“A what?” A blank stare.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHiiVIYiUp
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“A d..date.” Came a meek yet slightly firm response.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fFqZMYZAn
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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.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBEOie0iMx
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The gall, really.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7RzKTj4uw
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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.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgFTCwgzXF
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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.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdfqBrD89j
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Boy, were they wrong but let’s not get into that.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpQs7sAEuc
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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. 1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vqFN5Ph84
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.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmL7pri2RU
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“W..will you go out on a date with me?” He even maintained the eye contact with me!1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmmbsX4c2M
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I am utterly speechless because….1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzYVgjYcjY
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“I don’t even know your name.” I blurt out.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HLzQabxzM
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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!1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWyNOR25Lj
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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.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5kjceCKk1
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“My name’s Clarence and we sat next to each other in Arts!” Came a yell.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOGEgiqm1h
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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…1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOZ0fKeK09
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I walk faster. 1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNrSS56jrH
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“You were always daydreaming and never really paid attention in class so that’s why you don’t recognize me.”1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GO6CyYj7s
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Okay, that’s true. So he really was in Art class.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTZhN5glWo
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Irritated, I stop and turn around. “Why are you so persistent? Did someone put you up to this?”1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllAO7Flhue
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He had the audacity to look appalled. “No! I… I’m asking you out because I l-like you, Abigail.”1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvUfVgNVAP
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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.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KcafNt89w
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“I know your situation with those jerks and I assure you that I’m not one of them.” said Clarence.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzsrmaNf6L
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“Riiight.” I started to walk again, briskly this time.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPa63Jd6IbJ
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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.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjFKitR6N8
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“Really, just hear me out, okay?” He’s walking beside me now, catching up with my pace.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbAIqrgLJi
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“No.”1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPpaBDBA12
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I heard a noise of a slight frustration before the next sentences of words comes out of his mouth.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZhogyZ44E
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“I’ll buy you pizza if you could just hear me out!”1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99NQpItDJx
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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.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCgmM620Yx
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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.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbnPMHyNFi
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.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Pg0SduMlr
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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...1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCW2hcBxEXv
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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.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhsSh1QsE4
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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. 1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSS416GwM92
He only smiled and shook his head.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdVz1Ewpb5
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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.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDy84lkw4p3
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“What? Why did you have that expression on your face?” I asked curiously.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujCAQMNjU0
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He was nonchalant but something felt a bit off. “Eh? It’s nothing.”1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vkDPY9jz2
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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.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbLdio8Rgx
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“I suppose I have a surprise for you.” He grins at me. But it look weird - like forced.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAIi060mTP
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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.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAK8m4Ufosk
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“Surprise?” He chuckled nervously.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsDgbVvZwT
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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.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMj5NIZJjZY
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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?!”1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsegNefbPj
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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.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hws1uovRV
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“Seriously, that was really lousy.” I huff.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4wLZr27Il
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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.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBg6GcUij9c
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“Oh, yeah?” I asked, a little skeptical.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLD0h4640m7
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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.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06HBaVazzk
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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.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBzS0kAove
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So I agreed, again.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSHs56XPZd
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And you know what? He certainly did fulfilled his promise on our second date.1038Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJ1WmUAkyP
