“A what?” A blank stare.800Please respect copyright.PENANActrNg8sWhl
800Please respect copyright.PENANArYN45fvZ0t
“A d..date.” Came a meek yet slightly firm response.800Please respect copyright.PENANAk8VFFsEYeb
800Please respect copyright.PENANAdeGI4wH0ju
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.800Please respect copyright.PENANAKLB8ZEwwYz
800Please respect copyright.PENANAl1MTP9DNfA
The gall, really.800Please respect copyright.PENANAZwTOyINrlw
800Please respect copyright.PENANA9lQjvWoOsf
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.800Please respect copyright.PENANAn812YI3LSm
800Please respect copyright.PENANAIKZidY6BCI
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.800Please respect copyright.PENANAgV77R4zWkR
800Please respect copyright.PENANA7nzCk2C4TH
Boy, were they wrong but let’s not get into that.800Please respect copyright.PENANALrWn28vc9x
800Please respect copyright.PENANAKAYaAdDH3F
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. 800Please respect copyright.PENANAkj93bNEMmh
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.800Please respect copyright.PENANAble9Fqpk9e
800Please respect copyright.PENANA4tMiabEoBT
“W..will you go out on a date with me?” He even maintained the eye contact with me!800Please respect copyright.PENANAx3sHRuJPUi
800Please respect copyright.PENANATmzQkjvZ31
I am utterly speechless because….800Please respect copyright.PENANAiERb9UIsdX
800Please respect copyright.PENANAvE6vzlihO6
“I don’t even know your name.” I blurt out.800Please respect copyright.PENANAscUHOvUhHg
800Please respect copyright.PENANAOYerOk1YFW
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!800Please respect copyright.PENANAM5tCSfvnmA
800Please respect copyright.PENANALXmyUi42zC
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.800Please respect copyright.PENANAhRo8j6NE7S
800Please respect copyright.PENANAlfjL5OhbVy
“My name’s Clarence and we sat next to each other in Arts!” Came a yell.800Please respect copyright.PENANA2j1WQvZryV
800Please respect copyright.PENANAt7jmj8PEWy
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…800Please respect copyright.PENANABa3vVij8i7
800Please respect copyright.PENANAyq1h4HAqne
I walk faster. 800Please respect copyright.PENANAtXLgFeX0WH
800Please respect copyright.PENANAjCFUlcqSOI
“You were always daydreaming and never really paid attention in class so that’s why you don’t recognize me.”800Please respect copyright.PENANANUJQPS6vbs
800Please respect copyright.PENANAbUlYkOFBRC
Okay, that’s true. So he really was in Art class.800Please respect copyright.PENANAX1wmakdEu1
800Please respect copyright.PENANANCFbzMUMdf
Irritated, I stop and turn around. “Why are you so persistent? Did someone put you up to this?”800Please respect copyright.PENANA1edpNjUZIO
800Please respect copyright.PENANAvSDuwabOYR
He had the audacity to look appalled. “No! I… I’m asking you out because I l-like you, Abigail.”800Please respect copyright.PENANAQuzFU6SNz4
800Please respect copyright.PENANATaq8Tknzei
That would actually be nice if it was true and I’d really like to believe that but I just…can’t.800Please respect copyright.PENANAMi8gFCc444
800Please respect copyright.PENANA8DEEnQazf9
“I know your situation with those jerks and I assure you that I’m not one of them.” said Clarence.800Please respect copyright.PENANAxydVu8Smox
800Please respect copyright.PENANArwHeci1D1h
“Riiight.” I started to walk again, briskly this time.800Please respect copyright.PENANAI7C8OibkP1
800Please respect copyright.PENANAXzipj0P8Xe
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.800Please respect copyright.PENANAC7tieSPhZD
800Please respect copyright.PENANAvooDMXaF4s
“Really, just hear me out, okay?” He’s walking beside me now, catching up with my pace.800Please respect copyright.PENANAQIF1MCzQzQ
800Please respect copyright.PENANAWxC9Pph6jS
“No.”800Please respect copyright.PENANATpDGfOe33y
800Please respect copyright.PENANAiK8a6SFvz9
I heard a noise of a slight frustration before the next sentences of words comes out of his mouth.800Please respect copyright.PENANA8mrUw31Z8m
800Please respect copyright.PENANAChyjxQa0Z9
“I’ll buy you pizza if you could just hear me out!”800Please respect copyright.PENANAe1hdiZqxrX
800Please respect copyright.PENANAIDx0EuqkH8
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.800Please respect copyright.PENANA6mGUNwf55L
800Please respect copyright.PENANAiKgwjqX94R
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.800Please respect copyright.PENANAJGG7XE2hTM
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.800Please respect copyright.PENANAgVoOzXhEvV
800Please respect copyright.PENANA6SUYC4fypu
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...800Please respect copyright.PENANAq0Pmj3MamO
800Please respect copyright.PENANAdcnfqZwgZF
“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.800Please respect copyright.PENANAZDpkAN67m5
800Please respect copyright.PENANA9Dk8ouAc9L
“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. 800Please respect copyright.PENANAAOrkwqUYKx
He only smiled and shook his head.800Please respect copyright.PENANAVFtZ07AG21
800Please respect copyright.PENANAeCMIIRfngH
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.800Please respect copyright.PENANAUpkiNTzq2y
800Please respect copyright.PENANAHeTmEgpVak
“What? Why did you have that expression on your face?” I asked curiously.800Please respect copyright.PENANABacOMq0Gp3
800Please respect copyright.PENANALcFFk0aT6z
He was nonchalant but something felt a bit off. “Eh? It’s nothing.”800Please respect copyright.PENANAK1mLYtJQzW
800Please respect copyright.PENANAzYyg3qv1pY
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.800Please respect copyright.PENANAtJMjSJHfqQ
800Please respect copyright.PENANAIdWEXR9Pcu
“I suppose I have a surprise for you.” He grins at me. But it look weird - like forced.800Please respect copyright.PENANApb4LjHcjdD
800Please respect copyright.PENANAT4HrAS43XX
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.800Please respect copyright.PENANA8suY7WKxFw
800Please respect copyright.PENANAgLTLk074uS
“Surprise?” He chuckled nervously.800Please respect copyright.PENANAXI6wktlYF4
800Please respect copyright.PENANAsLXnoyH7YA
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.800Please respect copyright.PENANAPduMw2fjez
800Please respect copyright.PENANAfoBnfoPNsL
Slowing down, I stop then turn around and yelled, “You idiot! So you didn’t realized that you were short of money?!”800Please respect copyright.PENANA0M2EWKSk8L
800Please respect copyright.PENANAu6rOCvaEZn
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.800Please respect copyright.PENANAwDXFbeopcq
800Please respect copyright.PENANAkpxDuobf9a
“Seriously, that was really lousy.” I huff.800Please respect copyright.PENANAdoVvjgszdG
800Please respect copyright.PENANALMEl4cxkeD
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.800Please respect copyright.PENANA9XygSdiGh7
800Please respect copyright.PENANALvdLaicQrl
“Oh, yeah?” I asked, a little skeptical.800Please respect copyright.PENANAhlhXaBRWY8
800Please respect copyright.PENANAlNE0H64yBt
His face was serious. “Yeah. We can go for a movie or something cooler than that. Maybe even pizza afterwards.” Clarence grin knowingly.800Please respect copyright.PENANA3xdSZdoSW4
800Please respect copyright.PENANADLwYCpJxsS
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.800Please respect copyright.PENANAGTundzHIZc
800Please respect copyright.PENANAmPaEUO45mz
So I agreed, again.800Please respect copyright.PENANArt9gvlv6h7
800Please respect copyright.PENANACLFVjepnFa
And you know what? He certainly did fulfilled his promise on our second date.800Please respect copyright.PENANAN0FAYVKYlS