"Spill it!" Bom was excited. For a week, she had tried to force Dara to tell her everything but the girl was dead set on keeping quiet about it. She figured if she let slip how Luhan approached her earlier that afternoon and they had a little talk, maybe Dara will be curious and finally share the juicy details of last Friday.

Indeed Dara was curious but stopped herself from asking. She speculated it has something to do with the kiss. She decided to ask about it later since she didn't want her purpose to be affected by whatever it was they talked about. Finally, she was ready to tell Bom about her escapade. Given Bom's experience in romance, Dara needs her advise. And besides, there's no one she could think of who can help her in this new predicament, that's on standstill due to procrastination. The problems kept coming (because she kept running away) and she's starting to regret what she did a week ago.

Before lunch, she almost ran into Luhan on her way to the dorm. Thankfully, he looked kind of preoccupied to even notice her. She immediately hid behind a tree which was several feet away from where he was. Even at such distance, she noticed the deep frown and tight lip. She couldn't help but think she's the cause of such expression. He had to wait a little more because as much as she would like to talk to him, she couldn't. Not now when she's still clueless as to what reason she'll give him. If only she didn't leave him with that statement: 'I'll figure it out...'

Now that she thought of it, it would have made a big difference if she just left without saying anything. At least there's no deadline for figuring out what she did. She wouldn't be surprised if Luhan was waiting because she implied there was a reason and he should watch out for it. To be kept on his toes for a week was probably too much. If it were her on his shoes, she'd go out of her mind.

This was all Bom's fault so she better think of a way to resolve this mess.

"Come on, let me hear it. I've waited long enough." She was sitting cross-legged on her bed with an expression of impatience. Dara sat across Bom, cross-legged and anxious.

Bom was very attentive and Dara's cheeks flushed at the thought of sharing that experience. To have it flashing in her mind was embarrassing enough, what more to actually narrate it.

"Well, uhm, I finally did it." A nervous laugh escaped Dara's lips for the lack of anything to follow that statement with. She clasped and unclasped her hands in uneasiness.

Bom, noticing her friend's hesitation, realized she wouldn't be getting the details if she wouldn't probe for it. It's time to use the interrogative skills she learned from her mother. "How was it?" was a good question to start the long interrogation.

Dara heaved a sigh, as if that will help release all inhibitions she felt at the moment. This was Bom she's talking with; there's no need to be embarrassed. She figured she better tell everything she could remember about the kiss so Bom can help her. Every little detail was important. "Uhm... It was good?" It came out more like a question than a statement. And it came out barely above a whisper.

Bom didn't say a word. She was clearly waiting for Dara to correct her tone and say it again. But nothing followed.

"That's all you could say? After you stole his first kiss?" Bom looked incredulous as though Dara told her the fleeting attraction (that was the cause of this mess) was finally gone. All gone.

All Dara could do was run her hand through her long hair, as if doing so would clear the remaining inhibitions that clearly didn't vanish when she sighed earlier. "What am I supposed to say? It's stolen for crying out loud." And then she huffed in frustration.

"You could have at least picked a better adjective to describe it other than good." Bom said as though she was hurt by how Dara insulted Luhan's kissing skills.

Dara closed her eyes and was now pressing her fingers on her temples. She looked at Bom, "Okay, it was..." she trailed off as she racked her brain for a better word. "It was great... His lips were soft..." Faint blush crept on her face as she let out the last description.

She not only described the kiss but Luhan's lips as well, and Bom had to control herself from laughing. "I'd be surprised if it were rough," was all she said. 

Bom was starting to enjoy this. On the other hand, Dara stayed quiet before she could further humiliate herself.

"And where did this happen if I may ask?" She was hugging a pillow now, looking very happy.

"At our dorm rooftop."

"How did you do it?" Bom's eyes were full of interest now that they're getting near the good part.

"I saw him coming out from the Mens' dorm section. It seemed he's going upstairs to the rooftop so I followed him. Then I thought I'd better do it there than elsewhere. I knelt in front of him and pressed my lips to his before he could ask why the hell I am practically almost on his face." She was thankful he didn't say that.

"How long did it last?"

"I don't know really. But I..." Dara bit her lip, contemplating if she should divulge such information.

"What?" Bom inquired.

"Never mind. It's just about how I positioned myself..." But she just couldn't shut up. 

"You have to tell me, so we could analyze it." Bom gripped Dara's wrist to stress the importance. She hugged the pillow again in anticipation, ignoring how her friend looked like she wanted to run and hide.

"I just thought that if I did it he won't be able to run away."

"So what did you do? Come on Dara, tell me. How can I help if you won't tell me everything?"

"Right you better help me. Anyway, you owe it to me because this was your entire fault. I can't believe I followed your advice," Dara sighed dejectedly, her posture slumped in defeat.

"That was the only option I can think of. As I said, I'll help you figure out how and maybe what to tell him. So now, tell me what it is you did."

Then Bom's eyes widened as if something dawned on her. "Wait, don't tell me... Did you straddle him?!"

It was a possibility in Bom's wild imagination and Dara's beating around the bush wasn't helping to put a reign to it.

"Of course not! I will never do that!" Dara shrieked feeling scandalized, her cheeks flamed as the image of her straddling him flashed in her mind. "I just put my arm around his neck then the other on his cheek... and then I kissed him."

"Oh..." Bom said in a disappointed tone. Did she expect Dara to go that extreme? Because really, stealing a kiss was extreme enough.

"Did he kiss you back?" Bom's eyes glinted with mischief, as though she can get anything useful from Dara's experience (or inexperience in the matter of kissing).

Dara bit her lip again while looking at Bom's floral bed cover.

For Bom, that could mean he kissed back. Or maybe, Luhan simply sat there like a log and let the inexperienced awkward girl do the kissing. Anyway, if they end up together, they can have lots of 'kissing practices'. They'll be experts eventually.

"Does your silence mean YES?" Bom's eyebrow raised.

"He kissed me back. But I guess since he knew nothing about it, he just copied what I did, right?"

"Probably," Bom agreed. "I'd be surprised if he plunged his tongue down your throat," she continued casually.

Dara could only glare. 

"How did you kiss?"

She gave Bom a look that said 'seriously, you want to know?'

"I'm just curious because you have never kissed before." Bom said in defense. 

It didn't offend Dara. She just became suddenly nervous that Bom wanted to know how she did it. It would be too uncomfortable to tell how awkwardly at first she tried to push her tongue inside his mouth. Her stomach fluttered and she could not decide whether it's good that it did. The fleeting attraction wasn't going to disappear it seemed.

Overcoming the embarrassment, Dara gulped before confessing to Bom what she hoped to be kept a secret. Bom said every detail was important; she might as well tell EVERYTHING.

"I, uh, slippedmytongueinsidehismouth... given I have no experience, I did what I think is right. Satisfied?" Out the window goes Dara's dignity.

"Whoa! That was brave of you on your first attempt, though it's only natural. You wouldn't know how you really feel if it's only a smack on the lips." Bom sounded proud but Dara felt like wanting to dig a hole and hide.

"Hmm, so Luhan did the same thing. How long did it last?"

"Several seconds I think, but not that long, though we both stopped to catch our breaths."

Bom smiled widely then leaned closer to scrutinize Dara. "Then?"

"He asked what that was. And I said I'll figure it out. Then I left--- more like ran away," she finished, feeling like a coward. She leaned forward, her hands supporting her chin.

"You didn't look at him, I presume."

"How could I? I've no courage to do it after I practically ambushed him and stole his first kiss."

"Well, you both shared your first kiss, so it's actually a tie," she offered, as if that will console Dara.

"What would you have done?" Dara challenged, even though she really didn't want to know. It might only affect her present state of mind.

"I'd look at him and try to read what he's thinking."

"Even if I look at him, it's sort of dark so I really couldn't see. And hopefully he didn't see my face too."

"I take it that you already figured out what that fleeting attraction of yours is made of."

"Yes." Dara clutched her head.

"Why are you looking like that? This is good news! You finally know what it is you feel and that is YOU LIKE HIM AND YOU WANT TO GET TO KNOW HIM. Am I right?"

"How am I going to do that when I can't even face him now?"

"You just have to muster all the courage you have and tell him that you like him. He'd take that as a positive confession."

"How did you know? Did he say something about it when you guys had a quick talk?" Dara sat up straight, obviously fishing for information.

"Not really. But trust me. He won't turn you down." She sounded so certain.

"Do I really have to do that?"

"You have to. You've kept him waiting long enough. It isn't fair to him if you just continue avoiding him after you gave that statement of yours which by the way meant you'd get back to him. And knowing Luhan, he won't do anything until he knows what the reason is behind it."

"You sound like you know something I don't know. Please Bom, tell me what you talked about," Dara pleaded.

"Bad idea. I can't. Same way I won't tell him the things we've talked about. Is that fair enough?"

Dara was silent for a moment and then she sighed. "I guess that is fair. Thanks for listening, as always." She gave a weak but grateful smile.

After his consultation with Bom, Luhan contemplated about it, walking but not fully aware where he's going. The reasons Bom provided earlier did not fully convince him. He found himself entertaining the thought of doing a little research. He couldn't afford to idle around and wait while his mind wandered elsewhere most of the time. Thus, a trip to the Library was unavoidable because he felt he could find answers there--- answers Dara wasn't giving him. Besides, his phone's battery is dead; his laptop needed to be repaired. Books for the meantime were the only thing he can turn to.

Moments later, he was gazing at the old-looking building, wondering when he last visited. He pushed the heavy wooden double doors and was greeted by the sight of students milling around. Hands shoved deep inside his pockets, he climbed the stairs to the second floor to get to the card catalogues, glancing warily around as he walked cautiously. It was Friday and he couldn't disregard the possibility of running into someone he knew.

After making sure that no one is looking at him, he let out a sigh of relief. No threats were detected. There were a few people but not one familiar-looking.

Upon reaching the drawer of cards, he sighed again, bothered. He could have been lying down in bed, napping to his heart's content, instead he was in a place he seldom visits, feeling like a thief who's about to get caught.

The lazy guy pulled the drawer and browsed through the cards as quick as he could. He searched for the keyword Psychology.

What a burden.

He had not prepared any excuse to give anyone who might ask what he was doing at the moment. If ever he was caught, he'll just give a lame reason: he needed to hone his research skills.

A few seconds passed and finally, he found a book entitled Psychology: Understanding the Human Behavior, which seemed interesting enough and probably very informative. He took his pen from his pocket and wrote the location on a piece of scratch paper he found on the high table nearby. He moved on to his next mission.

Moving to his left, he pulled another drawer. He needed to find a book about Kiss or Kissing, fast. Sorting through the cards felt as though he was doing something illegal. More like erted.

While browsing, he realized that his hands were shaking and were starting to sweat. His nerves were taking over. He withdrew from the cards and rubbed his palms onto his back pockets. He felt like a nervous wreck as he resumed browsing.

To research on the latter keyword was just an afterthought. He realized that indeed, he knew nothing about kissing. Maybe he'll find some useful information and besides he was curious. After all, that's what a Library is for - for research, to quench once curiosity. Whatever information he gained today might be helpful in the future. Right. 

The Uses of Kiss and Types of Kisses, respectively, were the book titles that caught his attention. Why can't there be one book that contains both topics and everything there was to know about kissing?

It would be too much trouble to look into both so he probably will choose one; but both books seemed promising based on the titles. Indecisive for a moment, Luhan could only shake his head, as he wrote down the location of both books.

He made his way to the shelves. Once again, he found himself glancing around to see if there's anyone he knew. Being paranoid, that's what he was.

After passing several rows of shelves, Luhan easily found the location. He first retrieved the Psychology book which was three inches thick. He clutched it tightly, the backside of the book visible. As for the other books, he rounded a corner wondering for a moment which could be thicker. He guessed the one with Types was probably thicker (who knows how many types of kisses were there). It would be practical to choose the thinnest though. But still, the content would have to count.

He mentally scolded himself for even pondering about it.

Then he froze, his pulse quickened and his breath caught in his throat.

Through his peripheral vision, he caught sight of someone petite and has wavy black hair sitting a few feet away. 

Even though he had wanted to bump into her these past few days so they could talk, he didn't realize until now that he dreaded meeting her and eventually hearing her reason. What if it was the third one? He'd been too affected enough. To be told that it was all for nothing, would be a hard blow.

He willed himself to calm down and slowly approach her, reminding himself to act casual and to dispose of the thick book immediately, if ever it was Dara who was sitting there, head down in concentration.

False alarm.

As though a big weight was lifted from his shoulders, he let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. His pulse returned to normal. Who he thought to be Dara was just someone who's as petite as her. 

He disappeared into the shelves to his left, walking towards the far side to retrieve the two books. Eyes squinted as he looked up at the titles. He found what he was looking for almost immediately and pulled the books from the stack. Both were of the same thickness, two inches at most, so he couldn't choose. There better be some useful information in the books because it would be a waste of his time if there wasn't.

Luhan settled in a corner table near the windows a few feet away from where the books were retrieved, secluding himself from the others. He pulled the chair and sat as he placed the books, front cover down (titles facing the window) just to be safe from prying eyes. He had a good view of anyone who'd approach him; he need only to look at the front and right since he was sitting with his back against the wall.

Sighing deeply for what's about to happen (could be information overload) he opened The Uses of Kiss and browsed the table of contents for anything he thought was interesting enough. He turned to page five which contains the uses of kiss.

According to the book, which started with the definition of a kiss (not that he didn't already know, but he read it anyway, for research's sake).

What is a Kiss?

'Kiss is defined as touching somebody or something (could be an object like a book) with the lips, either gently or passionately. There is also one thing we call flying kiss or the gesture of it, where you blow your kiss using hand. It is from the word Old English "cyssan" - to kiss -.'

His and Dara's kiss was definitely gentle, and maybe passionate too.

The unexpected flashback of the kiss made his stomach flutter. The same flutter he felt whenever he thought of it, either by accident or on purpose.

Once again, Luhan reminded himself to not have any side comments or flashbacks now, for it will only cloud his research.

However, it'd be hard to resist drawing a connection between what he read and what he had experienced.

On to the important information, he continued to read, his interest aroused.

The Uses of Kiss

1. 'Kiss is used for appreciating other people, sign of respect, greeting, passion, love, affection, friendship, etc.'

2. 'According to recent researches, kissing lowers cholesterol, reduce stress, stimulates cardiovascular activity and lowers high blood pressure as well.'

What he had just read was, for the life of him, fascinating. He couldn't help but wonder which of the two uses was on Dara's mind when she kissed him. And which specifically made her work up the courage to come to him.

He couldn't remember anything he did for her that she would appreciate.

It didn't even count as a sign of respect since she kiss