BXBX NOVEL Chapter 79 - My First Date (3)
The situation was surprisingly harmonious. We didn't talk to each other because we enjoyed the time, not because we felt awkward…. At least that was what I feel right now.
After a while, Mason put down his pumpkin latte and asked, "Em, are you happy right now?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" I asked. I found that question pretty weird. Of course, I was happy right now. I got to eat my first, and probably one of the most delicious cakes I had ever eaten in my life. I could also experience having a first real date with a boy, although I knew this date would lead to nowhere.
But at least, it still counted as a date, right?
"It's nothing," Mason shook his head. He was about to say more, but he paused as if hesitating to just say it out loud.
"I… I want to make you happy…" Mason mumbled in a low, almost inaudible voice.
…
I didn't understand what he was thinking right now. But I should appreciate his effort to invite me here, so I told him, "Thank you for bringing me here. The cake is delicious."
I wanted to say that it was my first time to ever ate something so good, but I didn't want to sound too uncouth.
"I—I'll bring you to all the places you want to visit…" Mason mumbled again, though I could hear it clearly.
This time though, I wanted to refuse him. Because I felt it was too sweet of him to talk about such a long term promise, even though there was nothing between us.
I also didn't want to be a girl who leeched on the boy over everything, especially when Mason told me that he had saved enough money to buy me a 60 dollars cake. I still had enough conscience not to ask more since that meant he was also broke like me.
"I don't think you need to do that," I said. "You told me that you've saved enough money, right? That means you need the money more than me…."
"Don't worry about me. I can manage my own money. I just saved enough because I want to bring you here…" Mason said.
He stared at me with his dreamy blue eyes, and I just tried to dodge his eyes. Mason's eyes were too deadly for my poor heart!
Even though I returned back in time for my revenge, I was still a teenage girl at heart. When a boy so handsome like Mason stared at me with his dreamy blue eyes, I couldn't help but melt into a puddle.
I got up before I acted like my real self and began to fangirl in front of him like an idiot, "I—I will repay you later. Thank you for the cake. I'll return home. Need to bath my dog, see ya—" I turned around, wanting to leave as soon as possible, but Mason suddenly grabbed my hand and held it tight.
"Why so early? At least… accompany me for lunch first?" Mason asked.
…
"You told me that you just want to treat me cake…." I said, trying to reason. I didn't want my heart to beat like a girl in love. I refused to know that feeling, not anymore. I didn't want to be the same idiot as I was in my previous life.
"But it's just for lunch, aren't we on a date?" Mason kept persuading me.
Honestly, what did people do on their first date anyway? I saw it on Youtube and most adults' first date with someone. They just came to a restaurant, had a talk, and left.
Though they were adults, so I wasn't so sure.
Maybe it was just me who felt so awkward and fidgety around Mason. But I couldn't help but panic when he started spouting those bullshit about making me happy.
"Please? You can pick the place," Mason kept persuading me, and I started giving up on struggling.
Mason was polite enough to ask me for a lunch date, so… it was like a continuation of this cake date.
…
**
"So, do you want to pick the restaurant for lunch?" Mason asked. He was walking beside me as we strolled together around the shopping district that became crowded as time passed by.
"Restaurant? No—no, we're going to a cheap diner, and I will pay for myself," I said.
"Huh? Why?"
"Because you've been saving money to buy me that 60 bucks cake. I don't have enough money to repay you now, but at least I have enough to buy myself lunch."
"But I've saved enough—"
"Don't push yourself just to make someone else's happiness. I'm already happy that you bring me to eat that cake. You should save that money instead," I said, trying to give Mason a financial lecture 101.
I was suffering badly in my previous life, so I got naturally thrifty with my money. I still didn't know whether Mason was only pretending to be poor, because let's get real, he looked expensive. Everything about him looked so expensive, he could use a trash bag, and it would still look great on him.
And he looked well-groomed for a teenage boy, a big contrast to the other boys in my school.
I looked around aimlessly, trying to find a suitable diner that was affordable enough for us. At this point, I might as well went to Burger King or McDonald for lunch.
I could sense that Mason was staring at me instead of the road in front of him, "Em..."
"Huh?" I didn't pay attention at him, still busy finding good place for us to eat.
"... Nothing..." Mason said and he went silent again.
I was about to give up until I saw a diner that sold pancakes and stuff, "Let's go there."
"Sure!"
We arrived inside the diner, and it was actually empty. I knew it was shady since the beginning, but I got baited instantly when I saw that cheap promo board outside.
We sat at the table near the glass pane just like what we did in the previous Cake shop and read the menu given by the waitress.
I was about to make an order until I saw a silhouette of a girl at the edge of my eyes. I turned my head instinctively and saw the worst thing that could happen.
"M—Mason, you should order first.. I have to go to the bathroom."