2. Seven Years Ago

"Keira, I need your help, please help me,"  

Tara Moore called, begging Keira for help. 

"What is it that you want this time?" 

Keira was quite annoyed with her friend who always brings her trouble.

"Please say yes first!" Tara was persistent to get Keira to agree with her request.

"Okay, okay, I agree, but you owe me for this one okay?" 

Keira was bargaining her end of the deal.

"Okay! You are really the best ever! I'll go to your house."  

Tara was so excited that she arrived at Keira's place in 10 minutes.

"That was quick!" 

Keira was laughing at her friend. 

"So tell me what this is about, come on spill the beans."

"Go on a blind date for me.”

“What? No!”

“Come on, you already said yes, besides you can be rude to him to end the date faster, you just need to show up." 

Tara's explanation made it simpler for Keira to agree since she does not need to impress the date.

"Okay, free food and drinks then I go home; I won't dress up or try to impress this guy right?" 

Keira just wanted to be a hundred percent sure.

"Fine, you can do whatever you want, just be sure that he won't ask for another date."  

Tara made her instructions clear and left Keira as fast as she arrived.

"Hpppff… Why do I have to be friends with the troublesome one?"  

Keira and Tara had been friends all their lives; being heirs of multi-billionaires there are not many people in their circle. Keira could not even comprehend why she became close to Tara, they are the complete opposite. 

Tara was always dolled up; while Keira was always wearing her trainers, Tara was the outgoing type while Keira was the nerdy type that spends her time reading novels at home.

Keira was wearing a pair of black designer trainers, a cap, and rubber shoes. She was not trying to impress anyone as she naturally feels undesirable with her bushy eyebrows, thick 300grade eyeglasses, and hideous braces plus her untamed hair that has a life of its own.

They were supposed to meet at a fancy restaurant, Keira is clueless about the guy he's meeting, and she just knows him by the name; "Stephen".

"Excuse me Miss where is the table reserved by Mr. Stephen?"  

The courteous staff led her to a private room. To her surprise the guy was already there, he was like her; out of place in this posh restaurant. He was wearing a plaid red shirt, rugged denim pants, and a cap. 

He stood up and offered his hand to her "Hi, I'm Stephen."

Keira reached out her hand; "Tara." 

The food ordered by Stephen had arrived, they were both quiet, no one dared say a word, they just ate on their own, did not even look at each other.

"Goodness, this is the most awesome date ever!" 

Keira thought to herself and was so happy she blushed. Stephen was looking down on his food, while still thinking for a way to start a conversation with Tara.

"I am hopeless… how can I call myself a man, I can't even start a conversation with her." 

He tried to take a peek at Tara's face; he saw her blushing and smiling on her own. That smile made him relax a little bit.

Stephen cleared his throat; "Do you want a beer?" 

Keira almost choked on her food, she laughed at the expression on Stephen's face. 

Stephen placed his palm on his forehead in shame; 

"Why is that the first thing I said? I'm such a dork."

"Yes, I would like a beer please." Keira politely answered, seeing how embarrassed Stephen was.

The beers arrived and Stephen opened one for Keira. 

"I'm so sorry; I'm not really good at this." Stephen apologized to her. 

Keira can't help but smile; she's got this feeling that this Stephen is not that bad at all. 

"It's okay, I suck at this too, and I don't usually drink, so bear with me if I get drunk just drop me off my house."

Keira is on her 2nd bottle and is quite drunk already, 

"I want you to know that I was forced to be here with you, but with this cold beer on my hands, I realized that it's not that bad." 

Stephen smiled at the boldness of the woman in front of him. 

"I'm glad I offered you a beer then, I'm sorry I'm not really good at dates."

Keira is taken aback that the guy in front of her is always apologetic; 

"I'm sorry too… I am the worst date one could have." 

They both laughed at each other's awkwardness. Keira feels that amidst this discomfiture they actually have a connection, it's just sad that she came here as Tara and not as herself.

"This is my first date, I don't mean it as an excuse for my ineptness, but I am really nervous."

 Stephen was trying to explain, thinking it will make Keira at ease.  

"Oh my, same here, this is my first date too."

 Keira was a bit drunk that she was speaking as herself and not Tara.

Keira was on her third beer; this is the most that she drunk she has been in her entire life. 

"Be honest with me, what was your expectation coming into this date?" 

Keira has less hesitation now that she's a bit tipsy. 

"Well, my friend told me you are pretty and fun." 

Stephen on his 3rd bottle is also more open now with his thoughts.

Keira chuckled, "Oh boy, I can imagine how disappointed you were when you saw me; ugly and dorky."

"Not at all, you are beautiful and I am having fun now drinking with you," Stephen said without blinking an eye, it almost made Keira believe his words. 

"I like you, 4 bottles of beer is not enough to make you honest. I'm fine with that since I don't have to meet you ever again." Keira sneered at Stephen who is about to finish his bottle.

"That's a shame because… I'd love to meet you again, I'm serious when I said that this is the most fun I've had… ever." Stephen was at the most honest and shameless version of himself.  

"I'd like to keep this fun going, but one more bottle and I will be knocked out for sure." 

Keira was also being shameless, which was her original plan; he can't make Stephen enjoy this miserable date.

"I'll bring you home."

 Stephen was very gentlemanly all throughout, something Keira did not expect for a date she expected to end the moment she stepped in that private room. She nodded in conformity. Stephen drove Keira to her home, at the doorstep; Stephen was about to bid goodbye when Keira invited him inside her house. 

"Stephen, do you want some coffee to sober up? You should not drive further while drunk." Stephen was out of words on how Tara was so straightforward leading him inside her house.

"I'd love to have a cup of coffee with you, Tara." He waited for his coffee in the living room, watching Tara from afar; he was sobering up without the help of the coffee.

"Here is your coffee" Keira handed Stephen his coffee and she sat beside him. She took a sip on her cup and glanced at Stephen, who was staring at her too. Their eyes met, Keira felt the tension rise between them, and she took her gaze away immediately.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to stare." Stephen again was apologetic, something that is getting into Keira's nerves. 

"You used all your sorry cards for today, no more apologizing.” She chuckled trying to ease the tension. 

Stephen laughed too, as he was almost about to say sorry again, he took off his cap and bowed his head to Keira to apologize. He accidentally butted his head against Keira's head. 

"Oops, sorry, I'm really sorry." Stephen repeatedly apologized while blowing on Keira's head.

Their faces were too close to each other; Keira's heart was thumping like a mad elephant. Stephen looked at Keira who removed her eyeglasses after being bumped. 

“I said no mo…” Stephen did not let her finish her words.

"My God, you’re gorgeous." He whispered to Keira as he instinctively took over Keira's lips as if the woman was his.

Keira was lost for words, this is her first kiss, she does not know how to properly respond, but Stephen's lips were as if guiding her. 

"The fu*k! Why am I kissing this guy! The hell, it feels so good, I want more…" She had her battles inside her head and her primal instinct won.

She kissed back, she loved the feeling of his bittersweet lips on hers.