New Life : A Second Chance

Kyle was thinking hard. 

Was this girl, Sari, the 'One'?

He was not going to put any stock into the way he was feeling right now but then again, perhaps he should?

Why was he rejecting the possibility of anything with her? Why not get to know her first, and then decide?

But, as Rex or as Kyle?

Thinking about it, he felt it was best as Rex first and if there was anything to this, then he would reveal himself as Kyle.

He couldn't help but think this was something like straight out of a shojou manga.

A loner girl, getting together with a grunge-type guy who turns out to be a hidden rich handsome heir.

Kyle shook his head.

'I'm living the life of a novel,' Kyle thought to himself.

Still, it was a new experience for him.

These sort of 'teenage-like' emotions was something he never thought he would experience in this life. He supposed going off on his own had this sort of effect that he could not have predicted at all.

Kyle looked up, sensing someone looking at him and his eyes locked with Sari's.

Both of them turned their heads, their faces flushed a bit.

Alia, who saw this scene, rolled her eyes.

It had been months now!

All these two had done was simply look at each other. With these stupid bashful look. 

"Rex!" Alia shouted, unable to stand it any longer.

"Yes, Kak?" Kyle answered politely, going over to her.

"Here," she said, putting some money in his hands.

"Kak?" Kyle asked puzzedly, looking at the cash and then at her.

Alia didn't answer, but instead, held on to his wrist as she shouted, "Sari!!" 

Kyle gulped and instinctively pulled but Alia held on tight. It wasn't that he couldn't escape if he wanted to, but he couldn't do that to Alia.

Or was it that he didn't really want to escape …?

"Yes, Auntie?" Sari replied, her voice hitching a bit when she saw who Alia had in her hands.

"Rex", Alia said, staring at Kyle in the eyes, "I notice Sari hasn't eaten yet and your break is due soon. Go and have lunch with Sari."

"B-B-Bu…" Kyle 

"What b-b-b-? Hah?" Alia said, "Go. Eat. Sari. Follow."

Sari was trembling at the side, shaking her head, "No, no, Auntie Alia! I-I"

"You! Another one! What Auntie Auntie. I am not that old! It's Kakak to you, okay?!" Alia said, giving a fake hurt look, "Make it up to me by making sure Rex eats, okay? He's so skinny!"

Alia patted Kyle on the chest and faltered a bit, as her hands landed on a firm, muscular frame.

She looked at him in shock, but Kyle was looking down, cursing inside his head as he tried to think of various excuses to escape.

Alia cleared her throat, and pulled Kyle, saying, "Rex, make sure Sari eats."

Kyle nodded, and only then did Alia let Kyle go.

Both of them shuffled out of the store, walking side-by-side but not talking to each other. Kyle made sure his pace matched Sari, and he stepped forward a bit to open the door for her. 

She thanked him as she went out, and waited for him to join her.

As the door closed, Sari said, "You don't have to do this. You go eat. I'll head on home."

Kyle shook his head, "No. Kak Alia said to make sure you eat."

Sari gulped.

This was the longest sentence Rex ever said to her, and she just loved the way his voice sounded.

Kyle, on the other hand, was thinking exactly the same thing. 

Everytime she came to buy something, she would just hand the items over and not say a word. The only thing she ever said to him was 'thank you' as she left and even then, her soft voice was sweet to the ear.

Kyle was mentally hitting himself on the head.

They went to the cafe right next to the convenience store, and sat down. 

[Hey, brother! What's up? Sorry I'm late today. Was finishing up my project]

Kyle kept a straight face, thinking the timing was truly awkward indeed.

[Nothing much]

[I'm not disturbing you, am I? With a customer right now?]

[No]

There was silence for a bit before Kay asked tentatively [Brother, are you okay? You sound a bit …]

[I'm on a date]

Kay, on the other side of the world, literally stumbled as she was walking to her bed.

[Wait. What? Where did this come from? Who is she? What is going on? Why haven't you told me anything about this before? Aren't you supposed to be working right now?!]

Kyle turned his head away, as the barrage of questions entered his mind like rapid bullets.

[It's break time. We're going to eat]

Kay took several deep breaths and lay down on her bed, hugging her bolster.

[I won't disturb you then. Report to me later]

Kyle's mouth twitched at Kay's choice of words. Report?

Sari watched as Rex appeared absent-minded, staring into the distance before she saw a twitch on his lips, as if he was trying not to smile.

Was he as nervous as she was, to be sitting right in front of him? Nervous because of the hidden feelings, and not because he was generally uncomfortable being with people?

Kak Alia did say he was a loner and just kept to himself.

She felt torn and conflicted now.

The way Alia had put them together, neither of them would feel good in just leaving. 'Make sure Sari/Rex eats' gave both of them a sense of responsibility so that they didn't run away and not eat together.

Kyle was thinking that Alia was too evil.

"Have you ordered?" Kyle asked, turning his attention back to Sari.

He gulped.

Gah, this was his first time with a girl. Alone. No Kay. No Elite Five.

It really was a 'date'. 

Kyle was lost. 

What is he supposed to do?!