FELIX

I watch Agnes and the other students from the dance club exit the music hall. She and her best friends are so engrossed in whatsoever they're talking about. Meanwhile, I think back to what Rex said about asking her out.

How difficult could it be to be good to her for a change? Ever since our first year in this school, we have not said up to a complete sentence to each other, and it never really mattered to me then, but now that I reflect on it, I wonder why. Our means of communication is either her cold stare or the most convenient – pretend like we don't exist to each other, all of which says 'stay out of my way, and I'll stay out of yours'.

Maybe I'm dense but I really want to know why we're like that. I'm an open friend with virtually everybody, but with her, it's for lack of a better word, hopeless.

I walk up to her, full of confidence and courage, thinking that she won't tear me down with the infamous glare she always sends me whenever our eyes meet, but the closer I get towards her, the heavier my chest feels.

"Hey."

This is something that I've never done before – approaching somebody, and I don't know if I'm doing it right. Usually, I'm always the one being approached. So, like a courteous human being, I greet her in the politest of ways I see fit, while trying to compose a sincere smile with my face. That is what I do smoothly with others, but she makes it look so difficult the way she stares me down and doesn't move a flinch.

"I said, hey!" I repeat louder.

She glowers so disdainfully I feel my body jitter with guilt. Her deadpan appearance alone tells me that I probably shouldn't have had the guts to come close to her. I don't wanna know what her lips would say. Beyond that, the entire look on her face carries more than just anger. It's as though I did something bad to offend her in the past. I can't reckon whatever it is I've done that would make her see me in a different light, but damn! She's frightening.

Instead of torturing myself like so, I should find a good excuse to leave this unfortunate scene.

"Um, I just want to ask how you are doing. Nice outfit by the way," I acclaim, cursing myself out at the same time for coming up with that lame compliment. Before walking away as quickly as I can, I study her friends' reactions and they are as amazed too with how she made me look like a total idiot.

Nice outfit?! Oh jeez! I hope no one other than the three of them heard that awful pickup line. Okay, probably just her friends from the dance club, it doesn't matter either way. And come to think of it, her outfit put together is not so bad, I mean, a printed t-shirt for a funky look on her ripped jeans works perfectly.

But all my life, I've never been intimidated by a girl. Agnes is the only one with the bravery, and this is only Rex's fault! How dare he plant such crazy ideas in my head? Alright, well maybe it's not totally his fault. I knew from the start she'd be harsh as always, but doesn't she get tired?

"How could you be so mean?" I overhear Tessa speaking vehemently.

"Felix talked to you, and you just gave him that icy stare," Yvonne adds.

"Can we not discuss that, please? There are far more important things to talk about," she gives her reply, which surprises them. "Ah, you know what, I'm heading home." She walks ahead.

Nah. She never gets tired. It's going to take me more than another day's work to approach her again. And as for her, it'll be easy to decline my request of friendship, if I ever ask. Emphasis on IF.

Rex suddenly shows up from God knows where with a condescending smirk of mockery – little did I realize he has been eavesdropping on our conversation all along. Honestly, to come from him on a good day, it would not affect me a bit, but somehow, I do feel like a schnook who just made a fool of himself. All thanks to Agnes.

"This is completely your fault!" I point my index finger at him.

"My fault?!" He bursts into laughter. He laughs so hard water escapes his eyes and he holds his tummy in pain. Nothing can be more annoying than being laughed at in that manner.

"You can quit laughing now."

For a moment, he holds on a bit with the garish jesting to hear me out.

"It's no news that Agnes Carter is not a human. Of course, that was expected."

"Jeez, Felix! I never imagined there will be a girl good enough to resist your charm."

"Sad to say, but there is. Trying to befriend her is treacherous, like, accepting a suicide mission when you already know you won't make it out alive but you go anyway."

"But the Felix I know can overcome any suicide mission no matter how hard-to-get she tries to act," he air-quotes his point.

I knit my brows. "What are you driving at here? I hope you are not about to say something that will make me knock your teeth out."

He smirks, walking obtrusively to my side. "It is going to be written in all history books that the greatest playboy, the ruler of hearts, Felix King himself can't ask a simple girl like Agnes out on a date."

What's he trying to do? I just hope it's not what I'm thinking. He can joke however he likes, but my reputation shouldn't be tested like this, and absolutely not by Rex. He shouldn't even cross that line.

I still look at him curiously. "Says who?"

"Come on, Felix, we cannot all be winners. You gotta admit you can't always do everything."

If this discussion does not lead to him crushing my pride, I will treat myself with ice cream. If it does... well I hope it doesn't because I seriously need one right now.

"Whatever you're planning to make out of this, I don't care, but one thing is for sure, I can date just about anyone I please. No one could resist this appeal." I present myself with a conceited smug.

"Why don't you try to prove me wrong then?" He meets my gaze with daring eyes. "Go ahead and ask Agnes out."

I snort, defending my ego with my last shred of dignity. "I can date Agnes if I wanted to. Who's Agnes anyway?"

He shakes his head. "Oh, Felix, my good friend. You just need to admit it, mate, she's too tough for you."

I don't understand why or how, but something in what he says triggers an adventurous side of me and raises my egocentric need to prove him wrong. "I can date her if I want to," I utter more confidently, my eyes meeting his.

"Okay, let us make a deal if you have the guts." He already knows that I'll take up any challenge – a habit I sometimes wish I can get rid of.

I want to refuse but at the same time, I want to prove him wrong and rub it in his face. "What's your deal? You'd better make it good, because you will be the one covering your face in shame when you lose."

"If I lose, you mean," he smiles wickedly.

I humph. "Don't get so cocky just yet."

"Here is the deal. Before graduation next year, you're going to date Agnes and make her fall in love with you."

"What!!!"

I shake my head in disbelief. I can't believe my ears right now. It's highly impossible for Rex to come up with such a brilliant challenge, and it's equally impossible for me to win. Dating seems achievable but to make her fall in love with me! We are speaking about Agnes Carter here, and not some random girl!

Seeing Rex's facial expression, it's evident he is quite content he has won already even without me trying.

"I won't accept this dare," I say quietly.

"Then I'm right. Agnes is too tough for you. You can't date her because you are afraid and more so, you're not such the reputable playboy after all." He successfully steps on my ego. Good job, Rex.

I cross my arms. "What's in it for me if we agree to make this dare?"

"Nothing special, but I'll personally declare you 'King of the Impossible'. How does that sound, huh?"

"Sounds ridiculous. That's not good enough for accepting such a challenge."

"I am not through yet. As souvenir, I'll give you the remaining figurine pieces to complete your action figure collection, from my stash. You will get to fulfil your childhood dreams of having all your favourite action pieces."

Another point to knock me out. Rex knows how much I enjoy collecting action figures. This may sound strange, but when we were younger, we usually collect action figures as souvenirs from promotions and sales markets.

This one thing we share in common is probably the only reason why I still have him around me. Isn't it funny we've known each other this long, yet I can't tolerate him most of the time? I have heroes from minor cinematic universes but Rex has like, a wider array of collectables, some I'm not even familiar with. And now, all because of Agnes, I'm tempted with something I've always wanted so badly.

He taps his foot. "I'm waiting."

"You can't tempt me with that!"

"Oh really?" He raises his eyebrows. Of course, he knows he can.

"What's in it for you?"

"What exactly am I supposed to gain from your dating life? Of course, it's just for fun. I want to see that lady who will finally break your dating record in this school, if that's even possible."

He teases, and I become so indecisive, my body literally feels pins and needles everywhere.

"Going, going, going—"

"Deal!" I say abruptly.

He grins with a contented look on his face, the kind when a heinous plan is coming to fruition. "You have the time in the world to... you know, try your luck," he chuckles.

"I am so getting those action figures from you," I speak with much anger boiling inside me. The audacity he has to assume he can challenge me and go scot-free.

"And I wish you the best, mate. Happy dating," he comments and stalks away. He'll be so sorry he dared me. I'll have to make sure of that.

Then I turn back towards the music hall. Agnes and her friends aren't there anymore but I start to imagine what it'll feel like if we were actually dating. The mental picture struggles to persist. Instantly, an idea drops in my head, leaving me smirking happily.

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