“A what?” A blank stare.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGJGEy3Upq
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“A d..date.” Came a meek yet slightly firm response.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgszoCL8Vtx
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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.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJy80TfImF
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The gall, really.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5C6Gahrb5
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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.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3xhVs9afS
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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.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKN4HybJdFg
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Boy, were they wrong but let’s not get into that.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQfD8EU0ro
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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. 1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSXHoWWDMd
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.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGGRwDBOCG
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“W..will you go out on a date with me?” He even maintained the eye contact with me!1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBe07UBBMl8
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I am utterly speechless because….1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9nqW9E2dL
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“I don’t even know your name.” I blurt out.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwwYGWG8Kp
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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!1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBj6g7mqrpl
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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.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7uassKgWA
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“My name’s Clarence and we sat next to each other in Arts!” Came a yell.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqV16CYXS8F
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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…1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZ8N1lteHj
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I walk faster. 1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrexO7H66o
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“You were always daydreaming and never really paid attention in class so that’s why you don’t recognize me.”1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡha6AsG6nuy
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Okay, that’s true. So he really was in Art class.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2DBKx5QX8
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Irritated, I stop and turn around. “Why are you so persistent? Did someone put you up to this?”1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTkbRWqPAL
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He had the audacity to look appalled. “No! I… I’m asking you out because I l-like you, Abigail.”1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXcreNAMDt
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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.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3C9cia2l3
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“I know your situation with those jerks and I assure you that I’m not one of them.” said Clarence.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNW8uNXBno0
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“Riiight.” I started to walk again, briskly this time.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Y8X3EVIuZ
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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.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmG1iGnzA7
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“Really, just hear me out, okay?” He’s walking beside me now, catching up with my pace.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEe5PbHMpz
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“No.”1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiykRSULLi8
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I heard a noise of a slight frustration before the next sentences of words comes out of his mouth.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlvZbQHFk4
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“I’ll buy you pizza if you could just hear me out!”1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0VUuPaOCX
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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.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaT2KbbvfwH
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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.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLl1FWBpkmt
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.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfqbZgCFA5
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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...1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eZfBoliKl
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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.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UVjbBo7TY
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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. 1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FUWwNnLEY
He only smiled and shook his head.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjl0J2yB0BC
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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.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChv3MJfLxx
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“What? Why did you have that expression on your face?” I asked curiously.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjskt3DWDx
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He was nonchalant but something felt a bit off. “Eh? It’s nothing.”1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuuG0mwL23
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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.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2rvWYnzXQ
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“I suppose I have a surprise for you.” He grins at me. But it look weird - like forced.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡle59Ml771z
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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.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcS6o6fMDY6
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“Surprise?” He chuckled nervously.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFiC5eVQPg
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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.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxgMyBEnIa
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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?!”1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8ONB3c7Xf
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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.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwVwxFKINv
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“Seriously, that was really lousy.” I huff.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOpyKzZNLO
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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.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxXjFxEV62
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“Oh, yeah?” I asked, a little skeptical.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdEWfAmQih
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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.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUyWqcBEY4
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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.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMBXDX8IBJ
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So I agreed, again.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFK6DRDqrzw
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And you know what? He certainly did fulfilled his promise on our second date.1070Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡia5DIL6k2N
