“A what?” A blank stare.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacDh2xNxGN
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RoJ1OzVWg
“A d..date.” Came a meek yet slightly firm response.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapCFpXOSZP
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdBXkVPY2P
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.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmRlCyr5PC
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The gall, really.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSn5sdHSkt
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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.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IkAMibuN0
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GOYpTyGxl
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.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlw2GlMcTQf
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Boy, were they wrong but let’s not get into that.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeBmBXUmr3
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHMWaObIAA
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. 979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBydKMSiQn
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.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdgnNEaF0o
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bsNHJLpzd
“W..will you go out on a date with me?” He even maintained the eye contact with me!979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBtQwsoLEz
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I am utterly speechless because….979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaHV6Wvk2n
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLw0GDEOIt
“I don’t even know your name.” I blurt out.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSffg6pkaks
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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!979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWaRe1KekM
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUz8zFWIPHi
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.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALktRnoTxC
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCzsOTGFo9
“My name’s Clarence and we sat next to each other in Arts!” Came a yell.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYco4HAa2X
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvMOOfG4nf
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…979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQynyXgDwP
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I walk faster. 979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJBoIUfIrG
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“You were always daydreaming and never really paid attention in class so that’s why you don’t recognize me.”979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfQB4GO76A
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViRtc0uwLX
Okay, that’s true. So he really was in Art class.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZpXXTgIxZ
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Irritated, I stop and turn around. “Why are you so persistent? Did someone put you up to this?”979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiRSkxkhap
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He had the audacity to look appalled. “No! I… I’m asking you out because I l-like you, Abigail.”979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSLngMY7qi
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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.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqG3oYrdoRF
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tKgZ6hDFy
“I know your situation with those jerks and I assure you that I’m not one of them.” said Clarence.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJhIIODYlK
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“Riiight.” I started to walk again, briskly this time.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjo8UrQDiJL
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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.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWZnVJLkHL
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQemQ9K3r0
“Really, just hear me out, okay?” He’s walking beside me now, catching up with my pace.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpGQSDrMcV
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“No.”979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJ009sP0zI
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I heard a noise of a slight frustration before the next sentences of words comes out of his mouth.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRb2TzcKRHv
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“I’ll buy you pizza if you could just hear me out!”979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbG1EVEt7L
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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.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlybIV0qvIt
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVTHQWeinK
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.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCktMkQBBb
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.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5R9kGQu0S
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwn4GKRYuC
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...979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0wFaCh1RP
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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.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfFfEC4Ec7
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBPL3iOEOj
“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. 979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfR0scr6cFu
He only smiled and shook his head.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAl4a13zXDy
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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.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVbNeX11f6
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“What? Why did you have that expression on your face?” I asked curiously.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnFSrkLVy5
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He was nonchalant but something felt a bit off. “Eh? It’s nothing.”979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpcmdstWvP
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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.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFGwS2NkOQ
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“I suppose I have a surprise for you.” He grins at me. But it look weird - like forced.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbimpn9vXs
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxHVdp9Tqm
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.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrlkydWgtQ
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“Surprise?” He chuckled nervously.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66vqoMlvdV
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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.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2y48S6AYau
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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?!”979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbDPcnjslS
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJsVlyBQ82
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.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeOrwqDAXd
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxNIAWaKcG
“Seriously, that was really lousy.” I huff.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZd05g3vvYf
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJzeawPgqR
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.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPwTJypyI9
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIkbggQXYq
“Oh, yeah?” I asked, a little skeptical.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhfjW6s7pg
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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.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglIgFesns8
979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbl8w7Qd79
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.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0wdPT7xXR
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So I agreed, again.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaD5O87dgka
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And you know what? He certainly did fulfilled his promise on our second date.979Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCVSP89ck5
