10 THE PHONE WAS RINGING
***
The phone was ringing, loud enough to wake you up.
It was 10:00 in the morning, Austin reminded Vanessa about their date. Vanessa was still in the powerful force of her bed, lying, thinking, pondering, organizing her thoughts and trying to become objective. She refused to answer the phone but Austin really was stubborn and he called her many times until Vanessa surrendered and took his call.
“I’ll be waiting you. See you!”
Austin called just to inform her regarding their date. Due to what happened last night, Vanessa was troubled deciding if she was going through or just let Austin wait for her for nothing. She wasn’t able to think objectively, reason why she called his friend, Krist for some constructive pieces of advice.
“Hello Krist. I don’t know what to do. I need your help.”
Over the phone, Vanessa managed to briefly explain what happened to her. Austin kissed her. Mitch witnessed everything. She managed to follow her but Mitch said that she needs to be alone. Now, her dilemma if she would be able to meet Austin regarding of that incident. Krist mentioned that she needed to stick to her plan and explain everything to him. On Krist perspective, she could talk to Mitch right after talking to Austin.
“Okay, I’ll take your advice.”
After talking to Krist on the phone, she prepared herself. Half-hearted as she seemed to be, she made her choice already – she was able to meet Austin. After preparation, she went directly to the restaurant where Austin was waiting. However, while sitting inside of a taxi, she reminisced the entire situation last night. She knew that it was not her fault but that she was also certain that situation hurt her friend so much. With the guilt devouring her concentration, she grabbed her phone and sent message to her friend, Mitch.
“Can we talk later please?”
“I’ll be waiting you on my apartment.”
She felt relieved as soon as she received a message from her friend, Mitch. Worries flew away and peace resided within her. She was a bit delighted and her mood suddenly uplifted. When she reached her destination, she was looking on the restaurant and checking if that was the right place until Austin called her and mentioned that he was waiting inside already.
The waitress near the door greeted her and walked her by to the seat where it belongs to her. She sat down and he saw how amazingly hot Austin was with his dark polo shirt which matches the color of his skin. His hair was damn soft which touches his right eyebrow, and lastly, his red, soft lips.
“Thanks for coming!” he whispered.
Vanessa smiled and went straight to the point. Austin refused to answer any of her queries not until the food was served. While eating timidly, Vanessa was no longer comfortable seeing the man she hates in front of her. Then, she opted to ask question.
“What’s this Austin? All of these? The iced coffee? The snack? The damn kiss? This date?”
“Don’t you really get it, do you?”
“I don’t think you really like me Austin. If there’s someone who knows you, I am one of them.”
“So, tell me who am I?”
“You’re freaking asshole. A jerk. Conceited. You don’t even know how to love a girl, do you?”
“So, that was Austin you know or the Austin you wanted to believe?”
“Oh common Austin. You know yourself better that I do.”
“If that Austin you know would change for you, would you accept him?”
That confrontation made Vanessa more confident about her conclusion that maybe she was the next target of Austin. She was sure and certain that Austin would never change, not at all. That’s why Vanessa tried to dare him about his last statement but she also mentioned that regardless of his desire to change, she would never welcome someone like him on her life. She advised him to use his energy for other girls and not for her. Austin was persistent to show his eagerness towards the girl.
“Okay, challenge accepted!”
The two had a deal.
***
“I apologize.” Vanessa begged.
After her lunch with Austin, she made sure to pay a visit to her friend and ask for forgiveness. When Mitch opened the door for her, she immediately embraced her. With profound regret, she sent her apologies. What happened that night was a huge misunderstanding. She tried to explain that Austin was kissing him because she maybe the next target of the boy. And that kiss was just a kiss – she said that she had no feeling for him and would never be able to cultivate feeling for that jerk.
While saving herself from the guilt she had, Mitch was seemingly fine. She said that she was already fine, she was good and what happened last night ended yesterday. It would be better for them to bury what she saw last night and her friendship with her was her priority and was of greater importance. With the tone of her voice coupled with her facial expression, Vanessa thought that situation was positively mystifying.
“Are you sure you’re not mad at me?”
“No, not at all?”
Vanessa tried to check her temperature; she placed her right hand on Mitch’s forehead and neck. She found out that she was not sick, but her entire aura was totally different. She looked blooming, elated and totally fine until she realized one thing. Last night, Rick followed Mitch and that’s what she knew. What happens after was still hidden from the surface of the story that’s why Vanessa asked Mitch directly.
“Nothing! Nothing happened.”
“Mitch? I am waiting.”
Not until, Mitch was able to tell everything to her friend, Vanessa.
***
“You had a deal?” Krist asked.
After visiting her friend Mitch, she went to Krist’s apartment and telling him about the deal they had. Austin promised to change himself for the Vanessa and Vanessa was sure that it would almost impossible for Austin to alter his behavior for good.
“Playboy would always be playboy. Boys would always be boys.” She murmured.
“What if he changed?”
Vanessa divulged that Austin’s reward would be her volition to allow him to courting her – a situation she would never anticipate to happen. Krist mentioned that the man she hates the most was doing great things for her. He believed that was a good point already. “Not until, we see his changes Krist" she replied.
“But what if, he succeeded. Would you really allow him to court you?”
“No! I will never fall for someone like him.”
***
“Really bro? You dared yourself for her?” Rick asked.
“Are you really into her Austin?” Andrew also asked.
“Because if not, you can give it to me.” Andrew added.
Rick asked his friends to play video games on his place. His parents were not around that’s why they can do everything they want. After playing a game, Austin mentioned about that deal he had with Vanessa. He was not really sure if he likes the girl but he loved taking the challenge. He mentioned that he got bored with the relationship he had before and that something he would always look forward too.
“Shit! The king of the University is in love.” Andrew teased him.
“So, what are you plans now?” Rick asked.
“Let’s see.” He answered.
***
“Yes ma, I am just fine. Preliminary exam was done.” Vanessa told her mom about her condition.
“When will you go back home?” her mother asked.
“Maybe, after a month Ma.”
“Okay, just always take care.”
“Yes Ma, thank you. I love you! Bye!”
Someone was knocking the door. She visited her friends a while back and she was not expecting any visitor at that night. She quickly dropped the call and thinking who that person behind the door. Then, she walked through the door to open it and she was surprised when she saw an unexpected visitor.
“What are you doing here?”
