“A what?” A blank stare.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36eROeel2N
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“A d..date.” Came a meek yet slightly firm response.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL84Xc6eKc7
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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.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5baOgo8Wz
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The gall, really.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNsmSCJWbP
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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.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkxqTjkAoq
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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.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWFAAwbyPS
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Boy, were they wrong but let’s not get into that.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCa8ZvzYX6B
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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. 1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71JVUmvErf
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.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73ZCze3Jpl
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“W..will you go out on a date with me?” He even maintained the eye contact with me!1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2shzSlgs72
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I am utterly speechless because….1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLrWznQGDg
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“I don’t even know your name.” I blurt out.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjCZgx5pgd
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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!1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcL221YkdTC
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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.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1x4TVYJ2B9
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“My name’s Clarence and we sat next to each other in Arts!” Came a yell.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZexSD14cK
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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…1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0XpjE7LCc
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I walk faster. 1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGt2TMzc4lV
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“You were always daydreaming and never really paid attention in class so that’s why you don’t recognize me.”1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1cQ4Jxtr7
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Okay, that’s true. So he really was in Art class.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsffAesrKeR
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Irritated, I stop and turn around. “Why are you so persistent? Did someone put you up to this?”1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bMPVoQtxE
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He had the audacity to look appalled. “No! I… I’m asking you out because I l-like you, Abigail.”1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZT3dRvLr9D
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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.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdpZEQGBUu
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“I know your situation with those jerks and I assure you that I’m not one of them.” said Clarence.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM44pUMMZdT
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“Riiight.” I started to walk again, briskly this time.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWB7CtYPGXF
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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.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY67xKiryST
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“Really, just hear me out, okay?” He’s walking beside me now, catching up with my pace.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigb6HvZO68
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“No.”1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSjmnp0zwG
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I heard a noise of a slight frustration before the next sentences of words comes out of his mouth.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIExbgrpmIk
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“I’ll buy you pizza if you could just hear me out!”1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRb1mmAPPdJ
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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.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxA5DKMVAqF
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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.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pZICYY0MP
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.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnXBKoPksq
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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...1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5VvWqVtxK
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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.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVN3WNyMuM
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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. 1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXK3v2PF5Z
He only smiled and shook his head.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0WMWV7mwm
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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.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpV9fOmeWg
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“What? Why did you have that expression on your face?” I asked curiously.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ih6l6FceI
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He was nonchalant but something felt a bit off. “Eh? It’s nothing.”1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZx7s3kMa2x
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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.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxAiQAkdtm
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“I suppose I have a surprise for you.” He grins at me. But it look weird - like forced.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN5Gd8ihu0
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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.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaQOyn05KR
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“Surprise?” He chuckled nervously.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKEW2AtWEM
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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.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9E06Sx4JmW
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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?!”1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqRy3oVdix
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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.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqiCtZk3I5
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“Seriously, that was really lousy.” I huff.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jVCg1oJx8
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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.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYneBZuCfg
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“Oh, yeah?” I asked, a little skeptical.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOW2pqXGQg4
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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.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eI8wTrEWL
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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.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CI7zikoEg
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So I agreed, again.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgsQnnAICT
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And you know what? He certainly did fulfilled his promise on our second date.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksD7gBZ99Z
