“A what?” A blank stare.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Cr0kp4DNU
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBu5CNDnDv
“A d..date.” Came a meek yet slightly firm response.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaTsEzCQVE
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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.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYH9XTtyUm
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZH7GHd1m9y
The gall, really.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKMJAl1RtD
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyScq29Cqg
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.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzOO7bT4WM
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaXFURsjpW
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.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq38bP2FeNO
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWf9xj6dbJY
Boy, were they wrong but let’s not get into that.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHz69Gpdatj
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNR9Jrevwn
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. 1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTIIOoH0O9
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.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbER5gLy9E
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjG57cqfFiD
“W..will you go out on a date with me?” He even maintained the eye contact with me!1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4bUZqy4qA
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2wSkf9Wos
I am utterly speechless because….1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnCmoJvTKU
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvOxM7Dsyc
“I don’t even know your name.” I blurt out.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWKDjXzANy
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeNzRPKaRP
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!1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6QXh569v7
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ucxGuMrA7
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.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8Wh4HvY1E
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUBcaBgdaI
“My name’s Clarence and we sat next to each other in Arts!” Came a yell.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzs5ec7OrI
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatKJICZr09
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…1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhUXeSwLCW
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMId68Kf9nT
I walk faster. 1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsVyYH25Bw
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“You were always daydreaming and never really paid attention in class so that’s why you don’t recognize me.”1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4veaJ013e
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYDrlTGp3v
Okay, that’s true. So he really was in Art class.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyoIKdqGnJ
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH34NFCvhE4
Irritated, I stop and turn around. “Why are you so persistent? Did someone put you up to this?”1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLFI8xqyd9
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IK9CvA0Ox
He had the audacity to look appalled. “No! I… I’m asking you out because I l-like you, Abigail.”1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7M8t4slG8
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcVKbwulpC
That would actually be nice if it was true and I’d really like to believe that but I just…can’t.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7KrUYTdzU
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkI5yJhaXYk
“I know your situation with those jerks and I assure you that I’m not one of them.” said Clarence.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rxGStC81e
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNBBYrMDe6
“Riiight.” I started to walk again, briskly this time.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeT6vnCLtGk
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UxUVoZpRK
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.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIyOGQIqJB
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFzpdvCcfd
“Really, just hear me out, okay?” He’s walking beside me now, catching up with my pace.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwwjdHyBZj
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“No.”1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1BrIDHHq1
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I heard a noise of a slight frustration before the next sentences of words comes out of his mouth.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtR2LHEAVs
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNNDVzcS86
“I’ll buy you pizza if you could just hear me out!”1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSmY09r1v4
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfY5UzSifG
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.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7Jzuedbji
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hqWQYFTky
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.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJlw6hh3pQ
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.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXLmy6t4Cn
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0egqw7V0kB
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...1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRaBnLTDYB
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaIYx00fBP
“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.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6ug9lLK0T
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgRGXqtKN8
“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. 1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigrev5a43F
He only smiled and shook his head.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXrP0U0jou
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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.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc14UEPdcRu
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYz1TZfH3g
“What? Why did you have that expression on your face?” I asked curiously.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXj0SFsv6g
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He was nonchalant but something felt a bit off. “Eh? It’s nothing.”1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaMpZOZuYn
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTRM3YDKCN
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.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8MgBZ3CoF
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNS8Y9fSYc
“I suppose I have a surprise for you.” He grins at me. But it look weird - like forced.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhs8NdlQMy
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhpWvmaRkS
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.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkbZ5elFxM
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTJatIXCBB
“Surprise?” He chuckled nervously.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqjW8ihPjT
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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.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3HSZbIUli
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6AOHODtl7
Slowing down, I stop then turn around and yelled, “You idiot! So you didn’t realized that you were short of money?!”1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxB7LdJ86Wc
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5mPq9JrYK
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.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSlNsezJ4z
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZB9uqmSzn9
“Seriously, that was really lousy.” I huff.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqwiT7ZB2O
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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.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXg32weQEO
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBffJUA7aY
“Oh, yeah?” I asked, a little skeptical.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgDisFf1il
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6FMxlhwPi
His face was serious. “Yeah. We can go for a movie or something cooler than that. Maybe even pizza afterwards.” Clarence grin knowingly.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyh3WI8LdYY
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsssJod1MfR
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.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSrwhYIC2W
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtyTSRsxdn
So I agreed, again.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9JBdCZBqh
1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxZn04NsxK
And you know what? He certainly did fulfilled his promise on our second date.1092Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9QG8JVhUc
