“A what?” A blank stare.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkYrNgKR9d
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“A d..date.” Came a meek yet slightly firm response.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCPOIGiSUV
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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.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaHpV75DPr
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The gall, really.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBdMJJfhQm
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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.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2llpFotye
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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.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PqpwQC8Nj
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Boy, were they wrong but let’s not get into that.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx83oZbUf2P
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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. 1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTA9NAMmlvI
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.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFWk6pB2ol
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“W..will you go out on a date with me?” He even maintained the eye contact with me!1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyh9zMmK8k
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I am utterly speechless because….1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrzw7C36Lm
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“I don’t even know your name.” I blurt out.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFmTVTWzrS
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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!1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhd7tVSbTbt
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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.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuHaLti4JL
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“My name’s Clarence and we sat next to each other in Arts!” Came a yell.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlH4CX5WDPg
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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…1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfL26VMDRhu
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I walk faster. 1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWPYQ92IIF
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“You were always daydreaming and never really paid attention in class so that’s why you don’t recognize me.”1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnITsWhW1r
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Okay, that’s true. So he really was in Art class.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIjZmK1pcF
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Irritated, I stop and turn around. “Why are you so persistent? Did someone put you up to this?”1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCy2Vk48jU
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He had the audacity to look appalled. “No! I… I’m asking you out because I l-like you, Abigail.”1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuEFLlZuGb
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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.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfyJbAZzJL
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“I know your situation with those jerks and I assure you that I’m not one of them.” said Clarence.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQJisXkdpC
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“Riiight.” I started to walk again, briskly this time.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQHkmkE5jF
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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.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyete7eswN
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“Really, just hear me out, okay?” He’s walking beside me now, catching up with my pace.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0dMage1a1
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“No.”1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjc4nRsdAxm
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I heard a noise of a slight frustration before the next sentences of words comes out of his mouth.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTICP1eSnGZ
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“I’ll buy you pizza if you could just hear me out!”1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvno99w0Qx7
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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.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4UkYr02en
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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.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjkpQ6qLRB
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.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0UrvhKlKr
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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...1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6wBVeVGTp
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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.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujdbm48dYi
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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. 1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpr6jAYSvX
He only smiled and shook his head.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHXGk5cUzW
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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.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfT1itfkiu
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“What? Why did you have that expression on your face?” I asked curiously.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkIrvAVCiD
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He was nonchalant but something felt a bit off. “Eh? It’s nothing.”1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWW0Fzpsgrt
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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.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXV9X55qnf
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“I suppose I have a surprise for you.” He grins at me. But it look weird - like forced.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBRUZM36QV
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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.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJxkXtm4w3
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“Surprise?” He chuckled nervously.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjHI1yQ3db
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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.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWdTCE1RkL
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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?!”1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUyS0nz9TK
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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.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHT5kvafXj
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“Seriously, that was really lousy.” I huff.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Dc8wakrbr
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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.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1exX1zE7s0
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“Oh, yeah?” I asked, a little skeptical.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DbDbX5TCm
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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.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfoG4xf5aM
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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.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLLs4m4pkN
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So I agreed, again.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQK3doyf65l
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And you know what? He certainly did fulfilled his promise on our second date.1007Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeAnQLXaeq
