Asher's eyes widened. Cassie wasn't left out of the shock either. Kash just said she was his. Does that mean that he loved her? If this was a dream, she never want to wake up.
"What did you just say?" Asher asked. If this was a dream, someone should wake him up immediately. He won't just stand here and condole the nonsense that just came out of Kash's mouth.
Kash smirked and went to stand beside Cassie, intertwining his fingers with hers. "I said, she is mine! Should I repeat myself again?" Kash asked.
"You can't burst out of nowhere and claim that she is yours!" Asher snapped.
"Claim? You can't be serious." Kash chuckled.
Asher averted his gaze to Cassie. "Cassie, tell me that it's a lie. I'm the one you love, right?" He asked and she bent her head. "Don't look down, please. You have to answer me!"
"Take me away from here." Cassie whispered only to Kash's hearing.
Kash nodded and left the place with her. Asher watched as Kash took her away and growled angrily.
"You want me to be the bad guy, huh? I'll be the bad guy." His eyes darkened and he disappeared.
"We've left the place now. Can you let go of my hand?" Cassie asked even though she didn't want him to let go. His hands in hers made her have a special feeling of security, warmth and comfort.
"Why?" Kash asked.
"I'm guessing you only did that to make Asher leave me alone. If that's the reason, I don't think there is a need to hold onto me anymore," She said.
Kash stopped walking and faced her, still holding her hand. "When I said, you were mine, did you think I was doing that to send Asher away?" He asked.
Cassie pressed her lips into a thin line and bent her head.
"Cassie, I meant everything I said out there. You're right that I did it to send Asher away but I meant what I said; every bit of it." He stated.
Cassie could sense the seriousness in his tone. She looked up, tears welling up in her eyes. "Are you sure you aren't doing this because you know I like you and you don't want to hurt me?" She asked.
Kash cupped her cheeks with his hands. "Not at all. You know why?" He asked and she shook her head. "Because, I LOVE YOU." He said and Cassie gasped.
"You're joking, right?" She asked and he shook his head. She smiled and hugged him. "Why did it take you so long to say it?" She asked.
Kash smiled and hugged her back. Asher stood at the far end watching them. He wanted to lunge at Kash and kill him right away.
****
Kash dropped Cassie off at the door.
"I'd love to stay but I need to go check on Diego and the rest." Kash tucked his hands into his pants pocket.
"Oh, okay. I'll come see him later. I need to arrange some stuff before Aunt returns from the office." She sighed.
"Let me help you." He said.
She was about to say yes but remembered that her room was a total mess. She pictured how neat Kash's room was and gasped. "No! I'll get it done on my own. Get going now!" She said.
"But, I want to_"
"Don't worry about me. Remember, I've got magic fingers." She chuckled.
Kash chuckled. "Okay. I'll get going then." He smiled.
She smiled and opened the door. She entered and closed it. Kash was about to turn when she opened the door again. "Where are you going to take me for our first date?" She asked.
"Huh?" Kash looked at her.
"Tomorrow will be the first day for us as couples. I was thinking we would go on our first date then. Why are you looking at me like that? Aren't we couples?" She narrowed her eyes at him.
Kash laughed. "Of course we are! It's going to be a surprise tomorrow." He said.
"Alright." She smiled.
"Bye, love you." Kash said and Cassie beamed. He waved at her and disappeared.
Cassie closed the door and skipped to her room. "He loves me! He loves me! He likes me! He likes me! Kash loves me!" She shouted, jumping on her bed. She shrieked and fell on the bed. "Kash loves me!"
****
Kash appeared in his room and ran his hands through his hair. He dropped his backpack on top of the wardrobe and smiled. Confessing his feelings to her made him feel like a huge load had been lifted off his shoulders. He was happier that she loved him too.
Kash was about to turn the doorknob and go out when he started hearing Cassie's voice in his head. "Kash loves me! He likes me! Kash loves me!!!"
He chuckled and stepped out. The voice still reasonated through his head. He could sense the happiness and excitement in her tone. He halted when he remembered that he was supposed to take her out on their first date as couples the next day. He hadn't thought of anywhere romantic enough.
He turned and was about to run back to his room when Diego's voice stopped him.
"Weren't you coming to see?" Diego asked, walking up to where Kash stood.
"Um... Y... Yes, I... was." Kash stuttered.
"Then why were you about to return to your room?" Diego asked.
"I... needed... to... uh..." Kash stuttered and Diego burst into a fit of laughter.
"I never thought I'd see this day." He laughed.
"What do you mean?" Kash frowned.
"You haven't stuttered before. You've always had the answer to every question I ask you. Something happened and you're not telling me about it." Diego said.
"Nothing happened." Kash looked away and a blush crept up his cheek.
"You're even blushing!" Diego exclaimed. "Oh my! It must be about Cassie then. Did you two kiss?" Diego asked.
"No! We haven't yet." Kash answered.
"Which means that you're trying to." Diego chuckled.
Kash sighed and rushed into his room. Diego followed him in immediately.
"Diego, leave me alone!" Kash snapped.
"Not until you tell me what exactly is going on here. Did you confess your feelings to her? Are you guys dating already? Do you need tips from me?" Diego asked.
"You're still single so, there is absolutely no tip you can give me." Kash rolled his eyes.
"You seriously don't know me, do you? I might be single but I am very romantic. Plus, I watch a lot of romantic movies and read romance novels too. I have so many ideas you wouldn't know even in your lifetime." Diego scoffed.
"Tell me then." Kash requested.
"Before I tell you, confirm my suspicions first."
"Fine! I confessed my feelings to her and we are officially dating and now she wants me to take her out on a date tomorrow and I don't really know what to do. I'm freaking out..." Kash rushed his words breathlessly and Diego tried to calm him down.
"Chill, okay? Breathe." He patted Kash's shoulder and Kash exhaled. He made Kash sit on the couch in his room and sat beside him.
"What do I do?" Kash asked.
"You don't need to worry. The love doctor is here." Diego smiled.
"Who is the love doctor?" Kash asked.
"Me, of course!" Diego patted his chest proudly and Kash laughed. "Do you want to hear my dating tips or not?" He snapped.
"I want to." Kash answered.
"Now, listen to me. I know that your have only been trained to guard people and fight wars right from childhood, so you don't really know how to be romantic. I'm going to help you by giving you some tips about how to treat your woman. If you do this, she will love you more than she does now. After that, I'll give you the name of a French restaurant so you can take her there tomorrow night. That restaurant has the best romantic theme." Diego stated.
"Okay." Kash nodded.
"Now, listen carefully. The first and most important tip is to compliment her looks and dressing. Girls love to be complimented and adored. Next...."
****
THE NEXT MORNING
Kash jumped up from his bed and hurried to the bathroom. He had disappeared from Cassie's room after she fell asleep to sleep as well. As he showered, he kept reciting the tips Diego gave him the day before. He came out and dressed up then met the rest already waiting for him in the living room.
"What's going on here?" He asked, seeing that they were all dressed up.
"What does it look like? We're going to school." Sapphire replied.
"Why?" Kash asked.
"Excuse me? I need to stay beside Diego at all times, so way you are with Cassie. So, I and Layla are enrolling into the school and don't you dare say no because I am your elder sister." Sapphire said and Diego laughed.
"Fine. You guys can go ahead. I want to go pick Cassie." Kash said and disappeared.
"Such a disrespectful child. He couldn't even greet his elder sister." Sapphire huffed.
"You can't blame him though." Layla defended.
"Duh!" She rolled her eyes.
"Let's go. I'll lead the way." Diego smiled and left while they followed him.
****
Kash waited for Cassie to finish up and meet him in the living room but it was taking forever for her to come out. Aunt Maggie was super busy at work these days. She always returned late and left early the next morning. Kash checked his wrist watch and they were almost running late, yet she wasn't coming out.
"She doesn't waste this much time getting dressed." Kash muttered to himself and started going up the stairs. He got to her room door and knocked but there was no answer. He slowly opened the door and saw Cassie, scattering her clothes, looking for what to wear.
"Not this one... Or this one...." She complained as she flung the clothes aall over the room. Kash couldn't bear the mess and cleared his throat. When Cassie turned and he saw her, he almost screamed. "What?" She asked.
"W... What did you put all over your face?" He asked.
"It's makeup. Wait, is it ruined?" She asked, coming close to him.
Kash screamed. "Wait! Stop there!" He said and she stopped. He looked at her from head to toes. Should he call this one makeup or a halloween costume? The eye shadow was a mixture of purple and blue, lipstick red and the powder on her face was damn too much.
"What happened? Why are you looking at me like that? Don't I look good?" She asked.
"Ummm..."
.
.