"Maybe it's
me."
The words left her mouth before
she could stop them. The silence following was awkward and
tense and she didn't look up for fear of what his
expression would be.
"You think so?" he said finally. His disappointed
tone caught her attention - she glanced up to be met with his
furious gaze. "It's not you, it's them," he
growled. "It's society which is screwed up. You've
fine - great, even. You're okay."
She stared at him for a second too long. He faltered, pink
staining his cheeks. "What?" he finally muttered
self-conciously.
She blinked. "That's pathetic." It wasn't
said spitefully but it still caught him off guard.
"W-what?"
"You think it's their fault I hate them? You
think it's them?" She looked tired, really tired.
"Look over there," she murmured, nodding towards the
door of the shop across the street. He did so obediantly.
"See that man?" she asked, referring to the young
father crouching over a push-chair in which sat a giggling
baby. "His wife passed away in childbirth. And over
there?" She didn't even pause in her berating, now
looking at two kids skateboarding. "He's so scared of
the future, he's thinking about therapy. And over
there?" She now focused on two guys sitting a couple
tables over. "He's gay and in love with his engaged
best friend." She turned her accusatory gaze back on him.
"They're all your evil
'society'."
"B-but-"
"Everyone's got problems. Everyone's
dealing with something, but people like you just go and blame
everything on them. On 'society'. And I think
it's pathetic."
He stared at her, gobsmacked.
"There's nothing wrong with
'society'. I just look at it negatively. I'm a
negative person with negative thoughts. I like solitude, I
don't care enough to get hurt. I'm not scared or
anything, I just... can't find it in myself to care. To me,
it's fine whatever happens. I'm not broken or anything,
I haven't had any past trauma." She sighed. "I
was born like this. I'm just..."
She paused, thinking for the right word. He was clueless as to
what it could be.
"I'm..."
He stood up, leaned over the table and cut her off with a
kiss.
Short. Sweet. Sudden and suddenly over.
"W-" She blinked, astounded. "What the hell? I
just insulted you, what's wrong with
you?"
He shrugged, trying to hide a sheepish grin, and looked out the
window to avoid her furious gaze. "I like honest
girls."
She sighed, shaking her head. "I don't get
you."
He chuckled. "That's a first."
"Huh?"
"You're too observant. I like keeping you on your
toes."
"You kissed me to keep me on my to-"
He kissed her again.
"No."
"I-"
"I told you. I like honest girls. Now, we've got to
fix this bad 'no-caring' habit of yours, don't
we?"
For the first time since he'd met her, she was
speechless.
-FIN-