Chapter 7.1

THE day had finally come for Clyde. He offered to pick Callie up from her home, but she insisted on meeting him at the movie theater instead.

As he gazed at the bouquet of red roses he was carrying, his smile never faded. He can't contain his excitement as he anticipates Callie's arrival.

He has dated many women in the past, but none of them were serious relationships. He only agreed to be in a relationship with them to relieve boredom and, more importantly, to meet his needs as a man.

But there was something strange about Callie that drew his attention. He felt like he had been subjected to magic because he was no longer able to have an interest in other women. He only wants Callie and nothing else.

None of the women he met had made him feel intense excitement and nervousness except Callie and that mysterious woman he had seen in the hospital, five years ago.

As the mysterious woman returns to his memory, he is reminded of the events of those times.

Years ago, because of his troubled family, he had run away from home to show his parents that he no longer needed them. As a result, he got into the wrong group and was soon involved in a variety of troubles.

The fight between their gang and another gang was one of the last things he was involved in. His parents tracked him down in the hospital, where he met the first woman who had caused his heart to throb abnormally.

He had never experienced anything like that before in his life. When their gazes first met, it felt as if a fist had been slammed into his chest, causing his heart to beat so fast and loudly that it could have given him a heart attack.

Although he had a vague memory of the woman's appearance, he would never forget the golden color of her eyes.

"Did I keep you waiting?"

When he heard Callie's voice behind him, he came to a halt in his reminiscing. As he turned to face her, his face brightened even more.

Callie was wearing a white dress paired with white doll shoes. Her long, black hair was also neatly lying on her back.

"You look great," he praised Callie.

"Thanks, you're looking good as well," Callie retorted.

Callie stuck her eyes for a moment on the red rose bouquet he was holding.

"Is that for me?"

He handed the roses to her while shyly rubbing his neck. "I hope you like flowers."

Callie stared at the flowers and smelled their fragrance. "Who doesn't? Thank you," she replied, smiling sweetly.

He fixed his gaze on her large gray eyes. It was his first time seeing them closely. "Wow."

"Wow?" confused Callie said.

He smiled hesitantly. "Nothing... Ummm, let's go?"

He was extra careful with Callie, which was unusual for him. If before he had used his sweet gestures to turn the women he dated on to him, right now he became a gentleman to Callie.

"Did you enjoy the movie?" he inquired after they had finished watching it. He was considering where else he could take Callie now that they had left the cinema.

Callie smiled at him as she nodded.

"Hmmm... There's a newly opened restaurant nearby, do you want us to eat_?" he asked, pausing to observe Callie's sudden halt in her walk.

Her eyes were drawn to the television station's digital billboard across the street.

The news of the slaughter of suspected werewolves flashed across the billboard screen.

"Today's news is full of rubbish," he said, causing Callie to frown and look at him.

"You don't believe werewolves did those?" she inquired, intrigued.

He smirked and shook his head. "Callie, they're not real."

"How can you be certain?"

"Well, no one has been able to prove their existence, and I doubt anyone has ever seen them in person; after all, to see is to believe."

He was puzzled when Callie walked away with a meaningful grin on her face. He just shrugged it off and kept walking.

He turned back to her when she spoke up again.

"You never know, maybe you've actually seen them but you just don't realize it," she said.

*****

"I'M SORRY, Sir, but there are no seats available for you at this time."

Clyde turned to the waiter, who was standing in the doorway talking to an elderly gentleman he estimated to be around seventy years old.

Clyde felt sorry for the elderly and wanted to offer him their table, but he was hesitant for fear of upsetting Callie.

"Ummm... Callie_." He halted when Callie suddenly spoke.

"Let's just give our table to him," she said and smiled sparingly.

He couldn't help but smile at what Callie had said. She's not only beautiful but also thoughtful.

He nodded and motioned for the old man to be let in. He was thanked by the elderly gentleman.

He smiled at Callie as they climbed into his car.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Callie asked him confusedly as she buckled up.

"Nothing, I just find you charming."

Callie glared at him which made him laugh.

"You're such a sweet talker," she said as she shifted her eyes to the outside of the vehicle. "Let's just go to a drive-thru and get some snacks."

"Huh? Are you sure?"

Callie nodded and smiled. "I know a perfect place where we can eat."

*****

"HOW did you know about this place? I love coming here!" Clyde exclaimed as they went to the river park, where the city lights could be seen.

The sky is full of stars, and the river is particularly lovely due to the city lights reflected in it.

They sat on top of his trunk, sharing the food they had purchased.

"When I first moved here to Duncan Mills, this was the first place I looked for. Back then, I also spent so much time hanging out in the river with my friends," Callie replied.

He sipped a soft drink before speaking. "So, you didn't grow up in this town?"

"I'm from Montgomery," Callie replied.

"That's a small village, isn't it?"

"It is."

"Then why did you move here?" he asked, returning his gaze to Callie. He was struck by her sudden change in expression. She appeared to be suddenly depressed.

She forced a smile and said, "It's a long story."

He simply nodded and gazed at the river. There was an awkward silence between them. Moments later, Callie suddenly giggled.

"Why?" he smilingly asked.

"I just remembered something," Callie chuckled.

He couldn't look away from Callie. He had never seen her smile like that before. It was a genuine smile.

"Share it! You can't be the only one having a good laugh."

Callie smiled as she looked at him. She pointed to a large rock near the river and asked, "Can you see that boulder?"

"What about that?"

"I remember this time when I was still in Montgomery, it was a late afternoon and then I was looking for my two friends in the river. We used to hang out there after class but that afternoon, I was surprised because I didn't see them."

As he listened, Clyde smiled and moved a little closer to Callie. "And then?"

Callie smiled as she returned her gaze to the boulder. "I thought they were just late, so I decided to sit on a big rock and wait for them," she paused, still laughing. "Then I heard something unusual."

"What did you hear?"

"I couldn't figure out where the sound was coming from at first, so I looked behind the rock I was sitting on..." Callie leaned in close to his ear and whispered, "I saw them making out."

They both burst out laughing.

"Did they notice you? What was their reaction? No, what was your reaction when you saw them?"

"Of course, I was gobsmacked; aside from the fact that it was my first time seeing something like that, I had no idea they were dating," Callie explained. "They avoided me for days because they were ashamed."

He laughs and says, "I understand them."

Callie gave him a sly smile as if she was teasing him. "Why? Did you get caught as we_?"

"No!" he exclaimed, interrupting her. "Like you, I caught one of my friends doing what your friends were doing back then... My friend was just a little extreme."

Callie let out a small laugh. "Did he say anything?"

He laughs as he strokes his hair. "He said nothing. He just landed a strong punch on my face. Well, I'm to blame because I walked into his room without knocking."

Callie remarked, "He should've locked the door."

"Yeah."

After that, silence reigned between them once more.

As Callie sighed, he turned to her. "Why?" he inquired.

"I just miss my friends. I'm curious as to what they're up to right now."

"Have you not visited them since you moved here?"

Callie shook her head.

He could see the sadness in her eyes despite her smile. He wished he knew how to console her, but he didn't. Should he hug her? He worries that she might think he's taking advantage of her.

"Ummm... Clyde, I think I should go. My parents are probably looking for me right now," she abruptly stated.

"Is that so?" Clyde stood up and assisted Callie in sliding down the trunk. "I'll take you home."

*****

"THANK you for coming with me," Clyde said shyly.

It was his first time being shy in front of a woman. He was always confident, but he couldn't explain how he felt about Callie. He has to be head over heels in love with her.

They had already gotten out of the car and were standing in front of Callie's house.

"Thank you too, I had a great time. Thank you again here." Callie slightly lifted the bouquet she was holding. "All right, I have to go inside. Be careful on your way home," she said as she began walking down the footpath toward their house.

She was already right in front of the door when he called her again. "Hey, Callie!"

Callie shifted her attention to him, who was now grasping the doorknob. "Yes?"

"Can we still go out next time?"

Callie just locked her gaze on him for a few moments. He was apprehensive about what she would say.

Callie smiled and nodded. "Okay," she replied before finally entering the house.

"Yes!" He couldn't help but jump for joy when he heard. As he got back in the car, he was still smiling from ear to ear. He returned his gaze to Callie's house. "I'll see you soon."

*****

When Callie entered her room, she sat on her study table and placed the bouquet of roses given to her by Clyde on it.

As she gazed at the flowers, the corner of her lips lifted slightly.

Unbeknownst to Clyde, she overheard him and his friends discussing their bet on how he could win her in a week.

"Looks like my scheme is working."