11. “I almost lost you” kiss
“Really, I’m fine! Don’t worry so much.” Alvin sweetened his lie with a smile, as usual, but Jude didn’t seem to be buying it. “Aw, don’t look at me like that! Hey, even if things go the way they did today, I got you and the little lady lookin’ after me, don’t I?” He slapped Jude on the back to make things nonchalant, but the young med student remained unamused.
“That’s a lot of pressure to be putting on me and Elize, don’t you think?”
“Hey look, what I meant was--”
“Listen.” Jude hardened his expression. “You’ve been acting a lot more reckless in battle lately, and it’s been leading to some scary situations.”
Hoping it might rub off, Alvin remained casual. “Whaaat, you mean like today? Come on, not every day’s gonna be like--”
“It is if you keep being so careless with your own safety! Look, if you need to take a break from fighting for a bit, no one will hold it against you...”
Alvin jeered “Aww, c’mon coach! I’ll do better, I swear! Just keep me in the game!”
“ALVIN, TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY, DAMMIT!” Jude shouted, grabbing Alvin by his collar and forcing him to bend down and level with him. “Today was... it wasn’t ok, alright? With the state you were in, I thought... I thought you...” As he trailed off, Jude looked downwards, fighting off tears.
“H...hey--” Alvin reached for Jude’s hand to comfort him, but before he could clasp it he felt another forceful tug on his collar. Before he knew it, Jude’s lips were pressing firmly against his, accompanied by a soft, muffled whimpering as Jude could no longer hide his distress.
Each kiss that fell over him was as painful as it was wonderful; sloppy and misplaced, yet warm and tender. When Jude finally stopped it was with a sharp, uncontrolled gasp, his jaw quivering. He was crying.
Alvin placed his hand on Jude’s shoulder, pressing his forehead against the med student’s. “Jude... I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful from now on.”
Jude sniffled quietly. “Good.”
