'No kisses.'
'Uh, what?'
'No kissing on the mouth. It's too personal,' Ivan says.
Is the guy trying to get him to bed or trying to offend him?
'So is fucking,' Riyaan says, voice a little irritated.
* * *
23-year-old Riyaan raised as an orpha...
'She's an ex. I have no deal or arrangement with her. She doesn't know about the rules.'
Riyaan sometimes forgets that Ivan has dated a lot.
'So? I wouldn't have known either if you didn't tell me,' he says as he gets into the car.
'Very funny. You are jealous?'
'No, I'm ecstatic.' The last bit of his ice cream is melted enough, and falls from the cone, right into his pants over his thigh, making him even more frustrated. 'At least have the decency to pretend that you respect me for the days we are fucking each other.'
'You are actually jealous?'
'I'd not do that to you.'
'I'm not stopping you, honey. Kiss whoever you like, I really don't mind.'
'You sure?'
'Positive.'
Just for an experimental purpose, he wonders, if he kisses someone in front of Ivan, how would he truly react. Not that he is interested but just for the experimental purpose, he wishes someone kisses the life out of him in front of Ivan. 'Fine, you know what, I will.'
'Fine by me,' Ivan says, focusing on taking the car out of the parking lot.
But then again he also imagines Ivan congratulating and teasing him about having the first kissing experience finally. He doesn't know what's worse — Ivan not kissing him or Ivan truly not caring who he kisses.
I don't wanna know.
No.
No.
* * *
Does Kris know, or does he not?
Riyaan is torn. He doesn't want to ask. Even if he did, what would he ask? Do you know that I am sleeping with Ivan? Is a question that doesn't even sound good — because he doesn't know if it's just sharing information or boasting.
But the fact that Kris is still trying to set Riyaan up with his friends is a reason enough that he should know that Riyaan is not available.
Or maybe, maybe, he would just hang out with his friends, let Ivan know the same, and make him jealous. 'I will hang out with Kris today, and his friends.'
'Okay.'
'Maybe I will find someone to kiss.'
'Strangers?'
'Friend of your friend is your friend.'
'Never heard anything like that.'
'Mutual friends?'
'Okay, but I need to know if it's just kissing, and not.. you know?'
'Why, you never know what kissing might lead to.'
'I got to know. Because...it's about safety. I cannot trust you anymore with that. Don't lie to me about that.'
Fuck you.
That's what Ivan cares about? For two months they sleep in bed together, and this is all he cares about?
'I won't do anything else.'
And when he finally meets Kris' friends, he realises that they are not his type — not even for kissing. Not that he actually wanted.
'So, found anyone of kissing material?' Ivan asks from the front porch when he comes back home.
'No,' he says, getting his helmet from his head.
'Poor Riyaan! Here, come have some tea.' Ivan pours some tea into the second cup.
'Stop mocking me.'
'Not mocking you. Maybe you should find someone to date.'
'You want me to date now?'
'Me? It's not about me.. I'm talking about your future, you are the one who wants a husband, life, marriage, bla bla bla..and finally a kiss.'
'Maybe it doesn't have to be so complicated.'
'What's that?'
'Only love has to happen, the rest follows.' He takes a careful look at Ivan.
'Poetic conversation over tea time, not bad.'
'This isn't some...' Riyaan puts down his cup. 'You are always dismissing me like a joke.'
'I'm not dismissing you, I'm just saying that I'm not what you want, and quite frankly, you're not what I want either.'
The last bit hurt. Because he can argue with his views and perspectives, that last bit is powerful to end everything. The heart wants what it wants. If you don't want someone, you don't want them.
'Right.' You'd have if you saw me. 'Fine. Your high-heeled ex can kiss you all she wants, or, or, that, your unique thinking boyfriend, what do I care!'
He hears Ivan muttering, saying something like still jealous.
