Unmasked At Midnight

chapter four

"Liar, liar pants on fire."

It's been a day since my last conversation with Charming, and in those past twenty-four hours, he's all that's been on my mind. While I can't deny we had chemistry together, I wonder if he is good for me. His good looks, smooth comments, and that confident smirk remind me all too much of him, and if I dive in any deeper with Charming, I'll hit rock bottom and get hurt.

Which is why I decide to send him one last goodbye text on Wednesday evening after a couple hours of avoiding my phone like the plague.

Me: Hi. Do you have a moment to talk?

I drop my phone onto my bed, hoping that he'll respond before I overthink things and delete the message. Thankfully, my prayers are answered.

Charming: Yeah. How've you been? Missing me?

I roll my eyes. Charming can't be serious for even a second.

Me: I've been okay. How are you?

I tell myself I am asking him how he is out of courtesy, but a small voice in the back of my head taunts me, telling me that I am only stalling.

Charming: Better now that I'm talking to you😏. What took you so long to text me?

Me: Actually...I've been thinking.

My thumbs hover over my keyboard for a moment. Do I want this? It doesn't matter. You know you have to end it.

Charming: About me?

Me: I don't think I want to continue whatever we have going on here. I already have too many things going on in my life, and I don't think it's good to keep on going like this.

Charming goes reticent. The longer he goes without typing, the more uneasy I become. Is he mad? Hurt? As much as I want to end things, I don't want to cause a problem. I leave my phone on my bed to get some water, hoping it'd wash down these unnecessary thoughts along with my worries, and when I come back, a new message from him illuminates the screen.

Charming: I don't want you to think of me as another problem in your life. We had something together, and I know you felt it too.

Charming: How about a compromise? I want to prove to you that I'm worth your time. If you can find out my identity first before the last party, then I'll leave you alone. But, if I find out yours first, we won't break this off just yet.

I imagined a million different ways this could have gone, but the bet was not one of them. I grab my phone and am about to turn him down, but a hopeful little voice in the back of my head keeps telling me to accept it.

Why should I though?

You know you want to say yes.

Sighing, I place my phone on my nightstand and leave the room. I throw my jacket on and head outside. I need to think.

The fall zephyr is crisp and cool, and the fresh air helps clear my mind. As I walk to my neighborhood park, I replay all my memories with Charming. I am so determined to push him out of my life, but the moment he pushes back, all of that determination just crumbles. In reality, he is making everything difficult for me, but the worst part is that I am enjoying it. He keeps feeding that little flame of hope inside of me, and it is seriously making me perplexed. Even if I accept, wouldn't I just get even more involved with him? But at the same time, I still feel guilty about leaving him hanging like that, and not to mention that aspiration is clouding my judgment.