"A blind date?"
A woman in her early twenties, with a fiery long hair and blue eyes asked her brunette friend, same age as her, who excitedly delivered her the news.
"Yes. You'll go right? It's not like you have a boyfriend right now, do you?"
"I don't. But, really Hikari, another blind date? Why do you keep on giving out my name to desperate guys? Is it your sister's friend again? Or your boyfriend's?"
She definitely is a stunning and beautiful woman, and the right age to be with someone special yet it seems like she's not interested in dating anyone. She's been with a few relationships before but unfortunately it never lasted long enough.
"The latter. Please, Asuka? If you didn't like it, I won't force you on blind dates anymore. Promise, this'll be the last. And, if by sheer fate you'll find the right one through this date, girl, thank the heavens! Plus, you'll owe me big time."
Hikari's been a great best friend since, well, feels like it's really been a long period of time. Actually, they've been together since childhood. More than friends, they treat each other as sisters and it's really hard to decline her offer when she's talking about blind dates, she's way too persistent. She does trust her, a lot. Otherwise, she, without a doubt, won't go if not for her best gal. Asuka's rest assured that Hikari did a thorough research on the guy before agreeing on setting a blind date.
She heavily sighed before softly patting her friend's left shoulder.
"Fine. Fine. Last?" She asked her as Hikari's eyes lit up and she nodded with much delight. Asuka could only force a smile.
B.L.I.N.D._D.A.T.E.
S.C.E.N.E._O.N.E.
Crap. I am so damn late.
She inwardly cursed while impatiently tapping her purse with her forefinger. It's not like she's highly anticipating this blind date, but heavy traffic simply makes her go gaga.
Why, its not even a weekday.
"I think there has been an accident." The cab driver suddenly blurted out as if answering her silent question.
"What do you think? Will it take quite some time?" She asked him after checking the time in her wrist watch.
"Probably, but i'm not sure for how long. Would you mind if I check what's happening?"
Geez. I'm 45 minutes late already.
"No, it's okay. I think I can manage from here." She handed him cash and got out of the cab.
She, again, checked her watch, an hour had passed. Asuka looked down at her high-heeled shoes and poor little feet. Tired and slightly annoyed, she breathed out heavily and murmured words only she could hear, "This is a jinx. Will it get any worse than this."
Maybe I should just go home and apologize. It's not like i'm obliged to meet him though Hikari's going to be upset.
She stood there for a minute or two, gathering her thoughts and before she could finally decide on what to do her phone vibrated.
"Yes, Hikari?"
She stepped on the side and leaned against a wall.
"Asuka! Are you there now?"
Shit. Fast, lie.
"Ah. Five more minutes and i'll be there. What is it? Do you need anything?"
"Nothing. It's just that Touji called that he'll be home late because there's an accident. I, then, remembered you thinking you might have been caught in the same situation. I know you, you're impatient. So, I was about to tell you that you could go home for now and we'll just re-sched."
"Actually, I'm-"
"But it's good to know you're almost there. Thanks and have fun! Love you."
"Ah! Hikari! Wait!"
*Silence*
Asuka was left dumb-founded as she stared blankly at her phone and mouthed a good few words, "Hikari. Hung. Up." And she continued her journey.
B.L.I.N.D._D.A.T.E.
S.C.E.N.E._T.W.O.
"Good evening, Miss. Reservation?" A tired Asuka slowly nodded to a puzzled receptionist.
"May I ask, under what name?" She asked and Asuka snapped out of her own little world while shouting, "Stupid!"
It gave the receptionist a shock as she quickly apologized and whispered something like, "I didn't say anything rude, right?"
Asuka realized what she said, covered her mouth and apologized to her as well. "I'm really sorry. Hehe. It's not you, really. Ah.. Could you wait for a minute, I need to call my friend."
The receptionist genuinely smiled as Asuka turned around and grabbed her phone inside her purse to call Hikari.
How could she possibly forgot to tell me the name of my date! Hikari... My, my.
The receptionist patiently waited for her. Asuka looked back at her and gave her an apologetic and wait for another minute look.
Hikari! Gee. Why won't you answer at crucial situations like this!
After several attempts and losing a lot of patience, Asuka went back on speaking with the receptionist. "I'm sorry, I couldn't reach her. By chance, could you just tell me the number of reservations for the night? By males."
She never felt dead-tired, miserable and dumb before. With a desire to get by the night, she'll do anything and won't come back to this restaurant, ever. Before blinking twice, the bewildered receptionist just nodded.
"S-sure. I'll see what I can do Miss. Please wait."
"Thank you so much." Asuka bowed her head in a shy manner. After five minutes, which felt like forever, the receptionist came back.
"Miss? We have 10 reservations for the night. 5 are from males. 4 of them are with someone already, so only one is left and he's been sitting there for an hour now."
Bingo!
"I think that's him!" Asuka's face suddenly lit up and she all of a sudden wore a sweet smile before tightly holding the hands of the receptionist.
"Thank God! I am so, sooo thanking God right now. Ha Ha Ha!" Asuka, who looked like she's lost it, shook the hands of the amused receptionist.
"Hehe. Yeah." The receptionist, who doesn't know how to respond, could only agree to the woman before her. "I'll accompany you to the table now, if I may?"
With a snap of a finger, she released her, fixed her hair and nodded. While on their way, Asuka even asked her if she still looked good and the receptionist answered that she actually looked great, whilst smiling serenely.
B.L.I.N.D._D.A.T.E.
S.C.E.N.E._T.H.R.E.E.
"I'm really sorry I'm more than an hour late."
Sitting across the man sitting on the table, she hazily eyed him for a brief moment before flashing him her sweetest FAKE smile.
He looks... plain.
A dark haired guy was sitting quietly across her and probably patiently waiting for her. There's nothing special in his looks but he isn't bad looking either. Just not striking though.
"By the way, I'm your date, Asuka Langley Soryu. And you're?"
She continued on dismissing the questioning look he's throwing her.
Is he mad because I'm super late?
Asuka cleared her throat. She forced a smile whilst mirroring the expression of the man sitting across her. He chuckled which made her more bewildered.
Crazy date I got here.
Finally, the man shook her hand, "I'm Shinji. Shinji Ikari."
"Well... Hi Shinji. Shinji Ikari." She squeezed his hand quite hard. It made him chuckle a bit more.
Isn't he a bit rude? I can't believe it.
"Is there... anything funny Shinji? Shinji Ikari?" But that question just made him more entertained. He couldn't hold it in, he exploded in laughter. Astonished and unable to comprehend on what's happening to his date, she only stared at him, a pair of wide eyes and mouth slightly open. He wiped the tear away from his eye and quickly apologized.
"I'm sorry. It's just that you're one interesting woman and just call me Shinji, please." He stood up, walked to her side and bowed 90 degrees before saying sorry once more. "I really am sorry. That was rude of me"
Noticing that other people were looking intently at the scene before them, others started to exchange whispers as well, Asuka felt shy and waved her arms, pretending that it wasn't a big deal.
"Hehe. It's okay, it's okay. Please go back to your seat. People are looking at us." She nervously and awkwardly smiled at the crowd. He did what she told him and everything's back to normal like nothing happened. Not Asuka though, she never felt agitated and much ashamed. Right at that moment, all she wanted was to disappear.
"Thank you." It was full of sarcasm. He was... a complete opposite of what he appears to be.
Who would've thought that this plain, boring man could be such a pain in the ass. To think that this will happen during our first meeting.
She sighed, he smirked, the night went on.
B.L.I.N.D._D.A.T.E.
S.C.E.N.E._F.O.U.R.
"Why go on blind dates anyway?"
"Excuse me?" She stopped on cutting a portion of the roast beef, dropped the utensils and switched her attention to him.
Where the hell did he get that question? Did Hikari's man force him to do this blind date too? I see. So, we're stuck with each other because of our pals. Great, just great.
"I mean, you're beautiful. You'll find a decent man in no time. Aren't you scared to meet a jerk?"
I just did.
He raised a brow. "Did you say anything?"
Shit. Did I think out loud?
Ásuka abruptly shook her head. "I didn't, might be your imagination. Thanks for the compliment but aren't you on the same boat?"
"I am?" He asked her with a tone full of curiosity.
"Don't tell me you're taken and still..." She threw him a dirty look while wearing an expression of disgust. He quickly waved his arms.
"Ha! No. I'm not." Their convo continued. Asking about simple things like job, favorites and others. Surprisingly, Asuka enjoyed their simple convo and managed to laugh from some of his stories.
He's not that bad.
Grabbing the napkin and briskly wiping his mouth, he called the waiter for the bill.
"Finish your meal, we'll get out of here."
Did he just order me?
B.L.I.N.D._D.A.T.E.
S.C.E.N.E._F.I.V.E.
"Thank you for the meal. It's nice meeting you. Have a nice night." Asuka bowed and was about to spin around while wearing a serene smile on her face thanking the heavens it still ended well.
"What? You're already going home?" She faced him again, clutching her purse, staring deeply into his eyes. They're both lost in each other's gazes, unable to speak for a moment, not blinking even once.
If you look at him really closely, he's pretty good-looking. Crap. What the hell am I saying!
She broke the eye contact first, she suddenly felt a hint of heat on her face. She ignored it and shifted her attention to the watch on her wrist.
"It's still early. You sure you wanna go home now?" He asked her again.
"Yeah?"
Does he need something? Wonder what this man's thinking.
"Don't go."
"Huh?"
Shinji stepped closer.. and closer... and closer until their distance was just an inch or two. She's wearing a pretty high shoes and he's not that tall so if she looked straight ahead they'll end up standing face to face, literally. This made Asuka uneasy, she looked away.
"I said don't go." He softly whispered. She felt his breath brushed against the strands of her bangs.
What is he doing, seriously.
"I'll go whenever I want to." Asuka stepped a couple of inches back, brushing her bangs slightly, feeling the warmth from what he just did.
"Haha. Please? Go home later." He began to close the distance between them for the second time but this time she started to take steps back. Shinji continued to advance towards her and she continued to back away.
"Why? And what are you doing?"
He's not responding to her questions and kept on doing what he's doing.
"Hey! Shinji? Shinji Ikari! Stop!"
He kept quiet and she kept on stepping backwards when she almost tripped upon stepping in a rock. Good thing he immediately caught her before she completely fall.
"Are you okay, Soryu-san?" Being hugged tightly by a man she just met a few hours ago, Asuka could sense the heat enveloping her entire body, the loud beating of her heart and slightly flushed face.
"Wa! That scared me!" With two arms still tightly covering her body, she still managed to slightly move back and poked his chest with her index finger. "This is completely your fault!"
"Haha! I'm sorry. But I did caught you on time. You're welcome?" Shinji was unsure but he can't find a reason to release her. He's not a pervert, yes, he just... liked the feeling of her against him. Man, that still sounded perverted. That's what he thought.
"Hmp! Like I would thank you for something that was entirely your fault. And you could release me now. Perv." But he didn't do what she told him this time.
"I'm not a pervert." He said while looking down at her flushed face. That brought a smile on his lips.
"Then, let me go! Right. Now." She glared at his smiling face.
Fudge. He's liking it.
"And if I don't want to?" He teasingly asked her.
"You flirt... I'll scream pervert. You wouldn't want that, right? Who's embracing his date on their first meeting anyway" She declared as she started to move and struggle against his embrace.
"Ahm... Me? Like you would really scream. Hahaha."
"Oh really?" Asuka took a deep breath and then...
"PEEEEERVEEEE-"
"HEY!" He instantly covered her mouth with his right hand. "What the heck Asuka, don't make a scene." But Asuka ignored him and continued to shout against his palm. "Asuka! People are now looking. This is embarrassing Aren't we attracting way too much attention from the crowd today?"
She wanted to push him hard but he's too strong. Asuka kept on struggling meekly as Shinji explained things to the puzzled passersby. "She's okay... He he. Just an asthma attack."
Noticing that the woman stopped from her crazy little freaked-out moment, he removed his right hand away from her mouth. She gave him a super death glare. "Really, Shinji? Asthma?"
"Hahaha! You're definitely the cutest Asuka-sama." At last, he released her. Asuka who showed a hint of blush on her face never ceased on glaring at him while fixing her coat and hair. "Shut up, you creep."
"What? I'm creepy? Haha! Well, sorry." He softly chuckled before brushing away a few strands of hair away from her face. She's about to say something when something from her purse vibrated.
"Hikari? Yes?" They moved aside as Asuka answered the call.
"Asuka! Where are you?"
"Huh? I'm with my date. Why? I'm going home now anyways so wait for me, okay?" She looked at him as she said those words. He mouthed the words, No, you won't, she clenched her left fist before bringing it up to her left cheek. She lightly pushed the skin downward and stuck her tongue out. He silently laughed and mouthed the word cute. A small smile formed on her lips, he may be a bit immature but it sure was fun being with him.
"Date? You crazy woman. You didn't receive my voice mail? Your date didn't make it. Where the hell are you, really?"
"Wait Hikari. I'm not buying it. Is this a joke? I'm with him right now! Shinji Ikari? Isn't he the one I'm supposed to meet?" Asuka faced Shinji with a questioning look but Shinji only mirrored her, he mouthed what is it? Asuka mouthed I'm confused, I don't know.
"Eh? Shin what? Your date is Kensuke Aida! I forgot to tell you the name."
"Oh Hikari. You gotta be kidding. There's only one reservation left in that restaurant and it's by Shinji. You can't trick me. Hah!"
"I'm not! Gosh. And. I also forgot to tell you that the reservation is under my name."
"What the! Is that even possible? Oh please. This is. Crap. I'll call you again." This time a troubled and shocked Asuka hung up.
"Shit."
"What?" Shinji asked her and went beside a stunned Asuka. "Hi?"
"Hello, stranger."
t.b.c.