The blind date

Three days later at the mall

A pink sports car pulls over in front of the mall, and parks amongst the many cars in the garage. Alicia and a young lady of about the same age as her hop out of the car and walks toward the mall elegantly as they both mutter inaudible words to themselves and laugh happily. 

Stepping into the mall, the two walks over to the counter where they pick up baskets and start shopping.

A few minutes later, they finally return to the receptionist to pay for everything they bought. 

"Everything is three thousand boxes. Are you paying with cash or a card?" The innocent receptionist asks them politely. 

"I'll pay with a card," Alicia replies to her. After she paid for the things they bought, they finally stride to the exit door with all the things they bought. Stepping out of the mall, she collides with someone and staggers back. 

"Are you OK? I'm so sorry I didn't see you coming," Raising her gaze to check who she just collided in, she almost rolls her eyes at the person it turns out to be. It's Ren again. Just two days ago, this dude managed to return her purse to her while she was at her friend's house, and that bitch she call a friend didn't stop gushing over him since then. 

"You should look where you're going next time," She sneers at him. 

"Ren..." Lilian, her best friend calls with s smile on her face as soon as she steps out of the mall. 

"Hey, Lily. How have you been?" He smiles at her politely. 

"I've been fine. I thought you were going to come over to our house after that day so we can all hang out together," Lilian smiles at him. 

"Are you staying here with him or are you going home with me?" Annoyed at her friend's action, Alicia finally speaks up angrily. 

"Come on, babe. It takes you nothing to be nice to this guy, you know? I mean, he was nice enough to have returned your purse to you, and that enough should convince you that he's not a bad person..."

"Meet me in the car when you're done," She cuts her off before walking away. 

"Your friend seems to hate me at first sight," Ren says after he glances at her. 

"She doesn't hate you. She's just going through a difficult time now. She'll come around, OK? See you some other time," She winks at him before she hurries to join Alicia in the car. 

"Gosh! You shouldn't act like that toward Ren, you know?" Lilian says as she hops in the car. 

"He doesn't look like he's a bad person..."

"The same way you told me Felix was a nice guy then, and I ended up falling victim," She rolls her eyes as she ignites the car engine and zooms off. Just eleven years ago when she met the bastard that left her stranded on their wedding day, she wasn't quick to fall in love with him even if he did everything to win her heart. Lilian was the one that kept telling her how good the guy was, and later he broke her heart and left her. Although Ren hasn't made his intention known to her, she's never going to give any man a chance in her life, ever again. She would've been better off without a man in her life but it seems like that won't work, not when her parents are on her neck and hell-bent on seeing her get married. 

"Come on, Alicia. Are we still talking about this? It's been eight years already..."

"Eight years and the pain is still a day old in my heart," She rolls her eyes as she drives down the road. 

"I'm sorry if that got you angry. But you see... You can't continue like this, OK? You're twenty-nine already and will be 30 in the coming months. Are you planning not to ever get married?" Lilian tries to convince her. 

"I wish I can make that decision, but my parents are going to kill me if I do, and that's exactly my problem," She sighs briefly while having all his attention on the road. 

"I have just four days left to bring my invisible boyfriend to my family. Dad is going to force me to get married to a random old man eventually if I don't act fast," She further says frustratingly. 

"What do you plan to do then?" Lilian asks, and she suddenly matches on the break, pulling over at the side of the road. 

"I don't know," She breathes out. 

"I have an idea. How about you go on a blind date..."

"That's not even an option, Lilian. Why should I go on a blind date? It's not that I don't have men coming to me for relationship, I'm not just interested in this bullshit. What's the point of going on a blind date?" She scoffs in amusement as she rolls her eyes. That's the last thing on her mind now. 

"Come on, Alicia. You may turn out to like the person..."

"Don't dream about that, Lilian. It's not going to happen," She disagrees. 

"Just give it a try, please. You'll end up with an old man if you don't give this a try," Lilian further says, and she rolls her eyes. 

"Fine, I'll go for it," She scoffs as she kicks start the car and zooms off. 

The next day at Lilian's house

"I have tried over five clothes on already, I'm tired," Alicia whines almost in tears as she slumps on the bed. 

"Come on, you just need to look good so..."

"Fine... Fine... Fine. I'll try it on," She cuts her off as she grabs the red short gown from the bed and wears it. The dress fits her perfectly, revealing her curvy shape. The chest is slightly opened, revealing her cleavage. 

"Perfect!" Lilian winks at her. 

"There's no way I'm wearing this, please," She disagrees. 

"And that's it. You're wearing that," Lilian says in a serious tone. Turning to the closet, she throws it open and brings out a pair of red heel shoes to compliment the dress. 

Staring at her reflection uncomfortably a few minutes later, she can't help but give this a second thought. Is this going to turn out well? What will happen if eventually she likes the guy and introduces him to her parents as her boyfriend? She has just three days left, and she needs to be fast about this. 

"Good luck," Lilian says to her with a smile dancing on her lips. 

"Thank you," She replies to her before she finally strides out of the room. 

Pulling over in front of the classic five-star restaurant minutes later, she hops out of the car and strides nervously to the entrance door. Taking a deep breath, she pushes the door open and walks in elegantly. Seeing everywhere deserted with no single person around, she can't help but question herself if she's in the wrong place. 

"Excuse me, ma'am, this way," The waiter walks over to her and leads her away as if he has been waiting for her, while she just obeys him and trails behind him. 

Arriving at the VIP section of the restaurant, the back view of a raven-haired man welcomes her, and her heart beats rapidly against her chest. 'Is this a good idea?' The only question that she keeps asking herself as she walks elegantly over to the man. 

"Excuse me, are you..." Her mouth drops open in shock when the young man raises his gaze to look at her, and alas! It's Ren. 

"You?" She scoffs with her mouth hanging open in shock. Gosh! Her friend is so cunning. What was she even expecting? How dare she arrange a blind date for her and this young man?