Jayden stood frozen, his breath caught in his throat as Penelope’s lips pressed against his. For a moment, his brain short-circuited. But he didn’t pull away.
Instead... he melted into it.
Their lips moved in sync, a soft moan rumbling from both of them as they deepened the kiss. It was warm, electric, and way too perfect for a moment that wasn’t supposed to happen.
But then—
Penelope pulled back.
She lingered just inches away, her breath still mingling with his. Their eyes locked, neither saying a word. Time slowed down. The stars above them shimmered as if holding their breath too.
Then, like a light switch flicked on in her head, Penelope blinked. Her eyes widened, and she stumbled a step back, hands trembling slightly as embarrassment rushed in like a tidal wave.
"I... I’m sorry," she stammered, turning her face away, cheeks flaring crimson. "I don’t know what came over me."
Jayden, still feeling the tingle of her lips on his, smiled softly. He was a little flushed too, but he masked it well, keeping his tone cool and gentle so things wouldn’t spiral into full awkwardness.
"It’s fine," he said quietly. "I... liked it."
Penelope turned her head slowly, blinking at him. The sincerity in his voice, the lack of judgment—it soothed the storm in her chest. She exhaled.
"I liked it too," she admitted, her voice softer now.
They stared again, the silence blooming between them like a second kiss—unspoken, but just as powerful.
Then Penelope quickly cleared her throat, snapping herself back to reality. "Um... okay. So, goodnight!" she waved hastily.
Before he could even respond, she vanished from the spot—and reappeared beside her car. She jumped in, slammed the door shut, and gunned the engine like a bat fleeing hell.
Jayden watched the car soar off into the night sky, disappearing into the clouds. He blinked, then gently touched his lips, still able to taste her.
"...Goodnight," he muttered with a smile and finally turned to enter the house.
Meanwhile, inside the car...
Penelope was panicking.
"Oh God... I kissed him." Her eyes were wide with horror, one hand gripping the steering wheel, the other clutching her forehead. "What was I thinking?! No, wait—I wasn’t thinking!"
She groaned. "Great. Now he probably thinks I’m some perverted woman who seduces teenagers. Ugh, I should’ve just stayed in the car. Or better—driven off. Why the hell did I step out?"
She flopped against the seat, breathing heavily.
But then... a slow, smug smile crept across her lips.
"...He’s a good kisser though," she whispered, her voice laced with mischief. She licked her lips absentmindedly, as if savoring the memory.
Then she shook her head violently. "Crap! What am I saying?" She slapped both cheeks. "Get it together, Penelope!"
But her body wasn’t listening. Her chest was heaving, skin flushed, heat radiating through her bady like a fire she couldn’t put out. Her thighs squeezed together as her thoughts spiraled further.
"He’s just a boy..." she whispered.
But her mind whispered back: "A very sweet, handsome boy... who acts very much like a grown man."
Her breath hitched.
"Mmmnh... I wonder if he’s mature down there? I’ll like to... Ugh. Nope! What the hell is wrong with me?!"
She clutched her hair, groaning in frustration. Her body was betraying her. Her thoughts weren’t innocent anymore. Her whole self was trembling at the thought of him.
Then it hit her.
Like a slow, creeping fog wrapping around her heart.
"Oh no..." she whispered, eyes wide. "Am I... falling for him?"
...
Jayden sat on his bed, his thoughts swirling like a storm in his head.
He couldn’t stop replaying the night’s events.
How he had ruthlessly dealt with eight armed men. How reckless he’d been with his transformation. And... how Penelope had kissed him.
But above all, one thing haunted him most—
The way he’d felt during the fight. The way he acted.
Penelope had told him not to worry.. that his mother used to act the same way. But Jayden couldn’t just brush it off.
He remembered it clearly now. Those moments when he watched his mom fight beasts... how she would laugh like someone completely unhinged.
Back then, he thought she was just... happy.
And maybe she was.
But it wasn’t normal happiness. It was euphoria. Like a hit of pure adrenaline straight to the brain.
And tonight, Jayden felt it too.
He’d experienced it once before.. when he fought the D-Rank Wolverine Stalker. But tonight was different. This was deeper. Wilder.
Jayden sighed and flopped back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.
"That feeling..." he muttered to himself. "It was like nothing I’ve ever felt before."
His brows furrowed as he tried to make sense of it.
"It made me feel... free. Like all my problems didn’t matter anymore. Like I could do anything, be anything."
He clenched a fist slowly. "All I wanted was to fight. To keep fighting. It felt... good. Like being high on something powerful. No fear. No guilt. Not even death scared me."
But his voice lowered, more thoughtful now.
"...It’s addictive."
He remembered the rush of smashing that man’s face with his fist. The way pain felt like pleasure when the leader blasted him with that water attack.
It was thrilling. Exhilarating. Dangerous.
But the scariest part was he hadn’t want it to end. He wanted to get fighting, even if it meant dying.
Then, a realization clicked in his mind like a light flicking on.
"Wait... Miss Kate." His eyes widened. "She stopped. That night when she pinned me to the wall. I was sure she was about to rip my throat out, but she didn’t. She snapped out of it."
That meant only one thing.
"She has control over it."
Jayden exhaled slowly, relief washing over him.
"I’m not doomed to become some fight-crazed monster," he whispered. "I just need to understand it. To learn how to control it."
He sat up, eyes more focused now.
"I need to talk to her."