The Steps To Your Heart

Step 14: The Challenge

--- Alexander ---

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Think before you act

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"I won't be as frightening as Shayne may have been with you but ... " Kent was saying. I didn't know what was happening or why this was happening in the first place. It just that I realized Kent sounds like a father who was giving her daughter's hand in marriage.

I suddenly remembered that first time I saw Nique in this café (where I was eavesdropping on her blind date).

"So, Alex, what are you planning for my little sister here?" he asked like there was nothing wrong in this situation, and finally stopped talking.

Startled, I let go of my grip on his hand. I didn't even realize I was still holding his hand the whole time he was talking or why I was standing there in the first place. All I wanted was for him to stop flirting with Nique.

"Uhhhh ..." I started.

"Tell you what, why don't you have dinner with her after your shift. Would that be alright?" he asked. But before I could answer – or even Nique, he already decided it for us like that was final.

"Alex! " I heard Chris call – motioning that the manager is back, that is why before any further deliberation on Kent's proposal, I left them in their table, with Nique looking furious with Kent who kept smiling at her.

I was aware it was on impulse when my feet dragged me towards their table and grabbed his arm, aware that he was a brother to her. But I still didn't like how they were being too intimate.

"I told you to be careful not to fall too deep," I heard Chris say before I could even organize my thoughts.

"They were like that too during high school (he's talking about how the watchdogs handled anyone who showed interest towards Nique). That was why every guy who went on that first date immediately got scared to even think for a second date." he said smirking at me.

"Even though I'm gay, hearing about marriage immediately after the first date ... " he trailed off.

"And those two were pretty serious with their threats, too. I mean, every guy would be scared too, right?" He's practically rambling, but my mind was still processing what just happened. I couldn't care less about those.

"Ah... But there was this one guy who was able to have that second date with her. I even heard they became a couple but he suddenly transferred so, I don't know," he finished shrugging.

"Wait, what?" I asked, his last sentence caught my attention.

"Which part?"

"You mentioned something about a guy?" I asked. But when he laughed at me, I raised my brows.

"What?"

"You know Alex, you may pretend like you're just fooling around, but you've actually fallen pretty hard, haven't you?"

I blinked a couple of times, wishing I heard him wrong.

"I mean, most guys would indeed get shocked. But not about some guy from a girl's past who might not have anything to do with her at the moment – assuming you are indeed just fooling around," he explained.

"But about me admitting I'm gay..." he started, prolonging the last word to make his point.

"They'd most definitely react, and immediately."

When my ears perked when I heard the word gay, he nodded at me knowingly.

"Ohhhh ... now you react!" he blurted laughing.

"What the hell is going on here?" the manager demanded as he entered the kitchen.

"Alex! Again!? Do you want me to permanently make you the dishwasher?!" he scolded. Before I could protest, Chris was already out of sight.

It was shocking to know Chris was gay, but it didn't stop me from spending the whole morning pondering on what I should do next about what Chris just told me.

And what it actually means having the second date.

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