C21 twenty one

"Here, drink this," he offered me some water.

I quickly took the bottled water he handed me.

"Thanks," I replied with a smile.

"Where's Watson here?" he asked, looking around.

I couldn't help but smile at his pronunciation. This is what it feels like to be accompanied by someone you like to a place you want to go.

I smiled again. "We need to go down one floor," I replied.

He nodded at me and held my elbow as we stepped onto the escalator. Some people were still looking at us.

I was surprised when someone our age suddenly grabbed his hand and quickly walked upstairs. We were going down while they were going up. Some people who saw it laughed and glanced at those flirtatious girls. That's a prohibited move!

I looked at the person next to me, who seemed pale and shrugged at me, as if saying she did nothing wrong. So I just laughed. Why did she pale so quickly!

"Why are you turning pale?" I asked, chuckling.

We continued walking as I saw Watson ahead.

"They suddenly held my hand. I didn't touch them intentionally," he nervously explained.

I stopped walking and faced him. I raised an eyebrow, making him swallow hard. He's scared? But why?!

"I know," I replied with a furrowed brow. "But why do you look so terrified and pale?" I asked, puzzled.

"Nothing,"

"What?" I pried.

Still, I didn't continue walking because he still didn't answer me.

"Nothing," he insisted gently.

He held my elbow to let me walk, but I just pouted at him.

"I thought you'd be angry with me because of those girls," he said.

I chuckled and shook my head. "Why would I be?" I asked, amused.

I brushed my hair back before starting to walk again. Seriously? He paled because he thought I'd be mad at him? Am I that childish?

"Nevermind," he replied.

I browsed through the lipstick stuff, and it seems like they're still new because the style looks new to me.

"Which one looks better, this one with a brownish hue or the red one?" I asked seriously.

I held the brown color on the left and the red on the right. I smiled and waved them at him.

"You," he replied simply before winking at me.

Three girls nearby also glanced at him, seeming surprised by his answer.

"I don't get why you're asking properly," I grumbled.

He smirked and stood straight.

"When you choose that brown lipstick, you'll look mature, and when you choose the red one, for sure, you're gonna look hot as hell," he proudly said.

My brows raised.

"Really?"

"Yeah," he replied with a smile.

He just stared at me and subtly glanced at my lips, so I quickly looked away.

"Should I buy both of these?" I asked.

He raised his brows. "Do whatever you want. Do you want those two? If you do, I'll pay," he said seriously.

"I'm the one who's gonna use them, so I'll pay,"

He pouted. "Let me," he said sweetly.

"You're not my girlfriend," I retorted.

He seemed slapped by reality, and his face turned serious. I avoided his gaze. I bit my lower lip and tried to think of other words to say.

"Alright," he said coldly.

"Uh... what abou--"

"I'll wait for you outside," he said seriously.

He pointed to the railings and walked away without hesitation. I felt like crying because I was so frustrated with myself. I held back my tears and let out a deep sigh.

It's true he's not my boyfriend, but why did he seem hurt by what I said? But why do I feel more hurt?

"Here's just this," I told the cashier.

He nodded and I paid for him as he said.

I nervously approached him. What if he suddenly doesn't want to because I made him feel bad with what I said?

"Already done?" he greeted me.

He still had a serious face, so I raised a small paper bag containing what I bought. I awkwardly smiled, but he just raised an eyebrow and looked away.

"Where do you want to eat?" he asked.

I glared at him, and he looked around to find a place.

"Anywhere," I replied unenthusiastically.

Why do I suddenly feel weak? Why do I feel like the world is crashing down on me? Why am I annoyed with myself because he seems mad at me?

He quickly looked back at me, and his previously serious face now looked bright.

He took me to an Italian restaurant. There were quite a few customers, so we had a hard time finding a spot, but luckily two friends stood up and left. So we got their seats.

"What do you want?" he asked.

He looked at me seriously and signaled to the menu book I was holding.

I sighed. "Pasta Con Pomodoro E Basilico," I read the name of the dish.

The waitress nodded. "Sir?" she turned to him.

"Same for me, and please add two glasses of water, thanks," he said seriously.

He immediately turned to me, and I looked at him seriously. I rolled my eyes, feeling irritated with him! I didn't do anything wrong!

Damn it!

"What?" I complained.

"What?" he asked sternly.

Oh.

I rolled my eyes. "Why are you looking at me as if I did something wrong?"

"Am I angry?" he defended himself.

"Why are you looking at me so seriously if you're not angry?" I asked in confusion.

"Angry already? Can't I just be slapped with the truth?" he mocked.

I pouted. "Sorry, I didn't mean to say that. You're just too persistent! You said I would pay," I explained.

"Yeah," he replied curtly.

I fell silent at his simple answer. I felt like a child accused of doing something wrong and didn't have the right to explain because he might get angrier.

Our order arrived, and I had to avoid his sharp gaze.

"Selene..." he called me with sparkling eyes. "I'm not angry," he said.

"Okay, I'm really sorry for what I said," I sincerely apologized.

He nodded. "It's okay, let's eat now. I just don't want us to look grumpy in front of each other at the table," he smiled.

And it's as if the world suddenly spun faster, and time reversed because of the sudden change in his expression.

A wide smile spread across his lips, and I felt blinded by the brightness in his eyes.

"What time is your first class tomorrow?"

"9:30 am, how about you?" I asked him.

"10:30," he replied.

I nodded.

"Are you happy?" I asked casually.

His brows furrowed. "Huh?" he asked, confused.

I swallowed hard and bit my lower lip. I looked at him seriously and directly into his eyes, full of curiosity.

"I mean... are you happy that you're with me now?" I asked, biting my lip.

He smiled and chuckled. "More than happy,"

I quickly looked away from him. Even if he doesn't say it, I know from the way he looks at me.

His lips gazed

at mine with a smile, making me quickly avert my gaze.

"Okay," I simply said. "Are there any horror movies showing in the theater now?" I changed the subject.

He shrugged. "I'm not sure, let's see. Do you want to watch one after this?" he asked before taking a sip of his water.

I nodded. "Yes, please... if that's okay?" I asked before taking a sip of my water too.

"Of course!" he replied cheerfully.

I smiled and nodded.

After we finished eating, we didn't leave our seats immediately.

"I'll just go to the restroom," I said.

He immediately stood up, looking like he would accompany me.

"You stay here," I stopped him.

I raised both my hands.

He raised his brows. "Someone's still sitting here," he pointed to the couple next to us.

I nodded. "Okay,"

I walked towards the restroom and had to wait in line because there were others waiting too.

"Will you wait for me outside your restaurant?" I complained.

I could hear the girls in front of me whispering to him, and it seemed like they wanted to ask for Cyrus's number.

"I won't come in," he replied.

He adjusted his standing position beside me. He put his hand in his pocket and subtly ran his fingers through his hair, causing more gossip among the girls in front of us.

But he didn't take too long, and I managed to use the restroom.

We walked together again, and Cyrus was so formal, with no arm around my waist.

I looked at him, and our gazes met. He's staring at me?

"There, it looks good!" I pointed to a poster.

Even the poster design alone is already terrifying. I hope it's also scary when we watch it! These kinds of things are often scams.

He smiled and nodded. "Two tickets, anywhere as long as we're sitting together," he told the cashier.

The girl smiled at him and nodded. Thankfully, she acted professionally and didn't flirt. Thank God.

We started watching, and he held a bucket of popcorn. Sometimes my gaze was fixed on the screen, especially during intense moments. So what my companion here did was subtly feed me sometimes or present a drink to me. So I ended up drinking while he presented it.

Sometimes, I screamed and shouted because of the intense sound effects. So my companion here subtly spoon-fed me popcorn.

I didn't know he was like this?! He's so sweet to me even if it's not obvious at first glance! I really want to say...

"I'm saying yes to you," I whispered to him.