Chapter 12: The Ignite

A few weeks passed, and Melisandre invited me to hang out at a mall with her best friend, Danielle, who joined us at a restaurant in the north side of the central area. Danielle was friendly and easygoing, making our time together enjoyable. We decided to head to the arcade, the three of us eager to have fun together.

During a moment when Melisandre went to the restroom, Danielle took the opportunity to pull me aside. She said, "Hi Simon, if you like Melisandre, you should explicitly let her know that you want to court her. You need to declare it." Her words struck me, and I replied, "Oh, really? I thought it was already implied, but I'll make sure to make it clear. Thanks for telling me."

The next day, I found Melisandre in the halls and took a moment to tell her, "Hi! I want to let you know that I'm going to court you. You don't have to say anything right now, I just wanted you to know." Despite this declaration, we continued to spend time together as best friends. She invited me to accompany her on a trip to the northern central area of the country for a shoot. It turned out to be a delightful experience as we sampled street foods and filmed the daily lives of farmers, fishermen, and vendors. It was a new and inspiring adventure for me, something I truly appreciated.

The day ends, I asked Melisandre to let me know when she gets home safely. She playfully responded, "Why would I need to update you? Are you my boyfriend?". I kinda got hurt and said "Then don't". As we boarded the bus, she surprised me by confessing, "Hi Simon, I like you." I was overwhelmed with a mix of confusion and happiness upon hearing this, realizing I needed to lighten up and take her jokes in stride. Despite any initial awkwardness, I was filled with joy knowing that the feelings I had for her were reciprocated.