I'd like to thank the following: csi7, starstacey, HouseAddiction, PaulaAbdulChica2007, Crazy Mokis, Huddytheultimate, Vodka Martini, dingi and Eeva.

And dude, blackmoon rowan, touch naman ako, adik ka! So, what can you say about their review on your character Yasmin? And no, I have no intention to be a character in my stories, only classmates and friends. That's how I rock! Besides, are you making me assume that I am your best friend? LOL.

THE next day, Lisa was awakened by three simultaneous knocks on her bedroom door. It took her another minute to digest the thought that the sun had risen and it was already time for her to face another day. She went to the door with a heavy head and opened it.

"Lisa, there is a charming guy downstairs. He said his name is Greg and he is looking for you. He told me that he's your boyfriend." Lisa's mom, Leia, told her not bothering to conceal her excitement.

Lisa's eyes widen in shock. She slapped her forehead with her palms. She can't believe what Greg tried to pull. She can't believe that he appeared in their doorstep that early in the morning to announce to her mother that they are a couple.

I am so going to kill him.

"Mom, don't believe him. He's a jerk that enjoys playing around. Plus, he is too far from being charming." Lisa tried to explain.

She changed from her silk pajamas into house clothes fast. It was as if it was a conversion of energy from anger, annoyance and hatred into a productive act. She can't wait to give him a hard punch in the face!

By the time she reached the last stair step and realized that her words will be far from her Mom's earshot she declared the beginning of the battle.

"What do you think you're doing? You came in to our home this early to announce to my Mom that you're my boyfriend? Are you out of your mind?" Lisa said, annoyed.

"Well, if I remember correctly, we reached an agreement last night that we will be dating starting today," Greg said with an irresistible smirk on his rugged face.

"We agreed that we will draft a contract on what our rules and restrictions will be, not to start dating immediately."

"I brought a draft of our contract so you could browse through it or maybe add some provisions of your own, then I'll have it notarized to make it legal. After that, we can start." Greg offered her his draft.

Lisa shook her head in defeat and took it. She scanned it as fast as she could and tried to find all the blind spots to question (that is her way to delay the process). It is only after she realized that Greg really had given all his provisions his thought and found nothing questionable, she tried to reason out.

She smiled at him. "Greg, I think we acted impulsively last night so I think it would be best if we reconsider this agreement."

He frowned. "Are you backing out on me?"

"No, no---definitely not. I am just trying to say that-----"

"I knew it was a waste of time to agree with you. I knew it at the beginning that you always change your mind. That you are someone who can't stick with her word…"

She frowned too then stared at each other challengingly. If she withdrew her gaze he will think that she is a coward. But if she agreed to him, she might not be able to live up with his provisions.

What should I do? Should I take the challenge or should I take the easy way out?

She looked straight into his eyes and made her decision.

"Fine! I don't want you to think that I don't honor my words." Lisa declared although she can feel her knees shaking.

They looked over the contract he brought. It was a straightforward contract, stating that they would be dating for one month and she should pay him $2,500 and additional $2,500 for dating expenses. The amount was still high although it was lower than how much she expected. He promised her that he would make sure it would be money well-spent.

It was also stated in the contract that whoever dishonored their agreement ---like fall in love with the other --- would have to pay the offending party $10,000. Meaning, if she fell in love with him, she had to pay him additional $5,000 and vice versa. That was why she had to put a lock on her heart and bury it deep so she wouldn't pay that much money to him.

Another offense to the contract is backing out. If one of them would back out, he or she would also pay the same amount in penalty. With that much money at stake, she really can't afford falling for him or running away from him. Although she knew that that amount was actually nothing for him (because he gets a sufficient salary for his practice), she knew that he wouldn't want to pay her that much as well.

She bit her lower lip and told him to leave the draft so that she may add her own provisions. She would list in the draft all the things she wants to do with spending her money on dates as if they are a real couple.

The kisses she was not sure of but the thing is negotiable --- meaning, if one of them wanted it, permission had to be asked first from the other party before they could kiss. In other words, there should be mutual consent.

It seemed fair enough so she agreed. She will make sure that she will make the most of the experience. She would cram a year's worth of experience in thirty days. Hopefully in the end, she would gain some insights on how a relationship worked and she would be able to use it for her writing.

So she made a wish list of 30 things she wanted to do with Greg. The following items were on the list:

Spend the first day of the year together saying or writing New Year's resolution over champagne.

Spend the day talking and getting to know each other.

Watch a romantic movie at a movie house while sharing popcorn.

Have a romantic dinner at her favorite restaurant.

Have a picnic.

Watch sunset together.

Watch a concert or musical play.

Buy a his-and-hers matching shirt and wear them at the same time.

Record a CD of their favorite songs or sing their lungs out at a videoke bar.

A birthday celebration for her complete with balloons, cake and lots of gift.

Be serenaded in a piano bar by her lover.

Watch a live NBA game or any other sports.

Play tennis or any other sport together.

Celebrate Valentine's Day together with a bunch of tulips from him and a romantic garden dinner.

Attend a social gathering together.

Enroll in cooking class together.

Spend a day shopping gifts for family and friends.

Revisit favorite childhood hangouts and talk about each other's childhood.

Reminisce youth and student days. Browse through old photos.

Spend talking about present lives while having a food trip.

Have a movie marathon day. Afterwards, talk about future plans.

Celebrate his birthday the same way they celebrated hers.

Spend a day cooking a festive meal together.

Exchange gifts as if celebrating Christmas/Hanukah.

Spend the day at an amusement park.

Take a long drive. Then walk in the rain.

Spend the day renovating her room.

A day at the spa together or a his and her make-over.

Attend a costume party.

Spend the night amidst fireworks display as if celebrating New Year's Eve.

She hoped Greg wouldn't find her requests too mushy for his taste. Besides, it is her money that they will be spending.

All she needed was his approval of her provisions, and then they could start their contract dating. She wanted to get the show on the road because the sooner it started, the sooner it would end. But before that, she wanted to ask Greg one final question. She wanted to know what made him decide to take her up on this insane idea of hers. She wants to know what he has to say.

If she did not happen to like his answer, she will back out. Now that she knows that there is no better time to change her mind but now.

Sorry about the list, if some are objectionable for your taste. I am not familiar with Judaism and their student years. But hey, I tried to give them justice.

Please, please review. The faster the reviews come in the faster I will upload the next chapters, of course it is my privilege to know if the people I wrote this story for already had read it. Leave me even just a note.

Tc, always

ac