He’s not a saint mind you, but he is to every woman, who falls to his charms.

He has a way of getting to one’s nerves by using his boyish pranks to his feigned manly hurt ego, which in reality mocks me.

It started with just one business call that wasn’t even intentional or planned but by a tactless intervention in a form of two oblivious common friends, who got no idea that an innocent introduction could lead to something.

It was a battle of wills and wits, a dreadful fight, measuring each other’s resistance, immunity to sweet words, opposing characters, trying to outdo each other, who will catch who, who will believe first in their own intentions, bite to his and her own hidden agenda, who will surrender first or to be fooled.

TLC he said, “I need tender loving care” whenever he’s tired or down. Or I dreamt of you last night, it’s like HHWW (holding hands while walking) on the sands by the bay, while my other holds a bottle of wine. The following night, I dreamt of you again, you laid a picnic cloth, and I hand fed you with strawberries dip from a glass of champagne.” He used to say.

He gets mad whenever I dared to fling back to his face, lines like these TLC is passé, while HHWW on the beach is a scene I already read in a book or seen in a movie, in short he has no originality.

He gets excited whenever he ruins my day, and he thinks he could pacify me with honey, babes, love, sweetheart, darling and all the endearments ready on the tip of his tongue. I doubt if it can all be found in the depth of his heart.

I am not bitter mind you, for he taught my deadlock heart that it could feel so alive and warm, and realized that it could also expressed itself so eloquently.

I may have thrown the gauntlet down and he picked it up, but I know both of us keep tallying scores, until such time, we found ourselves both on the losing end. Why?

I fell in love with him but his bruised ego and mangled heart.... is already tied to somebody else. . . . *******