"Hey, good morning."
Nicole turned at the familiar voice and smiled. "Good morning," she greeted softly.
"Is your brother early today?" Joel asked, ruffling her hair playfully.
"Yeah. He said he has something important to take care of." She tilted her head. "Aren't you supposed to be there too?"
"Nope. Not on officer duty today." He sighed lightly. "But… I've got a lot on my plate."
He was carrying his laptop.
"Oh—is this about the paper you mentioned? The one you're submitting for publication?" she asked.
Joel nodded, and Nicole suddenly remembered how busy he'd been lately.
"Joel, just tell me if you need to focus, okay?" she said with a warm smile.
"Silly," he chuckled. "It's fine, Nicky. It's not due until two weeks from now. I've got time."
"Can I see it?" she asked, curiosity sparking.
"Sure. Come here." He gestured.
She immediately sat beside him.
"You did all of this outline by yourself?" she asked, impressed.
"Not entirely. Cielo helps with some details, and Dennis works on the outline too."
Nicole nodded, scanning the notes about school events. A quiet sense of awe settled in her chest.
So this is why he was so angry about what happened before… I really need to be more careful, she thought.
"What are you thinking about now?" Joel asked gently. "Nicky, what happened back then wasn't your fault."
She froze. "How did you know what I was thinking?"
"It's written all over your face," he teased.
She pouted, but smiled anyway. Since they became a couple, she'd realized how patient Joel was—how he constantly worried about her and supported her without hesitation.
On impulse, she wrapped her arms around him.
I feel so safe in his arms, she thought as he hugged her back.
"If there's anything I can do," she said softly, meeting his eyes, "just tell me."
God, I really love his eyes, she thought, lost in their warmth.
Joel leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers.
"I really appreciate it, Nicky," he said with a smile. "Thank you."
"Of course," she whispered.
He kissed her again, and she melted into it—until a sharp cough made them pull apart.
They both turned.
"Oh. Good morning, Cielo," Joel greeted casually.
Nicole's face turned bright red.
"Yeah. Good morning," Cielo sighed. "But could you maybe restrain the PDA in the classroom?"
"Come on, it's not a big deal," Joel replied. "You're the only one who saw us anyway."
"Not just me," Cielo said, tilting his head.
Nicole followed his gaze.
Julie was there—clearly avoiding their eyes.
"H—Huh?" Julie stammered. "D–Did I… see something?"
"Oh, good morning, Julie," Joel greeted cheerfully.
Nicole quickly elbowed him, mortified. He only chuckled and pressed a quick kiss to her forehead.
"B–Better get going," Nicole muttered, fleeing the scene.
Julie sat beside Melissa, who had just arrived.
"I guess Cielo saw that kiss," Raymond remarked.
"Raymond," Melissa warned sharply.
"Yeah, yeah. I saw it," Cielo muttered, glancing at Julie. "I don't know what's gotten into her."
*******
Melissa sighed. They're teasing Julie again.
"Julie," Raymond grinned, "was that really your first time seeing them kiss?"
"I didn't see anything," Julie denied quickly.
Nicole's cheeks reddened. "Raymond, can you stop teasing?"
"Why? It's normal," he shrugged. "When I'm with Melissa, I kiss her too."
Melissa flushed deeply.
"H–Hey! That's private!" Julie protested. "Why say that in front of everyone?"
Raymond shrugged again. "You're my friend, Julie. Joel's my cousin. Everyone already knows—why hide it?"
Julie sighed. "I don't want to argue with you."
Wow… she gave up fast, Melissa thought, amused.
Julie muttered, "I should just sleep. Why does my brother have to come so early anyway?"
"Hey, Julie," Joel called without looking up from his laptop.
"What?" she replied lazily.
Melissa stayed quiet, listening.
"It was kind of embarrassing," Nicole admitted, "having Cielo catch us kissing."
Melissa covered her mouth, holding back laughter.
Ah—right. Cielo still doesn't know Nicole and I are cousins.
Joel glanced up. "I'm curious—Julie, have you never been kissed before?"
Julie stared at him. "…No."
"Then have you ever been in a relationship?" Raymond asked.
They didn't know—Julie had been in one.
She opened her mouth to answer—
"Oh, you didn't know?" Nicole said casually. "Julie had a boyfriend before."
"Nicky!" Julie groaned.
"What? They're your friends—and Cielo too. Why hide it?"
"I wasn't hiding it! I just didn't plan to tell them!"
"Really?" Raymond said, slinging an arm over her shoulder.
Melissa sighed and nodded reluctantly.
"So… you're not single right now?" Raymond pressed.
"She is," Nicole cut in. "They already broke up."
Julie jumped up and covered Nicole's mouth. "Enough already!"
Nicole giggled, ducking behind Joel. "You always hot-seat me, Julie. It's only fair I return the favor. And besides—it wasn't your fault."
Melissa shook her head at their bickering.
"Hey, get out of there," Julie muttered. "Joel's busy."
"What Nicky said is true," Melissa added gently. "You don't have to blame yourself."
Joel looked at Julie. "So what happened? Why did you break up?" He absentmindedly ruffled Nicole's hair.
"N–Nothing," Julie said too quickly.
Raymond smirked. "Let me guess—your ex had someone else?"
"Coming from the expert," Cielo muttered. "But… is it true?"
Julie stayed silent.
"So," Raymond pressed, "was he your first kiss?"
Julie flushed.
"She didn't give away her first kiss," Melissa explained. "Even when she had a boyfriend. That's actually why they broke up."
"What? That's it?" Raymond scoffed. "That's pathetic. I doubt that was the real reason."
"You would know," Joel muttered.
"Oh, shut up. I wasn't a saint before," Raymond grinned. "But Melissa's here now, right?"
Melissa blushed.
"So what's your theory?" Cielo asked.
Raymond shrugged. "Easy. He got bored. Used Julie's conservativeness as an excuse. He already had someone else."
Joel leaned closer. "Do you still love him?"
"No," Julie said flatly. "I just want to punch him in the face."
She's still hurting, Melissa thought. But I think she's already found someone new.
"So you've moved on?" Cielo asked quietly.
"I had to," Julie said. "That's when I found out he'd been cheating the whole time. Whatever. At least I never gave him my first kiss."
Raymond grinned. "So if you fall in love again… would you give that man your first kiss?"
Julie's face burned. "Th–That depends! Stop asking!"
The others laughed.
The first bell rang, and they all returned to their seats.