Leandro was staring into Jean's eyes and was feeling her breath on his lips. He didnt want to pull away. He just didnt. It was the closest he had ever been to her.
Jean had never been at eye level with Leandro. even in seated form she still had to look up. Now he was looking into his gorgeous ocean blue eyes. His lips got closer to her face and his breath was on her lips. He was breathing hard and looking into her eyes intensely.
He breathed "Jean... I am sorry..." Then Leandro swallowed hard and slowly pulled away and leaned to the table.
She whispered "Why are you sorry?"
He replied as he was forcing the words out "Because I have to go... I cant stay any longer... All I want is to kiss you.... I cant stop thinking about it when we are standing this close... I dont know... whats coming over me... I have so much turmoil inside. I am very sorry..."
She blushed at his honesty. Jean looked down and saw how his hands were clutching the edges of the table as he was still bending down. He was fighting with himself on the inside. It was obvious over what now. He wanted to kiss her. He had just said it... She could sense he was having a big fight inside.
She smiled "Why are you sorry? I thought city boys were less shy than country boys... Wanting a kiss is not a sin." Her cheeks were feeling hot. The warmness and gentleness in his eyes and the respect in his tone just forced her to be totally honest with him. He was intimidating with his strong build and tall figure. She only came upto his chest. But in his eyes she only saw a caring soul, a beautiful soul who cared for her and was just so sincere and honest with his words. How could she deny him honesty?
He said "I cant... stay... I must go. I am sorry..." He then took a step away to walk past the table towards the exit to leave but Jean blocked his path which brought him to a halt.
He looked at her with questioning eyes "Jean?"
She said "Why do you want to leave so abruptly. What just happened?"
Leandro said " I should leave because... I just think about kissing you ..."
She whispered "You are such a gentleman... You are the most honourable man I have met... You dont have to leave Leandro just because you think of kissing me... " Jean took a step closer towards him. She just wanted so badly to give him a hug at that time. He just seemed so torn and worried. She slowly wrapped her arms around his waist and touched her cheeks on his chest making him tense up. He was frozen but then he slowly wrapped his arms around her and took a shaky breath.
He shook his head "Jean... You have no idea whats going on in my mind... I shouldn't think like this about you... Doesnt it worry you that I just want to kiss you?"
She looked up as she let go of his waist slowly and took a small step back "This was a date. It was as good as...... You were well mannered and a gentleman... Leandro...I see nothing wrong with your thoughts... Normally people who are going out together ... kiss on dates."
Leandro was looking at her with an unreadable expression.
Jean then smiled as she reached one of her hands to his face touching his cheek. "Its ok Leandro... I want to kiss you too. The feeling is mutual. It's not just you... who feels this way. So don't feel guilty please."
Jean then took a step back and put her hands behind her back not knowing where her courage had suddenly come from. She just hugged him and touched his face maybe shyly but she wasn't as scared as before... She just trusted him. The barrier was broken. She trusted him so much and saw him as her boyfriend. Jacob approved of him too which put her mind at ease. She glanced up at him and followed him with her eyes as he said "Thank you for being so considerate ... I don't know if I even can describe to you how I feel right now. I just know I need to leave... I want to kiss you ... I shouldn't think about it..." He felt better she felt the same. Much better.
Jean said as she kept looking around the kitchen and glancing him in between "Leandro... If you have to go... Then you have to go but ... please try my desert... I had made some brownies. If you are not staying, try the desert. I spent a long time making the brownies..." She then didn't let him reply as she walked to the fridge and picked up a container. She opened it and gasped "Oh my god. Jacob has eaten all my brownies... This container was full."
Leandro said "One brownie is left. We can share it." He then took the container from her hand and grabbed a knife. He put the brownie on a plate and cut it in half. He said "Jean it's ok. He must have been hungry is he ate so much."
She sighed "After he came back from detention I told him these brownies are for you Leandro. You know after what happened with Ingrid... I wanted to thank you for letting it go... It meant a lot to me that you took my request into consideration. He told me he will try not to eat it... But it seemed like he couldn't resist."
Leandro looked up "He couldn't resist? Or he was annoyed I gave him detention after detention with lines?" He then said "I am not greedy. Half a brownie is enough for me to taste your hard work you put in for me and I would like to say thank you." He offered the plate to jean.
Jean was in awe of his manners. He was just so polite. He shared his brownie. Sharing showed caring. He showed respect to her and care. She couldn't believe how he could act so perfectly.
After she took one half, he also took the other one half. He waited until she ate her brownie and only then he put the brownie in his mouth and closed his eyes.
It tasted heavenly and melted in Leandro's mouth. She opened her eyes "This was the best brownie I have ever had. Jean you are amazing in baking."
She blushed "Thank you."
Just then they heard closing of a door and Jacob walking into the kitchen with his rocksack on his shoulder. He looked between Leandro and Jean. He turned to jean "Flower pot? Is everything ok."
Jean showed her the box that was empty "You ate all brownies and left one only."
Jacob explained "Flower pot you told me to leave one brownie for Leandro and eat the rest. That's what I did."
Jean explained "No. I remember clearly I told you to eat one and leave the rest for Leandro."
Jacob shrugged as he walked to the fridge and pulled a small bottle of milk out. He said "It must have been a misunderstanding." He then paused and then said "Oh I remember I left one for my lunch snack." He opened the fridge and pulled a brownie wrapped in an aluminium foil from somewhere in the fridge. He then said "See you later." He walked away.
Jean gasped "Jacob. Say sorry to Leandro."
Jacob stopped walking "Sorry? Oh of course. I am sorry Leandro I misheard Flower pot's instructions. It was an unfortunate mistake. Non intentional of course." He then left.
Leandro was staring daggers at him. He had eaten all brownies but one. He would have given anything to try another one.
Jean said "I have food technology in one of the lessons that's coming up. I think it's free style cooking. I will make you some brownies then. If I couldn't for any reason I make some tomorrow."
Leandro smiled "Jean you don't have to make any brownies. It tasted so good. Thank you. I should go. I had a great time."
She said honestly "Maybe we should do it again sometime... You are so well mannered and a good company for when having food.
Leandro said "We should." As he was about to leave, she said "Leandro."
Leandro stopped in his tracks "Yes jean."
Jean walked slowly towards him "There is something on your face. Some brownie crumb."
He asked "Where?"
She approached him and she then stood up on her tip toes... She reached his left cheek with one hand and stroked it but then she paused as she was staring at him standing so close to him. She quickly made up her mind and planted kiss on his cheek making him freeze. She bit her lip and blushed as she took a step back and started playing with her buttons with her hands looking nervous "I am ... sorry... It seemed like I was the one who couldn't resist in the end... You deserved this kiss Leandro. You were so gentle and well mannered. I thought you earned the right to have a kiss on the cheek from me... I am traditional like you too. I have never given a kiss on the cheek to any boy before... You can kiss me when you are ready if you can't kiss me back." She felt like her heart was speaking and not her mind. She felt the urge to be honest with him. He deserved honesty for being so sincere, honourable and respectful.
He couldnt compare this moment he was just having to any other moment he had ever experienced in the past fifteen years of his life. It was impossible to compare it to anything he could even imagine until then. The kiss was beautiful. Was perfect. it felt good and he didnt feel guilty about it. He recalled the words of his father "When you meet a girl .... who you are willing to let go of your inhibitions for her, she is the one. When the time comes, embrace it, feel the freedom, free yourself from whatever force that's stopping you from showing your loyalty to her... You will find yourself stronger and more daring than ever before. With her, fear would be meaningless. With her you would feel like you can do anything... You won't feel the need for any possessions or any accomplishments more than capturing her love and loyalty to yourself and yourself only. Just remember. When the time comes. Let it go."
Leandro said "You have changed my life... You have given my life a different meaning and purpose."
He took a deep breath and took a step towards jean. He leaned down to her level and his breath was on her cheek.
She closed her eyes wishing for him to kiss her. She waited and then she breathed "Kiss me." She then felt his soft lips on her cheek.