0.18 Proof For His Craziness

"What?" Ariana frowned when she heard what he said.

"I said I want to-" Jared repeated.

"I heard what you said but why? Why would you want to do that all of a sudden?" Ariana furrowed her eyebrows.

"Because I-" Jared was about to say something before he changed his mind.

"Because I'm bored," he let out.

"Oh? So I do all this because I will never have the chance and Mr. Antiano is simply bored with his life, splendid," Ariana rolled her eyes.

"What? No, why do you always have to twist my words that way?" Jared sighed.

"Can we have a seat please?" he suggested and they moved to a nearby bench by the street.

"What I meant by I am bored as I don't have anything interesting going on in my life. I have lived my whole life according to my father's terms and I haven't really had the tune to sit and think about what I want to do with my life," Jared explained.

"And you suddenly realize that after you know of my bucket list?" Ariana asked.

"No, I have had this realization for a few months now, just that I never acted upon it, but meeting you and seeing how much you are full of life, how much you are daring, and how you act without thinking of the consequences, I realized I was missing that in my life, and all I just want is to experience life, not as Romano Antiano's son, but as Jared, just me," He let out sadly.

"That's...some talk, Jerry, never knew you had that in you," Ariana murmured.

"Trust me, not many know this side of me," Jared shook his head.

"But still, my bucket list is something I do by myself and it's something special and a little personal to me, sharing that with someone makes me feel a little bit off," Ariana said with honesty.

"I understand. I truly do but I won't intrude on your list, and I won't make you feel uncomfortable, I just want to enjoy the journey with someone and you seem to be the right person. And don't be offended but whether you like it or not, you are still sick and it is kinda dangerous for you to be alone while doing all kinds of stuff. I can be there in case of any emergency," He added to convince her.

Ariana pursed her lips as she thought deeply about what Jared had told her. Her blonde eyebrows joined each other as she wondered whether or not to accept his offer.

Sharing her to-do before-death list with someone she barely even knows? That's something huge to her, but as she stared at him and thought about the few occasions they have met, she found that it didn't sound so bad at all.

Ariana turned her hazel orbs toward Jared's anticipating face as she tilted her head at him.

"You want to join me on my to-do before death list thingy?" she asked as she openly stared at him.

"Yes, I do," Jared nodded eagerly.

"Then prove it,"

"Prove...it how?" Jared frowned slightly.

"If you want to join me then I have to be sure that you are as crazy as me or at least you possess half of the craziness the things on the list require," Ariana said.

"Define crazy?" Jared bit his lower lip.

"Climb that plant, take off your shirt as you belt out the lyrics of Frozen's Let it go" Ariana pointed at the plant next to the bench they were seated on.

"W-What?" Jared coughed when he heard the ridiculous request.

"What, Jerry? I thought you wanted to join me?"

"Y-Yes I do but-"

"Then do it, that's the only way I will be sure that you won't be staring at me like I have grown two heads when I do my stuff," Ariana muttered.

"Do I really have to-"

"Yes, Jerry. It's either that or a no," Ariana gave him no alternative.

Jared pictured himself doing what she had asked him to do and a weary sigh escaped his lips.

"Miss Ariana, I don't think-"

Ariana got up to leave before he reached out to grab her wrist.

"Okay, okay, I'll do it, gee, have some patience, will you?" he sighed under his breath.

"Go ahead, Jerry. I'll be watching from over here," Ariana sat down back with a smile on her face.

"Can I get something at least to cover my face? My Dad will collapse if he sees his son behaving like a deranged being,"

"Buy your face mask!! Buy your face mask!!" Just in time, a lady walked down the streets as she hawked her goods.

Ariana pointed a manicured finger at the lady and Jared scowled before he got up from the bench to buy a mask from the lady.

Ariana sighed blissfully and crossed her legs as she leaned her weight back to watch the drama unfold.

Jared walked back to her with a grim look on his face as though he had been given a life sentence.

Ariana watched as he wore the face mask which did a good job at covering half of his face and he reached to take his suit jacket off.

Ariana placed her hand in the air and he handed the jacket as he moved to take off his tie before he began to unbutton his shirt slowly.

A dainty eyebrow was raised as she saw the rippled muscles he possessed underneath his suit with a couple of peck of abs on his toned torso.

"Oooh, nice bod for a mouse, Jerry," she teased and he scowled as he dropped his shirt on her hand.

By this time, he had already succeeded in getting a few heads turned towards him as they witnessed the sudden strip show done by the young man.

Jared clenched his fists as he looked down at the ground while trudging toward the plant.

With a strangled sigh, he placed his foot on the plant as he climbed the clay pot.