My Youth Began With Him

3

"No, Martin, let me explain. It's not what you think it is!" Usually, Jessica was a fairly composed woman. However, when it was about matters that touched upon the events from seven years ago, her mind would completely scramble to the point that she'd struggle to even form words. 

"Jessica, you're not a liar so why lie to him? You should tell him everything that happened between us back then." Andrew's tone was overbearing.

"Jessica, let me ask you this. He's your ex-boyfriend, right? Did he, or did he not, just touch you? Did he kiss you? Well?" Martin walked towards Jessica. In all the time that she'd known him, this was her first time seeing him this serious. The expression in his eyes was nearly murderous.

Martin and Jessica had been together for a while, but the most they'd ever done was hold hands and kiss; they have not gone all the way yet. Perhaps, it was because Jessica was a traditionalist at heart, and Martin, with marriage in mind, had been willing to hold it off. Now, upon hearing that the woman he had worshiped as a goddess had been tainted by another, he could no longer hold back his rage.

A surge of unnameable fury soared up to Martin's chest, leaving him so enraged that his face drained of color.

Jessica didn't want to lie to Martin. She had been kissed against her will. However, if she told him the truth now, wouldn't it just deepen his misunderstanding?

Just as she struggled to figure out the best way to explain everything to Martin so it'd be easy for him to understand, Andrew's voice rang out again, like that of the Devil out of Hell.

"Looks like you didn't know that we slept together seven years ago either?"

Andrew's words were like a bomb, completely shattering what little remained of Jessica's senses.

She would have never, in a million years, thought that Andrew would bring up what happened seven years ago so nonchalantly, and with such an indifferent expression on his face. This wasn't supposed to happen - it didn't feel like something Andrew would do. Had the last seven years turned him into another person altogether? "Andrew, when did you become so shameless..." Stunned, Jessica could no longer form a complete sentence.

"You bastard! What did you say?" Martin demanded, eyes red, as he grabbed Andrew's collar with one hand. The cola and grilled corn he had been holding were tossed aside.

A smile tugged at the corners of Andrew's lips as he glanced over at Jessica casually.

"Looks like you two haven't gotten that far yet. It seems like Jessica doesn't actually like you that much, heh."

"Asshole! What did you say? I'm going to fucking kill you!" With that, Martin hurled his fist at Andrew's face.

Andrew, on the other hand, dodged aside with great agility. Immediately after, Martin charged over and threw another punch. This time, it was too quick to react to, striking Andrew before he even saw it coming. Andrew stumbled back several steps. Wiping a smudge of blood from the corner of his lips, he said in a cold voice, "I'll take this punch since you've been taking care of Jessica for me for the last few years. But you're not going to get another chance."

"Alright, then hit me back. Come on, asshole. What gives you the right to treat Jess like that? Even if you are her ex, it's all in the past. Why the hell did you come back looking for her?" Martin was nearly mad with rage. He had to admit that his mind shattered when he heard Andrew say that Jessica slept with him seven years ago.

Seven years ago. How old was Jessica then? Eighteen? She was still a naïve high school student...

No man could ever withstand being challenged by such a formidable adversary in a relationship. Martin was no exception.