Marryin Off The Spinster

"I don't even know you," Kenny suddenly voiced out her thoughts. "We're not close." She wrinkled her brows and stare at the man in front. She is finding it hard to believe this guy knew her. Oh well, it's not that she dislikes it but for a 'man' to do that is new to her; it overwhelms her. Retrieving both her short-term memory and long-term memory from her memory storage, she couldn't find anything that could tell her he's familiar.

Kenny's sense of fight or flight response is emanating.

'Shit. This guy must be a creep.' She thought, unconsciously raising her eyebrow and squinting her already small eyes. She is ready to run away, just in case. On the other hand, it would be very unlikely to just get off without proper reasons too.

Derek seemed to notice her defensive aura. He beckoned his companion to go ahead first. The man beside him nodded and walked away.

Turning back, he said, "Ah... That's unfortunate. You have forgotten me." Bemused at hearing him say those words with such closeness, she wants to puke at his face.

'Feeling?'

'This guy's getting annoying. So pushy.'

'Shit. Gotta get outta here now. A.S.A.P!'

'This guy's a weirdo.'

Her thoughts are rummaging through her head, subconsciously showing an expression of annoyance, shifting from confusion to distrust.

'In real situations, this guy shouldn't be too familiar with me. He seems so extra. What's cooking?'

"Y-you might have been mistaken, sir." She said, turning her head left to right, with a questioning look. Honestly, she doesn't know this guy, nor have seen this guy before. 'Did I lost all my memories after staying too long hibernating in my cocoon? This may be the after-effects of being idle for almost two years.'

Not knowing what to do any further, Kenny decided that it's high time that she exits. But what to do? This situation had her feel awkward and caught off guard.

She took a quick look at her surroundings; some gossiping employees and onlookers are looking at them making her feel fl.u.s.tered for being the center of attention.

Now, she could feel her stomach begins to churn. It's stressing her out.

This is one of the reasons why Kendra does not interact that much to the opposite s.e.x --- she just can't, without her acting like a tomboy. Right now, she's just a wimpy Kenny.

Inadvertently hating this feeling whenever she is caught off guard in situations like this, she got no time to shift.

However, if need be, especially on different occasions, Kenny can shift to her professional self, just like a chameleon and can adapt pretty well to situations, but only for a short period.

'Such pretentious bitch.'

'She should be lucky for Manager Derek is fancying her.'

'She's annoying to look at.'

'Are they lovers?'

If only she could listen to their thoughts, she should have been digging her own grave by now. Such embarrassment will surely make her want to die.

Feeling out of sorts, she stood there frozen.

"We met before, Miss," Derek said. "I was with my friend at that time. Remember the guy you've had an encounter with, spilling orange juice on his shoe?"

Kenny was trying to run her mind again, turning it upside down. Upon hearing 'orange juice' and 'spilled', her memories start to flash right before her eyes, making her rain sweats on her forehead.

"That guy was my friend." He said, flashing off his million-dollar smile.

"Wh-Who?" Kenny stuttered in response. Embarrassing moments are the memories she wanted to avoid as much as possible. Before she starts to berate herself again for her stupidity back then, she took a step back, ready to run away.

"Wait." Sensing that she's feeling uncomfortable, Derek said, "I think it was a bad thing for me to suddenly become so cordial with you. My bad. Sorry for making you feel awkward." Derek apologetically smiled at her.

Kenny: ...

Without waiting for her response, he continued. "I am Derek by the way. I'm the manager at UTMT mall."

Derek gestured to shake her hands, but Kenny was so late to react. So he put down his hands, awkwardly.

Snapping back to reality, Kenny got startled, faking a cough out of embarrassment.

"Uhm...sorry." Avoiding eye contact, she apologized realizing her actions. "I-I'm sorry, that was rude of me. Uhm, come again?"

"It's Derek," he said. "You?"

"Uh--" She paused and thought for a second whether she would tell him her real name. Then she continued, stuttering, "C-call me...Martha...M-Martha Andres." She lied.

"That's a pretty name." Although she lied about her name like that, she felt her face flushed even though she would never, ever, blush like that. She turned sideways and said, "Thanks."

Glancing at the time, Derek invited Kenny to grab some lunch. "By the way, where are you going next? If you have some time, let's go grab some lunch. It's almost noon--" Just before he could finish, Kenny raised her palm, making Derek stop.

Not feeling jittery any more, Kenny said with a poker face, "You know, you and I were total strangers. Aren't you afraid that I might rob you off?" Putting both her hands to her sides, Kenny didn't like it. "And you might think I am an easy girl."

"Are you?" Kenny went dumbfounded. He just threw back a follow-up question. "And I guess, you are doing this on purpose. I never thought there'll come a time when I could meet a girl like you... feisty tigress outside, but a total bunny inside."

Kenny wasn't able to dodge that. He spoke the truth. Not wanting to make a fool of herself any longer, she decided to walk away. Seeing her flee, Derek went after her, getting more interested.

"Hey! Wait, Ms. Andres..." briskly walking after the woman.

Catching up, he swiftly walk beside her. 'This woman is different. She sure can be a match to Joshua.' He grinned sheepishly.

Noticing him and seeing his expression, her expression turned ghastly. "What are you grinning at?"

Shrugging, Derek replied, "Nothing..." Stopping on his tracks, Kenny looked back. Derek continued, "You know..."

"What?"

"Ahh, nothing. By the way, where are you going?"

Kenny resumed walking, "Why are you asking me? Are we friends? Stop being so overly familiar with me."

"The fact that you and I are talking casually now, though, we just have known each other earlier, I think we are yet to be considered friends. Let's say, we're acquaintances, and you are interesting to me."

Overwhelmed upon hearing his words, Kenny paused. Derek paused as well. "Cat got your tongue?" He teasingly said.

"Shut up." Then she left hurriedly.

"Actually, I am on my way to do my usual rounds here. Maybe I could accompany you while I'm working." Derek said.

"No thanks." Without thought, she declined.

"C'mon. I could help you choose whatever you are going to buy. Looking at you, you are here not only to roam around leisurely but probably going to buy some stuff."

Rolling her eyes, she mumbles to herself, "Heh. Fortune teller?" Then she stopped walking, ignoring him.

"Ha? What were you saying?"

Kenny just shrugged her shoulders.

Later on, she felt hungry. She decided to ride the escalator bridging the 1st to the 2nd floor. There are lots of stalls selling cheap foods to snack on. She headed to the one selling meatballs.

"Hey!" Derek run-up to her. Lucky for him that there're only a few people on the escalator. "Let me buy you lunch." She ignored him, walking towards the stalls.

"I know you are hungry." Still ignoring him. "Okay, I will not think that you are an easy girl if you accept my invitation. Well, I never did in the first place though. Sorry if you ever think of that way." He admitted.

Kenny faced him, reconsidering his offer after hearing him say those words. Though strangers, she put aside her prejudice and let him not waste his sincerity.

"Okay." She nonchalantly said.