“Brian . . .” gasped Kim, clapping her hands to her mouth.

Brian smiled. He and Kim went to the carnival that night.

“You still remember?” he asked.

Kim looked at him. “Of course, I remember!” she exclaimed. “This is the first place I ever had fun at . . . with you,” she added gently.

“Shall we?”

She nodded excitedly.

They went everywhere. They played every game. They rode every ride. They had the time of their lives.

At some point, Brian had to go and get some drinks. That was when Kim noticed a shooting game that if you shot all of the targets, you’d be able to win a stuffed animal.

She immediately went to the booth. She continuously tried to shoot all the targets but she would always fail. She was running out of pennies when a guy walked up to her.

“Need help?” asked the guy.

She looked at the newcomer and saw that he was tall, with brown hair and broad shoulders. He was kind of cute, if she said so herself.

He smiled at her, noticing her checking him out.

“Pardon me?” she said politely.

The cute guy chuckled.

“You look like you needed help,” he said, nodding toward the game. “Do you mind if I helped you?”

“Not at all,” she replied. “If you insist.”

“I do insist, actually,” he grinned. “I’m Gee.” He gave out his hand to her for a handshake.

He seemed a nice enough guy. She was about to take it when Brian came out of nowhere and took it before her.

“Nice meeting you, Gee,” said Brian. With the look on his face, it was quite obvious that he didn't mean what he said. He finally let go of Gee’s hand and said, “But you don’t have to do that.”

Gee looked from Brian to Kim.

“I see,” he nodded, grinning. “A piece of advice, though. And don't take this the wrong way, man. But next time, never leave a girl alone on a crowded place like this.”

Gee smiled at Kim one last time before finally leaving.

When he was gone, Brian faced Kim. He took the toy gun from Kim’s grasp and turned to the targets. He started shooting, and didn't miss once. Kim was still in daze when Brian gave her the prize.

“A little 'thank you' would've been nice,” said Brian, his brows furrowed.

“Huh?” mumbled Kim, coming out of her thinking. She looked at the stuffed toy Brian just gave her. “Oh, yes,” she breathed, looking from the big-sized monkey to Brian.

Brian smiled. “I wanted to be the one to give you this,” he added, pointing to the brown monkey.

“Thank you, Brian,” smiled Kim. She looked down at her shoes for a moment, and then looked straight at Brian’s eyes. “Brie, I have to tell you something.”

He waited.

She took a deep breath and said, “I’m going on a dinner date tomorrow.”

There were a few minutes of silence. Even though their surroundings were noisy, it was eerily quiet between them. None of them spoke. Then . . .

“I wish you the best of luck,” he said. He smiled his best, thinking that it was better to act that way.

She was slightly taken aback. Couldn't he at least be a little shock?

“Why?” she asked slowly, tears streaming down her face. Before he could say anything, she continued, “Can’t you see? Are you that blind? Wishing me luck . . .” she trailed off. She couldn't stop herself from crying.

“What else is there to say? Kim, don’t cry . . .”

“For heaven's sake, Brian,” she snapped, stomping her feet. “Are you that idiotic not to see or feel anything at all?”

“Kim, I . . .”

“You know what, don’t bother talking to me. Just . . . don't bother. I'm done.”

Then, she ran away as fast as she could.

“Kim!”

She didn't look back.

He tried following her, but he already lost her from the crowd.

Kim didn't attend school the next day, while Brian was devastated after what had happened last night.

What did Kim mean? thought Brian.

Brian told Todd what happened as they had their lunch at the Sky Cafeteria.

“Hmm,” mumbled Todd thoughtfully.

“What?” asked Brian expectantly.

“What?” replied Todd, confused.

“What do you think does she mean?”

“Simple. That you’re dense.” Todd smiled weakly. “And you are — for a straight A student.”

Before Brian could reply, his phone rang. He took it out, read the message, and stared.

“What is it?” asked Todd.

Brian looked at Todd for a moment and turned to his phone again. He read the message out loud, “’Brian, I’m sorry for the way I acted last night. Of course, you would be happy for me. I was the one who acted stupid for thinking — or somehow hoping — that you feel the same way for me as I do to you. Let’s forget last night, shall we? Anyway, thanks for the luck, Kim.’”

“Oh, yeah,” said Todd in realization. He turned serious. “Dude, you forgot to tell me why you didn’t confess to her last night.”

“I thought she doesn’t feel the same way,” replied Brian quietly.

“That’s what makes you dense. You think, not feel. You look, not see.”

At first, all Brian’s face showed was confusion. But after a moment, it lightened up into understanding. He didn't need to tell Todd what he was about to do. He just got to his feet and ran to the exit. On his way to the parking lot, he met up with the gang. But he passed them without acknowledging their existence. He went straight to his Red Ferrari and drove away.

When the gang entered the Sky Cafeteria, they joined Todd and attacked him with questions.

“We just saw Brian,” said Peter. “Where’s he going?”

“Kim isn’t here, too,” noticed Maxine. “What’s wrong?”

“What is going on, Todd?” asked Karl.

“He’s about to confess, isn’t he?” said Jen dreamily.

Everyone stared at Jen.

“Well, isn’t it obvious?” Jen shrugged. “Kim isn’t here. Surely, Brian’s going to chase after her and finally tell her how he truly feels.”

They turned to look at Todd to confirm if what Jen said was true. But Todd didn't look at them. He only stared at Jen. Then, he sighed and rolled his eyes.

“It’s so strange how you know things, Jen,” he said in a bored voice.

And with that, they knew Jen was right.

☺ ♪ ☺ ♫ ☺ ♪ ☺

Kim was staring at the guy across the table for a long while now. He looked strangely familiar. All of a sudden, it popped into her head.

He was the guy she met at the carnival last night.

Angelo Thompson was Gee.

He was the Thompson that her parents wanted her to meet for the possible marriage in the future.

It had been an hour since Kim and Gee started to stare at each other. She was sure that he recognized her from last night. Otherwise, he wouldn't be gazing curiously at her like that. When the music changed, Gee stood up and walked over to Kim.

“May I have this dance?” asked Gee, kissing the back her hand.

She had no reason refuse. So she stood up and danced with him.

He was gentle. Even if she wasn't in the mood to dance, Gee led it without forcing her to dance enthusiastically.

“Where's your beau?” he suddenly asked, as they waltzed.

“He’s not . . . He’s just my best friend,” she answered quietly.

His eyes widened. “He’s not, really? It doesn’t seem so last night.”

“Well, we are. Besides, he doesn’t even look at me in that way.”

“Have you asked him?”

“No.”

“Then, how do you know?”

Kim was taken aback at his words.

“Because,” she began, “if he did look at me in that way, he could’ve told me.”

“Don’t you think he’s scared that you might turn him down and end up ruining your friendship?”

“That’s ridiculous. He knows how I feel about him.”

“Does he?” asked Gee, with a raised eyebrow. “Have you told him?”

“Well, no,” she admitted. “However — Hold on. Why are we having this conversation?” She shook her head. “Listen, he wished me good luck for the dinner date that we’re having as of this moment — Yes, he knows,” she added when Gee showed an expression of doubt. “Isn't that enough proof that he doesn’t feel the same way?”

He didn't answer. He only tilted his head as he looked at Kim with wonder in his eyes, while she defensively stared at him back.

“Maybe,” he finally murmured. “He doesn't know what he's missing.”

Kim looked down, feeling her cheeks heat up.

“He's not missing anything,” she mumbled.

Gee's hand that was placed on her waist moved to her back in order to pull her closer to him. He moved his face beside her head, his cheeks resting by her temple and his lips right at her ear.

“I quite sure he is,” he whispered in her ear. “Right now, I have a very beautiful girl in my arms. What more could I ask for?”

“You sure know how to charm a lady.”

He chuckled softly. “Is it working?”

She smiled, despite herself. “A little.”

After a moment, he sighed.

“What's the matter?” she asked him, pulling away to look at his face but his hold on her back was too strong for her.

“If only you didn't feel that strongly for him,” he murmured.

She frowned now. “What?”

Finally, he loosened his grip and pulled back to look her in the eye.

“Can I steal you away from him?” he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

“I told you,” she said, “he doesn't feel the same way.”

It was weird. But she thought there was a sudden glint in his eyes.

“There’s only one way to find out.”

“I don't understand,” she admitted, slowly shaking her head.

“Do you trust me?” he asked.

Kim didn't know how to answer that question. She barely knew him for half a night, and then suddenly he was asking for her trust? What had gotten into him?

“No,” she decided.

“Then, you're just going to have to,” he whispered softly.

He suddenly leaned closer to Kim and held her cheek. She knew what was going to happen. However, she couldn't find herself to pull away. Something deep inside her was telling her to trust him. Why, though?

Their faces were only an inch apart when Kim felt someone pull her gently away. Out of the blue, Gee was pushed to the floor.

Strange how she recognized the scent embracing her protectively. She looked up and she was right on whom the scent belonged to.

“She’s mine,” growled Brian, glaring at Gee.

It was unexplainable, but his facial expression made her weak.

When Brian realized that Kim was staring at him, his expression softened. He quickly held her hand and pulled her away with him.

As they ran, she glanced around and saw that people were already staring. She saw Gee stood up from the floor. He gave her a smile.

“Thank you,” she mouthed.

Gee nodded.

She wasn't sure it was only her imagination, but she could swear that Gee sighed as he watched her disappear.

☺ ♪ ☺ ♫ ☺ ♪ ☺

They were at their favorite place.

Brian drove Kim to the one and only place they could enjoy for themselves. They were at one of the light houses near New York City. They could see the City from there. It was by the beach and only a few houses lived nearby.

“I was supposed to take you here last night,” said Brian. “But — er — something came up.”

Kim looked at him and asked, “What do you mean by, ‘she’s mine’?”

“About that . . .” He paused to take a deep breath; his expression turned serious. “I don’t want you to attend dinner dates anymore. I’m the one who'll meet you down at the altar someday.”

She blinked, not quite sure if she what she was hearing wasn't just a delusion.

“Kim, I can’t imagine being with any other girl.”

She replayed what he said over and over again in her head.

She couldn't believe it.

A smile slowly creeped up to her lips.

“Is that your way of confessing?” she laughed.

He chuckled. “Better than yours. First, you yelled at me without explaining properly what you mean. And then, you sent a text without explaining again what in the world you mean. It was so confusing. It's like, you’re confessing by giving out clues.”

She crossed her arms.

“But you eventually managed, didn’t you?”

He grinned. “Of course, I did.”

“Unless, Todd helped you – which by the look on your face, he did.”

Brian rapidly shook his head. “Never mind about that. I'm still in shock that the guy you were dancing with tried to kiss you. Plus, why didn’t you push him away?” he asked, slightly flinching at the thought.

“Um — that was a trap, Brie,” she admitted sheepishly. “I think he saw you, and then he told me to trust him.”

“And you did?” he asked incredulously.

“I wanted to know how you feel,” she said defensively. “It’s not easy for a girl to ask a boy she's infatuated with, ‘Hey! Do you like me?’” She rolled her eyes at him. “Are you not aware that that will be extremely embarrassing for a girl?”

He grinned ever more broadly than before.

“But I don’t like you,” he said.

His hand then held her chin up, and leaned closer. She, on the other hand, felt her heart beat accelerate. It was pounding so hard that she felt as though she was going to burst.

“Kimberly, I love you.”

And with the City lights in the background, the stars as their witnesses . . .

Brian closed in the remaining space . . .

Finally, his lips met hers.

_________________________________________

Woohoo for Kim and Brian! Kim + Brian = KIAN!! Finally, they've realized. Phew. ;) I think I like Gee, though. You never know, he might appear in the future again for a bit.

I have an exam tomorrow. Yep, I have an exam yet I'm not studying for it. Don't imitate me! I'm a bad influence! You've been warned. Bwahaha!

Upload: I upload on weekends. ^_^

Please Comment and Vote -- if you like, which I'm hoping you DO!! ^_^