"You got a film plan just like that? Are you just bluffing?” I narrow my eyes at him.

“Why? Getting myself a movie partner is just too good to be true?” the pent-up frustration of the day is getting too much to handle.

He turns towards me, pulling me by my arm and slamming me against the car window. What the hell is this guy’s problem?

“Why are you so mad?” I huff at him, trying to get to understand where the hell are we lying.

“I’m not mad. I just have a movie out and I can't accompany you to the other places. Why can't we go tomorrow or later this week? Valentine isn't before two weeks?”

He stares at me, continuing to grumble in himself. "No we can't. Tell me who are you going with?”

"I'm not answerable to you, Az. If you want to know ask kindly.” His hold on my shoulder tightens, and he looks mad as hell. What the fuck?

“You got a date or what?” His glasses shielded his eyes way too much for me to read them, making me glare at his way too handsome face and a mad look.

"Azael, can you calm the fuck down. It's just Celeste asking me to join her to the new movie. What's with you and all these interrogations?” He left my hand and stand few steps back.

He looks down, playing with the tip of his shoes, and it made me think is this guy bipolar or what?

"I... I’m sorry… I was just … I thought we gonna complete this by today, Valentine’s is in just two weeks so…” I sigh, placing my hand on his shoulder. However, angry we get to each other, I get him why he is acting this. He does this whenever he is nervous or worried about something, and this Skylar thing is really important for him.

“Az, I’m not bailing you, we can get things done by this weekend. I have too many free period this week, Ms Brown has her engagement, we got the whole two weeks free from her classes.” He nods, when I pull him into a hug. He nuzzles into the crook of my neck, his arms going around my waist, letting out a big sigh.

"Are you in love with her?” He stiffens in my arm before I felt him shaking his head.

“no, I just, really like her.” I don't say anything, lletting us stay like that for a while, before detaching myself.

“Now, go and enjoy the day… this entirely new look thing is getting too much into your head.” He chuckles lightly, nodding before we got into his car.

Azael dropped me off at Celeste’s place, she lives in an apartment outside the campus which her aunt gifted her for her birtday. I get out of the car, and waving him goodbye found an excited-looking Celeste on the doorstep.

•••••

“I haven't thought, Celeste gonna set this up so fluently,” I chuckle at Arthur’s words as we walk out of the movie theatre.

To be honest, even I haven't known this. When I reached Celeste’s apartment, she was excited for an entirely different reason. After making an excuse of an upset stomach, she made us go together. The girl has known me since our high school days, when she, Azael, and I were —are— best friends. And even then my poor self couldn't hide the fact, that I was — am — in love with Azael.

After I vomited her all the plans and ideas, Azael discussed about courting Skylar, and, —I am not feeling guilty about that, 'cause Azael had already told this in our group one night— so after that Skylar had been pestering me to go out, have a date, and try to move on. I haven't agreed obviously, my stupid heart hasn't accepted this till now. But that sly fox has already set up this movie —date or outing I don't know.

And to be honest, I did enjoy it. Arthur is a really nice guy, and he has been asking me out for quite a while but my weird self has always made one or another excuse.

“Not even me.” He pushes his hands inside his pockets, as we walk out. It's already the first week of February, and I’m still hung up on the new year vibes not gonna lie, with my Christmas socks still on my toes.

“You wanna grab the dinner?”

"Sure." I give him a small smile, before walking towards the parking lot. He opens the door for me, as I slid inside and wear the seatbelts.

“How about the new Italian shop? I haven,'t tried it out.”

"Yeah, it's perfect. Even I have been thinking to go but couldn't.” He chuckled lightly at that, before reversing the car and got us out of the mall.

"So, Hazel you got out with me, which I know without knowing, so how about we grab some dinner the next weekend or anywhere you want to go?” I know he is asking for a date a real one where he is asking me out and not my girl bestie setting us up, but still I can't have the guts in me.

Before I have to answer, we reach the restaurant and I have never been so relieved in my life before. We walk inside, taking a seat. A girl with a high ponytail and glasses comes towards us for the order which we gladly give her. My eyes sweep over the place when I see them.

Azael and Skylar sitting two seats across us. She is laughing at something her back towards me, while I can clearly see Azael. He is still wearing his normal clothes, a white checked shirt and a grey overcoat, looking such an eye candy. Why the hell does she even wish to change him, his already dope fashion sense makes me have so many fantasies.

He hasn't told me, she has agreed to go out. My inside clenched at that, yeah I know I’m being a hypocrite but I can't help it. They are laughing together and I’m feeling like my heart getting punched a thousand times. How will I be still his best friend when Skylar will finally become his girlfriend, and she will I know. Only a fool will reject him. I have never seen a more genuine guy than him. If he loves you then its as unadulterated as a newborn’s love.

Arthur cleared his throat making me stop looking at them and turn towards him. He smiles, and I can see the hint of teasing in them, there isn't any pain or malice.

“So, that's the reason why Hazel Moore has no wish of going out with me.” I ducked my head low, blushing badly. Oh Lord! This is embarrassing.

"This isn't anything between us.” If possible his smirk only widened.

"Who said, I was talking about them?” He raised his eyebrows sipping the mojito which the waitress delivered when I have no idea.

"No.. no I mean..”

“Relax, Hazel…” He laughed, while I narrowed my eyes at him, jokingly.

"Are you teasing me, Arthur Perez?” He laughed some more, making me chuckle at that breaking the embarrassing cloud surrounding me.

"You have a thing for him, hmm? And don't deny it, even a blind can see that.” I sighed, poking the carrot on my plate with the fork.

"Yeah," I sighed knowing there is no way I’m getting out of this just like that. "From high school, but I just don't want to destroy our friendship by bringing my feelings in this and moreover now he has a crush on Skylar and gonna ask her out this Valentine.”

Arthur chewed his spaghetti humming at my words. "But why I have an entirely different theory in this?”

“What do you mean?” He smirked, and I felt him leaning over the table towards me.

“Just stay calm and watch this.” He lifted his hand and I felt him brushing his thumb over the corner of my lips before going back to his seat but not without whispering, "Just count to three.”

My confused self can't understand his words until I see him rubbing his thumb in a tissue and counting with his fingers and then dropping his third finger on the table and the seat beside me occupied with the familiar fragrance and the figure. Azael.

"What are you guys doing here?” and let me tell you his tone is not friendly at all.

Uh uh...

••••••