15 A FATED ENCOUNTER II

"I don't even know you," Kenny suddenly voiced out her thoughts. "We're not close." She wrinkled her brows and stared at the man in front. She is finding it hard to believe this guy knew her. Oh well, it's not that she dislikes it but for a 'man' to do that is new to her; it overwhelms her. Retrieving both her short-term memory and long-term memory from her memory storage, she couldn't find anything that could tell her he's familiar.

Kenny's sense of fight-or-flight response is emanating within.

'Shit. This guy must be a creep.' She thought, unconsciously raising her eyebrow and squinting her already small eyes. She is ready to run away, just in case. It would be very unlikely to just get off without proper reasons too.

Derek seemed to notice her defensive aura. He beckoned his companion to go ahead first. The man beside him nodded and walked away.

Turning back, he said, "Ah... That's unfortunate. You have forgotten me." Bemused at hearing him say those words with such closeness, she wants to puke at his face. Derek smiled charmingly at her.

'Feeling?'

'This guy's getting annoying. So pushy.'

'Shit. Gotta get out of here now. A.S.A.P!'

'This guy's a weirdo.'

Her thoughts are rummaging through her head, subconsciously showing an expression of annoyance, shifting from confusion to distrust, making Kenny froze internally.

'In actual situations, this guy shouldn't be too familiar with me. He seems so extra. What's cooking?'

"Y-you might have been mistaken, sir." She said, turning her head left to right, with a questioning look. Honestly, she doesn't know this guy, nor have seen this guy before. 'Did I lost all my memories after staying too long hibernating in my cocoon? This may be the after-effects of being idle for almost two years.'

Not knowing what to do any further, Kenny decided that it's prime time that she exits. But what to do? This situation had her feel awkward and surprised.

She took a quick look at her surroundings; some gossiping employees and onlookers are looking at them making her feel flustered for being the center of attention.

Now, she could feel her stomach churns. It's stressing her out.

This is one reason Kendra does not interact that much with the opposite sex --- she just can't, without her acting like a tomboy. Right now, she's just a wimpy Kenny.

Inadvertently hating this feeling whenever she got surprised in situations like this, she got no time to shift.

However, if need be, especially on different occasions, Kenny can shift to her professional self, just like a chameleon, and can adapt pretty well to situations, but only for a short period.

'Such pretentious bitch.'

'She should be lucky for Manager Derek is fancying her.'

'She's annoying to look at.'

'Are they lovers?'

If only she could listen to their thoughts, she should have been digging her own grave by now. Such embarrassment will surely make her want to die. Those looks from the other employees make her red in shame and anxiety.

Feeling out of sorts, she stood there frozen, with her head down.

Sensing her discomfort, he immediately pulled her aside.

"We met before, Miss," Derek said. "I was with my friend. Remember the guy you've had an encounter with, spilling orange juice on his shoe?"

Kenny was trying to run her mind again, turning it upside down. Upon hearing 'orange juice' and 'spilled', her memories flash right before her eyes, making her rain sweats on her forehead.

"That guy was my friend." He said after a long pause, flashing off his million-dollar smile.

"Wh-Who?" Kenny stuttered in response. Embarrassing moments are the memories she wanted to avoid as much as possible. Before she berates herself again for her stupidity back then, she took a step back, ready to run away like she always does in her life.

"Wait." Seeing her clenching and unclenching her hands, Derek said, "I think it was a bad thing for me to suddenly become so cordial with you without even introducing myself. My bad. Sorry for making you feel awkward and scared." Derek apologetically smiled at her.

Kenny: ...

Just looking at him speechless.

Without waiting for her response, he continued. "I am Derek by the way. I'm the manager at UTMT mall."

Derek gestured to shake her hands, but Kenny was so late to react. So he put down his hands awkwardly, putting it in his pocket. "I guess not."

Snapping back to reality, Kenny got startled, faking a cough out of embarrassment.

"Uhm...sorry." Avoiding eye contact, she apologized realizing her actions were too dramatic. "I-I'm sorry, that was rude of me. Uhm, come again?"

"It's Derek," he said. "You?"

"Uh--" She paused and thought for a second whether she would tell him her real name. Then she continued, stuttering, "C-call me...Martha...M-Martha Andres." She lied.

"That's a pretty name." Although she lied about her name like that, she felt her face flushed even though she would never, ever, blush like that. She turned sideways and said, "Thanks."

Glancing at the time, Derek invited Kenny to grab some lunch. "By the way, where are you going next? If you have some time, let's go grab some lunch. It's almost noon--" Just before he could finish, Kenny raised her palm, making Derek stop.

Not feeling jittery anymore, Kenny said with a poker face, "You know, you and I were total strangers. Oh wait, we just introduced ourselves." She energetically said. "Aren't you afraid that I might rob you off?" Putting both her hands to her sides, Kenny didn't like it. "And you might think I am a naive girl." She said folding her arms as a matter-of-factly. Switching her attitude from a puppy to a lioness. The person in front of her smiled, almost laughing as he finds her quite interesting.

"Are you?" Kenny went dumbfounded. He just threw back a follow-up question. "And I guess, you are doing this on purpose. I never thought there'll come a time when I could meet a girl like you... feisty tigress outside, but a total bunny inside." He chuckled, amused at her facial expressions trying to tease her comfortably as if they have known each other that long.

Kenny wasn't able to dodge that. He spoke the truth. Not wanting to make a fool of herself any longer, she walked away, fuming. Seeing her flee, Derek went after her, getting more interested.

"Hey! Wait, Ms. Andres..." briskly walking after the woman. 'Well, this woman walks fast. Is she into marathons?' He thought, laughing inside.

Catching up, he swiftly walk beside her. 'This woman is different. She sure can be a match to Joshua.' He grinned sheepishly.

Noticing him and seeing his funny expression, her expression turned ghastly. "What are you grinning at?"

Shrugging, Derek replied, "Nothing..." Stopping on his tracks, Kenny looked back. Derek continued, "You know..."

"What?"

"Ahh, nothing. By the way, where are you going?"

Kenny resumed walking, "Why are you asking me? Are we friends? Stop being so overly familiar with me."

"The fact that you and I are talking casually now, though, we just have known each other earlier, I think we are yet to be considered friends. Let's say, we're acquaintances, and you are interesting to me."

Overwhelmed upon hearing his words, Kenny paused. Derek paused as well. "Cat got your tongue?" He teasingly said.

"Shut up." Then she turned around and continued walking, blushing.

"Actually, I am on my way to do my usual rounds here. Maybe I could accompany you while I'm working." Derek said.

"No, thanks." Without thought, she declined.

"C'mon. I could help you choose whatever you are going to buy. Looking at you, you are here not only to roam around leisurely but probably going to buy some stuff."

Rolling her eyes, she mumbles to herself, "Heh. You a shaman or what?" Then she stopped walking, ignoring him.

"Ha? What were you saying?"

Kenny just shrugged her shoulders. "If you have heard it, it should have been yours. Too bad you're deaf." It was her turn to tease. Derek's brow curved upwards, laughing at her sarcastic comeback. The two of them continued their strolling till they reached the food court department which is as spacious as the department store, having two floors.

She felt hungry, looking around, eyeing the foods on each stall. Not satisfied, she rode the escalator bridging the 1st to the 2nd floor. There, she finds that there are lots of stalls selling cheap foods to snack on. She headed to the one selling meatballs.

"Hey!" Derek run-up to her. Lucky for him that there're only a few people on the escalator. "Let me buy you lunch." She ignored him, taking out her purse from her bag.

"I know you are hungry." Still ignoring him like he is invisible, Derek said, "Okay, I will not think that you are a naive girl if you accept my invitation. Well, I never did in the first place though. Sorry if you ever think of that way." He reluctantly admitted as he saw how stubborn the woman beside him gets.

Kenny faced him, reconsidering his offer after hearing him say those words. Though strangers, she put aside her prejudice and let him not waste his sincerity.

"Okay." She nonchalantly said, grinning inside as she can save more.

What a simple-minded woman.