“A what?” A blank stare.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlymMMfzjb7
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoR1j0adw3
“A d..date.” Came a meek yet slightly firm response.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRsxnFe6dt
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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.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHCN8zsxBO
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The gall, really.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nJxBapOMu
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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.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5E14ixfWiX
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hoWkRBYHX
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.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TAhG6RxLI
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Boy, were they wrong but let’s not get into that.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEUiUF4ZMs
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmrOfUsFhC
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. 982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv91LBrNYtk
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.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOs9Mz63lQ
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSQo5P4ehO
“W..will you go out on a date with me?” He even maintained the eye contact with me!982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Jnfs1wc20
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTwmy1TR9B
I am utterly speechless because….982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfix4nqmyb
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5z4NAbBOu
“I don’t even know your name.” I blurt out.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKaUdk9kMn
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5uST9Qal8
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!982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGM85xhJey
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBQ3ddph6n
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.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4rhJdaeqa
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uyfPlzMF4
“My name’s Clarence and we sat next to each other in Arts!” Came a yell.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCsLqAarqV
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaGHfla4JI
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…982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkJJpP06nE
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYIEPDiOXJ
I walk faster. 982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNL7zNorolP
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“You were always daydreaming and never really paid attention in class so that’s why you don’t recognize me.”982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2CYcLm2CG
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyI3SMJVByZ
Okay, that’s true. So he really was in Art class.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7azPabnNF
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmAGzFPq8Q
Irritated, I stop and turn around. “Why are you so persistent? Did someone put you up to this?”982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWyIs4uaS9
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDAo5zbXPD
He had the audacity to look appalled. “No! I… I’m asking you out because I l-like you, Abigail.”982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHYXJ728kW
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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.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlfbrkvtgN
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tI7mkrp0o
“I know your situation with those jerks and I assure you that I’m not one of them.” said Clarence.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqH75803ejr
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCpTSLg4Vp
“Riiight.” I started to walk again, briskly this time.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgudDsJI6qd
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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.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JTDfSSlZm
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijvJDSFqwi
“Really, just hear me out, okay?” He’s walking beside me now, catching up with my pace.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlliFy0aBS
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“No.”982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9t3NHew217
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I heard a noise of a slight frustration before the next sentences of words comes out of his mouth.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd85rQlkUpH
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“I’ll buy you pizza if you could just hear me out!”982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyjZbsQumI
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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.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBnVPnomH6
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInzEgXfEcy
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.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaXElZXmY7
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.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0kDoDrFvO
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdUqT2P3fm
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...982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTp8fX1ijj
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOlk9BN32J
“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.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGCyFhVZjM
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiHXtJhYhS
“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. 982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAKuGlJwIL
He only smiled and shook his head.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4ZbCwChDH
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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.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzykaHd9GZ
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AVWLDXaWY
“What? Why did you have that expression on your face?” I asked curiously.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2psTM8GtFC
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He was nonchalant but something felt a bit off. “Eh? It’s nothing.”982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTt24t1LuSU
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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.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoEc4Rd3mg
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHs9AKwyt3I
“I suppose I have a surprise for you.” He grins at me. But it look weird - like forced.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0VmMfH0i4
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyacr0llOty
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.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvL12VQnPd
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2nBR4zHn4
“Surprise?” He chuckled nervously.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomPkpu4n2g
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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.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2d63GEqfXu
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIM1rvB5n2
Slowing down, I stop then turn around and yelled, “You idiot! So you didn’t realized that you were short of money?!”982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbMmw795vY
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLNWJKnglN
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.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPliCR5pFWg
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SJEekzacN
“Seriously, that was really lousy.” I huff.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8srh7yWAFz
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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.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ134RygLoMX
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzRdriyOI8
“Oh, yeah?” I asked, a little skeptical.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kj3BFZHMq
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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.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvk7xe00JBd
982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXkapSFUrL
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.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCkarG1wjB
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So I agreed, again.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTsQp0Ivfl
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And you know what? He certainly did fulfilled his promise on our second date.982Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmeLcwSdVY
