Chapter 7
1621 Words
Operation: Kennan Chen commenced the very next day.
Of course, the first thing we did was buy a gift for Kennan. Since he was gay, it felt awkward to give him flowers, so I opted for something more playful: a cute puppy stuffed toy. I tucked it into a special paper bag, the kind that felt just right for the occasion. Once that was done, I headed back to UVI with my friends buzzing with excitement.
We made our way to the Fine Arts building and started asking around for Kennan Chen. Perhaps it was our charm and popularity, but we quickly found out where his class was. Unfortunately, we arrived just fifteen minutes before his class was about to end, which felt like an eternity.
As we waited outside his classroom, the familiar flutter of nerves returned to my chest. I tried to breathe deeply and calm myself, but the teasing smiles from Timmy and Lenard did little to ease my tension, while Shin and Anthony shot me disapproving glares. Waiting for Kennan felt like the longest fifteen minutes of my life.
When the classroom door finally swung open, my heart raced so violently that I thought it might leap from my chest. And then, there he was. Kennan stepped out, and I froze in place, utterly captivated.
He wore the university's uniform like the rest of us, but somehow, he looked the best dressed among us. The crisp white long-sleeve shirt paired with a checkered blazer accentuated his style perfectly. Our eyes met, and as the moment lingered for five seconds, his perfectly arched eyebrows shot up, clearly questioning why I hadn’t yet spoken. Just as he began to turn away, I shook off the spell that had momentarily gripped me.
“Ahh… Hi, Ke—Kennan…” I stammered, my nerves causing me to trip over my words. The sight of his raised eyebrow only deepened my embarrassment.
My friends left us and went far from us to give us some privacy.
“Hi. Do I still owe you something?” he asked once my friends were out of his sight. His tone clipped, which only added to my confusion.
My brows knitted together at his question. “Huh?” I managed to say, completely thrown off.
“I mean, what is the frontman of Chico's band doing here waiting for me? Do I owe you a favor? Or maybe I’ve committed a sin?” he asked, his words flowing without a hint of a smile.
Favor? Sin? My cheeks burned at the memory of our kiss. He hadn’t even given me a second chance. Clearly, that was his debt to me. And as for the sin? He had kept me up at night thinking about him.
I smiled sheepishly before responding, “Ah… That’s nothing. Actually, I’m here to introduce myself again formally. The first and second time were a bit of a mess, so I want to make it up to you. Let me introduce myself again. I’m Wayne Ralbovski.” I extended my hand, but he simply stared at it, not reaching out.
Undeterred, I held my hand out for what felt like an eternity, until my arm began to ache. I was about to withdraw, but offered him the gift instead.
“This is for you,” I said, my smile stretching from ear to ear.
Confused, he accepted the stuffed toy, and my excitement soared.
“What is this for?” he asked, pulling the toy from the bag, his tone still lacking warmth.
“Gift of friendship,” I proudly declared.
He nodded but then returned the stuffed toy to the bag and handed it back to me. “I don’t accept gifts from strangers,” he said, devoid of any enthusiasm and causing my heart to sink.
“It’s bad luck to return a gift,” I protested softly, hoping to sway him.
He paused, taken aback by my words but quickly regained his composure. “I don’t believe in luck,” he replied coolly.
Undeterred, I pressed on. “It’s a gesture. I thought—”
He cut me off, “You thought wrong.”
The tension hung thick in the air, but I refused to back down. “Kennan, I’m serious about getting to know you.”
He raised an eyebrow again, but this time, his expression was more skeptical than intrigued. “Why? What’s the point?”
I was taken aback by his bluntness. “Because I want to know you better,” I insisted, hoping to pierce through his wall of indifference.
“Okay,” he replied, his tone still detached. “But just know that I don’t do relationships. Not anymore.”
A chill ran down my spine. “I’m not looking for a relationship,” I quickly clarified. “I just want to be friends. I’m willing to try, at least.”
He scrutinized me for a moment, then shrugged. “You’ll change your mind. You always do.”
My stomach twisted at his dismissive tone, but I tried to keep my expression light. “I guess we’ll see about that.”
“Good luck,” he said flatly, turning to walk away.
“Wait!” I called after him, my heart racing. “How about we start fresh? A friendly date? Just us?”
He stopped, glancing back at me, but his expression remained impassive. “You think I’d waste my time on a friendly date with you?”
I took a deep breath, trying to mask my disappointment. “It doesn’t have to be a waste. We could have fun.”
He studied me, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw something flicker in his eyes. A hint of curiosity perhaps? But just as quickly, it vanished, replaced by his characteristic coolness.
“Fine. But don’t expect too much from me,” he replied before walking away, leaving me standing there with a mixture of hope and frustration.
…
In the following days, I poured my energy into crafting the perfect plan to win Kennan’s heart. I spent countless hours brainstorming creative date ideas, each one more imaginative than the last. I even enlisted my friends’ help. After all, they were equally invested in my success, even if they enjoyed teasing me along the way.
One afternoon, while we were lounging in the student lounge, I laid out my grand ideas. “What if I take him to a gallery opening? You know, something classy?” I suggested, excitement brimming in my voice.
“A gallery? For a first date?” Anthony scoffed. “Dude, that’s way too intense! You need something more casual.”
“Fine! Then how about a picnic in the park?” I countered, crossing my arms defensively.
“Okay, that’s better,” Timmy chimed in, nodding approvingly. “Just keep it light and fun. You want him to feel comfortable around you.”
With their input, I decided on the picnic. I meticulously planned every detail, from the food I’d prepare to the location where we’d spread our blanket.
The day arrived, and my heart raced as I gathered the essentials: sandwiches, snacks, drinks, and, of course, the adorable stuffed puppy toy I’d given him but he did not accept. I wanted to surprise him by bringing it along, hoping it would remind him of our last encounter.
As I set up the picnic in a scenic corner of the park, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and anxiety. What if he didn’t enjoy the outing? What if I messed everything up?
But when Kennan arrived, his demeanor was as cool and guarded as ever. Dressed casually in a fitted t-shirt and jeans, he looked effortlessly handsome, but the glint in his eye didn’t hint at the warmth I had hoped for.
“Wow, Wayne. This is… something,” he remarked, his tone lacking enthusiasm as he scanned the picnic spread.
“Thanks! I thought we could enjoy some time together,” I replied, trying to keep my spirits high despite his indifference.
He settled down on the blanket, arms crossed, still radiating an air of detachment. “So, what now?”
I felt a pang of disappointment but pressed on. “Let’s eat! I made sandwiches. Your favorite, I hope.”
“Really? You think you know my favorite?” he shot back, skepticism etched on his face.
I swallowed hard, suddenly uncertain. “I—I thought you might like turkey and avocado…”
“Maybe I do. Or maybe I don’t. You’ll never know if you don’t ask.”
He picked up a sandwich and took a bite, chewing slowly, as if judging every flavor. I could feel the weight of his indifference pressing down on me, but I refused to back down.
“What do you like to do when you’re not in class?” I ventured, hoping to spark a conversation.
“I don’t have time for hobbies,” he replied, his tone clipped. “I have work.”
“Work? What do you do?” I pressed, genuinely curious.
He glanced at me, his expression still unreadable. “Why are you so interested?”
“Because I want to know you,” I said, my voice steady despite my nerves. “I’m trying to understand who you are beyond the surface.”
“Good luck with that,” he said flatly, but there was a flicker of something like… challenge? Intrigue? in his eyes that kept me hopeful.
As the sun began to set, I realized that this wasn’t going to be easy. But if I wanted to break through his walls, I had to keep trying.
- Writer
