"Stay away from Irani, Mendoza," Red muttered to Drei in a cold voice.

After recovering from the shock, Irani snapped her head at Red before she pulled away from his grip. "What did you just do, Red? Why did you punch Drei?" she muttered angrily.

Before Red could answer, she already went to Drei's side. She saw that the corner of his lips was bruised.

“Baby, why are you with him?” Red asked.

Baby? How dare he use that endearment after she saw him kissing another girl?

Irani wanted to confront him. She wanted to let him know how much she got hurt by what she saw. She wanted to shout at him… she wanted to get mad… But she chose not to...

She clenched her fist as she faced Red. “I know everything now, Red,” she told him instead. “Is it true? That you asked Drei to stay away from me? That you asked him to deliberately reject me? Is it true, Red?"

Irani saw how Red's expression changed. She saw it. The guilt in his eyes.

Red clenched his jaw as he looked at her with pleading eyes. “I’m sorry, shortcake."

“How could you do that, Red?” she asked in a sarcastic tone. "You're really an asshole, aren't you?"

“I only did that because I’m in love with you, Irani," Red said with a sad smile. "I know what I did was unfair. But I didn’t regret anything. I would do selfish things to have you.”

If you’re really in love with me, how could you manage to kiss another girl? How could you cheat on me?

“You’re claiming you love her but you chose to hurt her,” Drei interjected, looking at Red with anger in his eyes. He stood up and held her hand. “If I only knew that you'd only gonna hurt Irani, I wouldn't let you have her."

Red's brows burrowed. “What?" he snapped at Drei then glanced at her with a soft expression on his face. "I never hurt Irani and I will never hurt her…”

Drei snickered. “Then why did Irani see you kissing another girl?”

Red gasped. Then he looked at her with fear in his eyes. “Irani…baby. I can explain.”

Come on, Irani. Don't you dare cry in front of him!

“Stop it, Red…" she said in a cold voice."You don't have to explain anything to me… You know what? I'm sorry, too." He then held Drei's hand. “Because now… we’re done.”

Irani let out a deep sigh while staring at the chocolate drink on her table.

“Ma’am, are you okay?”

She looked up at the crew of the cafe who were standing in front of her. She forced a smile at her. “I’m fine. Thanks."

Two weeks had passed since she last saw Red. The night she told him they were over, was the last time she saw him.

She missed him. So much. She felt like her life had suddenly become colorless when she lost Red in her life.

The last thing she heard, he had already forgiven and made up with his mother. After reconciling with his mother, he went to New York with his mother.

Even Cashmere didn't know when he would come back.

Irani remembered the day that Cash told her about Red's flight. She tried to chase him but she failed. When they reached the airport, the plane had already left.

Now, Irani realized that regret always comes in the end. If only she listened to him that night. If only she allowed him to explain his side. If only she didn't let her anger dominate her decisions.

Irani bit her lower lip to stop her tears from falling.

She didn't know how long she stayed inside the cafe before she decided to go.

I miss you, Red. I'll be waiting for you to come home.

She felt like her heart suddenly stopped beating when she saw a familiar guy outside the cafe.

“R-red…” She blinked as she stared at him. When she realized that he was real and not only a fragment of her imagination, she immediately closed the distance between them. “You're here…" she said, swallowing the lump in her throat. "I thought you're not going to come back anymore."

Red gently smiled at her. “I just visited my half-sister in the States. Who told you that I won't be back?”

Tears fell from her eyes. She bit her lower lip to prevent herself from crying loudly. “I’m sorry… for all the things I said to you that night, Red.”

Red shook her head. He then raised his hand and touched her face.

Irani almost closed her eyes when she felt her warm hand on her. She missed him so much.

“You don’t have to apologize… I know you’re hurt.”

She swallowed and looked him in the eye. “I’m sorry. I didn't give you a chance to explain. I’m sorry, I let my emotions rule over me that night. But I know the truth now...” When Red left, it was Blue who explained everything to her.

Red gently caressed her cheeks and wiped her tears away. “Sshh… I’m sorry too, baby. That girl was my ex. He kissed me...but I swear I pushed her away…”

“I know, and I believe you…” She said in a soft voice. "It wasn't true that I'd choose Drei over you, Red. What I felt for him was only infatuation. It was nothing compared to what I feel for you."

She lovingly stared at his eyes. “I’m in love with you," she muttered. “The truth is, I already liked you the first time I saw you."

Red chuckled as he rested his forehead on hers. “Now you're finally admitting it, huh?”

Irani playfully rolled her eyes despite the smile on her face.

Red smiled back at her before he sealed her lips with a kiss. “I love you, shortcake.”

“I love you, Riley Edward.”

“Let me kiss you again…” he whispered gently before he captured her lips again in a kiss.