“Kise!” Ranma’s voice rang out from two flights down. “C’mon! We’re gonna meet your Duncan-honey!”
I blinked, distracted. “Duncan-honey? Really, Ranma?”
“Yeah!” He was still my older brother, obnoxious and annoying and ... well, Ranma. “C’mon, Kise! Ya got some making-out to do now? Huh? Huh?”
My eyes flashed open, and I sprinted downstairs as fast as I could. I stalked up to Ranma, and my sharp melted-chocolate eyes could’ve dug a hole in his skull.
“Ranma, no way.”
“Why not?”
“We’re not dating, আপনি idiot. I don’t think we ever will.”
“Are আপনি suuuuure?” His gaze was still amused, and I wanted to মুষ্ট্যাঘাত my fist into his smug smile.
“YESSS!” I snapped. “I ... he’ll never like me, আপনি know. It’s creepy that you’re বন্ধু with him. He doesn’t like anyone.”
Ranma laughed. “C’mon, baby. Duncan’s not so bad.”
I felt myself blushing a light pink. “Never call me that again, Ranma. অথবা else I’ll need an excuse of why your body was found in a closet to say to Genma.”
“Aw, c’mon, sis. I can’t be that bad.”
“Apparently, you’re not aware of how bad আপনি can be,” I muttered.

--

My হৃদয় pounded as I walked up to Gwen, my best friend. “Gwen...” I started.
“Kise! Hey!” She smiled at me. “So, what’s new?”
“Nothing much. I ... have a তারিখ with Duncan tonight.” I looked around to see no-one was in earshot.
“Omigosh! You’re serious?!” Gwen did one of her little bounce-jumps that happened almost un-consiously.
“Shhh!” I shoved her. “Yes, I do. It had nothing to do with me অথবা him, though. Ranma set us up.”
“Ooh,” Gwen giggled. “Your brother is really something, ain’t he?”
“No!” I groaned. “He’s childish and annoying.”
Gwen looked surprised. “Ranma? Really? But he’s so cute. And smart. And ...”
“OKAY!” I sighed, not wanting to hear my best friend go on and on about my brother.
“Aren’t আপনি glad?”
The word sent a flutter through my heart, not that I could control it. “Uh ... glad? Why would I be?”
Gwen rolled her eyes. “C’mon, Kise. You’ve told me how much আপনি love Duncan.”
“Shut up, Gwen. আপনি just happen to be the one interested in an idiotic moron with puffy hair.”
Gwen looked into my eyes dreamily. “You have his eyes...”
I laughed. “Ew, Gwen! Don’t আপনি go all lesbo on me.”

--

Okay. I was late for my stinkin’ তারিখ with Duncan দ্বারা about 40 minutes. I was watching Total Drama Island, okay?! It’s on at 7:30, and oh god have I got to watch the new episode. But why did I still go, even though Duncan was probably already at প্রথমপাতা doing whatever he was doing. Carving skulls. Killing rabbits. Throwing gummy-bears into the toilet. Whatever.

But I did go. One little part of me felt that I shouldn’t have watched TDI, and headed to the তারিখ 30 মিনিট early to make sure I wasn’t late (which makes no sense but whatever) for my তারিখ with Duncan. That little flicker of me made my feet march towards to the door, head in my pale-gold Beemer, and drive towards the স্টারবাক্স্‌ right দ্বারা 10th.
And I’m kinda ashamed to say, that part is a really big part of me.

--

I walked in the স্টারবাক্স্‌ café, which was almost empty except for an old man পাঠ করা a newspaper sitting near the back of the café. Duncan sat on a couch, and as the door opened he looked back at me with his beautiful blue eyes.
“Kiseki?” He pronounced my full name carefully.
“Duncan.. sorry I’m late.” I smiled sheepishly and looked at my navy flats.
He smiled. “It’s ‘kay, baby. Sit.”
He did not just call me that.
I sat down on the chair beside him. There was a coffee cup right in front of me, and I nodded towards it. “For me?”
“Yeah. It’s kinda cold, though.” He laughed. “Watchin’ a new episode of TDI?”
I grinned. “Uh huh. TDI is awesome. I watch it every night.” I took a sip of my coffee.
“Fave episode?” he said, winking.
“Uh... the cliff-diving one. Episode 1, part 2. It’s like, beast.”
Duncan made some kind of connection. “You just প্রণয় to see me shirtless, don’t ya?”
I giggled despite myself, and I smiled flirtatiously, and in my sweetest voice I said,

“Maybe.”
Duncan smiled his hot juvy-boy smile. “That means yes, আপনি know,” he whispered in my ear. “Maybe always means yes.”
“Oh, is that so?” I giggled.
“Of course. And I know what you’re thinking, baby.”
I jumped up, startled. “What?”
“I know আপনি want me, Kise-Princess.”
I was speechless. Sure, I wanted him – but only because I had a major crush on him for like forever.
“And I know আপনি want the answer to that question.”
“W-what question?” I stuttered. But of course I knew what he meant. Just as the words flew through my mind one দ্বারা one, I heard him say,
“Do I like you.”
I blushed. “Well, do you?” I giggled nervously. “C’mon, people are waiting. Tell me so I can get out of here.”
Duncan smiled, lowered his eyelids, and whispered,
“Maybe.”
“Maybe always means yes,” I whispered back.
Duncan blinked, and the juvy-boy act was totally gone for that moment. He was the real Duncan then, and I wondered briefly how what could’ve happened. “Not always,” he murmured. “Sometimes it means no.”
I felt both confusion and disappointment swelling inside me.
Duncan continued. “Like for this time, it means no,” he said, wrapping his arms around me.
“I—” I started, but Duncan put his finger to my lips.
“No, Kise. I don’t like you,” he said, hugging me tighter.

I was puzzled as I put together his words and his actions. I didn’t make sense. He was saying he didn’t like me, but he was hugging me? What’s with that? I had put two and two together, and I ended up with five...

Duncan smiled sweetly, then he ব্যক্ত আরো clearly, “I প্রণয় you.”
I understood now, but I was so breathless I couldn’t speak.
Duncan, the guy I’d had a crush on forever, was in প্রণয় with me?
“I’ve wanted আপনি forever, আপনি know I have,” he ব্যক্ত quietly.
I didn’t say anything, I couldn’t say anything, so I just pressed my lips to his cheek, worrying briefly about the lip-gloss I had put on earlier. Would it show? Would Duncan run away from me in disgust?

He didn’t, he just smiled at me like he’s never smiled at anyone else ever before, and it was a moment made of perfect.
Staring into his eyes, I worried if I could ever look away. He drew me closer, just until my face was an inch from his. I saw the resolve in his eyes, and my হৃদয় leapt.

Do it, আপনি idiot!

Our lips met, and for a মিনিট I couldn’t think anything straight. He was here with me, and he wanted me. I closed my eyes, throwing my arms around his neck just as his slid around mine, but suddenly, a voice shattered my thoughts and concentration.

“Hey! আপনি can’t make-out here! Are আপনি gonna order a coffee অথবা what?!”

It was the স্টারবাক্স্‌ guy. I backed away from Duncan, embarrassed.
“Sorry, sir. We were just leaving,” Duncan ব্যক্ত with amusement in his voice.
He stood up along with me, and he smiled at me for the like, ten-millionth time today.

As we were advancing to the corner where we would part, I asked him,
“Just out of curiosity ... do আপনি think we’ll have another তারিখ ever again?”
Duncan turned, and gazed into my eyes, grinning. “Maybe,” he whispered, and headed off left.

As I turned right, my হৃদয় fluttered.
Maybe always means yes...