(continuation....)****Samantha’s POV****Why did it turned out like this?
WHHHHY?![ ~~Flashback~~ ]
“Do you even know how to act?”
“Maybe I do, maybe I don’t.”
“Come on already, be serious.”
“I am… I am…”
“I don't know what got into the head of Miss Pretu, but... Please do well in the play, Luke…”
“You need not to say that,” He said with a wink. 
[ ~~End~~ ]
Luke was walking in front of me as we were heading back home… and I bet he still has that
stupid wide grin all over his face even up to this minute. Knowing him, he must be really happy to join the drama, especially since I’m there.
I mean, this would be his perfect chance to make fun of me or tease me!
I admit that I originally hoped that by going to practices, I could avoid him… but looking at it now… No chance of it.
Oh, why do I want to avoid him? Because I hate the queasy feeling I get when he’s around.
HE’S SO IRRITATING… IRRITATINGLY GOO—err.
Anyway, the meeting had just ended, and we all had our scripts—I planned on reading it later by tonight. I'm beat. I'm tired.
Nonetheless, I must point out that it really makes me
curious; really, really curious when Luke-the-ogre went all too jovial—just too jovial—when he read the script. I wonder why?
Now, back to the present.
I was just walking quietly behind him, when all of a sudden, he stopped.
I almost bumped into him.
“Hey, move it you ogre...” I complained, pushing him to no avail,
“Hey, what’s wrong with you?”“Sam… One of my contacts… fell.” Luke muttered, moving his head, searching for it.
EH!? He wears contact lenses!?
REALLY?! HAH! NO WAY!
I WON’T BE FOOLED!I jumped in front of him and started waving my hands in front of his eyes.
“You’re a four-eyed freak!? Honestly?!” Luke rolled his eyes.
“I’m not blind, missy. My eyesight… is just bad. Extremely bad.” He paused,
“Why does God have to bless me with a body like thisssss, in such an age like thisssss?! I’m young, I’m hot, but this eyesight?! Such an inconvenience.”I scoffed at him,
“Hey, hey, hey, don’t whine like an old perverted man… Is it really that bad?”“Yeah. I can’t see well, may it be far or near.” He replied in a matter-of-factly tone.
Okay.He really… as in really… discloses information about himself in his own pace.
I don’t know if I can still keep up with him.
“Sometimes, I really can’t believe you. Okay, just stand there and I’ll find it. Don’t move.” I crouched down, knelt, and started looking for his contact.
Luke leaned down,
"You need not bother, Sammie. And don't kneel... you'll get bruises.""I'm fine."Hmmm… guys, help me.
What does a contact looks like anyway? Is it big and glassy? Errr… I haven’t seen a contact lens in my whole life…
Hehe. Whatever the case, I’ll try finding it—
aimlessly. SQUISHHHHH!
What was that?
Oh well.
“Sammie…” Luke suddenly mumbled.
“Hmmm?”“I think you just stepped on it.”Uh-oh. I did?
So contacts go ‘squish’? Instead of ‘crack’?
“Waaa! I did? I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”He let out a sigh, and wore that smug smile of his. My seemingly favorite expression on his face.
GAAAH. Maybe not favorite…! It might just be something I like or detest, or always seem to see… err, whatever.
“It’s okay. I still have my other eye, but I’d really look foolish if I closed the other eye without the contact lens… I seem to feel a little bit dizzy about it too, but I’m cool… Anyway, let’s just continue walking.”“O-okay.” I said sheepishly, as he started walking ahead of me.
I really felt foolish for not knowing what a contact lens look like.
TUNK!I stared at him dubiously after he bumped his head
right on the light post before him.
I
snorted a giggle.
“You’re u-u-unbelievable. HAHAHA!” I held on to my stomach to stop myself from laughing so hard. He really is unbelievable.
Luke just flushed—he looked way embarrassed. He extended out his hands and gripped the post,
“!@#$. I didn’t see this… it’s the same color as that big edifice in front…”“It must… really suck to h-have… such poor e-eyesight.” I grunted between laughs.
Waaah, he really is too funny.
All at once he quickly took my hand—his face was faintly red.
“Guide me.”When he took my hand in his, I got really uneasy for a reason I can’t seem to point out.
We started walking, and this time, I really felt like I’m directing a
blind man. I stole a glance at him, and I felt my face starting to get warm—something was forming inside me… I even had the urge to reach up and touch his face. Aaargh.
WHAT? SAMMIE! WHAT DID YOU SAY?!Gladly, I restrained myself. T___T
Now, now, Samantha Hayes. You’re acting like a pervert.
You should get away from Luke. His
pervy-ness seems to be contagious.
Suddenly, an elegantly-looking cake shop came into my view; it was situated right across the street that we were standing at. The moment that I saw it, a light bulb went off inside my head—I remembered my promise to him, the thing I wrote in the red journal.
“Red velvet cake…” I muttered.
“Huh?” he said in a whisper, right behind my ear that sent chills up my spine.
“H-hey!”“What!?” He looked too innocent of his actions. T____T
WAAA. Luke must know by now that I’m sensitive when it comes to my ears.
He's teasing me. The bastard is teasing me.
Embarrassed, I just shrugged my shoulders and pointed at the shop,
“R-remember my promise?”He squinted his eyes and smiled foolishly at me,
“Hehe… What’s that? I can’t see it c-clearly Sammie…”I sighed.
“Whatever, just come with me, okay?”This time I courageously took his hand and guided him towards the pedestrian lane… The pedestrian lane which was…
packed, yep, packed! Packed with a lot of people who are all trying to cross the street before the ‘go’ signal comes up! I have to say that this part of the town is where the usual bustling people are all at… so I should have expected this….
All of a sudden, someone came behind my back and bumped into me too hard, causing me to let go of Luke’s hand and almost fall on my knees.
“Hey watch it!” a gruff voice yelled at me.
“S-sorry.” I called out, bowing my head low.
Out of the blue, I felt someone sliding flawlessly to my side,
“You’re the one who has got to watch it, BASTARD.” Luke called out.
I looked at Luke’s face thankfully.
But.Absurdly, he was facing another person, not the person who had bumped into me!
Waaaaa…. Why is he
sooooo funny right now? T___T
The ‘
wrong guy’ looked too frightened so I smiled sensibly at him,
“I’m sorry for that, he just mistook you for someone else.”“O-okay…” the guy muttered, and quickly moved away, squeezing himself through the crowd.
Luke suddenly took my arm,
“I’m not making a mistake. Hey, he bumped into you! He should say sorry at least.”I giggled,
“Y-you are talking to the wrong person, you four-eyed freak. The one who bumped into me might already be by the other side of this street.”He blushed—and I smiled at him for that.
“Oh… Is that so…”“Haha, thank you Luke.”He tilted his head to the other side and grinned,
“No problem, Sammie.”These different smiles he’s showing… My head is spinning. T____T
“Hey, is the green light on already?” Luke asked in alarm.
I lifted my head, and sure enough, it was already green! All of the people are now running for it, while I and Luke were still in the middle of the road.
“What would happen if those cars come?” “We die.”“I didn’t really want you to answer the obvious."I laughed and took his hand again,
“Let’s make a run for it!”Somehow, this was the first time I ever had fun just by crossing the street.
NYAHAHAHA. I’m totally weird.
By the time we reached the shop, I was already panting. Luke tapped my shoulder,
“You okay?”“I-I’m fine!”
“What’s the name of this shop? I can’t see it…”I looked up at the sign and read it to Luke,
“It’s… El Loco Dolce.”What an elegantly sounding name.
Luke gaped at me,
“HOLY MOLLY! This is one of the most ‘effin high-priced shops in the country! I didn’t know it has a branch here!”“Hu-waaat?” I gasped,
"Oh. Wait. You're joking me, right?"”I really expected you to be this clueless.” He muttered, causing me to punch him on the chest,
“Ow! I'm not kidding! Besides... You’ve never really been to these parts before?”I winked at him.
“Nah! I barely come here, and besides, cakes don’t make me full.”“Gluttonic woman. Okay, come inside and I’ll treat you.” He took my hand and pulled, but I pulled back,
“Wait. I said I’ll treat you, okay?”He slowly turned his head,
“I’ll treat you. No questions asked.”“B-but! Stop being so unreasonably stubborn, I am the one who promised—”
“And you stop being so clingy to that pledge. If you won’t agree to me, then, let’s modify your promise. Having you come along with me already fulfills it. Got it?”I gave up and nodded my head bashfully. It was no use arguing with him, especially since he looked like he mean it.
As soon as we stepped inside the shop, I silently whistled instead of screaming
(like what I might have done if only I don’t have my manners).The shop sure is an expensive-looking place, and boy oh boy, the customers do look like
royalty. Dresses, tuxedos, suits… I looked down at my outfit and I felt graciously inferior.
Why did I have to pick this place? I might look like a teenage juvenile compared to them—or worse, they might be even making jokes with each other, talking about me being here and mistaking this shop as some sort of
fast-food chain. I looked up at Luke—he sure isn’t bothered by it. But then again, he might not see all of these people since his eyesight is practically awful right now as what he says it to be.
Looking at his outfit, it suddenly made me realize
(after days and days of frequently seeing him) that his clothes were quite simple, but one could tell the subtle hint of style. I must admit further that if another person had to wear his clothing right now, they’d surely look like a normal peasant in this shop. But since Luke was the one wearing it, it made me comprehend more that he looks good—too good and always, that any clothing would gallantly fit him otherwise.
We slid into a booth—me sitting anxiously across him. I saw Luke swiftly yet flawlessly raise his hand and motioned for a waiter to come over.
While he was doing that, I started raking my hair with my fingers, trying to calm myself down.
I’m just not too good when there are rich-looking people around me, especially when I’m not at my best. I am not comfortable either with this ambiance, especially since most of the people were throwing such looks at us by now—or should I say, most of the women were looking at us.
Tsss… They might be captivated by Luke’s ‘charm’ and silently cursing me for being with him.
I don’t mind.
Sheesh. Go ahead and curse me… Gossip about how ugly and stupid I look when I’m beside him.
Sometimes, it really is troublesome to be with a guy like Luke. Tall, good-looking, kingly—
“You look uneasy.” Luke stated, looking at me from across the table.
“If people weren’t looking at us like this, then I’d be fine.” I muttered, looking out of the shop’s window.
"I think they're thinking that we're a good pair."I stuck my tongue out at him,
"Moron."He suddenly took my hand and played with my fingers,
“Then… Don’t mind them, okay, Sammie?” He grinned thoughtfully and I had a hard time from stopping myself on grinning back.
I felt my face getting warm.
I badly wanted to slide my hands off, but I can’t find the will to do so.
“Excuse me sir, here’s the menu.” A solemn-looking waiter asked.
"Thank you.” Luke swiftly released my hand and took the menu, smiling foolishly. He started scanning it pointlessly…
“Err, can you read this for me?”The waiter gladly complied, and I giggled silently in my seat. He looks like an old man, not being able to read clearly. While he and the waiter were having that discussion, I found myself studying him even more carefully.
He’s smiling happily now at the waiter… If I have to recall, he always looks happy when I see him, if not, he’s arrogantly in the mood of teasing other people—I barely see him angry, like this morning at class. Wait, I also see him serious at times… Is he ever sad? I never saw him somber, but I have heard his sad voice for numerous times already.
NOOOOOO…! WAIT, WAIT, WAIT! I did see him sad…! And it sure ain’t a good feeling when I see him that way—
“Yo. What’re you thinking?”“N-nothing!” I said, almost too quickly.
Why was I thinking like that?Out of the blue, I heard a loud crash from behind us. I swerved my head to the direction of it and saw five men in business suits on the table and a waiter who was quickly picking up the broken glass. One of the businessmen, a chubby one if I should say so, was furiously shouting at the waiter.
“You better watch it, you SON OF A B*TCH! Where’s your manager!?”One of his acquaintances tried to calm him down,
“Mr. Vermont please let it go.”“But this freakin’ mutt is irritating me, Carlo!”“We have a LOT to discuss now that you’re out of probation, so please stop it already. We have little time in this place to discuss this matter with our other comrades.” The Carlo dude hissed, but I can hear him perfectly.
“Why do you have to say that!? Practically every person here heard what you said, you stupid piece of sh*t.” The Vermont guy glanced at his other companions and let out a big sigh,
“All right then!”“I’m v-very sorry sir,” the poor waiter apologized—I can almost see him quivering in fear.
“Get out of my sight!” Mr. Vermont exclaimed and the waiter gladly did.
I hastily turned my head back to Luke, for fear that the Vermont guy might bark at me too.
“Whew, now that’s a commotion!” I commented silently.
“Luke?” I motioned at him in worry.
He was undeniably
pale, and he was looking straight at that table with a straight face.
