How I Married My Bias

CHAPTER 17

I woke up, beating the alarm clock by 3 minutes. I had been beating my alarm clock for almost a week now.

It’s like I’m always excited, like I can’t wait for the next day to come. I took a shower. As I emerged from the bathroom, I stared at my face in the mirror. I can see myself smiling.

I’m less sulky now and my neighbors from the apartment told me that I was cheerful and bright these days.

I went down the stairs and into the streets. I walked towards the bus stop but I saw a familiar car parked on the other side of the road.

I immediately recognize the black tinted car and I crossed the road to approach it. The car door opened and a guy in a hood sat on the driver’s seat. He gestured for me to get in and I did. I closed the car door and he pulled the hood back.

“I thought we’re going to meet at the bookstore,” I said as I put my bag pack on my lap.

“Don’t you want to go someplace else?” he said as he pulled something from the back seat.

I shook my head as I pulled my hair into a bun.

“Well, that’s a pity.” he said then pulled my hair out of the bun and put a hat on my head.

“What’s the hat for?” I asked, starring at the wide brimmed hat. “I looked like some 17th century French aristocrat.” He laughed.

“You do. You look ridiculous.” He said, his nose crinkled again and his laughter filled the car.

I removed the hat from my head and put it on him. His laughter stopped as he felt the hat on his head. I looked at him and pretended to take a picture. He strike a ‘V’ pose before he burst into another laugh.

“Seriously, we need to take a photo of you in 17th century French hat.” I said as I opened my bag pack to get my phone.

He reached for something on the back seat and then revealed another hat. He put in on me.

“We should do it together. It’s unfair if it’s only me who’ll look silly.”

I held my phone, trying to get a good angle. He leaned towards me and I could see him on my phone screen. He rested his chin on my shoulder and smiled.

I felt my heart beat faster. His chin on my shoulder sends a spark that run down my spine. I smiled and clicked the capture button.Afterwards he leaned back to his seat and started the car.

“Seriously, you need to change your wallpaper. I looked like an emo,” he said as he pulled out of the sideways and into the street.

I quickly hid my phone in my pocket. I forgot that his picture was my wallpaper.

FOR FIVE LONG YEARS.

“I can’t change it. If I changed it, it won’t feel like I’m using my phone.” I said as I put the phone out of my pocket and slipped it into my bag.

The car ran down the streets, passing the familiar shops and the familiar sea of people on the streets. I stared outside, not that I want to but because there’s nothing much to do inside the car.

“Don’t you get tired of this city?” he asked. I shook my head.

The buildings gradually became smaller and smaller until we completely exited the city and the streets were lined up with trees and low shrubs. There were also lesser cars. I knew this road and soon enough the trees cleared revealing the sea.

“Here?” I asked him.

“Why? Don’t you like it here?” he asked as he parked the car on the side of the road.

“It’s not like that. It just feels different because we came here late last time.” I answered as I unbuckled my seat belt.

He hopped out and opened the car door for me with a smile. “Thank you. You don’t have to do that though,” I said as I hopped out of the car too.

He didn’t answer; instead he held my hand and pulled me near the concrete wall. There was a stair leading down to the beach.

Since I came here, I haven’t step foot on any beach and the soft sand felt good. The air was filled with the strong smell of the sea and the breeze was strong.

I held the hat so it won’t fly away. He still held my hand as we walked. I could hear the waves, our footsteps crushing with the sand and an occasional car passing on the road.

A few meters ahead of us, I saw a large box on the sand. He stopped just in front of the large box.

“Turn your back,” he said.

“Why?” I asked.

“Just do it,” he said then turns me forcefully.

I stood there, my back against him. I could hear various things coming out of the mystery box. After a minute or so, he pulled me down and I crushed into a sitting position on the sand. It was only then did I realize what really came out of the mystery box.

We sat on a blanket under a big white beach umbrella. There was basket and a mini-stereo and a stack of books right next to it. It was obviously a picnic on the beach except for the weird hats we’re wearing.

“The hats don’t match the atmosphere,” I said then removed the hat from my head and examined it.

“We prefer to be different, right?” he said then grabbed the hat and put it back on me.