Chapter Seventeen: His Reason To Meet Her

Vince laughed as he recounted the story, clearly amused by the memory.

“Yeah, she showed up in a full Maleficent costume. Can you picture it? She found out her blind date was me, and instead of sticking around, she just bolted—cape flapping in the wind and all. Ran straight down the road, embarrassed as hell. Poor girl,” he said, shaking his head as he smirked.

The group of girls at his table burst out laughing, clearly entertained by his dramatization of the event.

"That's because she can't even compare to your good looks."What a poor woman.” A girl he didn’t know, wearing a short skirt and a cheerleading uniform with bright lipstick, commented on him. While he was waiting for Cara, a group of cheerleaders gathered at his table in the cafeteria.

Vince leaned back in his seat, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. His eyes sparkled with confidence as he cracked another one of his trademark jokes. “We actually fit if I wore the costume of Hulk,” he said, a laugh bubbling from his lips as he joked about his muscular physique. The girls surrounding him burst into laughter, some of them giggling uncontrollably while others clutched their stomachs from laughing too hard. Vince was the center of attention, and he knew it. He always had this effortless charm that seemed to draw people in, especially the girls. They listened to every word he said, hanging on to his every joke and funny anecdote.

As the laughter died down, Vince decided to share one of his infamous blind date experiences. With a dramatic shake of his head, he began, “Trust me, after that date, I swore I'd never go on one again. It was like a scene out of a disaster movie. Picture this: awkward silences, spilled drinks, and me realizing halfway through the night that we had absolutely nothing in common. Never again, I swear!” The girls laughed even harder, picturing the cringeworthy scenario in their minds. Vince was a natural storyteller, and his self-deprecating humor made him all the more likable.

However, in the midst of all the chatter, Vince’s gaze shifted, and he noticed Cara. She was standing a few feet away, her brow furrowed in concentration as she watched him with a certain intensity. Vince's attention was immediately drawn to her. Something about her expression seemed different from the others around him. Without thinking, he called out her name, his voice loud enough to grab her attention. “Cara!”

But Cara didn’t react. She didn’t even glance in his direction. Instead, she continued walking briskly, ignoring him completely. Vince’s heart skipped a beat, and a wave of confusion washed over him. He stood there for a moment, staring at her retreating figure, before turning to the girls with a sheepish grin.

"Well, looks like I’m going for a walk," he said, a playful tone in his voice. He wasn’t about to let Cara slip away without at least trying to catch her attention. The girls exchanged confused glances as Vince suddenly got up and started walking after her. There was an air of disbelief around the table. Vince was the type of guy who was used to being pursued, not the one doing the chasing.

As Vince made his way outside the cafeteria, he quickened his pace, determined to catch up with Cara. She hadn’t even noticed him yet. When he finally reached her, he called her name once more, his voice softer now, almost pleading. "Cara!"

She didn’t stop. She didn’t even look back. That’s when Vince did something impulsive—something out of character for him. He reached out, grabbed her hand gently but firmly, and without saying another word, he began to lead her away from the bustling area. Cara didn’t fight him, but she didn’t exactly follow willingly either. Vince led her toward the school theater, a quiet, secluded place that felt like the perfect spot for a private conversation.

Cara finally spoke, her tone skeptical. “What are we doing here?”

Vince grinned, trying to act casual, though he was a bit nervous. “We’re having a private talk, maybe?” His voice had a playful lilt to it, though the uncertainty in his eyes betrayed his usual confidence. It was a bit silly, but something about being alone with her in this empty, dimly lit space felt… different.

Cara raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “I thought you were going to give me the project materials? You can hand them over now, and we’ll be done,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. Vince could tell she wasn’t buying into his idea of a “private talk.”

He scratched the back of his head, caught off guard by her directness. “Aren’t you hungry? You didn’t eat lunch. I mean, I’ve been waiting for you, so I’m starving,” he said, trying to change the subject. He knew it was a weak excuse, but he didn’t want the conversation to go where he thought it might.

Cara’s stomach growled at just the right moment, making her face flush with embarrassment. She laughed softly, shaking her head. “Okay, fine. I guess I am hungry.”

Vince felt a slight sense of victory at making her smile. “How about we go grab something to eat, and then I’ll give you the project stuff?” he suggested, hoping she wouldn’t press him further.

“Since I didn’t thank you for the ride this morning,” she said, her voice softer now, “I’ll treat you to lunch. We can settle the project thing after.”

He admired how easily she shifted the conversation from her embarrassment to something more casual. It was as though she was letting him off the hook without even realizing it.

They left the school grounds and walked to a nearby Korean restaurant. Vince wasn’t a huge fan of spicy food, but he went along with Cara’s choice, knowing she was craving it. She ordered for them both, confident in her selection.

As they ate, the conversation lulled into a comfortable silence. It was then that Cara broke it, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at him. “So, what’s this thing you want to give me? Make sure it’s something that’ll guarantee our project gets an A.”

Vince couldn’t help but chuckle at how serious she was. He knew she took her studies seriously, but the directness of her question caught him off guard. He realized that she wasn’t just someone he could charm with jokes—she was sharp, focused, and didn’t let anything slip past her.

“Can we eat first before we talk about it?” he asked, rubbing his stomach and pretending to be famished. The truth was, he wasn’t that hungry, but he wasn’t ready to dive into the project just yet.

Cara rolled her eyes, but there was a playful glint in her gaze. “Fine, but don’t think you can avoid it forever.”

Vince handed her the papers he’d prepared, hoping she wouldn’t be too disappointed by how quickly he had put it together. She scanned them briefly, her lips curving into a small smile.

“You know what?” she said with a raised eyebrow. “I just realized—you’re not giving me this to help with the project. You just wanted an excuse to hang out with me, didn’t you?”

Caught off guard, Vince smiled sheepishly, his heart racing a little. He couldn’t deny it. “Maybe I did,” he admitted, shrugging his shoulders.

Later in the afternoon, Cara walked back to her home, she found herself reflecting on the lunch with Vince. She had been swept up by his charm, just like the other girls in the cafeteria. She wasn’t immune to it. The way he made her laugh, his easy confidence—it had all been a little hypnotizing.

After he went back to class, Cara walked home, deep in thought. “Cheers to you, Cara Nathalia,” she said aloud, shaking her head as if scolding herself. “You’re too smart to be his victim.” But even as she said it, she wasn’t so sure. Part of her wondered if she might already be one.

In the middle of the night, Cara woke up from another dream, but this time, the man in it had no face. Despite the absence of his features, his character still captivated her. She recalled telling her best friend, Jean, about these dreams before, though she hadn’t been able to explain them completely. Now, however, she felt like she understood something more.

Her dreams seemed to be pushing her to confront something deep within herself—forcing her to face her fractured memories in order to heal. She wasn’t losing her mind, but it was clear her dreams wanted her to work through them on her own, accepting that she and the man in her dreams weren’t part of the same reality.

Still, she couldn’t forget about him. The man who always appeared in her dreams—whether she remembered his face or not—had become an undeniable presence in her life, even if only in her subconscious.