Mia Johnson

"Hello world!!!" Michelle yells drunkenly.

"Why's the sky purple?" Amber asks drunkenly, almost falling down but I grip her arm.

"Oh....my....God, Miaaaa....you......look exceptionally....beautiful tonight. I could totally kiss you right now." Michelle says pouting to kiss me. I gently push her mouth away.

"Gosh, I love your hair." Amber says pulling at my long black braids.

"Ouch!! Stop it Amber!!" I yell in pain.

"She's looking.....madly.......attractive tonight, right Amber?"

"Yes, she is.....very.....very attractive"

"Can you guys just be quiet for a second?" I ask not really expecting any answer.

"Ugh, thank God..." I mutter to myself as I finally reach the car parked on the street, in front of the house where the party is ongoing.

I open the door of the black Jeep, shove their drunken asses into the back and close the door.

"Finally" I say to myself as I lean on the car to catch my breath.

This is like my normal routine for every party night or night party? I really don't know the correct one to use at the moment. Anyway, you may be wondering "who are these ladies that just staggered out of this seemingly awesome party?" Well, you are about to find out.

My name's Mia Johnson and these drunk bitches are my friends, best friends.

Oops.....sorry, I tend to use the b-word whenever I am irritated.

The one wearing a pink and black long wig is Amber Williams while the brunette is Michelle Torres. We're more like sisters than best friends. Believe it or not, this trio got to this level together like a small family and how did it happen? Well, brace yourself for this long story. You should probably order pizza or something else 'cause when I say it's a long story, I mean it's a lo...o...nn...gg..g story. It's literally my life story. Here it comes.

I was raised almost single-handedly by my mom, Eve Johnson after my dad abandoned us. My dad, Will Johnson, was partially a good father to me but he was never really a good husband to my mom. Three days after my sixth birthday, my mom and dad had a serious argument about what I didn't know, still don't know. Of course they always had arguments but that one was way more serious than the ones I knew about. Shortly after the argument, my dad came into my room. He sat on the chair close to my bed, he looked at my supposed sleeping face (I pretended to be asleep when I heard his footsteps towards my room). He touched my forehead and said "I love you, Mia. You're my princess, you've been my princess and you'll always be my princess" He pecked my forehead and he left my room.

Why is he suddenly saying this? Is he going somewhere? Oh my God, is he dying?

I thought as I was fighting the urge to get up and follow him.

Too much thought for a six year old, right?

I then heard our front door open and close.

Oh my God, I think he's leaving. Where would he be going at 1:05am?

I rushed out of my room to the living room where I saw my mom sitting with pretty obvious furiousness, but on seeing me, she faked a little smile. I asked where dad went and she said he was going for a business trip and that he left so early because he had a flight to catch. I kinda had the feeling that my mom was lying but I kept quiet.

And I bet you're wondering how I felt that way at that age. Well, I was in a weird way, smarter than supposed at that age. I am still smarter than my age.

I'm just flattering myself.

Just as I sat beside my mom on the couch, she pulled me into a tight hug and she said these words to me "I don't know if you will understand this at your age but don't trust any man. They are all the same. You'll think that they love you but they only want to use you and they'll abandon you when they get tired of you.....so never trust them. Stay away from them if possible" and I agreed to take her advice not knowing the real meaning. I knew that what she said must have had something to do with dad but I didn't bother to think about it further. I chose to believe that my dad really went for a business trip.

Days turned weeks, weeks turned months and months turned years, my dad was still on a business trip.

Whenever I asked my mom about my dad, she always got uncomfortable and of course, she would find the best way to change the topic, so I stopped asking her about it. She wouldn't even let me speak to him on phone and when I had the opportunity to steal my mom's phone for a second, I searched for my dad's contact but it was gone.

Their last argument must have been a really serious one that my mom even deleted his number.

I've always had the suspicion that my dad wouldn't be coming home but I chose not to be negative and just hoped for him to come back one day.

After I turned eleven, I stopped thinking and hoping for my dad to come home because at that point in my life, I knew he wouldn't come back so I just took my mind off the whole "he's gonna come back" stuff.

Anyway, a little break from the family drama. It's time to talk about how I met Amber and Michelle 'cause that's what started this story.

I had a friend, Olivia McCall. She was my only friend. I'm an introvert.

Forgot to mention that earlier.

We became friends when we were four. We found ourselves in the same school and class which helped us become as close as ever. Olivia meant a lot to me. We shared some things in common and we shared some secrets with each other. Whenever I thought about my dad leaving me stuff, she always cheered me up and I would once again forget the tragedy. Things were going so well between me and Olivia but not until the final year of middle school when the real tragedy befell Olivia. She lost her mom and dad in a car accident. Just like that, Olivia became an orphan and she was an only child just like me. I thought my case was the worst but just take a look at the poor kid who had just lost her parents.

After her parents' funeral, Olivia was asked by a relative, her father's sister precisely, to come and live with her in Florida which she agreed to out of no choice. On the day of her departure, we said our goodbyes and wished each other well. We also hoped to contact each other one day.

And that's how I parted ways with Olivia, my only friend, my best friend.

Death!! Do you have to be so brutal?

I thought to myself. The death of her parents had just separated us after we had looked forward to being inseparable, to being best friends till we grow old and die. That would be difficult with her moving to somewhere far, where we could never see each other else if I move there which I can't because I don't wanna go to Florida even if it is for something more......important.

First day of high school sucked.

There was no Olivia McCall.

Second day, well....sucked too.

Starting from the third day, I decided to pull myself together and focus on the real deal of school......studying. I was always the top of my every class, I'm still the one of the best in my college department. I enjoy studying a lot. Infact, I'm a nerd.

I was just sitting in the cafeteria, playing with my lunch when a beautiful tanned skin girl walked over to my table and sat down with a loner like me. I recognized her as one of the hottest girls in school.

"I've noticed that you sit alone since last week"

Yeah, that was on the second day of the second week of high school.

"Yeah" I said.

"Why? Don't you like have any friend to sit with you or do you just choose to be alone?"

"Maybe both" I replied.

"Okay, hope you don't mind me sitting with you?"

"No, I don't mind at all." I said.

"Thanks. I'm Michelle Torres by the way."

Yeah, Michelle.

"Hi, Michelle. I'm Mia Johnson." I said with a smile.

"You have a cool name, Mia." Michelle complimented.

"Thanks. Yours is equally cool." I said.

"Thanks too. Can we be friends?" Michelle asked.

"Yeah.....sure.....totally" I said surprisingly.

Did one of the hottest girls in school just ask to be friends with me? Unbelievable! Normally, girls like Michelle hate girls like me, nerds in general.

I thought.

And that was how I became friends with Michelle Torres.

Few days later, I met Amber sitting at my favorite spot outside the classroom building, a bench under one of the trees there, where I always went to spend my break. I love nature and being there made me feel closer to nature. I studied there sometimes when I didn't want to go to the library 'cause it's calm, a perfect place for studying, apart from the library of course.

"Hi" I said.

"Oh...hello....I....I...can leave if you want. I've noticed you come here all time and alone too. I wanted to be somewhere calm and so I decided to come here since you were not here...yet"

"No, don't leave because of me. It's not like I own the spot" I said as she was about to stand up from the bench.

"Are you sure you're cool with me being here with you. I don't wanna be an intruder"

"Just because you're sitting in my favorite spot doesn't make you an intruder. I don't own the spot and you got here before me. I should be the one asking."

"Okay. Thanks."

"It's nothing"

"My name's Amber Williams. What's yours?"

"I'm Mia Johnson"

"Okay, nice to meet you, Mia"

"You too, Amber"

From that moment, Amber and I became friends. We spent our entire break there, discussing certain things. Amber was so polite, she's still polite.

It's really rare to find her kind.

Two days later, I introduced her to Michelle and it was a wonderful introduction. The three of us had some things in common and it really brought us closer to each other.

That was how this trio came into existence. We would hang out together, we would study together, infact, we did almost everything together. We figured that we didn't want our friendship to end in high school so we applied to the same college in Los Angeles and we got in.

Before that, there was one thing I disliked about Amber and Michelle... not like it's a bad thing just that it was one of the things we didn't have in common.

Remember the advice my mom gave me, the "don't trust guys" one.

Yeah, that advice.

I chose to follow that advice, I still follow that advice and guess what? I wasn't dating anyone, have never dated anyone and still not dating anyone.

Amber and Michelle were sort of pissed off or disappointed that I wasn't dating. They started dating in our junior year and they were expecting me to also find someone to date but I didn't. And the craziest thing is that I didn't even have feelings, still don't. I never had a crush on anyone. In summary, I didn't have interest in any form of intimacy, still don't too.

Amber and Michelle, knowing how horrible it was to be a virgin in high school, got the idea of taking me to parties which I hated with everything in me.

Still hate.

They would try to get me drunk so that I would hook up with a guy unknowingly but their plan failed because they were the ones that always ended up drunk. They always got mad whenever those plans failed. They did lots of things just to get me to loosen up a bit but one thing was holding my back.....

My mom's words.

So instead of being a teenager desperate to have my virginity taken, I was just.....me.

Back to family drama.

Two weeks to my graduation from high school, something really terrible happened. It was on a Wednesday when I was called to the principal's office. I was told that my mom got a call from someone, telling her that her husband was dead.

Her husband, my father.

I couldn't believe my ears. I ran home without saying a word to anyone. I got home and our living room was in a mess. I then saw my mom sitting on the floor, beside broken glasses, her hands were covered in blood caused by the injuries sustained from the broken glasses. My mom looked at me in tears and said "He's gone, Will's gone" I stood there lost in thoughts as hot tears rolled down my cheeks.

This has to be a lie. I can't believe it. My dad, dead? No, it cannot be true.

It dawned on me that my father was really dead during the funeral the next day. My dad who left me when I was six finally came back to me at seventeen but as a corpse. The good memories flashed back to me, the days he sang me to sleep, the surprise birthday gifts he got me, the way he cuddled me whenever I was sad, even his last words to me.

How would I ever forget his last words to me.

My mom equally does those good things but when you've lost someone dear to you, you can't just help but remember only his/her own good deeds.

So disheartening!!

What's with bad news and final things? Olivia lost her parents in final year of middle school and I lost my father two weeks to graduating from high school and also few days to my eighteenth birthday.

What a wonderful coincidence!

I cried so much that there were no more tears left to cry. But my mom cried ten times more than I did. We were sitting on the couch, after the funeral when my mom pulled me into her usual tight hug and said to me "Always cherish every moment with your loved ones 'cause you don't know if one of those moments would be the last and no matter how much you fight with them, never forget your love for each other. It's okay to fight with the ones you love but it's never okay if you never get to make up with them. I really hope you'll find a good guy to spend the rest of your life with"

My mom's new advice was quite surprising. The same mom that told me I should never trust guys told me that she hoped I would find a good guy.

Great!

The new advice is indirectly almost the opposite of the old advice.

Too late, my mind was already occupied with the old one.

Out of family drama.

Michelle, Amber and I set out for Los Angeles. We stayed at the college dorms in our freshman year and now we're in sophomore year. We rented an apartment big enough for three ladies and bought a car.

Remember that jeep I shoved their drunken asses into earlier....

Yeah.....that jeep.

We did all those with our savings from working part-time and of course with our parents' support.

We were doing great in college but Michelle and Amber didn't stop dragging me to parties when we were not busy and of course they would get drunk and someone has to drive them home, me.

End of story, back to reality.

After catching my breath, I enter the jeep, start the car engine and start driving home.

"You guys should keep quiet, please!!!" I yell at them as they were talking rubbish.

Gosh, how long am I gonna keep doing this.

"Gosh, my head hurts so much" Amber says with her hand on her forehead.

"How much did I drink? I've puked like five times this morning." Michelle says walking to the couch where Amber is sitting, with her hand clutched to the stomach.

"You guys drank so much and Michelle, you puked like four times

yesterday before we got home. Thanks a lot for messing up the car and Amber was pulling at my new braids. Thanks for that too." I say sarcastically as I make our cups of coffee.

"I'm sorry. Did it hurt?" Amber asks.

"No, not at all. I mean how can pulling at someone's hair hurt" I say.

"You're being sarcastic, right?" Amber asks rhetorically.

"Probably" I reply.

"Did I say something weird when I was drunk?" Michelle asks.

"Nope, you didn't....yes of course. You say a lot of things when you are drunk and so does Amber." I say.

"What did I say?" Michelle asks curiously.

"Umm.....let's see "oh my God, Mia, you look exceptionally beautiful tonight......I could totally kiss you....she looks madly attractive tonight" I say.

"Oh God, is that all?" Michelle asks.

"Girl, why are you asking so much questions?" Amber asks.

"Did I say something else?" Michelle asks ignoring Amber's question.

"Not the one I could hear, you guys were talking gibberish and you tried to kiss me." I say, carrying three cups of coffee to the living room where Amber and Michelle are seated.

"I did?" Michelle asks wide-eyed.

"Yes, you did" I say handing her and Amber their cups of coffee.

"I really drank a lot yesterday" Michelle says.

"Thanks for the coffee, Mia." Amber says.

"You're welcome" I say sipping my coffee.

"So Mia, did you find a guy?.....you didn't, did you?" Amber asks.

"No I didn't" I say sincerely.

"Why?" Michelle asks.

"I didn't want to" I reply.

"Girl, what's wrong with you? How much longer do we have to drag you to parties just so you could get a guy to date or to hook up with?" Amber asks.

"And how much longer am I gonna keep driving your drunk asses home?" I ask rhetorically.

"Maybe till you finally loosen up and get yourself a guy." Michelle says sipping her coffee.

"I told you guys that I can't do this stuff. I'm not interested in dating or hooking up." I say.

"Are you even a human being? Gosh!" Michelle says.

"Nope, a human anatomy book." I say sarcastically.

Michelle rolls her eyes at me.

"Mia, come on. This may not look serious but it's serious." Amber says.

"Do you know what's serious? The way you guys drink. Your drinking habit sucks and I'm tired of always dragging you guys out of the party, dragging you guys to the car and then dragging you guys to bed because you are so wasted." I say.

Literally complaining though.

"Stop making it sound like it's your job to get us home when we're drunk." Michelle says.

"If not me then who will do it? Why do you think I still follow you guys to these dumb parties?" I ask.

"It wasn't a dumb party, it was an end of semester party. It's literally where you go to have fun after a strenuous semester, don't you get it?" Amber asks.

"Any party like that is a dumb party to me." I say.

"So are you trying to say that you attend those "dumb parties" to drive us home drunk?" Michelle asks.

"Of course, you guys always get drunk and I don't 'cause I don't drink so I'm the only one who can drive you guys back safely." I say.

"We have boyfriends that are capable of driving us home." Michelle says.

"Hahaha, the drunk driving the drunk....very funny. You should've just told me that you've always wanted to go on a suicide mission." I say sarcastically.

"Gosh, her sarcasm is killing me." Michelle mumbles.

"But seriously Mia, when are you gonna give yourself a chance to have fun?" Amber asks rhetorically.

"I'm having fun, I always have fun with my books, my phone, my laptop......."

"Can you stop already? I know that you know what she means by having fun." Michelle interrupts me.

"I don't see dating as fun." I say.

"Then what do you see as fun, studying and watching movies?" Michelle says.

"Exactly" I say.

"Mia, you need to loosen up a bit.....you've to. Don't you feel odd about being a 19 year old virgin?" Amber asks.

"You do realize that 30 years old virgin females and probably males exist." I say.

"Their case maybe different from yours." Amber says.

"How different, huh?" I ask rhetorically.

"Maybe they have good reasons......"

"So I don't have good reasons......."

"What good reasons do you have......oh lemme guess.....the dumb advice your mom gave you like centuries ago?" Michelle asks.

"Maybe....."

"Maybe? Maybe? Mia, don't bring your mom's advice into this, you're the one holding yourself back from these things and you're trying to blame on that dumb advice." Michelle says.

She may have a point though.

"Michelle has just made a good point, you know." Amber says.

"I don't know, I'm just not interested in stuffs like that." I say.

"You should've just joined a convent or something. That way you'll perfectly live by your mom's advice." Michelle says.

"Michelle, aren't you being so cold this morning?" Amber asks.

"Nope, I'm not. This isn't being cold." Michelle says and I roll my eyes.

"I'm just tired of attending these parties. I hate parties." I say.

"We'll keep taking you to those parties you hate till you achieve something positive." Michelle says.

"By "something positive" you mean dating?" I ask.

"You don't even need to date, just hook up to show that you're perfectly normal." Michelle says.

"So wait....I'm not normal because I don't hook up?" I say.

"Yeah, you don't seem normal to me. You don't react to romantic movies, you never crush on people. Seriously, what are you?" Michelle says.

"At least I crush on celebrities." I say.

"Celebrities that you're never gonna see in real life. Mia, I'm talking about crushing on people you see every day of your life." Michelle says.

"Just because I don't crush on people I see in real life doesn't make me less normal." I say.

"Of course it makes you less normal." Michelle says.

"Okay, I'm never having a discussion about this again....."

"Guys, why do you sound like you're fighting?" Amber asks rhetorically.

"We're"

"We're not"

Michelle and I say at the same time.

"I don't care if you're or not but I've an idea." Amber says.

"What idea?" Michelle and I ask in unison.

"Since Mia hasn't achieved anything from going to parties, we should try blind dates." Amber says.

"What?!!!" I question.

"Yes, that's not a bad idea." Michelle says.

"No, no, no! I'm not going on any blind date."

"It's blind dates, with the 's' " Michelle says.

"Come on, guys......"

"Don't say another word, we're doing this." Michelle says.

"No, we're not........."

"Shuuuu, I said not another word. Amber, what's the plan?" Michelle asks.

"Umm....I'm not sure of how many she should attend, but I already have someone in mind." Amber says.

"Is the person gonna be free today?" Michelle asks.

"I'll call him and ask." Amber says.

"If he's gonna be free then Mia is gonna go for it." Michelle says.

"Helloooo, I'm still here you know."

"Yes, we do know, we're not blind." Michelle says.

"Lemme call him now, I'm putting the phone on speaker" Amber says as she dials a number from her contact list.

Are these girls seriously gonna set me up for a blind date?

Unbelievable!

I thought.

"Hello, Adrian." Amber says keeping the phone on the glass table.

"Hi, Amber, how are........"

"We should save the pleasantries for later. I called to know if you're still interested in the blind date stuff." Amber says.

"Yeah, I am"

"Count yourself lucky 'cause I've found you a date"

"Really, you did?"

"Yeah I did so when are you gonna be free?"

"I'm free today starting from 6:00pm"

"Great, you'll be meeting your date tonight by 7:00pm. I'll text you the venue"

"Oh...welll....thank you so much Amber"

"You're welcome. Now get back to work"

"Alright, bye"

"Byeeee" Amber says before ending the call.

"You're meeting your blind date at the restaurant. I'm sure Mr. Martin won't mind." Amber says.

The restaurant she means is the one we work in as part-timers. It's the most successful restaurant in the campus area.

"So, you're officially going for a blind date starting today." Michelle says.

"Starting today? What do you mean by starting today? Will there be more days?" I ask wide-eyed.

"Of course, honey. We should have back ups if it doesn't work out with this Adrian dude, right Amber?"

"Yeah, totally right." Amber says.

"Come on guys, I didn't ask for this."

"In life, you get things that you don't ask for a lot." Michelle says.

"We don't even know if this Adrian guy is some kind of psycho serial killer." I say.

"Hahaha, Adrian is one of my brother's friends. He ain't no serial killer." Amber says.

"I'm not doing this."

"Yes, you are." Amber says.

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Once I get up from here, I'm heading straight to your room, straight to your closet and I'm picking out something cute for you to wear." Michelle says.

"Guys com....."

"Naa...aah, end of discussion. Let's go pick out something nice for her, Amber."

"Sure" Amber says as she stands from the couch with Michelle.

"Thanks for the coffee, it's nice." Michelle says to me.

These girls just set me up for a blind date right before my eyes. Ohh.....I'm gonna kill them for this.

***********************************

"Your........your dress looks......good on you. It goes so......well with the jacket" Adrian says nervously after twenty minutes of sitting in silence.

Twenty minutes!!!!

All we've done before this twenty minutes is introducing ourselves and we went silent.

Oh God!! this is horrible

I had to take out my phone to reduce the boredom.

"I know, that's why it's my dress" I say without looking away from my phone.

"Ohh...."

After ten minutes he says "The shoes fits you perfectly."

"They're my shoes, shouldn't they fit?"

I ask rhetorically.

"Yeah....they should....and.....your bracelet goes so well with your dress and......shoes and the......jacket....too"

He says nervously.

"I have quite a good taste in fashion." I say.

"Ohh.....I....I....see..." He says, still nervously.

Why's this dude nervous? I thought guys are never nervous when it comes to things like this.

I thought

Fifteen minutes later......

"Your braids are so cool. Are they natural?" Adrian asks.

Oh, come on. Seriously?

"Of course they're natural. I wish I had seen yours when you were born." I say sarcastically.

Adrian utters no word again.

I keep playing my covet fashion game as we sit in total silence.

One eternity later........

"Your brown skin is quite a charming one. It's as if it was made for you alone........."

I interrupt.

"Dude, don't you have anything interesting to say?" I ask, totally fed up with his unnecessary compliments.

"Umm.....I'm not a really chatty person........."

I interrupt again.

"Good then, I'm out of here." I say standing up to leave the restaurant.

"But we haven't started yet." Adrian says.

We haven't started yet?

We haven't started yet?!!!!

We've been sitting here for like an hour doing absolutely nothing.

I've been sitting here for like an hour or more, listening to his dumb compliments.

What is left to do? More dumb compliments?

"I've been here, listening to the stupid compliments you make after every hour. Is that all you do when you go on a date with someone?" I ask, not expecting any answer.

"My compliments are really sincere compliments, how can you say they're stupid?"

"Because they're really stupid and unnecessary, so if you would excuse me, I've really important things to do." I turn towards the door and start walking towards it.

"But....."

I cut him off by waving my hand, not looking back.

************************************

"And he was like "your braids are so cool, are they natural?". Who the hell asks that kinda dumb question? Has he ever seen a person born with braids?" I ask furiously as I take off my towel to wear my pajamas after taking a warm bath.

Michelle and Amber are sitting on my bed, laughing at me as I complain about the wonderful date I had with the "Adrian".

"Come on guys, it's not funny." I say.

"Of course it is funny." Michelle says.

"No, it's not. Just stop laughing will you." I say.

"Ok, ok, we'll stop laughing." Amber says.

"He was acting so nervous around me. I may not know much about guys but I do know that they're never that nervous around ladies." I say.

"That's not true. Some guys get nervous when talking to really attractive women and you're pretty sexy, right Amber?" Michelle says.

"Yeah, not a lie at all." Amber says.

Attractive? sexy?

I don't even see myself as a pretty lady, lol alone attractive.

Okay, that's a lie. I've always known that I'm beautiful but I don't know for attractive......

Ok....that's a lie too.

I'm slim but curvy. Sometimes I feel like Kat Graham.

The actress that played Bonnie Bennett in "The Vampire Diaries"

God! I love that show.

I don't really like boasting of my nice figure so I choose to act like I don't know how nice it is.

"Seriously? Sexy?" I ask rhetorically.

"Yeah and you know that too" Amber says.

Of course I know.

"And he's a virgin like you so don't blame him for not knowing what to say to you." Amber adds.

"At least, he shouldn't be asking stupid questions and making stupid compliments. I thought your brother is cool, how does he have a friend like Adrian?" I ask.

"I don't know, Mia." Amber replies.

"Okay, enough discussion about the Adrian dude, let's conclude our plan for the other dates." Michelle says.

"Other dates? What do you mean by other dates?" I ask already knowing what she means by other dates.

"Well, your first blind date didn't pay off so you're going for another one and you'll keep going for blind dates till you find the right guy." Michelle says.

"Nope, I'm never going on any other date or dates. Today already defined how horrible the rest will be." I say.

"You're so going on the blind dates." Amber says.

"I'm not going."

"Too late, we've already set you up for tomorrow and you can't disappoint your date. You'll go on nineteen blind dates......"

Wait, did I just hear nineteen blind dates?

Nineteen freaking blind dates!!!!!!

WTF!!!

"I'm sorry, nine--what?" I question.

"I'm sure you heard me but I'll repeat it. Nineteen blind dates." Michelle says.

"Why do I need to see nineteen guys?"

"You don't have to go on the whole nineteen. You'll stop once you've found your right guy." Amber says.

"So, I should spend my entire winter break, going for blind dates? Even Christmas?" I ask.

"Technically, that's what it means. It's so nice that Mr. Martin gave us break too." Michelle says.

I walk towards my bed and lazily jump on it.

"You guys should've just killed instead of sending me off to suffer." I say.

"You mean sending you off to a wonderful path of discovery." Michelle says.

"Path of discovery my foot. How is this a path of discovery?" I ask.

"It's an opportunity to discover yourself, your sexuality, your taste, your likes." Amber says.

Oh right, sexuality.

"I don't have a sexuality and I already know the things I like." I say.

"Are you a statue or a log of wood that you don't have a sexuality?" Michelle asks rhetorically.

"Isn't it better to be either of them, at least I wouldn't have to suffer like this."

"Don't say you don't have a sexuality, just say you're yet to discover it." Amber says.

"Fine"

"You're meeting your date tomorrow by 6:30pm, the same venue." Michelle says.

"I should've just gone to Boston like I wanted to." I grunt.

"But you didn't go. Believe it or not Mia, this is a great opportunity for you. You don't have to spend your break just studying, watching movies and other stuffs you normally do. It's time to change your schedule a little bit." Michelle says.

I hate to admit it but Michelle is right. I have to try to do things other than just the ones I normally do.

"Fine, I've heard. Blind dates, here I come." I say.

"That's my girl." Amber says and playfully touches my cheeks.

"So, we'll let you sleep and we'll be back tomorrow to help you pick out an outfit."Michelle says.

"Okay, go ahead. Good night, girls." I say.

"Good night, Mia." They say in unison and leave my room.

So it's official, I'm going on blind dates.

God help me.

"Okay, off you go."Michelle says as we arrive the restaurant.

Michelle and Amber had planned to follow me to the blind dates but they'll be in the car watching and waiting just in case anything goes wrong.

How nice of them.

"Don't forget to be nice." Amber says.

"I'll try." I say, stepping out of the car.

In the restaurant......

"Hi, are you by chance, Erin?" I ask a black haired guy sitting alone. I sighted him immediately I entered the restaurant.

"Yeah, who are you?" He asks.

"Umm....I'm Mia. I thought you should know that already." I say.

"Ohh, you're the Mia, my date." He says as if he was expecting someone else.

"Yeah, any problem?" I ask, taking a seat across.

"No, not really"

Not really?

What does he mean by not really?

"Is it a no or not really? You should answer one of them." I say.

"No...well...I was sort of hoping to see a white girl but since you're already here I can manage."He says.

Ohh, he's racist.

Did he just say manage?

Manage?!!!!

Wow, I'm now someone to be managed.

"Pardon?" I ask.

"I'm only attracted to white girls. I don't like black girls." He says.

"Therefore, I'll be managed?" I ask rhetorically.

"Yeah, you're lucky that I'm still sitting here with you. I normally walk out on girls that are not white." He says arrogantly.

"Well I guess I'll be the one walking out on you this time, excuse me." I say as I stand and start making my way to the door.

"Hey....." He calls out but too late, I'm already out.

"Why are you back here already?" Michelle asks as I enter the car.

"The date is over." I say.

"How's that even possible, it's been barely seven minutes?" Amber says.

"The dude's racist as fuck and he made a really offensive statement." I say.

And I just used the f-word.

Great!

"What did he say?" Michelle asks.

"Well, he said that he's only attracted to white girls and that he could manage me since I already arrived...."

"Okay, say no more, let's go home." Amber says as she starts the car.

"Are you being serious?" Michelle asks.

"Yeah" I say.

"That dude must be out of his darn mind." Michelle says.

"That he could manage me, manage me?!" I say furiously.

"It's okay, babe. Tomorrow maybe better." Amber says.

"Right, tomorrow." I say looking out the window.

Next day......

"So we're really rich. We own like 3 estates." Jim says.

Guys, I introduce you to Jim, my third date who has done nothing but boast about his "things".

"There are people that own more than that." I say.

"Ohh....yeah........my dad works in one of the biggest hospitals in San Francisco." He says.

"He's not the only one that works there, is he?" I ask.

"No, but he's one of the best doctors there. Do you know the amount of money he's paid there?" Jim says.

"He works under someone, right?" I ask.

"Yeah, but his rank........"

I cut him off.

"Then don't sound like he owns the hospital."I say.

"Oh......oo...ok" He stutters.

Few minutes later.......

"My mom......."

"Enough with talking about your parents' achievements, let's talk about yourself, where do you work?" I ask.

"Huh?"

"Where...do...you...work?" I ask slowly just in case he didn't hear me.

"Where I work....umm.....well.....I'm really smart, I'm like the smartest in my family." Jim says.

This dude is jobless and terrible at changing topics.

"Oh....really. If you're that smart then you should've known a better way to change the topic." I say.

"What topic did I chan......"

"How old are you, Jim?" I ask.

"I'm 29" He answers.

"Where do you live?" I ask.

"Umm.....I....I.....live at a really large apartment just an hour drive from here. The apartment is an expensive one but money is never a problem for us you know. My dad takes care of the bills."

Why does he keep saying things I didn't ask him?

I only asked where he lives and he's telling me how large and expensive it is.

God!! I'm fed up.

"So your dad pays your rent at 29?" I ask.

"Yeah, he's that rich."

"And you're proud of it?"

"Yes, of course. Speaking of riches, do you know how much my clothes costs......."

Oh, here we go again.

Dude! celebrities wear clothes hundred times more expensive than your damn clothes, even non-celebrities.

People who are as boastful as him tend to be useless.

Why am I still sitting here?

I should just go.

".......hellooo" He says, interrupting my thoughts.

"Did you say you're really smart?" I ask.

"Yeah, really smart. I was one of the best students in college then. I was envied a lot those days."

"Was it only in college that you were one of the best?" I ask.

"Yeah but I......."

"Did you come out with a first class honor?" I ask.

"Umm..errr....second class......"

"Upper or Lower" I ask.

"Huh?"

"You heard my question pretty well."

"Oh...well.....I...umm"

Pretty sure it's Lower.

If Upper, he would've answered immediately instead of stammering.

He's pretty easy to learn.

"Are you stammering now?" I ask rhetorically.

"No...umm....I'm pretty sure it's Upper." He says before sipping his drink.

Man, you're a terrible liar.

"Oh"

"Lemme tell you about my high school days. So when I was in high school, I was every girl's dream, I'm still every girl's dream because of my good looks." He says.

I almost choke on my drink.

Does this dude wanna kill me?

I don't like telling people that they're ugly so that they don't feel insecure and it's kinda bitchy to say that.

Everyone is beautiful in their unique ways but I must say, this dude's ugly as hell. His physique is not even as good as he claims it is.

"Are you okay?" He asks.

"Yeah" I answer.

Of course I'm not okay.

"Okay....so as I was saying, I was like the hottest guy and most popular then. I was even nominated for prom king but I didn't win cause the result was announced in favor of the principal as his son was also nominated." He says.

"Or maybe you're not just a prom king material." I bluntly say.

"What?" He questions.

"You heard me." I say.

"Ohh.....well....I received lots of love letters then. Can you believe that I turned down like fifteen girls? Some girls even worshipped me." He says.

Ok, we're done here.

I should really get going.

"I'm gonna stop you right there." I say.

"Why....the story is just about to get more interesting." He says.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, but you can as well tell me your story if you find mine boring."

"Oh..my story?" I ask.

"Yeah, of course, tell me your story."

"There's nothing to know about me except that I've turned down total of forty-nine guys....no fifty actually cause we're done here." I say as I stand up to leave.

"Hey, wait......"

"Sir, your card was declined."

I hear one of the workers in the restaurant say to Jim.

"What do you mean by declined?" He asks.

"I mean declined." The worker says.

"What the hell are you talking about? Fine, check this one." He says giving the worker another credit card.

"Insufficient fund, sir." The worker says.

I almost burst into laughter.

"Oh, no. This can't be possible....."

"Here, take mine." I cut in, handing my credit card to the worker.

"Thanks, Mia." The worker says.

Yeah, she knows me and I know her too. I work here, remember?

"You're welcome, Suzie." I say as I collect my credit card back from her.

I leave the restaurant without looking at Jim.

"Dad, come on. I promised that I'll get a job soon. Cutting off my credit card was pretty extreme." Jim says to someone over his phone, his dad.

He came out of the restaurant after I left.

"So, you met a broke ass guy, today." Amber says from the back seat of the car. The three of us are in the car listening to Jim's conversation with his father.

"A boastful jobless broke ass lying nincompoop." I say with so much irritation.

"Whoa!!! Is he that bad?" Michelle asks.

"He is that bad. I'll give you guys the full story when we get home so let's get outta here." I say.

Michelle starts driving us away from the restaurant.

Day 4......

"You're just my type but you should loosen those braids. I'll date you with your curls." James says.

My fourth date.

"Sorry?"

"I like my girl natural. Speaking of natural, you should do something about your make up too." He says.

This one will like to be worshipped.

Nope, I'm done here.

"Too bad I can't reach your demands. See ya." I stand and start making my way to the door.

"Get back here! Is this how you walk out on your partner, how rude!!"

I hear him say as I'm about to open the door and leave but I'm not moved at all.

He said partner.

Hmph....partner my foot.

This one is definitely gonna be a "partner" beater.

Day 5.....

I am standing by the roadside waiting for my fifth date as I was told by my friends that the guy wants to take me somewhere else. I suddenly feel someone hit my backside.

"Hello, beautiful......."

I give the person a punch....you know....as self defense.

I've had some self defense classes.

Just in case......

"Shit!! What the hell!!!!" The person yells in pain.

"Who are you?" I ask.

"I'm Ben, aren't you supposed to be Mia?" He asks.

"Yes, I am Mia."

"What's going on?" I hear Michelle running towards my direction with Amber.

"You didn't tell me that the date you setup for me is a martial arts psycho!" Ben says to Michelle.

Did this ass spanking idiot just call me a martial arts psycho?

Leave out the martial arts but the psycho is really getting me.

"What did you just call me?" I ask.

"A martial arts psycho" He says.

"Who the hell spanks the ass of his blind date, you ass spanking psycho."

I ask.

"It's just a greeting."

"Well, I've just returned the greeting pretty well. I'm outta here." I say turning to Michelle and Amber.

"What? So soon?" Michelle says.

"Yeah, so soon."

"Shouldn't you at least apologize to me before abruptly leaving?" Ben asks.

"Oh yeah, I should really apologize." I say and I act like I'm about to punch him again.

"Hey! Mia, let's just go home." Amber says dragging me.

"Nope, I haven't apologized to the ass spanker." I say.

"Amber, please take Mia to the car before she really apologizes to this young man." Michelle says and Amber agrees and starts taking me to the car.

"Is this the bitch you recommended to be my date......"

"Did you just call me a bitch? God, you guys should let me kick some sense into this dude." I say as I turn back after hearing the guy call me a bitch.

"You should really be grateful that she didn't hit you somewhere else. Come girls, let's go." Michelle says.

Amber suddenly leaves my arm and turns back to the guy. She walks toward him and gives him a slap.

"Ouch!! What the hell!!!" Ben yells in pain.

"That's for calling my friend a bitch." She says.

"That's my girl!" Michelle and I yell at the same time.

"You guys are real psychos!!!!" Ben yells and Michelle raises her middle finger at him.

Day 6......

"You're quite too slim for me. I like my girls thick......."

Guys, my sixth date. Steve, the guy who looks bad but wants things that look good.

".......you do have the curves but you're lacking b......."

"We're done here" I say as I stand.

I leave the restaurant.

Day 7.....

"So there's this guy........excuse me..... hello, over here please." Oliver says to a female worker.

Oliver, my seventh date.

I notice the way he stares at every female that passes by. It's as if he flirts with his eyes. Literally eye-raping any female worker that comes to serve us.

He's a flirt, pervert and definitely a player.

We went to a different restaurant this time.

I see the way he touches the hand of the female worker he called.

Like the way Park-Jae-eon touches the hand of other females in the Korean Netflix series"Nevertheless"

One of my favorite Korean series.

I stand up and leave the restaurant even before the dude turned away from the worker. I watch through the glass door as he starts looking around for me after I left the restaurant.

He didn't even notice when I left.

"What happened?" Amber asks as I got into the car.

"Pervert" I say beckoning on Michelle to drive us away.

Day 8.......

"As I was saying......." Nathan says as his phone rings, interrupting him.

He has answered like five phone calls from the same person or people I suspect.

"Lindsey, give your brother back his toy......Franky, stop pulling at Ella's hair.....put Charity on phone, Linda." Nathan says looking disturbed.

He's disturbed.

"Charity, please can you get the kids to sleep? I'm trying to focus on something here." He says, hanging up the call.

"So.....I'm sorry about the whole distraction, but I must get to the point now. Will you marry me, please?" Nathan asks.

What in the name of the good Lord is he talking about?

Marriage?!!!!!

"I'm sorry, say what?" I ask.

"I'm looking for a wife so I thought I'd find one through one or more blind dates. My wife abandoned me and her five kids........"

"Wait, stop right there. Your wife abandoned you with five kids, therefore you're looking for another wife to help you with the five kids your ex-wife left you with." I say.

"Yeah, please marry me and be a mother to the kids."

Dude I'm only 19 and I'm not looking for a husband neither am I looking for a babysitting job.

"Get your kids a nanny."

"Charity is their nanny but those kids are really difficult to handle. She needs an assistant but what I think is needed is a wife."

"Dude, you've got the wrong person. Didn't the person that set you up for this date tell you who you're meeting?" I ask.

"Yes......"

"In case you don't remember, I'm a 19 year old college student, sophomore precisely. So you've got the wrong person. See ya." I say, standing up to walk out as usual.

God! This is nightmare.

Day 9.....

I walk out

Day 10.....

I walk out

Day 11......

Ohh.....I walk out

Day 12......

Shit!! I walk out........

Day 13&14.......

I walk out and I walk out.

This is worse than I expected.

I still have five days.

Five more freaking days!!!!!!

Day 15.....

"And he was like "she's......."

Meet Eric, my fifteenth date. Unlike others I've met, he's really fun. He's a cool guy.

Surprisingly, our date has lasted like an hour and some minutes. I really enjoy having a conversation with him.

I think I may have found the one!

"That's really funny. How are you so good at telling jokes?" I ask not really expecting any serious answer.

"It's kinda my thing. I'm happy you find me funny." Eric says.

"I'm happy you're funny." I say with a smile.

Just few minutes later, I hear a female voice shout "Eric!!" from beside me. I feel a hand slap my cheek so hard before I could turn to see where the voice came from.

"Maggie!!! What the hell?!!" Eric asks.

"Is this the bitch you ditched me for?" Maggie asks furiously.

"Who the heck are you and why did you slap me?"I ask clutching my cheek.

"Are you bitch seriously asking me that question? You....." Maggie says as she tries to slap me again but Eric holds her hand.

I suddenly feel two hands grip me up from my seat.

"Are you okay?" I hear Michelle's voice ask.

"Are you alright, Mia? What's wrong with you Maggie? I told you I'm done with you." Eric says.

"Dude, who's this bitch?" Amber asks furiously.

"Who did you call bitch?" Maggie says.

"I called you a bitch......"

"And that's what you're" Michelle adds.

"Mia, I'm really sor......" Eric says as he tries to touch my hand.

"Don't you dare touch me." I say in angry tone.

"Please, lemme explain....."

"Didn't you hear her say you shouldn't touch her....." Michelle says.

"I'll get you some ice....." Amber says.

"No....take me home. I wanna go home right now." I say.

"Okay" Amber says.

I look at the Maggie and Eric in disgust and say "You better get your psycho woman under control before she meets the wrong date that will break those hands of hers." I turn towards the door.

"Me? A psycho? I need to teach this bitch a lesson."

"And I'm definitely the first person to do that." I hear Michelle say. I turn back to see Michelle squeezing Maggie's hand.

"Aaaahhh....let go of me, please!" Maggie pleads.

"Come on, Michelle. Just leave the psycho and let's go home." Amber says.

"Fine, be careful who you mess with." Michelle says releasing Maggie.

"Mia, wait please....." Eric says as we are leaving but we act like we didn't hear.

I'm never going on any date again.