It Started with a Blind Date

Fifteen: Mark the Date

-Louisa's POV-
"You do!"

"I do not!"

"You do!"

"Fine! I love Teddy bears. Happy?" I clapped my hands in delight. Jeremiah, turns out, have a lot of weaknesses, one which included: his passionate love for Teddy bears.

Well, what happened to us?

This is what happened....

***
Four hours before that weakness of his is revealed....

"Hurry up, man!"

I groaned as I grabbed my handbag, a sturdy old thing that was given to me by my dad. I was dressed in a white blouse and some jeans, with grayish flats to match the look. My eyes take in his appearance appreciatively; with his royal blue polo tee plus some beige shorts, he looked simply amazing. He was at the bottom of the stairs, tapping his foot impatiently and noisily. Just to annoy me, I'm sure.

"Princess, you certainly took your time. What do you think?! That time can be bought?!"

I rolled my eyes at him. After all this time knowing him, I know time was something he really treasured in terms of punctuality. In saving time? Not so much. "Can you just chill, woman? I'm down here already, aren't I?"

Before he could retort at my comment on him being a woman, my mom shouted, "Irene, you going out with Jeremiah now?" My mom refused to call me by my first name. This is because she never liked the name Louisa. She much preferred the name Irene, so that it would match her name, Iris.

But, as usual, my dad's charm totally won her over. My mom is still seething herself over that and in revenge on my dad, calls me Irene instead, which is my middle name. When Jeremiah heard this the first time, he looked downright curious and silently pondered on this all the way home that day.

This guy is just plain weird sometimes.

"Yeah, Mom! Jeremiah's being an idiot over here though, because I arrived 1 minute late." "Jeremiah! Be nice to Irene, please. How would your married life with her be, I can now tell."

My face turned red in embarrassment and mortification. Trust my mom to make the whole situation awkward.

Jeremiah just laughed though and replied, rewarding me a wicked grin, "Thanks for the advice, Mrs. Delaney! I'm sure with so many of our kids around, she would be too busy to argue with me to death." My mom laughed heartily at his comment. The traitor.

Please let me die right now.

***
Two hours ago, before his embarrassing secret was revealed...

"This is delicious! Wow, how did you find this place?"

Jeremiah's place for our date surprised me. He seemed to like those fancy restaurants where they will pour you your drink in a jiffy even though it's still half full and certainly not the type who liked rundown places like this. "The grandfather of my friend Ronald founded this place. He took over when he died of lung cancer."

"Speak of the devil and he is here."

I looked at him oddly. He rolled his eyes and replied, gesturing to a young man who was wearing a cream colored shirt with jeans. He had mesmerizing green eyes and coppery brown hair. His chiseled looks and tanned skin made him handsome. He smiled at me and waved, "I think I'm the devil he said. And hey, you're Louisa, right?"

I smiled and nodded my head. Jeremiah grunts unattractively. "Yeah. Jeremiah was just talking about you." He laughed, "Good things I hope." "Oh, not really." He huffed and tutted at Jeremiah, "Hey, I thought the talking about the good things part was part of the bros privilege?"

"Keep talking, bro, and you'll be demoted to only friends."

Ronald laughed, "Okay, you got me. You guys want anything else?" Jeremiah stood up, pulling me up by the arm. His grip on me sent my heart into overdrive. Seriously, since when his touch became a problem to me?

"That will be all and thanks, Ronald."

He just winked.

***
The cool breeze of the beach caressed my skin and made me shiver. Up above, the Moon proudly shone its radiance; its reflection like a silver coin on the water. Some lone boat was skimming across the water far away, making a dull noise that sounded through the night but not enough to be a nuisance.

Jeremiah shrugged off his leather jacket he was wearing and placed it gently onto my shoulders. I smiled at him gratefully. Before I could walk another step, his arm snaked around my waist and pulled me closer to him, enclosing me into his warmth.

I stood frozen in his embrace. I did not know what to make of it; my brain is now clearly not working in my favor and my inner self is now singing and dancing so happily because of this. I allowed myself a glimpse of him; his eyes twinkled and a hint of his smile made the butterflies in my stomach flew in a frenzy.

"Checking me out?"

I punched him lightly. He laughed and pulled me tighter to him. "I brought a blanket with me to sit on. Let's sit over there." I tutted at him, "Not gonna ask whether I want to?" He smirked and shrugged, letting go of me to bring something out of leather bag he was carrying. I could immediately feel the absence of his warmth.

"I know you want to. I'm just lazy to ask." I rolled my eyes at his attempt to retain his bad boy attitude but I let him be.

***
Back to moments before his embarrassing secret is revealed...

"Hey! Wanna play a game?"

I smirked at him who was sprawled at the red and white blanket he brought. Yeah, it is that cliche. "Trying your bad boy game on me now? I can hear those girls waiting for your embrace wailing and moaning right now." He huffed and raked his hand into his hair. I can't help but stared in amazement at how he could pull the messy-don't-care look and still look hot.

"No. Fancy playing truth or truth?"

"I thought it was called truth or dare?"

He shrugged, "You know I dare to do a lot of things already. No fun. I want something more intense."

I sat cross-legged, facing him, "Sure. Bring it on."

He gave me that famous smirk of his, "Aw, you're gonna regret, Lou!"

***
After the embarrassing secret is out in the open...

"Okay! My turn.." I smiled in anticipation. He gave me wide grin and asked softly, "Do you like me, Louisa?" I caught my breath. I did not see that coming.

As I stared motionless at him, his face faltered a little and he shrugged, "Ah..forget about that; let me ask you another-"

I placed my fingers onto his lips and his eyes widened. I quickly bend down and kissed his cheek and said, "Yes."

His reply was pulling me closer to his body and together we gazed at the starry night sky in silence; with him stroking my arm with his fingers and me leaning on his shoulder.

After awhile, he placed his head on top of my head, sighing contentedly, "Thank you...for loving me the way I am, Louisa. I love you."

I smiled. Jeremiah could be a bad boy, but he sure knew how to take care of his girl. "I love you too. I guess our relationship is real now?" I could hear him smirk, "Yeah, Lou; no one can resist the Jeremiah charm." I turned around and elbowed him but he just grinned.

Life, at the moment, seemed very agreeable to me.