The Reason

'Why do u smoke?,' the girl asked as she watched the newly transformed dude she had previously met a few days ago plopped himself hard on the grass. She remained on the bench. His new image fitted him perfectly. He looks cool now as opposed to, well, nerdy.

'Smoking, makes me calm,' the dude said as he took out a cigarette and lights it. Dunhill. The girl made a mental note of the dude's brand preference. Observing people's interests is a habit of hers.

'I'm always thinking - when I'm talking,when I'm drawing,- even when I'm praying. Smoking relaxes me a bit'. He took a puff and paused probably enjoying the effect the nicotine is doing to his body. 'Do tell me if the smoke annoys you' he said as he slowly relaxes into a sleeping position.

'Nah, it's okay. I'm used to it. You think too much,' she smiled. 'You need to stop smoking you know' she continued. He stared blankly at her. 'I need a reason to'. She burst out laughing.

'How can you be so happy all the time?' The girl laughed again, bewildered by his remark. What the hell? You have no idea what I've been through.

'Dude, I'm not happy all the time. You know what's going on - '

'Ya, but I mean like right now - You're like the only girl that laughs at my jokes and well, basically everything that I said.'

'Haha... Well, I laugh a lot. I guess I'm a very optimistic person'. He gave a half-hearted nod.

'Teach me how not to think so much'

Haha. Absurd. 'Well, (she shrugged) you just got to know when to turn it on and when to turn it off'.

'Ah...I see.So why dont' you have a boyfriend?' He smiled, finally. That question completely caught her off guard but she let out a harty laugh nevertheless.

'Because nobody wants me'

'Oh come on-'

'No, I'm serious. Nobody wants me,'

' What if I say I want you?'

'What the hell? You're desperate for a girlfriend aren't you? Why do you even need a girlfriend?

'I told you remember? So that I have someone to fall back. Who will be there for me -

'Ya, but can't your friends do that?'

'Nah, you see - (he got up and sat beside her) Okay, let's take smoking for example. I have a family right? (she nodded) So they would of course try to stop me, but they would eventually stop trying to. There will be a time where they just give up. And, friends. Yes, they will try to stop me and they will be there for me but they won't always be there and they too, will stop telling me not to do things. And besides, they have their own problems-' He came to an abrupt stop. His left hand reached down into his left jeans pocket for his handphone. A message. He thought and after making a quick glance at the screen for the name of sender, he quickly stuff it back in.

He proceeded.'So that's family and friends. They will stop telling you what to do. So, who do you think will not stop?' A smile crept on the girl's face. The answer was obvious. 'Your partner...or your spouse,' he said without waiting for her reply. 'Do you think your partner would just calmly watch you smoke? No right?' He paused, reflecting what he'd just said. 'So that's why I need someone. I need a reason to do things', he took out another cigarette. She sighed. 'Stop that' she said, eyeing dissaprovingly at the cigarette in between his fingers. He smiled. 'Marry me then'.