Chapter 30 - Let's date

"Aren't you even concerned for her, dude? If you don't want to, then I'll just let Aria ride in my car." Sade added.

"Oh, no, don't worry about it. I still need to pick up my sibling from school. They're waiting for me. Thanks, though." I said.

"Hey, you. Get in my car." Cairo ordered, looking at me. Even Denzel and Sade turned to look at him.

"Tsk, I thought you said you'd avoid her." Sade muttered, but we all heard it, and Denzel laughed.

"Cut it out, will you? Tsk! You got messed with because of me, didn't you?" Cairo asked, but I didn't answer and looked away from him.

"Just get in, Aria. I'll keep my distance tomorrow." Cairo said and started walking toward his car.

Denzel and Sade laughed, and I almost laughed myself but held it in.

"We're heading out, Aria, so go with Cairo." Denzel said.

"Dude, we're leaving. Take care of Aria." Sade shouted as they got into their cars and drove off.

I stood there by the side of my damaged bike.

"Aria, get in… what are you waiting for?" Cairo shouted from a little way off, where his car was parked.

He was already sitting inside with the passenger door open. Hannah would probably get mad if she saw me, but whatever. I'd save on fare, at least. I walked toward his car, got in, and closed the door.

"Sorry if I can't keep my distance from you. I don't know why, but I already miss you." Cairo said as he drove.

I looked at him because of what he said—did he really miss me? Was he serious?

"You've totally lost it." I said.

"Lost it over you." he replied, smiling in that annoying way.

I suddenly didn't know what to say. Why was he acting like this? Please, Lord, bring back the real Cairo; maybe this is just his clone.

"Hey, stop with all those cheesy lines; it's not funny." I finally managed to say. He frowned.

"I mean it, Aria." he said seriously, making me look at him. I really didn't know what to say.

"And I really can't stay away from you. It's only been a day without seeing you, and I already feel like I'm losing my mind. I just can't do it." he continued.

"So please, don't ask me to stay away from you, because I can't. And I won't." he added.

"Ugh, what could you possibly like about me? I'm not like anyone else… you know I'm not rich, and I'm not as pretty or as glamorous as the other girls at the university." I said.

"You don't need a reason to feel something, right?" Cairo said.

"I just started feeling this way without knowing why. You're different from them, but maybe that's one of the reasons why I like you. You're so different from those girls, Aria; there's no one like you." he said. I was speechless.

"Aria, let's date." Cairo added, making my eyes widen in surprise. O___O

I didn't answer—I was still in shock. Was he serious about wanting to date me? What if he bumped his head and realized he was just making a mistake?

"On Saturday, I'll wait for you at the amusement park. 1 PM. I'll be there; let's meet." he continued.

He's already decided on Saturday? And why is he making all these plans without me even agreeing?

"Aria, I'm really going to be there on Saturday. You're in big trouble if you don't show up." he said with a bit of a threat. Tsk, some things never change—he's still as stubborn as ever.

"Come, okay?" he added.

"What choice do I have? You're making all these plans on your own. This date is pretty much forced." I replied, in disbelief.

"You're so difficult; don't you know that lots of girls would love to go on a date with me? And here you are, the one I actually want to date, and you're giving me a hard time." he said, annoyed.

"Whatever. We'll see. I'll decide by Saturday if I can go." I said.

"What do you mean 'decide'? You're coming no matter what." he replied.

This guy is truly unbelievable—Lord, my patience is wearing thin with his stubbornness. Is this really how he's supposed to ask someone out? It's so obvious this is his first time.

"And by the way, you said you'd treat me, right? You promised to thank me for saving you at the pool. For our date on Saturday, treat me something." he added.

So now I'm pretty much obligated to go—he didn't forget my promise to him.

We passed by my brother Kai's school. Kai looked shocked to see Cairo.

"Sis, why's that jerk here?" Kai asked, annoyed.

"Don't worry, I'm a good guy now, and I don't bully your sister anymore." Cairo said.

"Tsk, people like you can't be trusted." Kai replied.

"Well, I messed up in the past, but it's true that I don't bully her anymore. And anyone who tries to hurt her at school will have to deal with me." Cairo said.

But Kai still looked at him with distrust.

"Come on, Sis, let's go home." Kai said.

"My bike's broken, so we'll just take a jeep home." I replied.

"What? How did it get broken?" Kai asked, surprised.

"That's why I'm offering to take you both home." Cairo said.

"Maybe you're the one who broke my sister's bike!" Kai retorted.

"Kai, calm down, or I'll pinch you right here! Cairo didn't break my bike, okay?" I said, annoyed.

"Just get in. I'll take you both home." Cairo said. Since we were short on money, Kai reluctantly agreed to let Cairo drive us home.

When we arrived at our place, Kai and I got out of the car.

"Thanks for the ride. See you at school tomorrow." I said to Cairo. But instead of replying, he got out of the car too. I looked at him, puzzled.

"I'll join you for dinner." Cairo said.

"Hey, go home! Don't you have food at your place?" Kai snapped.

"I do, but it's not the same as the food your sister cooks." Cairo replied. Kai turned to me, confused.

"Wait, you've cooked for this guy before?" Kai asked. I didn't know how to respond.

"Yeah, your sister cooked for me at your place." Cairo answered.

"What? Sis, he's been inside our house? Why'd you cook for him?" Kai asked, annoyed.

"Kai, can you give it a rest? I'm tired. Let's just go inside so I can start cooking dinner." I said.

"Sit down there; I'll go cook." I told Cairo.

"I'll help you… with cooking." Cairo offered.

"Tsk, just sit there. What do you even know about cooking?" I replied.

After I finished cooking, we all ate. Kai was silent, clearly still irritated with Cairo, and he kept shutting him down whenever he tried to speak. But Cairo just shrugged it off, remaining surprisingly patient.

It was so different from the short-tempered Cairo who used to get angry quickly. How could he stay calm even when Kai was annoying him? Was he really trying to change?

"On Saturday, don't forget about our date." Cairo reminded me.

"Tsk, yeah, yeah. Now go home—it's late." I replied.

"Are you not mad at me anymore?" Cairo asked.

"I'm still a bit annoyed." I replied.

"Why? Did I do something to make you upset?" he asked.

"Not today, but in the past, yes. I'm still annoyed." I replied.

"If it's about the drawings, I'm sorry… don't worry, I looked for them and found them in one of the school trash bins. I retrieved them, and they're at my place now." Cairo said, surprising me. I couldn't believe he'd go to that trouble.

"Why'd you go through all that?" I asked, confused.

"Because you worked hard on them. I appreciate them, Aria. Those drawings have become something important to me." Cairo said. Once again, I was at a loss for words.

He smiled at me and ruffled my hair.

"Hey! Did I make you fall in love with me now?" he asked, grinning.

"Tsk, you're crazy. Go home already." I replied.

And Cairo left.

Cairo—does he really like me? Maybe he really is trying to change.

But it still hasn't sunk into my mind. Out of all the girls out there, why would he like me?

I closed my eyes. I wanted to sleep, but I suddenly remembered Luna and Asher again. Could that song Asher is working on really be for Luna? I don't know, but whenever I think about it, it's like I feel a pang of sadness and pain in my chest. What if it really is for Luna?

"I'm always here to support you. I'm your number one supporter.".I couldn't get this out of my mind—the way Asher said this to Luna earlier in the music room.

He's so sweet to Luna, and I feel foolish for thinking he might only speak sweetly to me. But hearing him say that to Luna today, it feels like I really need to stop getting my hopes up.