute for her to answer. "Okay… then… Friday… that was it?"
Calex smirked. "I knew you were still a virgin but I didn't think you were that innocent."
After work, Cleo walked home along with Luke. Even though it was already dark out they took their time going home by taking the longer way to their respective places.
"Ah, you know what." Cleo started when there was too much silence. "I have to avoid Ashley from now on. It'll be too awkward if I see her again after what happened on Friday night."
"Wait…" Luke stopped and pointed at something hanging out from Cleo's pocket on his slacks. "Is that a... napkin?"
Cleo fished out the white cloth from his pocket and brought up almost guiltily. "Well… it's more like a handkerchief."
"The handkerchief that Ashley gave you." Luke instantly said since Cleo had told him about Ashley giving it to him after he was bullied. "Man, I don't understand. Why don't you tell her your true feelings."