XVII : Fake Double date

Axel brought me to the right lane. "Why did you say that you're my boyfriend?" Finally I can ask him this, 

"You don't want to look single in front of your crush and her new girlfriend right?" 

"Or I can just confess to them that I'm not your boyfriend, then." He turned his back, I grabbed his hand fast, "No, wait. Help me please." 

"What happened, Cora?" Dan called out, 

"Nothing, just grabbing my ball," I replied, flustered. "Let me help you–" Dan got cutted, 

"No, It's okay. I'll bring it for my girlfriend." Axel smirked and walked where the balls were placed in the middle of Dan-Brianna lane and our lane. 

"Cora always acts like a baby to me." said Axel to them, after gave the ball to me he patted my head.

I couldn't bring myself to see their reaction anymore, Axel has succeed making my face turn red.

Brianna typed something in the Bowling machine, The first row is Brianna ♡ Dan, and the second row is Axel ♡ Cora

I swore it was the cheesiest thing that I have ever seen, That was so Brianna.

"Nice Bri!" Axel gave big thumbs up to Brianna.

"I just realized that you threw it wrong." said Axel as I played my second turn, 

"Here you go, My love." He grabbed a red ball, and put it on my right hand.

One of his hands is holding my hand and he is closer to my back. His right hand demonstrates the right way to throw the ball. Our posture was almost like back hugged right now, 

He let go of his 'hug' and corrected my left foot, "Your right foot should be forward, and the sole aiming your target." 

"You just showed the posture now, because I'm just on your team now." I whispered to his ear, and I realized how close we are now, my lips almost touched his ear. He just laughing hearing my words

My heart began thumping so hard, "Now try to throw it by yourself." He let go of his body from me. 

I felt my body freeze because of what he did, and as a result I threw super badly, the ball entered the side lane immediately. 

"That's not how you throw it! Keep your hand straight Cora" 

He took my hand again and demonstrated the way to throw it, but no matter how much Axel did it, I won't focus because he makes me more nervous. 

"Get a room, you two!" Shouted Brianna from the side lane. 

"My ___ Cora" He said stupid silently in the middle of the My and Cora, only I could hear it, and other people thought he called me My Cora. 

I pinched his cheek playfully. "Thanks, baby boo," I said in a cutesy voice, pretending to adore him. His cheeks turned pink as he glared, looking too cute.

Before my next turn, I double-checked with Axel to make sure my stance was right. I aimed and threw, not overthinking it. This time, the ball rolled straight down the lane and—strike! Another strike!

"Your second strike, Cora!" Axel cheered, more excited than ever, grabbing me in a sudden hug.

My face turned hot as he let go, noticing my flustered expression. 

"Sorry, got too excited," he chuckled.

"Look at them, they are so clingy to each other." Brianna said that to Dan loudly 

After the game was done, Axel took us to a restaurant close to the bowling center because Brianna said that she was hungry. I felt my body stiff, and especially my wrist. 

"So tell me how you guys met each other?" 

"At work." I tried answer as short as I can, the waiter was coming to take our order, 

Axel grabbed a menu and held it between us, leaning in close. "What do you want to eat, sweetheart?"

I still wasn't used to the affectionate nicknames, and for sure he knew it. Trying to focus, I pointed to a dish named 'Volcano Vodka Penne', "This one looks good."

"It looked too spicy for you, remember that yesterday you got a stomach ache?" He scanned the menu carefully, "How about this one?" Axel pointed out to another dish, "This one is okay." 

"Two of Creamy Mushroom Risotto, please." said Axel to the waiter, Brianna smirked, nudging Dan. "See, they're already acting like an old married couple." 

I bowed my head down, feeling my cheeks warm again. Axel didn't seem bothered in the slightest, if anything, he looked amused. Brianna and Dan ordered some food too. 

"So, how did you two date?" Asked Brianna with more deeper level question

"It's a love at first sight I think, when I first saw her my heart rushed so fast, and my face became so red." 

Isn't it because we literally fought at our first meeting? His face is red because he shouted to me so much. 

"And how about you Cora?" Brianna turned her head to me, 

"Yeah… me too." 

"You do?" asked Brianna

"Actually I didn't really like him at first, but it turned out that he is really kind." I said it sincerely, I don't want to lie more so I just answered as honest as I can, 

"Who confessed first?"

"Him…" "Cora." I and Axel answered at the same time with different answers. 

I and Axel looked at each other, giving signals to each other. 

"You're right Cora, I was the one who liked you first. But you're the one who confessed to me, Don't you remember?" Said Axel, while his knees bump my outer thighs a little. 

"Oh, right! Hahaha" I laughed awkwardly,

"Really?" Dan looked surprised, 

"There's no way Cora Davis confessed first, she's the shyest woman when it comes to dating." Said Brianna. She knew me so well, when I liked Dan in my junior year until I graduated, there's no single thoughts to confess my feelings to him. Maybe that's why I have never dated anyone properly

"She really did, yeah." Said Axel proudly, "It's christmas night, she called me in a sudden and awkwardly said to me, Merry Christmas Axel! Then , she asked me to meet her. Even though I had plans already, I still go to Cora. and there, She brought me many gifts that I liked, and cooked me many wonderful dishes, she confessed that she liked me, and the most wonderful part is her sexy lacy red dress–" I closed his mouth before he continued his imagination deeper, I tried to think other things to distracted them for imagining me with a sexy lacy red dress. 

"And Axel was so touched, and began to sob really hard. I was so confused and to be honest at that time I almost canceled my confession because he cried like a little kid, and his snots went everywhere. I gave him a tissue, and he said, "Cora you're the best woman that I have ever met." 

"Since then we have lived happily ever after." Said Axel 

Brianna and Dan looked at each other, from their face it seems they tried to proceed with our foolish love story. At the same time, the waiters came and served our dish. 

I can't wait to eat, I haven't eaten since lunch and I'm super hungry

"Wait Cora." He took the hair tie from my wrist, and began to tie my hair in a low ponytail, he looked like he had done it many times. 

"Now you can eat comfy." Said Axel and crunched his nose to me, I awkwardly smiled and we began to eat. 

"One thing made me really curious, what is the reason you love Cora so much?" "why?" Asked Brianna, I don't know if I should feel upset or what hearing that question, but my little heart can't help but also feeling curious about his answer. 

"That's the easiest question you gave." 

"She's the most mature person I know, she's really responsible with whatever she does. Usually someone like her is really cold but she's a really warm person, and she's funny too." 

"But the best thing is her face and body." Said Axel shamelessly. 

Dan who was drinking his cola tersedak, "Here you go" said Axel while giving tissues to him, "are you okay?" Brianna asked Dan. Dan with his red face coughed, and nodded to signal that he's fine. 

"Now you Cora, why do you love me?" He threw the question to me, and raised his eyebrows as saying 'now your turn'. 

Axel grabbed the menu and leaned in close, holding it between us. "What do you want to eat, sweetheart?"

I still wasn't used to his affectionate nicknames, and I was pretty sure he knew it. Trying to focus, I pointed to a dish named "Volcano Vodka Penne." "This one looks good."

He raised an eyebrow. "It looks too spicy for you. Remember, you had a stomach ache last time?" He studied the menu, then tapped another dish. "How about this one?" I nodded in agreement. 

"Two Creamy Mushroom Risotto, please," Axel said to the waiter.

Brianna smirked and nudged Dan. "See? They're already acting like an old married couple."

I lowered my head, feeling my cheeks warm, while Axel looked amused and completely unbothered. Brianna and Dan placed their orders, and we all settled into the table conversation.

"So, how did you two start dating?" Brianna asked, leaning in.

Axel didn't miss a beat. "Love at first sight, I think. When I saw her, my heart raced, and I turned red as a tomato."

Isn't that because we fought the first time we met? His face turned red from yelling at me, not from love.

"And what about you, Cora?" Brianna asked, turning to me.

"Uh… yeah, same here."

"You too?" Brianna pressed, eyebrow raised.

I sighed. "Actually, I didn't like him much at first. But as it turns out, he's kind." I said honestly, tried tell lies as little as I can

"Who confessed first?"

"Him…" "Cora." I and Axel answered at the same time with different answers. 

I and Axel looked at each other, giving signals to each other.

Axel's lips curved up as he nudged me with his knee. "You're right, Cora. I liked you first. But you're the one who confessed, remember?"

"Oh, right!" I laughed awkwardly, catching on.

"Really?" Dan looked surprised.

"There's no way Cora would confess first," Brianna said. "She's the shyest person when it comes to dating." She knew me well, when I liked Dan in my junior year until I graduated, there's no single thoughts to confess my feelings to him. Maybe that's why I have never dated anyone properly

Axel chuckled proudly. "Oh yeah, she really did. It was Christmas Eve, and she called me out of the blue. She wished me a Merry Christmas and asked me to meet her. Even though I had plans, I went anyway. When I arrived, she'd made me all my favorite dishes and brought gifts. She confessed that she liked me and—" He leaned in closer, smirking, "—she wore this sexy, lacy red dress—"

I covered his mouth with my right hand before he could get any further. "And Axel was so touched, he sobbed like a little kid," I added quickly. "I almost took back my confession because he was crying so hard his nose was running. I handed him a tissue, and he blurted out, 'Cora, you're the best woman I've ever met.'" Axel laughed heard my masterpiece made up story, 

"Since then, here we are… live happily ever after," said Axel dramatically. 

Brianna and Dan exchanged looks, clearly processing our absurd love story, just as the waiter returned with our food.

I could barely wait to dig in—I hadn't eaten since lunch, and I was starving.

"Hold on, Cora." Axel reached over, gently taking the hair tie from my wrist and tying my hair back in a low ponytail. He looked as if he'd done it a hundred times. "Now you can eat comfortably."

He scrunched his nose playfully, and I smiled awkwardly, proceeding to dive into my risotto.

"One thing I'm curious about," Brianna said, leaning forward, "what exactly made you fall in love with Cora?"

The way she said it, like I was someone who is hard to love, I don't know if I should feel upset or what hearing that question, but my little heart can't help but also feeling curious about his answer. 

Axel didn't hesitate. "That's the easiest question you've asked."

He looked over at me. "She's the most mature person I know—really responsible, even when things get tough. Always does her best, Usually someone like her is really cold but she's a really warm person. She's funny, too." He paused, then added shamelessly, "But, to be honest, her face and body might be my favorite things."

Dan who was drinking his coke got choked and had to stifle a cough. Axel quickly handed him a tissue. "You good?" he asked, amused. Dan nodded, still red-faced.

"And now you, Cora." Axel raised his eyebrows, eyes glinting. "Why do you love me?"

This freaky guy.