Keily Book 2: Dating My Enemy
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Manjari
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3,5M
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32
Kiss in the Snowfall
The air was crisp with a hint of snowflakes as James and I wandered through the Christmas festival. The twinkling lights danced above us, casting a warm glow on everything around.
It was one of those moments where you just couldnāt help but feel grateful for the season and the company you were in. And I was in the best company.
As we strolled through the festive stalls, I couldnāt help but let my mind wander back to everything weād been through. It felt like a lifetime ago since James and I were at each otherās throats, constantly bickering and causing chaos wherever we went.
Heād liked me from the start. But I hadnāt known thatāmy insecurities had made me believe that a handsome boy, like James, would never want me. Him not being able to show me that he liked me only made things worse.
Instead of telling me he was into me, he said mean things to get my attention. He commented on my weight and called me names.
Heād gotten what he wanted: my attention. But, heād also made me hate him.
Then came that fateful night when everything changed. Four men decided to make me and James their targets. They had attacked us. In the chaos, James shielded me, taking the brunt of the attack.
We had won the fight, but we came out of it hurt. Those men were in jail nowāJamesās parents had seen to that.
One good thing had come from that night. Jamesās bullying had completely stopped. Heād confessed his love for me and I had done the same.
And now, we were officially a couple.
Now James was like a completely different person. Heād gone from being my worst nightmare to someone who was always there for me. Heād gone from putting me down to building me up.
Heād gone from always being angry to always laughing. And, oh, his laugh was the best sound Iād ever heard.
I glanced over at James, a soft smile playing on my lips as I watched him admire the decorations with childlike wonder. It was moments like these that made me realize just how lucky I was to have him by my side.
The day was filled with laughter and joy as James and I immersed ourselves in the festive activities. We sipped on steaming hot chocolate, letting the warmth seep into our bones as we watched the world go by.
Building snowmen became a competition of creativity, each of us trying to outdo the other with our quirky designs. He won, by the way.
The ice sculptures mesmerized us with their intricate details. They reflected the twinkling lights in a magical way.
We marveled at the skill of the artists who had crafted such beautiful creations.
But perhaps the highlight of the day was the sled ride. We eagerly climbed onto the sled, anticipation bubbling in our chests as we pushed off into the snowy landscape. The wind whipped against our faces, sending exhilarating shivers down our spines.
Then, in a moment of sheer hilarity, our sled veered off course. We crashed into a fluffy pile of snow. We tumbled over each other, laughing uncontrollably.
The cold snow seeped through our clothes, but we didnāt care. The warmth of our laughter melted away any discomfort.
I landed on top of James. My laughter abruptly ceased. It was replaced by a sudden wave of self-consciousness.
I couldnāt shake the nagging thought that I might be too heavy for him, that my weight was crushing him beneath me. But before I could voice my concerns, James looked up at me with eyes full of warmth and adoration.
āYouāre beautiful, Keily,ā he whispered, his words melted away my insecurities like snow would melt under the sun. His hands gently cradled my face as he leaned in. His lips met mine in a tender kiss that sent sparks flying through my veins.
In that moment, the world around us faded away leaving only the two of us and the soft whisper of snowflakes falling around us. The kiss deepened, becoming more intimate, as we lost ourselves in each otherās embrace.
The kiss got more aggressive. But just as things were heating up, someone cleared their throat.
I ended the kiss to see who it wasāour friends.
Addison, my cousin, stood there. She was tapping one foot in the snow, feigning impatience. But there was a big smile on her face, telling me she wasnāt really irritated.
She was happy that I was happy.
Yet, I couldnāt help but feel a pang of self-consciousness knowing they had just witnessed our intimate moment. Sure, theyād seen us kiss before. But theyād never seen me sitting all over James.
Sadhviās eyes twinkled mischievously, from where she stood next to Addison. Lola and Matt, the epitome of a cute couple, exchanged a glance that seemed to say, āGet a room!ā
Funny, I could say the same thing to them.
Lucas caught my attention next. Standing there alone, I couldnāt help but feel a twinge of guilt as I remembered his past relationship with Myra, his ex-girlfriend. I kind of wished theyād both just get over their stubbornness and make up.
I hoped Lucas wasnāt feeling too awkward witnessing our display of affection.
Suddenly, the reality of our public make-out session hit me like a ton of bricks. I scrambled off James, cheeks burning with embarrassment as I realized just how exposed we had been in front of our friends.
How could I have forgotten where we were?
āSorry, guys,ā I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper as I tried to compose myself. James reached out a hand, his touch grounding me as he gave me a reassuring smile.
āDonāt start apologizing now!ā Addison said. āWeāve seen you two shove your tongues down each otherās throats about a million times!ā
Yes, but this was different. They hadnāt seen my whale form on top of James. They hadnāt seen how my flab enveloped him.
James got to his feet and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. It was nothing like the desperately hungry make-out session weād just had.
This kiss seemed to be one that said, āeverything is going to be okay.ā
Taking a deep breath, I straightened my posture. I willed my blush to fade as I joined the group. Despite my lingering embarrassment, there was a sense of comfort in knowing that our friends accepted us for who we were, flaws and all.
āLetās get some hot cocoa,ā Addison says.
I donāt tell her that James and I already had some. Itās so cold and a second cup would be delicious. Yet, I felt like I would be judged if I have another.
āThatās a great idea,ā James said, falling into step beside her.
As I watch James mingle with our friends, a familiar wave of self-doubt washes over me. Are they all secretly wondering what he sees in me?
Do they think Iām really good enough for someone like him?
I know itās silly to let these thoughts consume me, especially now when weāre surrounded by the magic of the Christmas festival. But sometimes, no matter how hard I try to push them away, those insecurities creep back in.
I stole a glance at James. His smile lit up his face as he chatted with Addison and the others. He seemed so at ease, so confident in himself and in us.
Itās one of the things I love most about himāthe way heās always so sure of what he wants.
But then thereās me, constantly second-guessing everything, especially when it came to our relationship. I couldnāt help but wonder if I was holding him back, if I wasnāt good enough to be by his side.
As if sensing my inner turmoil, James reaches out and took my hand. His touch grounded me in the present moment.
āIāll stand in the line,ā he offered.
āOkay,ā I found myself saying. āBut Iām coming with you.ā
I didnāt want to be separated from himāeven for a short while. Maybe that was a bit much, but so were my feelings for James.
āYou two are glued together,ā Lucas teased.
āYou can stand on the sidelines and watch,ā James teased. āIāll buy you a hot cocoa.ā
āAnd risk you drinking half of it before you give it to me? No thanks!ā Lucas objected and quickly stood in the line.
James laughed at that. Addison and Sadhvi stood behind him, then Matt and Lola.
Lastly, James and I joined the line.
āIāll buy yours today,ā Addison told Sadhvi.
āThatās not necessary,ā Sadhvi responded.
āI insist,ā Addison pushed.
She was a girl who knew what she wanted and how to get it. She didnāt let people tell her what to do, or boss her around.
She was a natural leader. āOkay,ā Sadhvi relented.
Another couple joined the line. They stood right behind me and James.
I studied the girl. She looked effortlessly put together, with her stylish scarf and well-fitted jacketāa picture of confidence and grace. Her boyfriend, equally as striking, stood tall beside her.
He oozed charm and charisma. They were a good-looking couple.
I glanced down at myself, suddenly hyper-aware of my own appearance. My cheeks flushed with warmth as I compared myself to the girl. Her slender figure and toned physique were a stark contrast to my own round, flabby one.
I couldnāt help but feel self-conscious about the differences between us. She and her boyfriend looked good together.
Did James and I look good together?
I glanced at James next to me. He was poking fun at Matt, in a playful and humorous way.
āThe mustache youāll get from the foam on the hot cocoa is the only one youāll ever have,ā James said.
āThatās not true!ā Matt said, his voice high.
āNo one likes facial hair anyway!ā Lola chimed in.
Matt glared at her, āOh, so you agree with him.ā
āWellā¦ā Lola said.
The three of them burst out laughing. I would have laughed with if I wasnāt so distracted by the attractive couple behind us.
I looked at them one more time, holding hands. They looked picture perfect.
I glanced down at my hand, in Jamesās. We didnāt look picture perfect.
We purchased our hot cocoa. But even as we left the stand, I couldnāt get that attractive couple out of my head.
But through it all, James remained by my side. His reassuring touches and understanding glances spoke volumes, reminding me that I didnāt have to face my insecurities alone.
As the time came to bid our friends farewell and the Christmas festival drew to a close, I prepared to head home, resigned to the fact that my insecurities have once again tainted what should have been a joyous occasion.
However, James has other plans.
āCome home with me,ā he said instead of saying goodbye. He took my hand and whispered in my ear, āIāve got a surprise for you.ā
