Next Life

Chapter 2

' Pizza is the second best thing I like to eat in bed, p_s_ _ is the first 😉'
' What?!' I shouted with both my eyes staring widely at the text.

I continued to be both astounded and dumbfounded while I stare on the text message that he sent.
'Pizza is the second best thing I like in bed, p_s _ _ is the first' I repeated.

What he said continuously replayed in my mind. I stared blankly at the text message that was sent minutes ago feeling flustered not knowing what to reply or how I could bring myself to respond. A quick flashback of my encounter with him earlier replayed in my mind, how I was attracted to what I thought was a gentleman-like demeanor of his, how genuine his touch felt when our skin graced each other, how innocently his eyes pierced through me enough to let my guard down. I realized how vulnerable I was at that moment.

'That damn assh*le' I said to myself.

I facepalmed and sigh heavily at how I was carried away by the image of him that I depicted in my mind, I felt both irritated and disappointed at the same time 'ugh pervert' I whispered. I looked again at the message that was sent somewhat hoping that it would magically change. I couldn't believe that I created an image of a man in my mind just by a single encounter that hardly involved any communication at all. As much as I was disappointed I thought of it as a blessing in disguise, I thought that it did at least slap me back into reality, I don't need to worry about any unwelcomed feelings that I expected would occur, thanks to him. 'It was probably infatuation' I said with a sigh of relief, but what got me shocked was not what I said but rather how I felt when I said it, I didn't imagine that a man I encountered just a while back would send me to such adrenaline for a short while.

'Well all of that is a thing of a past now' I thought to myself.

One thing is for sure though, I stared at the meal that I prepared that is now cold and untouched, I definitely did lose my appetite after that. I try to force myself to eat but much to my dismay my appetite just chose to reject it. I decided to set it aside for tomorrow's breakfast to avoid wasting any of it. I wiped the table and let myself sit down in the couch while I sighed heavily afterwards. Just as I was about to relax I was hit with a sudden realization ' ah! My respondents! ' I said while finding myself facepalming yet again, I'm already running short of respondents, losing another certainly won't help either. 'Why did I even choose a hard topic in the first place?' I asked myself. Originally I wanted to have a difficult topic to challenge myself and impress my teachers, 'I thought choosing this research topic would bring me good stress' I sighed while laughing a bit afterwards, It didn't bring me good stress, just stress, and now I'm not just stress but dehydrated and with 12 different layers of bags under my eye.

I grabbed my phone and stared at the message that was sent to me 'Pizza is the second best thing I like in bed, p_s _ _ is the first' I sighed thinking 'what a waste of sperm'. After a few minutes of staring blankly at my phone I gulped knowing I have to set aside my pride when I think about the fact that it's me who needs something from him. I brainstormed as I think of what to reply to a terribly constructed text message that's terrible enough to make me waste a decent dinner.

' H..e...l..l..o 'wait.

No no, what sense would it be replying hello to a text like that?' I asked myself. I took a big breath in and let it out as I decided to just reply naturally what came to my mind

'Excuse me, what?' I typed and pressed sent. 'I'm done for' basing on a text message that he sent .

I got a grasp on the kind of guy that he is 'knowing his type he'll probably lose interest to continue the conversation after receiving a dull reply like that' I thought to myself. I put my phone aside my bed and laid down, after a peculiar day I know that I needed a some fresh air.

I grabbed my keys and phone and I quickly put on a jacket to get some fresh air 'hopefully I'd pass by a convenience store' I said. As I exit my building a cold breeze of air welcomed me. I took a deep breath and exhaled out afterwards, I'm not much of a morning person so night time usually is when I feel comfortable the most. I usually take late night strolls such as this one to clear my head, after a hectic day like this I sure do need one after all. I put on my headphones as I passed by different buildings, I stared at the sky and it's stars as I rely on it to embrace me on nights like this, something about late night walks while the sky watched me deep in my thoughts comforts me. Every time I look at the sky I feel like I see the soul of the universe, I'm reminded of how small of a fracture I am, with billions of other people alive, numbers of planets existing, multiple galaxies in this universe that opens up countless possibilities of events, happenings and chances in this world, and if the most peculiar things could occur then it isn't so far fetch that one day all that I'm currently facing would reach it's end.

I arrived at the convenience store and quickly bought a drink to freshen myself up, as soon as I was done I headed back to my apartment as it was getting too late. As I was stopped by a red light by the pedestrian lane a sound came off from my phone. I quickly took out my phone from my pocket and there displayed a notification by a message from Kayel, I opened the his message written

' I meant pasta? What were you thinking huh? '

My jaw immediately dropped, I don't know if I should be impressed by his witty remark or be dumbfounded by his stupid attempt at being humorous, I figured that he was the type who's into a smart talk, being the competitive woman that I am there's no way I'd let myself be overly flustered at his failed attempt on being humorous.

' I don't know what you mean Mr.Kayel, if you perceive me as someone who'd fall for your tricks then I'm sorry to disappoint you' I replied with a smirk on my face.

I know that reply would surely get him going and I wasn't wrong as just a few minutes later I received a reply from him saying ' I don't know what you mean, I was simply stating that I like to eat pasta in bed, unless you think otherwise 😉' I grinned at his response as I made it on my door, he really does seem to be a smart talker type, I entered my apartment as I was typing my response

'Enlighten me then on what else you'd like to eat in bed' I replied.

That was the moment I knew I could be a professional hoe if I wanted to. I laid on my bed giggling with a smirk on my face. Don't get me wrong I'm not usually not as lewd as this, actually not at all to be precise, but something about him just brings out a certain side of me. As I was in my own thoughts I heard my phone ring once again and I was hoping it would be him, I brought my phone to myself and a smile immediately formed in my face as I was greeted with a response from him " you'll find out soon, by the way what are your hobbies? I like travelling, are you into travelling?' he said. I let out a small laugh with the sudden twist of conversation, I didn't expect that we'd be talking about what he likes to eat in bed then next we'll talk about his hobby of travelling.

Couple of days has passed and we continued talking. I found myself suddenly having something to look forward to each day. We'd casually exchange smart remarks that sometimes becomes too bold but nothing too bare, which further ticks my interest, he's a gentleman but he knows how to lure me with his words as well as his limits, he brings out a side of me that even I rarely sees.

'He's a gentleman with a touch of naughtiness' I thought to myself.

I meant that in a good way though, after everything that has happened in the past year I've slowly lost my touch in things I used to be passionate with, I slowly became dull, I wasn't living anymore, I was barely getting through everyday, but now, I feel bolder, braver, sophisticated and I'm liking it. Our conversation seems odd but in a good way, we'll be talking about something in which he'll show a bold demeanor then the next thing he'll let me take a look at his soft side like our conversation last night.

' One of the things I look for a woman is someone who knows how to cook cause I don't, and if she doesn't as well then we'll both starve ahaha' He joked.

' Well you're in luck, you just found one' Ireplied.

'So you're telling me that you're the woman I'm looking for huh?' He sheepishlyreplied back.

' Are you not used to a woman who's got brain, face and who knows how to cook?'I said confidently.

' Actually I'm pretty shy about it, no one has ever cooked for me before otherthan my mom' He stated.
The flashback of our conversation was put to a hold when I went back to reality.I was in the middle of the class, school is about to be over and we're justhere to add some final touches. I actually had a decent score in my research,you know what's surprising? I found out that Kayel was actually not a doctor,he's an engineer, he told me that a few days before my research was due, goodthing I had some tricks up my sleeves to work things out. I was chatting withsome of my schoolmates when I received a text message, it was him.

'I'm guessing you're busy?' He asked.

'more like dying of boredom, I was looking forward on watching a movie withsome of my friends but they already watched it' I replied, I was lying, Iactually said that with hopes that he'll ask me to watch the movie with him,told you I had some tricks up on my sleeve

' I was actually planning on watching that movie, had no one to watch it withahaha' He said. I laughed at his response, I knew what he was trying to do,unfortunately for him he found his match and I wasn't going to raise the whiteflag that easily.

' oh really? I was actually asking some of my friends, I didn't want to watchit alone' I sheepishly replied back

' well you can always watch it with me 😉' he smirkingly said. My plan work!

' well if you insist then what can I do?' I said confidently.

We arranged a date and he was only available on Sunday since he had to attend awedding on Saturday, I'll be busy on Friday so Sunday was our only option.

'I guess I'll see you on April 29 then? Hope you'll come prepared ahaha' Hesaid.

' Oh is it a date then?' I joked.

' Up to you darling 😉' he replied with a wink.

It just dawned to me that it will be our first meeting, holding a conversationthrough text is no big deal as well as being the foxy confident lady that I amwhen I talk to him but of course meeting in real life is another thing, plus,it will be a date, of course I'd put on a show that he'll never forget.