The Bet (Just The Way You Are)

The Bet *Real or Fake

“Do you want to talk about it?” she asks, a concern expression on her face.

She thinks I have a problem. I heave a sigh. “I’m okay,” I mumble.

She looks at me doubtfully.

“Really,” I assure her, even taking a bit of my spaghetti to make her believe me.

Driana doesn’t have to suffer with me. I know this kind of loneliness will go away after a few minutes.

When I enter the Literature room, I’m surprise to see Draky sitting on his seat. He’s earlier than usual.

“Hey,” he says, as I sit on my chair in front of him.

“Hi,” I say, “about earlier—"

“No need to apologize,” he interjects.

As if I’m going to say sorry to him. In his dreams!

“I just want to ask if you’re free later, after school?” he asks hopefully.

“Why?” I ask curiously, raising my eyebrow.

He shrugs. “I just want to have alone time with you.”

Alone time? Hah. Nice choice of words.

“Are you free?” he asks.

I don’t have plan later. If I go home after school, I’ll just mope in my room until its dinner time.

Dinner time!

For sure, Aunt V remembers that today's my birthday. Just thinking about it brings me hope.

“Pie?”

“Okay,” I say.

He smiles, and says, “I’ll wait for you at the parking lot after school.”

“That’s fine,” I say.

“Make sure you’ll come,” he says amusedly.

That brings smile to my face. “I won’t make you wait this time,” I tell him.

“Good.”

-----

“Where are we going?” I ask, as soon as I slide in his car. “And don’t tell me it's a secret.”

The corner of his mouth twitches upward. “You know me well.”

My heart skips a beat. Is that a compliment? I think so. I can feel the blush starting to flood my cheeks. If only I can stop them!

“You have to do something, though,” he says.

“What is it?” I ask suspiciously.

“You have to wear this blindfold.” He raises the green bandana on his hand.

“Why?” I ask incredulously.

“It’s a secret,” he tells me.

“What if I don’t want to?” I say stubbornly, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Pie,” he says, glancing at me.

“Fine,” I say, “just this once.”

“Thank you.”

When Draky stops the car, he puts the blindfold so that I can’t see where we are going. He helps me walk and guides me so I won’t walk in the wrong direction. I bite my lip to stop the complaints I want to utter. He’s silent too and I have a feeling he’s nervous.

After a while, he stops me from walking.

“We’re here?” I ask. My mouth is dry! It’s the first time I speak after the long drive in the car.