The Steps To Your Heart

Step 6: Plan B

--- Nique ---

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Cut corners.

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Today, I'm having dinner with Shayne here in the café.

I was finally able to forgive him when he said he'd stop with the blind dates – though Kent became the mediator. And since Shayne was able to come visit, it's now my turn with him.

I looked at my watch. He's late.

"Nique?" I looked up and was surprised to see the "pervert" standing in front of me.

What is he doing here again?

It's already becoming a frequent encounter that I'm starting to doubt any of this is a coincidence. It's suspicious.

"Hi, I'm Alex," he introduced and offered his hand for a handshake. But I merely stared at him.

And what does he want this time?

"Didn't he tell you about today?" he implied and awkwardly drew his hand back when I didn't take his hand.

"He?" I asked. Then it hit me.

"That bastard!" was all I could mutter to myself. I knew it. It was just too convenient to call it a coincidence.

And just as the first time we met, he sat himself down.

"I wanted to say sorry for what happened the other day. He told me about you and I thought if I didn't approach you as your blind date, you'd at least be a little interested. I mean you don't like being set up, right?" he stated.

I couldn't speak. All I could do was to crease my brows in annoyance. I never thought he'd double cross me.

"Let's forget about it and have a fresh start, deal?" he asked and tried offering his hand again, for approval.

Why is he trying to be polite now?

When I merely stared at him and still didn't take his hand, he took the menu and went over it. I crossed my arms. I can't understand the first thing this guy is thinking.

"What would you like to order?" he asked and set the menu down.

"I don't care in the least, just order something already and be done with it," I snapped.

He sighed.

"Why don't we go for a walk?," he suddenly suggested as he smiled at me. I raised my eyebrows in question but then I thought maybe that's better than being here.

I simply stood up and went for the door and I could feel him following behind me.

Throughout the walk, he didn't speak. He didn't even walk beside me and just followed behind. I didn't know where I was going at first. Then I thought of the park. It's quiet there.

After a couple of rounds around the park, his silence got to my nerves.

"Just so we're clear, I am not interested in –" I started but he interrupted me.

"Why don't we sit down for a bit," he said and went ahead to sit at the nearest bench.

I took a deep breath. It was already getting cold, and I'm only wearing a casual dress. I wanted to go home.

"It's cold, so let's just call it a night and go home," I suggested when I went to stand beside him.

When I saw him taking his jacket off, I took a step back.

"No, you don't have to do that," I said and waved my hands in front of him to try and stop him. But he still continued taking it off and took both my hands away. Then he immediately stood up and wrapped the jacket around me.

"Man, guys like you are really annoying," I muttered to myself for the second time.

"Guys like me?" he repeated.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked.

I took a deep breath.

"Tell me, you've just recently dumped your girlfriend, didn't you?" I asked.

"Y-Yes," he answered reluctantly.

"And it was only recently, right?" I stated.

"What are you getting at?" he asked raising his eyebrows.

"What I'm saying is you're that boy-next-door character with no twist," I finished.

"What?" he asked dumbfounded. I took another deep breath.

"You know how in a story, there is always that character that's considered perfect with his cool demeanour, handsome face, and is also from a rich family?" I asked.

He nodded but still looked puzzled.

"That's you," I said and his face lit up.

"But you don't have a twist. So you're nothing but that boy-next-door type of guy who walks around with girls on both hands while having another on the side. And you never even had trouble reeling these girls into your arms," I continued and his grin broadened as if taking what I said as a compliment. I sighed to myself. Guys like them are too predictable.

But then his grin suddenly disappeared.

"What do you mean by "I don't have a twist?" he asked.

"Well, you know how in a story where the main character is just like you? But they have a twist such as a traumatic history that explains why they're like that. Or there was a person from their past that they couldn't forget or get over from. That's their twist. But if your life was a story, you are not the main character. You're just the guy with the bad reputation and nothing else. That's why nobody remembers you."

"What are you talking –"

"With that kind of face you can get any girl you want. But even though you've been in countless relationships, they never last. And you fool with them enough to have one – night stands too. So in a sense, you're promiscuous."

"You're rich, but you're nothing but a leech to your parents. I bet you even ask them for everything you need and never had to lift a finger to get them. So you're a spoiled brat."

"And that cool demeanour of yours, you act calm and composed like you're serious, but it doesn't feel like you did anything sincere in your life. So you're shallow."

He was silent the whole time I was talking. And his face kept darkening the more I continued.

"In other words, you're a scum."

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