“NICO… I'm sorry about yesterday,” Cashmere told Nico. 

After their exam in Philosophy, Cashmere decided to talk to Nico and apologized to him about what happened yesterday. 

“It's okay, Cashmere,” Nico answered her. “How's your exam in Math, by the way?"

Cashmere pursed her lips. “'Well. I feel like I'm going to pass." She smiled. "I was able to answer all the problems. I hope my answer's right though."

"That's great, Cashmere."

"Thank you again, Nico."

"You're welcome, Cashmere." Nico returned her smile. “Where's your best friend, by the way?"

“She already went to the drama guild office. You know, she's an officer there."

Nico then glanced at his watch then turned to her. “Then are you going home now, Cashmere?" 

"Yup."

"Well… can I walk you outside the campus?" 

“Oh? Uh… I'm sorry, Nico. I'm going to be fetched by someone. I'm just waiting for him, in fact."

“Your brother Blue?”

“Not him... It's Grey, actually. You met him the other day, right?”

“Is he always fetching you, Cashmere?”

Cashmere shook her head. "Uh, no. It's just that Blue's out of town so Grey was looking after me."

Nico nodded at her and smiled. "So, he's like an older brother to you?" 

Cashmere just pursed her lips even though she wanted to protest. "Well, you can say that."

When they reached the ground floor of the building, Cashmere immediately saw Grey. 

He was sitting on one of the benches while talking to someone on the phone. As Grey put down his phone, he looked in her direction. Their eyes met. Grey smiled at her as stood up from his seat. Her heart pounded inside her chest when started walking towards her. 

“I'll go ahead, Nico...” She glanced at Nico beside her and gave him a small smile. 

“See you, Cash. Take care.” Nico smiled at her before he started walking away. 

“Hi, Grey...” Cashmere smiled at Grey as he stopped right in front of her.

Cashmere noticed that his smile faded. Instead, he was looking at Nico who was already meters away from them. 

"Why are you with that boy, Cashmere?" Grey asked his brows in a deep crease. "You already rejected him, right? Don't tell me he's still pursuing you?" 

Cashmere shook her head. "Uh, no. But we're friends, Grey."

Grey sighed. "Be careful with him, Cashmere. It was obvious that he likes you."

She examined Grey. Why did she feel like he was being overprotective with her? 

"You have nothing to worry about, Grey. Uh, Nico's a good person. He's also a gentleman."

Grey pursed his lips. "But then he's not your type, right?" 

Cashmere's eyes widened a fraction. Then she pursed her lips. "No. If I like him, do you think I'd reject him?" 

Grey's smile returned to his lips. "How's your exam, by the way?”

Cashmere bit her lower lip. “Hmm, I think I'd pass it...”

Grey's smile widened. “See? I told you, you can make it...”

Cashmere's heart skipped a bit with the kind of smile Grey was giving her. “Thank you for teaching me, Grey.”

“Just thank you, Cash? I think you have to treat me to dinner." He smiled. 

“Huh?”

“Let's go to the nearest mall before I drive you home. Treat me to an early dinner.” Grey winked at her. “Let's go.”

Grey held her hand and led her to the parking lot of the campus. 

Cashmere's lips parted as her eyes went down to her hand. 

Her heart wasn't only thumping crazy right now. She could also feel some butterflies invading her stomach. 

“Ah, by the way, Grey. Is it Blue you were talking to on the phone earlier?" Cashmere couldn't help but ask. 

“Nah. It was Kass,” Grey answered in a casual voice. 

Cashmere felt like a bucket of cold water was poured on her. 

Of course, Cash. Grey was talking to her girlfriend. 

Cashmere felt like something sharp stabbed her heart. 

Cashmere bit her lower lip. “Grey… shouldn't you be with Kass right now?" she asked in a small voice. 

“Oh. Kass is in Baguio right now, Cashmere," Grey answered. “Besides, I'm sure she's already fed up with my face." Grey chuckled. 

Fed up? 

If I were her, I wouldn't be fed up with your face even if I see you every day. 

“Uh, do you think Kass won't get mad if she finds out you're with me, Grey?"

Grey turned to her, confused. “Why would she get mad?” 

Right, Cash. Why would his girlfriend get mad at you when Grey only sees you as his little sister? 

Cashmere smiled bitterly at herself. 

 “Is there a problem, Cash?” Grey asked, now he looked concerned. He was looking at her with a worried look on her face. 

Yeah. My heart has a big problem, Grey. 

Cashmere managed to smile at him. "Uh, nothing, Grey."

“Where do you want to eat?” Grey asked Cashmere when they arrived at the mall near their university. 

 “Hmm, where do you want to, Grey? You're the one who asked me for dinner, right? Anywhere's fine with me."

“Alright,” Grey smiled, then he led her to a Japanese restaurant. 

“Do you want to eat here?” Cashmere asked Grey. 

“Yeah. You like Japanese foods, right?”

“Uh, yeah...” Cashmere is a fan of Japanese dishes. 

But she bit her lower lip when she remembered that she only had two thousand pesos in her wallet. 

I hope they accept cards. 

“Table for two, please,” Grey said to the waiter who welcomed them. 

The server led them to a two-seater table. 

“What's your order, Cash?” Grey asked while scanning the menu. 

Cashmere turned to the waiter. “Uh, do you accept cards here?”

“Yes, Ma'am. We do accept cards.”

Cashmere secretly heaved a sigh of relief. She scanned the menu again before looking at the waiter. 

 “Beef teriyaki, california maki and okonomiyaki...” Cashmere said. "That's my order." 

"How about you, Sir?" the waiter turned to Grey. 

“I'll have the same order as her,” Grey said, handing the menu to the waiter. 

“How about drinks, Sir, Ma'am?”

"Just iced tea for me." Cashmere answered.

“I'll have iced tea, too," Grey said. 

“Why do we have the same order, Grey?" Cashmere couldn't help but ask after the waiter left them. 

Grey just shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know anything much about Japanese cuisine." 

Cashmere's brows furrowed. 

“Then why did you choose to eat here?”