i don't understand how people put up with me.

as i was walking home, a bit after dinner was over, victor called after me.

"hey! desert!" he said, catching up after me.

well, atleast he chose to call me by my name this time.

"what?" i asked, rolling my eyes.

he put his hands in the pockets of his black jeans, shrugging. " i don't know, i just don't wanna go home yet."

"why?" my hands were folded in front of my chest, i could feel the cold breeze through my thick hoodie.

"i never wanna go home." he whispered then, i wouldn't have heard if i weren't paying attention.

i didn't wanna put my nose in his business, so i pretended to not have heard, "huh?"

"oh, nothing."

"alright," i said, grateful he didn't bring it up again, "so, where do you wanna go?"

he let out a little surprised laugh, "what did you just say?"

i looked at him, barely smiling. "you heard me."

"oh," he exclaimed, "wow . . . okay, i think i know a place. walk up to the car with me?"

i nodded.

~

"i didn't know this place existed." i said with a blank bored face, thinking of what we could possibly do at a small frozen lake in the middle of the night.

"well, you do now." he smiled, "hold up, i'll be back."

i stood there awkwardly watching as he went up to the car and took out two pair of ice skates.

"what do you think you're trying to make me do, victor?" i raised my brows, a little scared that i was gonna end up embarrassing myself if he asked me to skate.

"um, skate with me?"

shit.

"i don't know how to skate."

he stared at me blankly, not buying it.

"properly." i made a face.

"doesn't matter, just put these on." my lips formed into a thin line, and i sighed.

both pairs of ice skates were white, the ones he handed me were smaller than the others.

i slid them on, tying the laces tighter than normal, because they were still a little bigger than my shoe size.

i stood up, wobbly and uncomfortable on the ice. what if the ice was not thick enough and we end up falling in cold water? ugh, i shuddered at the thought.

i didn't express it to victor though, 'cause that would make me sound overly nervous.

he was right beside me as i tried to keep my balance intact.

he laughed. i gave him a mean look and asked, "what?"

he shook his head, "are you ready?"

"no." i smiled, as he held my hand and we began skating on probably was dangerously thin ice.

he stopped and so did i once we reached the middle of the lake.

he held my hands and placed them on his shoulders, followed by putting his on my waist and swaying me with him.

"what are you doing?" i asked, bewildered.

"slow dancing in the dark on ice with you."

"that was informative and . . . why?"

"i thought it'd make you feel nice, you know, with you getting all angry in the middle of dinner and stuff. i just wanted make sure you go to bed with good memories tonight."

"why?"

"maybe 'cause i don't ever wanna be a bad memory to you."

i didn't realise until now that i had my mouth slightly open all this while. i closed it, and nodded.

i wasn't certain about how dancing was supposed to make me feel better but anyway, i put all the seriousness aside i said, "well if you wanna make this a good memory, atleast play some music."

"oh. you're right. wait." he pulled out his phone and put on a song that i couldn't quite recognise.

but as elvis presley began singing, with his voice mellow, and our bodies close, everything didn't seem so strange.

wise men say, only fools rush in

but i can't help falling in love, with you,

"we're such idiots." i laughed, my heart feeling a little weird inside my chest.

shall i stay?

"i don't mind being an idiot with you." he smiled.

would it be a sin,

"okay, first, that was hella cheesy and second, you're already an idiot, with or without me."

if i can't help falling in love, with you?

"sure i am."

i was pretty sure that i hated him like an hour ago.

but as i let my head fall against his warm chest, i wasn't so sure anymore.