I LOVE YOU and YOU and YOU and YOU

I

Lemon. 

Joseph's car smelled like lemon. Mira hated the scent of citrus but forgave this young man's fragrance choice. Who wouldn't forgive someone with deep set brown eyes, curly black hair and a very defined jawline? Her eyes were glued to him as he drove. His muscles flexing as the vehicle swerves. She wondered how many packs of abdomen he's been hiding under his white polo. If Mira had no self control, she would have drooled at how fine of a man he is. 

He looks over at her and grins. "Are we near?" he asks.

"My apartment is five blocks away from here," she replies, flashing a flirty grin in return. She breaks the eye contact leaving Joseph mesmerized by this woman he met on Tinder. He focuses on the road once more, thinking if Mira would allow their lips to collide on the first date. 

But Mira is feeling uneasy. She could not stand the scent and she is worried about how she might react if Joseph tries to kiss her. "Do you have lemons in your car?" she casually asked. She felt a throbbing pain in her head but she has experienced it a thousand times by now that she has become an expert in hiding it. 

"Yes, why do you ask?" Mira curses in her head. She recalls the rules of dating Sheena told her before she left the apartment earlier.

"You have to agree with everything he says and like everything he likes even if you don't like it."  Sheena tells her as she sprawled in her bed eating crackers.

"Why would I do that?" Mira asks as she tries to mix and match dresses on the floor. 

"Missy, might I remind you that this is the first time you are dating in a century? Times have changed! Believe me. My exes can attest to everything I say." 

"The fact that they are all your exes proves that rule of yours may not be as reliable as you think." Mira finally picks a flowy yellow Sunday dress with sunflower prints.

"The fact that I have a long list of exes proves that it is effective. And what on earth is that fashion choice? You're 25! Try to be a bit revealing tonight trust me." Sheena eyes a black tube v-necked dress at the floor, reaches for it and tosses it to Mira. "Wear that. Trust me." Mira grins and ditches the Sunday dress. "Alright. I'll trust you for once."

"I love lemons...that's all." Mira explains. 

"Then we're a match made in heaven." Mira nods in agreement. The throbbing hasn't stopped. She blinks twice as she tries to regain her focus. Don't mess this up for me, she whispers in her head. But the aroma has filled her lungs and it lures her or at least, it lures a part of her to reveal itself. 

The car turns on the fifth block. "We're here." Mira announces. The car halts in front of a 5-story dilapidated apartment. The entrance with a small balcony is visible from the outside. A dim light flickers as it hangs above the balcony. Joseph turns to Mira. 

"Well, we're here." Joseph repeats. Mira is eager to make an exit, forgetting about her desire to unite their lips. But Joseph has not unlocked the car door yet. He looks hesitant as if gathering enough courage to push the words out of his mouth.

"I...I really had a great time with you. Should we set another day to meet again?" Joseph said cautiously. He looks at Mira. She looks uncomfortable and ecstatic at the same time. He gave her a puzzled look but she nodded so hard she almost banged her head that he ended up smiling from ear to ear. "S-sure," she replied.

"Well then..." He cupped her face and approached her face slowly. Mira could feel his breath on her face. Joseph closed his eyes but Mira did not. Mira didn't like the current situation she was in. She tried to break free but she was too late. 

"What the hell man?" Joseph opened his eyes in confusion. Mira sounds British. But what confused him more is that, Mira sounded like a boy. "Take your bloody hands off me." Joseph took his hands away from her face and raised them as if he was caught and being arrested by the police. 

Mira looks at herself wearing the black dress and 4-inches heels, and curses under her breath, "Damn it Mira. Seducing stupid boys." She unlocks the door herself, steps out of the car and walks to the gate like a zombie, tripping at every step. 

"M-mira?" Joseph calls out once more. Mira looks back, her eyes no longer sweet but devilish. She looks pissed off and very unlike herself. "N-nevermind. I was just about to ask you to c-close the-" Mira, furious, approached the car and slams the door.

Joseph is so shocked he could not move a muscle. He watched as his so thought potential girlfriend takes off her heels, throws them on the lawn and enters the building as she throws off curses. 

She turns the knob but before she enters, she looks back at the car where Joseph upon meeting her deadly gaze once more, drove away as fast as he can. 

"Arsehole." She goes in the dingy building and slams the door.