I was nervous when I first sat down. Meeting people business wise I can do. But if I have to meet the person(s) face to face on a more personal level, I easily break down. But what got me nervous the most was two of the three girls. The first girl that got me nervous was my high school crush which I had no balls to confess. Her name is Mirana Silva and as strange and beautiful her name sounds, she is as beautiful as her name denotes along with a mysteriously sweet voice. The second girl got me nervous because she was the girl I saved in the car crash incident. Whenever I look at her, my face twitch and my body writhe in pain for a split second because I remember the incident not too long ago. I was glad that I had the mask. If not, the people could've seen my face sweating already.
To calm myself, I turn to another direction and let my eyes wander. The entire restaurant was slightly hectic because of the many orders and waiters and waitresses ran towards their respective tables to serve. While my eyes were wandering, a waitress bumps into my shoulder. "Sorry" said a familiar voice. A shiver moves up my spine and shocks my brain.
I turned my neck so fast that I thought I would pull a neck muscle. Going along the direction of the voice, it was just as I feared. The same girl, Gisela, just bumped into me. '.... is Meracle setting me up for a disaster?'
"Jin? Is there something the matter?" Meracle was right beside me asking this question.
"Ah.. Nothing Meracle. Just saw a familiar face." I responded back.
She turns to the direction I was looking at. "Oh. Her? You know her Jin?"
"More or less Meracle." I tried to say calmly. But my hands were already sweaty.
"Well that's my friend over there. I asked her a favor to reserved a spot for the seven of us here" she smiled.
"S-s-seven? Wasn't it suppose to be six Meracle?"
"Well.... She wanted to meet someone to hook up... So I am a third wheel here" she helplessly muttered.
"Hook up? Third wheel?" I did not understand. Maybe it was because I've never dated that I have never heard of these words.
"Ah don't worry so much Jin. It's fine if I'm a third wheel. I still got my problems to get over" Meracle waves her hand as a gesture to tell me not to mind what she just said.
"Oh? So your name is Meracle? What a beautiful name!" A man next to me exclaimed. His handsome face shows that he was no older than twenty five. His tanned skin and toned muscles can be seen because he only wore a vest as a shirt and some jeans. His hair could be said to be a side pompadour hairstyle that was only five inch high with a face that looked manly. "My name is Kyle Reed." He extends his hand passing my space and towards her to shake her hand. He gave her a smile that made both our hairs on our skin stood up.
"Ah... Sorry. I am not really a part of this date tonight. I'm just taking someone's else place until then" Meracle did not shake his hand but nervously replied to him.
He ignores my presence and moves closer to Meracle to take her hand.His smile suddenly got brighter and gave off a scent of mint and said, "Hey it's fine. We can have fun until she comes"
In my chest, I could feel a slight twinge when he grabbed Meracle's hand. "Hey mister Reed. Personal space please? Also, Meracle said that she is not a part of tonight's date"
"And you are?"He said. His face tightened slightly as he looks towards me. "A man in a mask? Not cool to not show your face to others. Especially on dates. That mask is so retro and makeshift, I thought you were here for a carnival festival instead of a date."
"Hey Kyle. That's enough. We are here with other people and he is her friend and you are invading his personal space to shake her hand. So it is better off that you do apologize to him." The man next to Kyle said in a stern voice. His has milk white skin complexion, his face is like those of model's on TV (no older than thirty), His hair is combed to look like he works in the business industry (side part classic cut), and he wore a dark blue suit.
"Hmph. Fine. What kind of man hides his face on dates like these." Kyle angrily muttered.
"Sorry about that. Your name is Jin right?" The man's face was serene as he said this.
"Ah yeah" I said.
"Forgive my friend. He is slightly short tempered and isn't as bad as he act right now reguarly. I am also sure that you have your reasons for wearing that mask. It doesn't look that bad either." the man said in a business manner.
"Alright. But will you also tell us your name?" speaking to this man made me felt calmer.
"Oh right. My name is Akira Yukimura" the man said.
'What the... His name sounds cool and he even looks good.'
"Awesome! Your names sounds really cool!" a girl said. I turn to who said it and it turns out to be the girl I saved from the car crash.
"It does doesn't it? My father wanted a cool and prosperous name for me so he chose Akira. But the Yukimura kills the first name slightly" Akira said in a happy tone.
"By the way" Meracle spoke up. "Why don't we all introduce ourselves. I'm Meracle Cross and next to me is Rosa Diaz. Beside Rosa is Mirana Silva"
Everyone took a good look at each other. The only one that stood out the most was Mirana. Her beauty out shines the others by far. As for the males, Akira stood out like the sun and I was the one who stood out like a sore thumb. The reason? ..... Simply because I had a mask on and it was terribly made.
Meracle was nervous and nudge against me. "Hey Jin. This is your first group date. So take off your mask or else you will lose face and your advantage to these guys." she whispers.
"It's fine Meracle. I really do have a reason not to take off my mask. So please don't force me to take it off" I whispered back to her.
"Fine. Just don't blame me if you lose your chance at dating Mirana" Her voice was getting lower.
"Why would I need to worry about not dating Mirana if I have you?" I joked.
*PINCH* A sharp pain came from the right side of my side.
"Stop saying words that you don't mean. I hate fake people" Her face was really red this time.
"I-I got it. So please let go of my right side. It still hurts you know" I whimpered
"Oh? We already got a pair?" Mirana's sweet voice came out.
"Eh? What's a pair?" I ask.
"We. Are. Not. A. Pair. I told you guys that I am here in another person's place" she strongly denies whatever they were saying.
"I've been wondering. Who is this mysterious person who reserved a spot here?" Akira asks Meracle.
"She's coming. Just wait for a bit. She's already here actually. Just give her another 15 minutes." Meracle said.
"While we wait, why don't we order some food?" Rosa suggested to the group.
"Mhm Sounds like a good idea. But one thing, how will Jin eat?" Mirana shows a look of concern in my direction.
"Don't worry about me. I'm actually very full right now." I laughed. I laughed I'm not joking. The fish and the soup nearly took me out and I am still having trouble holding things down. The food convulsed in my stomach for the past hour and it just settled down not too long ago.
"Really? Shame. I heard that the food here is really good." Akira said as he picks up his menu. The rest of us picks our menu except me. We ordered our foods respectively and waited.
-15 minutes later-
For a while, everyone discussed things with each other about their personal lives and idle chatter. I was the only one who did not speak much. What could I speak about? My childish ideal of being a firework maker? Yeah... That is very interesting... Telling people about how much I want to be a firework maker sure is a good way to make conversations.
As for the others, they made jokes, laughs, and talked about interesting things. Akira was a business accountant and Kyle is still in college but plays a major league baseball team. Mirana is practicing to become a singer and Rosa is a nurse in a hospital which is not far from where Meracle lives.
Just then, a girl walked over with neon green hair wearing latex pants, high heels, a beany and a pink sweater. Her sexy curves made two men jaws dropped and two other girls depressed. But most of all, she came over to our table and whispered to Meracle.
'So this is our mysterious girl huh?' I thought. But when I took a good look at her face, I realize that it was Gisela. 'Oh come on. Why this...'
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
If I were to describe Gisela to the best of my abilities, then I would say that she has the curves of an hour glass, the complexion of a slightly tanned person, the face close to a doll with long green neon hair, and long legs.
Meracle got up, pulled the seat to the right slightly, got another seat from another table and sat right next to me.
"Hey guys. I'm Gisela White. Pleased to meet you all. Meracle already told me your names as well." She said. She took a good look at the three of us males and one by one she judged us with her eyes. "Oh? Who is this mysterious masked marauder" she instantly took an interest in me.
"Ha ha... No one at all. Just someone who had an accident and wants to hide his face" Kyle said.
"Oh. So that is why you wear that mask?" Gisela raised an eyebrow.
"Please don't overthink the mask thing guys. He likes his privacy and let us give him some room" Akira spoke up.
I was silent the entire time. Akira wasn't wrong. I really like my privacy. Just hate showing my face to the world.
"Well alright then. Since I finally got here, let us pair up!" Gisela said. She was really ecstatic about pairing up and was acting all giddy. The sight made me shiver a little.
Each of the girls whispered to each other in small volumes so that we(males) can't hear them speak. But I can hear them loud and clear. Although it was low in volume, my ears can hear their words like a loud speaker. How so? If one was bullied every so often at a tender age, he or she can or will develop abnormal hearing senses. This way, I can avoid bullies just by distinguishing people's footsteps. Some people may not know it, but foot steps are just like finger prints. Be it loud or soft, as long as the footsteps are unique to every person, the footsteps can be distinguished.
But this isn't the time to talk about my shameful past. Currently, the women are whispering to each other and are mostly focused on Akira. They were deciding which person to take Akira. Their ranking were Akira, Kyle, and then me. You can already guess how the ranking works as well.
"Hey Jin." Akira whispers over to me.
"Hm? What is it Akira?" we spoke in low voices as well so that girls can't hear.
"Which girl do you like?" his smile was slightly sinister as he said this.
"Well..I... Don't.... Really..." I was kind of speechless. I never put any thought to liking girls or having preferences.
"You don't like any of them?" Akira was now looking concerned.
"I've never been on a date before much less a group date" I shy admitted. This made the two (Kyle and Akira) of them grinned.
"Well I liked the new girl that just walked in. She looks amazing" Akira was completely mesmerized by her curves.
"No doubt Akira. I knew you were a man like I am" Kyle jumped in the conversation.
As for me, I had my doubts. I remembered the painful moments of my earlier years and paled at their praises. 'A man like Kyle? I'm pretty sure that the two are plain perverts that knows what they want' I smiled as the thought came to my head.
Just then our meals that we ordered were done and the waiters brought over the platters to everyone. "Eh? I didn't order this" I said. The platter was a simple large steak 16 oz. Meracle turns towards me and said, "I ordered that for you to eat..." her face was red. "Eh? But we just ate curry at home." I was shocked to see the huge steak. No matter how tantalizing the food looked, I could not eat it.
"Just eat it Jin. Just think of it as a quick apology for the bad food earlier. I'll pay." she nudge at my side. I groaned on the inside. I did not know what she was thinking when she ordered me food. I had no money to pay! The shame of letting my landlady to pay for me... It just hurts.
"Alright then. Just let my take off the bottom part of my mask" I sighed. The mask I made was nothing more than a makeshift mask. So it had no real appeal to the eyes of others. But to me, it still had functions. The white mask is made up of two individual parts and is able to snap on to become one. This makes it easier for me to eat and breathe whenever needed. But there are more secrets to this masks. Just won't state it now.
*Snap* I took off the bottom part of my ask which only reveals my face from the tip of my nose and down to the chin. Not one person beside Meracle notice that I took off my mask. They were chattering and so distracted with the two other males and to each other that they forgot my existence. As for me, I just casually ate the steak. When I was done, I re-attached my mask back on with a quick snap. *Snap* Only now they heard the snap. All of them turned my way.
"Hey did you just..." Kyle was shocked to see that my mask was detachable.
"I was re-adjusting my mask" I quickly denied.
"That is not what I meant. You just took off that mask!" Kyle was snorting out flames.
"Hmmm... Yeah... So what about it?" I casually replied. There was not a hint of worry on my face. Not like they can see my face anyway.
"Y-y-you!!!!!" Kyle balled his fist tightly.
"So.... Have you guys finally decided your pairs?" I ignored Kyle.
"Ah... Not yet. Just give us more time to decide." Mirana responded.
".......... The decision is taking too long....." I sighed.
"Oh? Then do you have a solution? Cuz we are trying to be serious about the ones we pick" Gisela gave me a dead stare.
I look down at my arm to see that the time reads 8:00 pm. "Only four more hours until midnight..." I sighed. "I do have a suggestion. Since this is a group date, we should give everyone a turn. Instead of picking our pairs, we will go in pairs with the person in front of us or of our choosing for only half an hour. The second method we could do is pull straws with numbers on them. The last method is.." I said to the group and trailed off at the end.
"The last method?" They all wondered. "What is the last method?" Rosa asks me.
"Simple. The males choose their girls." I answered. I then wrapped my arms around Meracle, pulled her towards me and said, "I already have my first choice"
"W-w-wha? Get off me Jin! I just said that I'm not a part of the group date!" Meracle was flusted and tried her best to push me away.
"Boooo........" I cried at the rejection.
"Actually, I like the first option. This way, we will be able to decide later on for who to go with who in the end. Now that we know Jin is taken..." Rosa was just making fun of Meracle.
"He is not taken and I am not interested in him. This is how he jokes around!" Meracle strongly rejects.
"Ah you know you like him" Gisela continued to egg on Meracle. Steam could be seen coming from Meracle's red hot face.
I let go of Meracle and said, "Alright then. I'll try to take this group date to be a little more serious. So which method are we going to use?"
"We are going with the first method. Any objections?" Akira voiced out. Not one person objected. Of course Akira would not object. In front of him was Gisela.
As for Kyle, in front of him was Rosa and she did not lose out in looks compared to the others so Kyle was satisfied.
As for me... I paired up with Mirana for the next half fifteen. We talked for fifteen minutes straight but then stopped talking for a while. Suddenly, Kyle ordered for some beer and some of us were excited. Besides me, Rosa wasn't excited.
Things gotten a little strange after the alcohol came out. Only four people were drinking alcohol and those four were Akira, Kyle, Meracle, and Gisela but they were not drunk yet. Or, at least I think they weren't drunk yet.
I've never drank alcohol in my life and I'm not starting now.
Mirana just didn't like alcohol either so she didn't drink. She was the first one to reject the alcohol the moment it got over.
Rosa had work the next day, so she can't drink at all.
Meracle just went silent after drinking two bottles of beer. But the rest were slightly excited.
"Group dates are strange" I muttered. But I wondered, 'why we have partners if we are in a group date?'
I didn't know that I would find out in the next five minutes.