"Make it ten, Rai," Celestine finally said to her best friend, Railee.
"Wha—what?!" she exclaimed. Her eyes grew wide as saucers as if she said something out of this world. "B-But—Celestine!"
Raising her eyebrow, she asked, "Why? Is there something wrong?" She waited for Rai's reaction.
Then, Rai finally get her shits together and laughed so hard. She shook her head. "I can't believe you. I just wanted you to go out and socialize—like go on a date—meet some new guys… but here you are and asking me to set ten guys for you—on a blind date! This is insane!" she waved her hands exasperatedly. "And you'd meet them all in just one night? Good grace, do you even know what you're talking about?"
Her brows furrowed. "I definitely know what I'm talking about and I know what I want," she rolled her eyes. "I'd rather take all the rejection all at once, instead of letting it kill me bit by bit," she sighed. Suddenly, sadness wept through her. Reality is… she's fat. "They might even back out when they find out that it's me—that they're meeting a—"
"Oh, please. Stop right there. You're being too harsh on yourself," Rai stopped her, voice soft and soothing. "And besides, they aren't supposed to know it's you; that's why it's called blind date, silly."
She shrugged. She appreciates her best friend making her feel good but… "That's the reality, Rai. let's just accept the fact that I'm fat and no one's gonna like me with my size."
"Would you just stop being negative?" Rai groaned in frustration. She cupped her face and looked her straight into the eye. "You are a very talented woman. You are beautiful—inside and out! You've got the brains! You've got the beauty!"
"Yeah—but I don't have a body."
Railee laughed. "Then what are you? Just a head on a plate?"
"Rai…"
"You listen to me, woman."
"No, Rai, you listen to me—men aren't into a chubby woman like me. They prefer those skinny—bamboo stick—"
"Oh, I know that. Even your ex chose an anorexic looking woman over you. Damn that ugly, bastard, son of a bitch, asshole, poop looking ex of yours."
She chuckled. Oh, God… "You're calling him too many names."
"That's just a few, I'm thinking of other names to add onto the list." They both laughed at Rai's joke. "But girl, you have to stop thinking that you aren't beautiful, 'kay?"
That made her stop. She's not just thinking those, they are a fact. And it's how the world treats a fat woman—making fun of them, bullying them—she can even attest to that because she, herself, was a victim of bullying.
She sighed. She can't even recall how many times she went on a date—and all of them were failed. She didn't even get to say 'hi' or 'hello' because the moment they see her on the front door of the restaurant, they're already backing out. That's how cruel the world is to her.
She didn't even experience going into a charity gala, graduation ball—name it. Not because she's not invited, but because her mother won't let her. She agrees with her, though. She cannot see herself being a wallflower in those balls. And if she lets herself go, oh boy, that's suicide. Why go to a party when you knew that no one's going to dance with you?
She doesn't really get it. What's wrong with being a plus-sized woman? She's a human. She's still a woman.
She breathed deeply.
"Aren't you going to take it back? I mean, seriously, you're dating ten guys in a row?" Rai said, still chuckling. "It's almost a year when you had your last blind date, and this—"
"It's actually going to be my eleventh set of blind dates." She cupped her chin and thought about it. "Gosh, imagine that I've already gone with ten failed blind dates! Don't you think this is too much?"
Rai rolled her eyes on her. "It's just a date, and you're a woman who's having fun with her life… and it's not like you're going to marry all of them. You'll just test the waters first, then find that someone who you're going to go rafting with."
Damn. She hates it when Rai has a point. Ten failed blind dates aren't as bad as failed marriages. "Fine…" she finally agreed. "So, will you be able to find me ten guys?" she asked. God, she sounds like a cougar. She's not being desperate. She shook her head, its Rai's idea that she should go out. And if those guys won't accept the way she is, then fine. If she was meant to be alone, then be it.
"O-Okay, deal. I'll go find you ten guys—on Saturday."