“YAYA, you're cooking is really the best,” Red said with a big smile on his face. They were currently eating the spaghetti that the old woman cooked that afternoon.

“You're always telling me that every day, Red,” the old woman said with an amused smile on her face.

She found out that the old woman had been with Red since he was a kid. And she stayed with him until now. She didn't leave even after his father died.

Red chuckled. "Maybe you can teach Irani your recipe, Yaya. So that she'd cook me this when she's already my girlfriend."

She slanted her eyes at him. "Excuse me, I won't be your girlfriend just to make me your cook, Red!"

Red playfully raised his brows at her. “So, you really plan to make me your boyfriend? I knew it. You really have an HD on me.”

Her lips parted at him. “What? You're really a thick-faced, Red."

But they stopped bantering when they saw a middle-aged woman with Yaya Doring when the old woman went back to the kitchen.

Irani saw the shock on Red's face as he stared at the woman in front of them.

"What are you doing here?" Red asked the woman in a chilly cold voice.

“Red… son."

Son…

Irani's lips parted as she looked at the woman. So this woman… was Red’s mother?

Red stood up from his seat and then looked at Irani. He took her hand. “Let’s go,” Red said.

Irani didn't say anything. She just followed Red out of the house. She didn't expect the sudden change in his emotion.

They continue walking even after leaving the house. Red only stopped when they reached the park inside the village. They were both silent as they sat on a nearby bench.

“My father died of lung cancer,” Red said, out of the blue, breaking the silence between them.

“He was already in stage four when the doctor diagnosed his illness. According to the doctor, his cancer cells were already spread throughout his body. That's why the chance of him surviving was small. Five months. The doctor only gave him five months to live after he got diagnosed."

Irani took Red's hand and held it tightly.

“I thought that was the most painful point in my life. But then… during that time, my good-for-nothing mother suddenly left us!"

Red raised his voice in his last sentence. “The only person who should have been with Dad and me at that time suddenly left us. He left us and chose to be with another man!"

Red clenched his teeth. Then she saw it. The tears escaped his eyes.

He was deeply hurt. Irani could see it in his eyes. And at that moment, Red looked helpless...

Irani felt like her heart was clenching for him. If she could only do something to ease the pain that he was feeling right now.

But what she could only do right now is to be there with him.

She bit her lower lip and took a sharp breath.

“And now, she is back… asking for my forgiveness,” Red muttered in a bitter tone.

“Red...” She said, wrapping her arms around him.

Red slowly leaned his head on her shoulder. “I tried Irani," Red whispered as tears fell from his eyes.

“I tried to forget everything. But I can't, Irani. I can't forgive her. I can't."

Irani didn't know how long they stayed in that position. Moments later, she realized that Red had already stopped crying. Slowly, his breathing went back to normal. His heartbeat calmed down.

Red raised his head and looked up at her. “I’m sorry...”

She gave him a small smile as she raised her head and wiped the tears on his face.

Red… He was known for being a happy-go-lucky man. He was the most playful member of his band. It was hurting her to see him in this state.

“Let’s buy chocolates,” she said, smiling gently at him.

He smiled. “No need. You being here with me is enough for me. You're more effective than chocolate."

Irani's eyes widened when she saw Red's name on the screen of her phone.

It has been three days since she last saw Red. He was in Batangas together with his teammates for his team building.
She remembered their last conversation before he left.

"I'll be going to Batangas next week. Will you miss me?”

She raised her eyebrows. "Why will I miss you?"

"Really? I won't be able to talk to you for days. Cellphones aren't allowed in the training."

Irani pursed her lips. "If I'm going to miss you, you won't know about it."

The corner of his lips curled up in a smile. His eyes twinkled. “So, you'll really miss me, huh?”

“I said, “if”. You're assuming already, Red.”

Irani was back to the present. She put down the book she was reading and answered the call. “Hello, Red?”

"Damn. I miss your voice,” he said on the other line.

Irani bit her lower lip. She missed his voice, too. But she wouldn't admit it to him. No way she'd do that.

"I thought you're not allowed to use cell phones?" she asked him instead.

"I’m already on my way home,” he answered.

"Huh? I thought it was five-day training, Red?"

“Well. I already miss you so I decided to go home now," he said nonchalantly.

She couldn’t help the smile that formed her face. Thank God he couldn't see her.

"What? Are you serious? Are you allowed to leave?"

"Our training was shortened to three days," Red answered. “I can't stand another day without seeing you,” he continued in a gentle voice.

Darn. Red de la Merced, what have you done to my system? “Are you really serious that you're already on the way home?”

“Yeah, shortcake. You're in school today, right? I'll be going straight there. Let's date."

"Hmm, I can't, Red." She pursed her lips when she remembered that she'd go out with Cashmere later.

“Why?" he asked, sounding disappointed. "I haven't seen you for days and yet you'd deny my request?"

She chuckled a bit. She imagined him pouting. "You know what? You're the only suitor I know who's demanding."