[7] Flip

I have not encountered anyone who had walked away from me more times than Felice did. Something was indeed wrong, it's as if she wanted me to change my ways.

Why, what's wrong with me? I have everything, isn't everything good enough?

Meeting her in PE was harder than I expected. This time, Felice really took the time to avoid me.

But I had to win this bet.

I had to have Karen. It's not much about Karen anymore, but everyone knew about this dare. If I didn't make it work, then it's going to be a huge point against me and my reputation as a ladies man.

This is where I believe that I'm in too deep, the point of no return.

"Felice, wait up!" I hurried after her; Justin's not around so she must have no chaperone today.

"You will just never give up, will you?" She murmured under her breath

"Why do you hate me so much?"

With this, she stopped to look at me.

Felice was in Psychology, she should know where I'm driving at. And being in Communications, I took this as an opportunity to explain myself.

"I like you, okay. Is that so hard to see?" Oh God, yes it is hard to see. What the hell, even I can't believe what I'm telling her.

"Liar."

And there goes my chance.

"If you just listen, Felice," I told her amidst the noisy background of the covered courts. "If you hate me this much, how are you supposed to hear me out? Can't we just start from a clean slate? We started on the wrong foot, I know that...and I'm sorry, but if you want me to change so badly, why don't you start by telling me what's not to like?" I smirked, oh I have her now.

"There. THERE!" She scoffed, rolling her eyes quite unattractively, "NUMERO UNO, Anthony. You're an arrogant pig, that's one. What's not to like..." She said sarcastically. "You think you're all that, but you're not. Not everyone loves you, not everyone is in love with you. Only you are." She stomped her feet, inching towards my foot.

"I beg to disagree—

"Narcissistic fool!" She cursed under her breath.

"Ow!" I said. Seriously, it did sting. Where did all these rants come from? "Can you talk to me calmly; I have ears, no need to scream at me."

"Sorry, but I am really angry at what you did. People believed you even if it wasn't true." Maybe it really was not true... What am I saying?

"A 'Sorry, but' isn't really an apology" I tried to make light of things but it really wasn't cutting the ice.

She counted her breaths as she stared at our feet.

If I didn't act now, her spiteful tirade will become painful in a minute. "I'll walk you to Unit 1?" I offered as she finally calmed down, and we walked together.

It wasn't as horrid as I expected. She didn't spend all the time ranting about the things she thought was wrong with me.

Turns out, Felice didn't like to criticize; it's just me who pushed her to do so. Maybe it was because I was really unkind to her that caused her to feel so much angst.

She talked like my former guidance counselor, warm and praising. In some moments when she tried to recall how I did her wrong, and explain to me why me-liking-her was an impossibility of the moment, her voice sounded a little detached.

"Sometimes people have covers you know. Bravados. Kind of like the superego and ego theory." She rambled on slowly. I felt like I was in a Psychology Class studying Freudian theories, only that, I'm the specimen in question.

When I tried removing my attention to what she was saying, I found myself back at listening. Most of the things that she was talking about made sense... maybe I really was an ass. Not that anyone in my house complained.

My sister thought highly of me, I can attest to that. She was giving me sample situations too that made me understand where she was coming from. Well, that's odd... I've never been in anyone's shoes before.

"Take this situation for instance..." She trailed off as she looked out the garden while we sat, backs against the cold wall, in Unit 1. "If a woman in her late 30's, ugly as hell, and was mean to you, just suddenly tells the whole world that you're stalking her, chasing her, courting with flowers and chocolates and from time to time calls her then hangs up—All complete fabricated stories. What then, Anthony, would you feel?"

"Disgusted," I replied without thinking.

"Precisely." She smiled smugly.

Felice was actually a really sweet girl once we got past the part where she was talking about me. It made me sick to my stomach as she said those words, which half of them I refused to believe. But when we moved on to a different subject, namely herself... It was kind of fun and less irritating.

She talked about food like it was her life. She talked about cars as if she was a mechanic herself. She was also pretty intelligent. She knew things most people didn't know about. Her eyes became brighter when she talked about her friends.

I guess I was wrong about that part of her then. It wasn't as if she was monopolizing the conversation, it's more like I was absorbed in my contemplations that I reacted to what she was saying only as I was needed to.

The rain suddenly poured so hard that day, it was getting so dark and our fetchers weren't arriving any sooner. We sat there laughing at some crude joke a teacher gave their class when I realized that we would have to spend at least half an hour more on waiting. And the idea didn't seem to bother me anymore.

I talked too, of course. There was a point where she exhausted the topics in her mind. She stared at me expectantly as I just sat there quietly facing her. I started with the obvious, previous school, friends... a few cars. Except that I was even surprised with my ability to confide in her.

I told her about my sister who I guarded with every bit of my life.

I told her what I found quite depressing about my parents and my disappointment in the insipidness of my life in general.

I usually kept everything to myself. I am only forced to talk about it if I'm already in deep shit and if my sister is already starting to worry about me.

But Felice is different, I've concluded, as she just gave people a vibe that makes you able to trust. It was so attractive and so different.

Nothing with her physical appearance could be considered as something eye-catching, but once she talks, revealing a heart so pure and so real, her face might be something to be worth looking at.

It was almost 6 pm when I received a text from Karen. It was laced with delight and malice that I didn't even bother reading the whole text. Apparently, she had an eagle's eye watching me here. She already knew that I was close to getting the job done.

For the first time in days, I didn't feel really good about that.

"You're not so bad after all." She smiled—the first true smile I saw her give me. And boy... was it incredibly reassuring.

"You too." I grinned. "Would you like to get your roses back? But they're quite dying already." I took it out of my backpack and handed it to her.

"Thanks." She muttered as her fetcher arrived earlier than I've expected. "I'll see you tomorrow?" She said with a smile as she boarded the car, and through the light tint of the window, I saw her bury her face in the flowers.

I felt very light and stupid that night.

As I went online, I did not pay much attention to how bored I was or anything for that matter. All I was thinking about was some direction.

For the first time in 5 years, I have thought of what I want to do with my life. Felice knew exactly what she wanted, and although she didn't want to tell me, her eyes gave her away. They glimmered under the bright lights of Unit 1, and I could swear I saw them tear up for one moment. I was curious, too curious that it's almost instinctive.

What would she want in her life more than anything in the world?

Knock, knock.

"Oh? Come in." I said as I saw my sister in my door frame. "Hey, what's up?"

"Let's have dinner." She smiled. "I've got great news for you, I'll tell you over a nice hot meal, eh?"

With that, I stood up and followed suit. The dinner in a nearby restaurant was nice. It felt cozy and warm as it was Indian themed. My sister waited until we ordered before telling me her great news. By that time, I was even more excited for her too, although I had a fairly good guess at what it was.

"What is it?" I asked as I looked at her glittery smile. Her true worry-free smile wanted to make my heart burst in applause.

"The Strawberry Iced Tea was a super hit! And..." She trailed as she pulled the thick rain gloves from her hands.

"And?" I pressed,

"I'm engaged!" She squeaked as she showed me her elegant candle-like fingers and one noticeable Diamond Ring.