Irani took the chocolate drink he ordered for her and sipped on it.

Red leaned on his seat and he placed both of his hands on the back of his hand. He really is a massive guy.

Irani always felt extra small every time she was with him. “What are you doing here at my table? Why don't you go to your friends?" she asked, glancing at his bandmate's table near them.

Red just pursed his lips as she continued to stare at her.

Irani felt uncomfortable with the way Red looked at her. She didn't know why her chest was starting to pound again.

“You’re liking the wrong guy, Irani,” Red said, earning a frown from her.

“Huh? What do you mean?” she asked, confused by what he just said.

She put down the chocolate shake on her table and looked at him with furrowed brows.

"Mendoza, that guy doesn't like you," Red said without a smile. "Stop liking him, Irani."

The frown on Irani's forehead deepened when she realized what Red was trying to tell her. Irani thought that Red and she were already starting to get okay. But she guessed that was not the case. He always says things that will annoy her. And she realized that wouldn't change.

“Shut up, Red,” Irani said, glaring at him. She then stood up and left Red on her table, together with the drink that he bought for her.

STEP 5: A guy likes you If he told you he likes you. Actions are nothing without words.

“So, you're just going to wait for him to confess his feelings to you?" Cashmere asked her while preparing a pitcher of juice. It was the weekend and Cash invited her to a movie marathon in her house.

“Hmm, what if I confess to him first?" Irani asked her best friend.

Tomorrow was supposed to be her movie date with Drei. But then Drei texted her yesterday. He said he couldn't make it because he suddenly has something important to do with his family.

“You wouldn't mind confessing your feelings first to him?” Cash asked her in a surprised tone.

“Of course,” Irani said with a confident face.

They were already in the twenty-first century. For her, it was totally okay if the girl decided to confess first. There was nothing wrong or shameful with it. It was okay to take the first move. Besides, Irani doesn't really like waiting in vain. She was not a patient person.

Their conversation about Drei was halted when Blue entered the kitchen.

"Blue!" Cash greeted his brother. "You're already here. Are you with your bandmates?"

"Yup. They’re in the garden," Blue answered his sister before turning to her. He greeted her.

"Hello, Blue," Irani greeted back, smiling at him.

The moment Blue left them, Cash already picked up the pitcher of juice they just made. "Come on, let's go upstairs now," she said to her, a bit panicking.

Irani understood why her best friend was acting that way. She was avoiding Grey. They were already in her room when they realized they forgot the plate of nachos in the kitchen. Irani decided to go downstairs to get it back.

This time, she saw Red in the kitchen. He was wearing a white shirt and black pants.

He was leaning on the kitchen counter while eating a strawberry cupcake.

She decided to ignore him as she went straight to the counter. But then she noticed he was looking at her. And she was right. When she picked up the platter and turned in his direction, she found him looking at her.

And she didn't know why her heart started to thump like crazy.

“Y-you have icing on your lips,” she told him in a small voice, looking at his face.

Her lips parted when she saw Red lick his lips with his tongue. Her hold on the platter tightened. She then cleared her throat and walked past him. But before she could leave the kitchen, she heard his voice.

"Stop assuming things, Irani. Drei doesn’t like you.”

Irani stopped and looked back at him. "He likes me, Red," she said in a confident tone, smirking at him.

“Wanna bet on me?” Red asked in an equally confident voice. He leaned on the countertop and crossed his arms over his chest.

Irani's lips parted. Before she could answer him, he already continued speaking.

“If you’re right and he likes you… I’ll do anything you want…” He paused. “But if I’m right, I want you to date me.”
“What…?” she said, almost a whisper.

“A date, Cassidy.”

“W-why would you date me?” This is the first time that she stammered in front of him.

“Why not?” he asked back, his thick eyebrows raising at her.

“Do you like me?” she asked bravely, meeting his eyes.

What the heck, Irani? That's impossible, she said to herself.

“What if I say yes?” Red answered back, his face full of seriousness. His eyes… it was staring right back at her. Her heart was hammering against her chest she almost let go of the platter of nachos in her hand.

“What about you, Irani?”
Red asked as he slowly walked towards her. She didn't understand why at that moment, while their distance from each other was getting smaller, her system was also starting to make havoc.

Red stopped in front of her. He took the platter of nachos from her and put it on the counter near them. “I thought you're confident that Andrei likes you?" he asked, his brows shot up. He then licked the icings on his finger.

Irani couldn't help but look at his long fingers, then at his naturally red lips.

Irani absent-mindedly swallowed.

Red stopped right in front of her. He then smirked. “Or maybe you're just afraid to fall for me."

"What are you saying?" she asked in a small voice.

"What, Irani? Are you afraid to fall for me?” Red asked back, his usual annoying smile plastered on his face.