BLIND DATE ( ENGLISH VERSION )

ALEXA’S POV

” You are here. It took me a while to search for you,”

I stopped looking at the river because of those words. I immediately looked at him.

” Why are you looking for me?” I asked while smiling.

” Well, they were preparing our lunch, so they told me to look for you,” He replied and sat beside me.

” The river is beautiful, right?” I commented while looking at the river.

” Yeah, so beautiful,”

” You are not looking at the river at all,” I stopped myself from giggling when I looked at him.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

” You are more beautiful than the river,” He defended and looked away. I saw how his ears turned red.

” You are really a joker. Let’s go,” I said and stood up.

” Where?” He asked in wonder.

” Somewhere. Stand up,” I stated and pulled him to stand up.

” Where are we going really?” He asked again after standing up.

” To forever, ” I replied and laughed.

I saw how confused he was because of what I said. He was about to say something when I pulled him towards the river. Without notice, I pulled him into the water. We dunked together.

” Alexa!” Ken irritably called my name after he went up from the water.

” What?: I asked while laughing and splashing some water on him.

” What do you want?” He asked. Oh, he seemed angry.

” Nothing. I just felt like the river was calling me, so I included you,” I lied.

” What is the matter?” He seriously asked, so I gulped.

” N-nothing,” I stammered as I answered him. Gosh, what should I do?

” Alexa, you can tell me anything, right?” Ken assured me.

I scratched the back of my head because I was getting embarrassed, ” do you remember what Rhea said about the river?”

” Hmm, what exactly?” He asked and approached me.

” About getting into the water together,” I answered and looked away.

” What about it?”

I looked at him because of the tone of his voice. But I regretted it right away since I saw his mischievous smile. I think he already realized what I did.

” Err, you know about it already,” I answered and looked away. I felt my cheeks getting hot even if my body was dipped in the water.

” I want to hear it, Alexa,” Ken teasingly stated. I pouted.

” Aish, whatever. Do not think about it,” I pretended to be angry and walked towards the coast. However, I stopped when I felt that he held my hand.

” Oh, I thought you will join me in forever, why you are leaving?” He teased me.

” Aish!” I irritably said and angrily went up.

” Alexa, wait,” He called me, but I did not stop. I am irritated with him.

” Alexa!” I could not help but hug him because he pulled me strongly.

” You are making moves already,” Ken said while laughing, so I stood up properly.

” Who between us really making the move? If you forgot, you were the one who pulled me,” I defended and sat down in a tree.

” Do not be angry to me. I was just joking,” He coaxed me.

” Because you are irritating! You know, it was difficult for me to think how I should say yes to you then—”

I stopped talking because of the way Ken looked,” Oh, why your smile became wider?” I irritably asked him.

” So, you already said yes to me?” He asked to confirm, so I looked away. Aish, I did what I did because I did not know how to say yes to him verbally. Then he asked me.

” Hey, I am asking,” He said and held my chin. Our eyes met, so I smiled and gently nodded my head.

” Are you serious?” He asked, but I saw how happy he was.

” Yes,. Why do you not want?” I asked shyly.

” Yes!” I was shocked because of how he shouted. He also stood up and jumped with happiness. Tsk, he is so childish.

” Hey, can you please calm down?” I said while laughing, then stood up.

” Am I not dreaming? We are really in a relationship, right?” He asked.

” Yes, my boyfriend,” I replied.

I saw how his face lightened up when I called him boyfriend. He instantly hugged me, so I hugged him back. I did not think that day would come.

CASSIE’S POV

” You keep looking there,” My attention shifted to the one who spoke.

” They were taking too long. I am hungry,” I protested. I heard him chuckle.

” Your patience is really short. Let them have their own moment together,” He advised and handed me coconut water.

” Thank you,” I said and drank it. I was too thirsty because the weather was hot.

” Will Alexa say yes to Ken today?” He curiously asked.

” I don’t know. But this past few days, she was asking me about how to say yes to Ken,” I shrugged my shoulder.

” How about me? When will you say yes to me?”

” What?” I asked.

” Nothing. Never mind,” He replied while frowning. I secretly laughed.

” Are you getting impatient?” I asked.

” Of course not,” He replied quickly, so I laughed.

During the past year since the day of the reunion, I got the chance to get to know James more until he confessed his feelings to me. Actually, I did not expect that he would wait for a year now. Wait for a little longer, James. Wait until my heart heals.

ALEXA’S POV

” Oh, they are here,” I heard James comment.

” O-M-Gee,” Rhea exclaimed, then ran towards where Ken and I were standing.

” What is the meaning of this?” Rhea asked, but she was looking at my intertwined hands with Ken.

” We are already in a relationship,” Ken proudly stated.

I smiled because of the way Cassie and Rhea exclaimed in happiness. I let go of Ken’s hand to hug Cassie.

” I am so happy for the both of you,” Cassie sincerely said after she hugged me.

” Take care of my sister or else,” Cassie threatened Ken.

” Don’t worry. I will not make the same mistake twice,” Ken replied.

” I am so happy for you,” Rhea remarked and hugged me. Then, she hugged Ken.

” Congratulations,” Caleb said and hugged me. Then, Ken and Caleb exchanged high-fives.

” I am happy for the both of you,” James said and hugged me.

” Oh, cut it already. It is enough,” Ken commented while pulling me away to James.

” Psh, possessive,” Cassie and I said in unison. We looked at each other and laughed together.

” Gosh, It never crossed my mind that this day would come when we were laughing together,” I commented.

” Psh, you are getting sentimental. Let us just have a group hug.” Rhea shouted. We all get into a position to group hug.

After our group hug, we decided to eat already. While we were in the middle of our lunch, I could not help but remember what I have been through. Who would have thought that the people only toyed by fate would win its game and be happy?

” Gosh, from fake relationship, now you guys are real,” Rhea stated happily.

” Who would have thought, right?” I laughed.

” Eh, how about the other two here? When will they make their move?” Caleb said, so we all looked at Cassie and James.

” When she’s ready,” James replied and looked at Cassie. I saw how Cassie’s face turned red. I am actually so happy because the two important people in my life found love for each other.

” I actually remembered our answer to the pageant,” Ken suddenly stated, so we looked at him.

” Huh? What exactly?” I asked.

” About, ahem!” He faked a cough and sat down properly.

” Yes I do, because I believe that it is not about how it started but how it is going. Sometimes, we do not need to look back on how it started but to make sure that it will end real. ”

We all laughed because Ken stated the same exact words he answered during the pageant. Then, they looked at me, so I faked a cough.

” I also believe that something fake can be real especially in love. It is just about how you are willing to risk something to gain something. It is not really about how you end up to be fake but how you can work out things for you to make it real. We just need to take a leap to see how it will go. ” I repeated my answer during the pageant.

” And look where that risk brought you guys,” Cassie commented with a genuine smile.

Ken and I looked and smiled at each other. Afterward, I leaned on his shoulder and looked up at the sky. If there is something I learned about what Ken and I have been through, happiness cannot only be achieved at the start or finish of a story. We can enjoy the process. I know that Ken and I started on the wrong foot. Still, because we decided to continue, our journey ended beautifully. If there is something I could advise to youth, it would be to enjoy the process but learn from experience. Love is a decision, and a relationship is a commitment. Risk is always between love and relationship, so wait or look for someone who will be worth that risk.

END!