Lily and Zero turned their heads simultaneously.
Lily, with a very shocked and embarrassed expression while her hands were caught unbuttoning Zero's shirt while Zero had his normal stoic expression.
"Lily, honey," said her mother who stood at the door, "At the very least, wait until you get inside your room before you start stripping the boy."
"Mother!" gasped Lily, hiding her completely red face behind her hands.
"Yeah, Sis," piped in Justin from behind their Mum, "Down girl."
Lily stomped her foot, while she turned towards them, her face still covered by her hands, "It's not what it looks like!"
"You were not taking his shirt off?" Justin asked.
"No! I mean, yes. I mean … I - I was, but but but it's not for what you think!" Lily stuttered.
She quickly pointed at the stain on Zero's shirt, saying while her face was still so red that even her ears were red, "I stained his shirt so I just wanted to wash it for him."
Lily's mother pursed her lips, and said, "Okay … so, basically, you were going to just get his shirt off so that you could wash it."
"Yes!" Lily said in relief, flinging her hands in the air.
"Leaving him shirtless while you do so?"
Lily's hands froze in mid-air.
"If you really wanted to see his bod, I am sure there are better excuses to use," said Justin with a smirk.
"JUSTIN!" Lily screamed, embarrassed all over again. She turned towards Zero, feeling completely horrified as she said, "It's not like what he said, Zero. Really. I …"
Zero, in the meantime, was watching the whole scene with a smile.
No wonder her cafe was so homely.
Even her family was so cute and close.
They were obviously teasing her, and she was getting to be so embarrassed that she was as red as a tomato.
He couldn't help but tease her as well.
For the first time in his life, he actually found the urge to do so as he replied, "It's okay if Lily wanted to see. She just needs to ask."
All three froze upon hearing Zero's words.
Lily, out of pure shock and embarrassment; Justin, who was in disbelief that Zero would actually support such a notion and Lily's mother, who thought that Zero was a good sport indeed even though he didn't look like one.
"Zero!" Lily said, aghast at him and in her agitation, she started punching his chest, "You're so mean!"
Zero took those hits like it was nothing, not knowing how gentle his expression became as he looked at her. Justin looked at his mother, who looked at Justin.
"A keeper?" asked Lily's mother in a low voice.
Justin nodded replying in a soft voice as well, "A keeper."
"Zero, is it?" Lily's mother said as she watched Lily continue to hit Zero, "I'm Lilith, Lily's mother. Won't you come in?"
Hearing her mother's voice snapped Lily out of her punching motion and she stared at the amused Zero with her face all horrified.
She wished the ground would just swallow her up right now.
First, she had tried to strip him.
Then, she started hitting him for no reason.
She was acting like a sex-starved besotted maiden in love.
This fake date was the one true time she was spending with Zero and he saw her at her most embarrassing moments. She was supposed to show her best side, not her worst!
Now he'll never want to see her again.
"I-I'm sorry," Lily said nervously, wringing her hands, "Did I hurt you?"
She looked up at him, worry in her eyes and Zero's first instinct was to say 'yes' just to see what she would do. The moment that thought went into his mind, he quickly pushed it aside.
What was wrong with him?!
Why was he finding it more and more fun to tease her?
Just to see her expressions?!
It wasn't as if such things were a novelty to him, if he was to think about it. The guys were clowns by themselves, always up to weird things around him. He had always ignored them and anything that they did, would simply pass by.
Yet, it was only with her that he found it to be interesting and he kept on wanting to push the buttons to see what would come out next.
With Lianne, he was the protective type brother.
Was he going to be the bully-type brother with Lily?
What a weird thought indeed.
With that in his mind, Zero just shook his head, saying, "Of course not."
"Oh," Lily said, relieved, "Okay."
"Sis, puh-lease," Justine quipped, "As if those weak hits of yours could hurt anyone, let alone him. Even I can see he works out."
"Enough teasing your sister, Justin," Lilith admonish him, "Go and bring Zero to your room. Lend him your shirt."
Lilith then turned to Zero, "Let us do this for you, at least. Otherwise, Lily would feel so guilty she won't be able to sleep."
Zero gave a small smile, "Okay."
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"Quick. Tell me everything about him," Lilith demanded from Lily, grabbing her hands the moment Zero went into Justin's bedroom.
"What? Nothing much, Mum," Lily replied "It was just an outing with friends. There were two others."
"Were the other two a boy and a girl?" Lilith asked.
"Yes," Lily replied.
Lilith grinned, "So, a double date?"
"No, not really," Lily said, "His sister was on a date and he couldn't let her go alone so he asked me to help."
Lilith grinned, repeating, "A double date."
"No!" Lily hissed, but before she could say anything else, Zero and Justin had come out of the room.
Justin had this dazed look on his face and then he looked at his sister. He gave her Zero's shirt while shaking his head.
"Why? What's the matter?" Lily asked.
"Damn, sis," Justin said under his breath, "Just damn."
"Huh?"
"Nothing," Justin replied, shaking his head. Some things were better left unsaid, and to be discovered by themselves. Justin gave a side glance at Zero.
His sister was damn lucky.
Lucky indeed.