“A what?” A blank stare.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckg0mEyeo5
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“A d..date.” Came a meek yet slightly firm response.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuCrxPQXZa
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I raise an eyebrow at a five foot six, ginger haired boy standing in front of me who is a couple inches shorter. He is definitely trying to avoid making eye contact, yet he’s asking me out on a date.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRZ8UTYhQM
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The gall, really.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeDrHbBzTn
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Due to some bad experiences regarding getting in a relationship and being ask out, I now have a wall that guards me to no end, to protect me from boys, or I would much rather say, ‘jerks who pranks girls in asking them out because they think it’s funny or cool’, so in other term, I’m always skeptical and can never be damn sure if what I’m facing right now is a prank or a real thing.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN70QL2rCgb
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I stare at him, up and down at his blue hooded attire with faded jeans first before trying to figure out his motives (if he has any) and wondering if he’s being bullied to do this. I have had way too many experiences in being picked on, probably because I’m mostly taller than almost all the guys in my school. Or maybe it’s because I just have that unresponsive mode and blur expression on my face that they think I wouldn’t retaliate when attacked.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSF7CONGs6
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Boy, were they wrong but let’s not get into that.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3L4i8czZ7
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The timid looking and probably shy (based on the colour of his now flaming pink cheeks, I’m just going to assume that) guy stared at me back, although it looks like he’s occasionally sneaking glances by the way he’s avoiding and meeting my eyes sometimes. It made me feel like we’re playing eye-tag. 980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLku8QqL52s
Keeping my composure cool and not saying a word in hopes that he would feel awkward then walk away (since that usually worked), he surprised me by repeating his question again. This time, with a wee bit of confidence.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6cfRaZWLn
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“W..will you go out on a date with me?” He even maintained the eye contact with me!980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuAj8bBvSU
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I am utterly speechless because….980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡew4li0zj0D
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“I don’t even know your name.” I blurt out.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5S91clGk7Y
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It’s true. Back then, the guys who played pranks on me – I’d at least know what grade they’re from but this guy... this red headed with green eyes is completely a stranger whom I’ve never seen around on campus. And when I look at him more, I thought he’s actually pretty… cute – but I shall not give in to this stranger’s whims!980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlN2h73O9sa
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So I shook my head a little bit and said, “I don’t suppose it’ll matter ‘cause I don’t like going on dates.” before walking away.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYvj69bz8j
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“My name’s Clarence and we sat next to each other in Arts!” Came a yell.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAVQUGst0r
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I turn around only to find that he’s walking briskly towards me with his breath a little uneven. Arts, huh? Well I normally sat alone in class…980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaNfnpCml6
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I walk faster. 980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsu4JhV0FX
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“You were always daydreaming and never really paid attention in class so that’s why you don’t recognize me.”980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLZbL4KESH
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Okay, that’s true. So he really was in Art class.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfCnpSjjxg
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Irritated, I stop and turn around. “Why are you so persistent? Did someone put you up to this?”980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauQGw1xBWv
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He had the audacity to look appalled. “No! I… I’m asking you out because I l-like you, Abigail.”980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvzWRpvAQa
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That would actually be nice if it was true and I’d really like to believe that but I just…can’t.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcitzu2acct
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“I know your situation with those jerks and I assure you that I’m not one of them.” said Clarence.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61xHpbY1rn
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“Riiight.” I started to walk again, briskly this time.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnIUCpeaN1
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I quirk up an eyebrow. Now what am I going to do? Things have never actually spiraled out to this level because usually those guys would have stopped their pestering the moment I stared at them hard till the situation gets awkward.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR32jngnnDd
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“Really, just hear me out, okay?” He’s walking beside me now, catching up with my pace.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyHobFzkMy
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“No.”980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzgOegfoBl
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I heard a noise of a slight frustration before the next sentences of words comes out of his mouth.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEwfPply9d
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“I’ll buy you pizza if you could just hear me out!”980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqND3SjKSku
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And I couldn’t believe that right at the mention of pizza, my stomach grumbled. As if that wasn’t embarrassing enough, it was a loud one at that. I could practically feel Clarence’s grin at the opportunity that I had unwillingly given him.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdncryyljlZ
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Little did he know, he had just hit my one and annoying weakness. So, as cheap as I felt and stupid as well for not being able to resist the temptation of food and for letting down my guard because of that, I agreed to have some pizza with him.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8tzpOubNx
It has been an hour that we have been indulging ourselves with two regular pans of pizza in the parlour and in that moment of time, we had a fair share of understanding each other as well – sort of. Clarence explained to me that he was once bullied so he understood my actions and attitude towards the others. He told me he wouldn’t want to treat others like how he was treated.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1CwMi2rsv
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I thought it was kind and sweet of him to think that and maybe it showed a little bit on my slightly flushed face (I could feel the heat creeping up to my neck now). I wondered why he liked me and asked him that. Not sure what to expect, he certainly seem to be honest when he said that he didn’t actually know why but only felt a pull of attraction towards me...980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2x3GV2SON
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“I figured I’d want to get to know you better.” He said but then mutter quietly, “I mean, I’ve already liked you for almost two months now.” Clarence then called out to someone from behind me with a quick wave of his hand.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVG6DGzX5T
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“Hm?” I said into the glass that I was drinking from while raising a slight eye brow at him. I’m pretty sure he said something. 980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYTULBqlID
He only smiled and shook his head.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo111izWlvY
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We were halfway finishing our pizza when I noticed that his hands were subtly moving under the table then a horrified expression crossed over his face before he composed himself.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVYPRcaHZR
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“What? Why did you have that expression on your face?” I asked curiously.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPMxVSb1Ip
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He was nonchalant but something felt a bit off. “Eh? It’s nothing.”980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gwLzjsaoE
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By now, my walls started to come up again. So I grit my teeth a bit. “Clarence, this is not a joke, is it?” to which his eyes were wide as saucers as he assured me, “Definitely not! I’m not that kind of guy.” I continue to stare at him and we got engaged in a little staring contest before he sighed.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5z5VFJWo44
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“I suppose I have a surprise for you.” He grins at me. But it look weird - like forced.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWewcStSHZk
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I was about to say something when a waiter came to our table and showed us the bill. Waiting for him to fish out his wallet and pay for it, I look to Clarence only to find him looking at me apologetically – with his eyes that looked painfully sorry and mouth mouthing furiously. However, I definitely caught on to what he said and look at him blankly, shaking my head a little.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8uUA3f7ba
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“Surprise?” He chuckled nervously.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJW1acR0pKS
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A surprise indeed, not to mention I’m furious although I may look like an emotionless shell on the outside. Not wanting to wait any longer, I paid for the meals and handed the waiter 60 bucks for the total before walking calmly towards the entrance without waiting for my ‘date’. I’m pretty sure he followed me out as I felt him walking behind me at a distance as we walk a little farther from the pizza parlour.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSU9xQtjZE
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Slowing down, I stop then turn around and yelled, “You idiot! So you didn’t realized that you were short of money?!”980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOG1ffAP70j
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His eyes were wide before he was hot on his heels, knowing that I would definitely chase after him the moment he saw my deadly glare. A moment later, I caught up to him as we ended stopping at a park nearby the parlour, catching our breath.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXrTlmal8k
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“Seriously, that was really lousy.” I huff.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WX9OyP7hT
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Clarence was panting a little bit as he replied, “Sorry, I didn’t mean for that to happen. I really thought I had enough cash with me.”
As we calmed ourselves down, Clarence once again apologize profusely to me, promising me that he will most definitely pay for the meals and make sure he has enough cash on our next date should I give him a second chance.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJfAHeLu6F
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“Oh, yeah?” I asked, a little skeptical.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fJDcVqe63
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His face was serious. “Yeah. We can go for a movie or something cooler than that. Maybe even pizza afterwards.” Clarence grin knowingly.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtEPG2NYm9
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I wasn’t about to hesitate the moment he suggested that. I mean, come on, I’ve got to make him pay for this bad date that we had, right? Besides, I think he knows my weakness on that already by that cheeky grin of his.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUkKGuE8j1
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So I agreed, again.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IqMA3WYSN
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And you know what? He certainly did fulfilled his promise on our second date.980Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxKOH0XRoR
