Chapter 1

Friday

Staring at her lunch in a campus café, Allison just poked her mashed potato lazily. She glanced at her boyfriend, Sean, who was sitting opposite her while reading a book from behind his glasses. Her appetite dissipated just like that to see him not engaged in their conversation. She let out a blustering sigh.

"Is that book more interesting than me?" she asked.

But he didn't give any response and just kept reading as if no one was talking to him. It made her upset. When she slammed his book shut angrily, a pucker surfaced between his thick eyebrows.

"What?" He looked annoyed.

"Did you hear what I said? I've been trying to talk to you in the last twenty minutes, but I've got no response."

"Can't you see I was reading my book?"

She clenched her fists, peeved. It was not the first time he was disregarding her like that which, in fact, had been happening since a few days ago. Every time she tried to talk to him, he always gave her a mumble. She had no idea what put his head in a fog like that. Indeed, he was not a talker, except for he had never been so wordless when he was with her. Somehow, prejudice about him was gradually coming to her.

Pissed off, she boosted herself up and beetled off toward the café entrance, leaving him alone with his book. But before she could reach the door, someone grabbed her arm and turned her around. She could see her boyfriend's brown eyes behind his geek glasses clearly because he pulled her so close to him. His mouth opened and closed, working on a word to say, as she silently waited to hear what he was going to say.

"Look, Alli," Sean finally talked after his Adam's apple bobbed in his throat, "I'm sorry."

Allison kept silent.

"I was... I was just reading my book," he lifted it in one hand, "I didn't really pay attention to you."

Regret reflected in his eyes, but she just stayed quiet.

"Please, say something." His eyes dug deeply into hers. "It seems like you don't want to forgive me."

"I said a million words to you but you didn't hear me, and now you want me to say something? I doubt you'll hear it."

He took her hand with his free hand and held it tight. "I'm sorry, babe, I really am."

Her heartbeat got louder she was afraid he could hear it. "Okay, apology accepted," she rasped as she looked away. She hated it how she could easily forgive him whenever he held her hands and looked at her that way.

He chuckled then lowered his head, whispering very softly, "Hey, how about we go to the movie after class today? I'll pick you up at 5:00."

"Okay, I'll be waiting for you," she replied and smiled back at him.

Strolling out of the café, she saw there were only two or three students around, so she held up a hand to stop him. When he turned to her, she tiptoed as she slightly pulled the front of his navy shirt to lower his six-feet body, trying to kiss him. But not like what she had expected, she sensed he backed away. She rucked her brows as she searched for his eyes, but they cast away instead as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose like he did when he was nervous.

Standing awkwardly a few inches away from her, he gulped then checked his watch. "Um... sorry, babe, I got class in a minute. See you later."

And without looking at her, Sean left Allison in front of the café by herself.

***

Scarlett's teeth chattered as the weather turned cooler and windier today. It was November already and she had forgotten to wear her coat. Sitting on her own in the backyard of her campus, she mulled over a favor from this junior—Harley—a week ago. He had asked her to be his photo model for a photography contest that still didn't make sense to her. Like, why her? There must be many girls out there willing to be his model who were much more beautiful than her.

This whole situation got her thrown off. She actually would love to be his photo model, but she couldn't smile every time she got nervous. And the thing was she got nervous easily. After the favor had been declared, she had been trying to smile in front of the mirror more times than she could shake a stick at, but also each time was she aware why those girls in her high school had said she had a terrible smile.

Actually, she considered to just turn down the favor, but on the other side, she wanted to change and maybe it could help her.

***

A smile appeared on Harley's face when he finally found this auburn-haired girl dressed in light blue, belted shirt midi dress sitting alone in the backyard. He noticed she was not wearing any outerwear with her arms enveloping herself as chilly blows raided her from behind that made her shiver. Walking toward her, he took his hooded jacket off and her sight still didn't catch his presence until he put his jacket on her.

"You should've brought your coat, Scar," he said, looming over her. "You know how fast the temperature changes during this month, don't you?"

"Harley!" Scarlett startled as her amber eyes looked up at him. "But what about you? Aren't you cold, too?"

The way she talked with thick German accent was truly appealing for him. Smiling, he took a seat next to her with a grin. "It doesn't matter as long as you feel warm. I still can deal with this cold, anyway."

Before she turned away from him, he captured her smiling as she tucked some wild hair behind her ear. Her fingers kept fidgeting on her lap and somehow he just found it cute.

"So, have you made up your mind about my favor yet?" he asked.

Hesitation was clearly visible in her eyes and she ducked her head. "Sorry, I can't."

He frowned. "What? Why?"

"I... I just can't."

"No, that's not an excuse." He touched her shoulder and now he could see her eyes again. "Tell me."

She shook her head. "I'm a very awkward person and always get nervous easily. And when I'm nervous, I can't... I hate my smile."

It was unbelievable how this girl could say that she hated her smile while her smile was the most beautiful creation he had ever seen. The reason why he had asked her to be his model was because the first time he had seen her smiling, right at that time he had known she would be perfect to be his model.

"Believe it or not, you got the most beautiful smile around here," he blurted out as he looked right into her eyes. "Your eyes are so bright when you smile and... I like it." He noticed her flushed face and smiled.

"How come you said that? I mean, you haven't even—"

"I've seen it," he cut her off quickly.

She scoffed then back to staring straight while his eyes were steady on her. Looking at her had become his new favorite thing to do. It felt like he couldn't get enough of it. He wished he could freeze this moment, ran to grab his camera and took a picture of her like this.

"Why me?" she tore the silence without turning to him.

"Excuse me?"

"Harley, why did you choose me? Bet there must be a ton of girls in the queue who are dying to be your model." Even though she still didn't turn to him, but he could see her perturbed expression.

"Actually, I was going to say no, but I don't want to lie to you, so yes," he grinned, but he quickly pulled his serious face again. "But I only want you, Scar."

He discerned she was getting more nervous and became uncomfortable with the situation. He was a bit surprised when she unexpectedly raised from the bench.

"I- I got to go," she said then took some big steps away from him.

"Wha— Scar, wait!" He hurriedly chased after her.

As he reached for her arm to stop her, she turned to him. "I can't, Harley," she groaned weakly. "I just can't."

The shock from her sudden runaway still consumed him. He didn't want her to feel annoyed with him, so he joked with a mischievous smirk, "Actually, it's my jacket. You're still wearing it."

She blinked hard, her face pinkening. "O- oh, sorry. Here."

"I'm kidding," he chuckled when she was about to take his jacket off her shoulders. "You can give it back to me tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

He nodded, tossing her a cheeky smile. "Yes. Do you want to go out with me tomorrow?"

Her brows wrinkled. "W- what?"

"Are you free?"

"Harley, I can't—"

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"No, I don't, but—"

"So, tomorrow's okay?"

She shook her head from all of the unforeseen questions, overwhelmed. "Harley, you're asking the wrong girl—"

"Nope, I'm a-hundred-percent sure I'm asking the right one." When she narrowed her eyes, he just shot her a smile. "Let me help you with your issue. So, tomorrow night at 7:00?"

Scarlett didn't immediately answer, just staring at him for a moment until she eventually let out a sigh. "Okay, tomorrow night at 7:00."

Harley couldn't help but give her a bigger smile.

***

(to be continued)

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