Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
“Tonight’s topic…is….” Billie began.
“Drumroll.” Anesa picked up a pen and took Travis’s as she tapped her table as if it was a drum.
Billie laughed “Thanks Anesa. It’s ‘Mind Games’.” She finished “It’s a well known fact that before courting, there will be a bit of mind games going on. Guessing what the other person is thinking and imagining what they are thinking.”
A female in the front raised her hand “What kind of mind games?”
“Women are the number one culprit of starting a mind game. Some might not even know that they are doing it. Although it may be unintentional, it’s not very favored by men.” Billie looked at the guys in the room “Am I right?”
“Yes, Miss Cheng.” Kyle threw her a strange wink and a crooked grin.
Billie ignored it as she continued “But it doesn’t mean that men do not do the same.” She pointed out “A very popular example would be testing to see if the other person is interested.” She snapped her fingers at Kyle “Would you like to try?”
He was instantly on his feet “Sure.” Taking long strides down the steps, he stood in front of her readily.
She grinned, “How times have changed. I remember having to pull your arm to help on the first day of class.”
“Well, things change, people change…” he hinted.
Billie nodded oddly “I suppose. What things have changed?”
“Oh…you know.” He winked secretively.
Lowering her head a with a smile, she turned up to him “Thanks Kyle, you can go back to your seat now.”
He was abruptly confused “Huh?”
“Thank you for the example.” She gently nudged him away as she turned to the class “A very classic example of playing very coy and not giving enough information. Not to mention there were tiny hints all over each sentence.”
Anesa raised her hand “I’m sorry I wasn’t paying attention. I was too busy holding down my barf. I thought that was some bad flirting but I didn’t see any mind games.”
The group laughed but it was the red faced Kyle that lowered himself into the seat “Why do I always let her do that?!” he hissed.
Anton grinned, “Which one are you talking about? Billie or Anesa?”
“I was going to ask the same thing.” Travis cracked.
Billie turned to the guys “Do I have to split you up boys?”
“Shh!!” Anesa rolled her eyes “They are so rude. Sorry Miss Cheng.” She said sweetly.
“Its alright, you are not the one that need to apologize.” Billie smiled “To answer your question, the mind game was obvious. Kyle was hinting something very unclear to me. Obviously something he knows but I don’t. That is just one kind of mind game. Another one is mutual. If the two of you know and like the mind game, it can go on for a very long time. Have any of you tried that before?”
One of the guys dared to raise his hand “I have.” Billie acknowledged him with a smile “It was some girl that I met at a restaurant. She gave me eye contact and I did the same. I eventually approached her and asked if she was interested. She said maybe and I asked if she was involved with anyone, she said no but maybe looking. It was all very fun at the beginning but to be honest, if she did that now, I’d go crazy.”
“So you two are dating?” Billie raised her brows in surprise.
“Yes.” He answered honestly.
“The restaurant was a bar wasn’t it?” she put him on the spot. The guy nodded embarrassingly “Why would you go crazy now?”
“Easy, we’re past the stage of flirting. It’s moved on to something else…deeper, I guess. It’s too exhausting to guess what she’s thinking. I’d rather her tell me straightforwardly.” He answered truthfully.
Billie nodded “True. The mind games only happen at the beginning stage of dating. Like Ah Kin states, once you move on to a new level of dating, it’s unnecessary for the games to continue. Not to say that it doesn’t happen but it’s better not to continue if you want something more out of the relationship.”
Anesa tapped her chin thoughtfully “What if it’s a one way mind game?”
“Example?” Billie turned to her.
“What if you think he’s interested but he’s playing a game with you. Every time you want to approach it, he changes the subject? And you end up guessing what it is that he feels.” She explained.
“Hmm…that would be tough one to get around. I suggest you be frank with him and get a straight answer. If he continues to play the game, I think you know what to do next.” She smiled at the interested girl.
Anesa widened her eyes “Beat him until he tells me the truth?”
The classroom exploded with laughter while Billie shook her head “That would be a good way but I was thinking more on the level of leaving it at that. If a guy cannot be straight with you then that should raise a few red lights. He’s got an honest issue. It’s best that you leave him with the games and find yourself another guy who’s not so Mr. Jekyl and Hyde.”
Travis raised his hand after she finished “What if the game is being played by the girl?”
Billie knew exactly where he was getting at “Depends. Did the girl take you in circles?”
“Possibly.” He answered with a flicked brow.
“Did you ask her straightforwardly?” she questioned.
Shaking his head, he smiled “No but what if she knew what I was thinking but didn’t bother to come clean? Instead she pulled me into the mind game and expected me to find my way out.”
“Well, maybe you wouldn’t be sucked in if you would have been more frank.” She replied coolly.
“I don’t understand women. If they know what men are thinking, why don’t they just say it? Instead of running in circles and leading them in one direction but it really was in the opposite direction?” Travis wasn’t about to lose to her little game.
“If you weren’t too afraid to ask, maybe the girl wouldn’t have to run in circles.” She tightened the corner of her eyes.
Anesa nudged Kyle “Are we still discussing mind games?”
“Shh! I’m trying to decode the words.” Kyle hushed as he stared at the ceiling and muttered words to themselves. But he wasn’t the only one, the entire classroom were utterly confused.
She turned to Anton, who had on a quiet smile “You know?” she whispered.
He raised his brows “Maybe.”
“Oh no…they’ve got you too. You’re talking in mind game code.” She shook her head sadly.
Anton laughed, “A mind game takes two people, only those two people will understand what they are trying to say. A third person’s view is always confused.”
“That doesn’t explain why you know what they are saying.” Anesa scratched her head while the other two continued with their debating.
He gave her a wink “Let’s just say I’ve been on that side of the court before.”
“Oh.” She nodded but was still puzzled “Hey, I didn’t get a chance to thank you for that other day.”
“You’re very welcome. If that guy bothers you again, I think you should call the cops.” He said sincerely.
“Yeah…I should do something.” She agreed.
Turning back to Travis and Billie, they seemed to be in their own little world. Billie sighed, a sign she did not want to continue the conversation “We’re getting off topic. Anyways…my final question…where does the line cross between flirting and mind games?”
“When the clothes come off and breakfast is served.” A guy blurted out. The girls groaned while the men found it amusing.
“Typical male.” One of the girls said sarcastically “Why do all men have one thing on their minds?”
“What does that suppose to mean?” one of the guys answered offensively.
“It’s not a mind game.” The girl replied haughtily.
“Now kids…no need to argue. We’ll get to the subject of sex on another day. But the answer to my question is when one of the two people playing mind games becomes more serious towards the other person. Sure it’s all fun and games at the beginning but once emotions get involved, it changes everything.” She looked around “It is quite tiring to use your brain and analyze each and everything the other person has to say and to translate it to normal human language. It can get a little tricky. For example…” she waved for Anton to step forward.
He looked around strangely as if she was looking at someone else. When she nodded again, he stepped forward “Don’t embarrass me, please.” He whispered.
Billie smiled “I’ll try not to.” She replied softly “Now let’s say, we just met somewhere. We are mutually attracted, you approach me, what would you say?”
“Hi. I’m Anton.” He brought out a friendly hand.
“Billie.” Shaking his hand briefly she began looking around as if uninterested.
“Do you come around here often?” he tried again.
“No.” she answered.
Anton nodded “I see…I hear the martinis here are very good.”
“Hmm…” Billie mumbled. She turned to Anton, who looked ready to give up and walk away “Would you like to buy me one?”
“Really?” he raised his eyes in surprise. Suddenly, he frowned in confusion “Wait a minute…why would a girl that showed no interest suddenly be interested?”
Billie laughed, “That’s the key to the game. To lure the person in without even trying. The ball was always in my court. I called the shots. I showed no interest but the minute you were ready to give up, I gave you an open door to walk right through.”
“What happens after that then?” he crossed his arms curiously.
She shrugged “I don’t know. It’s up to the girl, I suppose. But this can work both ways. Say the guy is the one with the ball, he has full control of whether he possibly wants to start something with this girl. Humans are complex beings, they always want something they cannot have. It’s the fact of life. It’s a natural reaction to change your mind in a split second.”
Anton lowered his head with a sideway smile and a distant look “Why should there be games when it’s a mutual reaction?”
Billie touched his arm, bringing him back to reality “Thanks Anton.” She pointed her head to his seat as he returned to it “Mind games can be fun if you know how to use it right. Choose your victims well and try not to confuse people because it can come out the wrong way.” She continued with the subject and more examples. By the end of the class, everyone had a better understanding of the games.
She was about to leave when Kyle approached her “Hi Billie.” He showed off his adorable dimple.
“Cut to the chase.” She was done with mind games for the day.
“How about dinner tomorrow?” he asked.
Billie frowned “Why?”
“Can’t a student ask the teacher out for dinner? Is it a crime?” he asked innocently.
“It is when the student is well known player.” Anesa over heard the conversation and couldn’t help but butt in.
“You are still pining for me, aren’t you?” Kyle asked sadly.
“I’ll give you something to pine—” she began pulling up her sleeves when Travis came swooping in to take her out. She threw her fist in the air “I’ll get you next time.”
Kyle laughed merrily “Girls.” Sighing, he turned back to Billie “So, how about it?”
She was ready to refuse but a part of her was curious to know what he was up to “Okay.” She agreed.
“Great! I’ll call you.” He waved for Anton to come along.