April 2014
James slowly grinned from ear to ear and said, “You've made the right decision.”
Kaylie ignored him. She took off her seatbelt and started hitting her head on the glove compartment. She didn’t care, this was what she felt like after uttering those words to James. She knew there is a great possibility of regretting this later but she can’t back out now.
James wide-eyed shocked tried to pull her up. “Stop it. You’re the weirdest person I’ve ever met. What’s wrong with you?”
“You! You’re what’s wrong." She screamed at him. She was so mad she wanted to cry but she decided that she will not show any sign of weakness again.
James started to feel guilty but he couldn't bring himself to say sorry. He noticed Kaylie’s forehead reddish from her childish behavior. He was about to say something as he pointed on her forehead but was interrupted by Kaylie as she continued, “Listen carefully, I did not do it for you, I did it for myself.”
“Oh, I understand now. So you can’t resist my charms?” He winked.
Ugh, this narcissistic jerk. Kaylie thought as she wanted to poke his eyes out. She tried her best to control her annoyance or she would lose this game. “Don’t flatter yourself. I give you six months. That should be enough. By the fifth month we can easily ease into the ‘break-up’. By then, our parents should be able to accept the fact that ‘we’ are not meant to be. And then we can move on with our separate lives.“ Kaylie said as a matter-of-factly. This was the best solution she can come up with rather than her mom nagging her every day and night. “That’s as realistic as it gets. Deal?” Kaylie extended her right hand to James.
“Hold on, so you want us to fake our dating?”
Kaylie withdrew her right hand. “Naturally…do you think I really like you? And I don’t think you’re doing this because you like me either. This is the only thing I can think of to deal with my mom at least."
“That’s actually…”
“Brilliant? I know. Of course, it’s easier if you just give up but it looks like you don’t have much of a say in your personal life anyway. “
Did she just insult me...again? James asked himself. It doesn’t matter I guess all the more I won’t feel any attachment. Hold on, why should I feel any attachment? James smiled smugly. This is exactly what he wants. But he felt happy and guilty at the same time.
“So what do you think? Deal?” She extended her right hand for the second time. James took it immediately and said, "Deal.”
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After a few minutes of waiting, James stepped out of the convenience store carrying a white plastic bag. He insisted on going, the store was not too far from the abandoned lot. It was just a few blocks from the gate of the subdivision where Kaylie lives.
He went inside the driver’s side and gave the bag to Kaylie. She opened it and found an icepack. “What is this for?”
“For your forehead, it might swell up if you don’t put ice right away,” James said and he proceeded to take out his white handkerchief for Kaylie to wrap the icepack in. He put on his seatbelt and started the car.
Kaylie stared at him, as if seeing James for the first time.
“Are you memorizing my face? I know you’ll miss me, go ahead you can take a picture,” James said laughing while driving.
“Pfft, please.”
“Then stop staring and put on the icepack.” He couldn’t look at her becoming conscious all of a sudden.
YOU ARE READING
(Un)Match Made in Heaven © (Wattys 2015)
ChickLitThey say opposites attract. Kaylie says that's full of bull. Whoever said that was either drunk or on drugs, devoid of reality. There was nothing that Kaylie liked about James and vice versa. But to get her mom off her case, she agreed to date him...
