Jerico looked from across the table, where Gabby is holding a bouquet of roses, in her expression was a face of...well let's just say she didn't want it.
Curious and intrigued, he looks at the sender and found out that it was the same cocky guy he met back then, forcing his self to hang out with her. Murasaki.
Having figured out that Gabby has in no way showed any hint of romance for the guy, it angered Jerico that Murasaki kept pursuing her, although it was clear that he stands no chance of winning. Unlike Murasaki, though Jerico likes Gabby, he doesn't force her to be her anything, although the urge to stop his self from doing so takes a lot of willpower.
To him, just seeing her smile was enough. And it baffled him of how Murasaki was still continuing this courting thing.
It doesn't make any sense.
If Murasaki really wanted a girlfriend, then the first thing he should do is just move on. That's what came to Jerico's mind and it surely pisses him off of how much Murasaki kept making her uncomfortable. He heard they were childhood friends, then why does he seem to not understand her feelings? Surely he took stubborn to the next level.
Or maybe he was just thinking that way because he was jealous? Maybe he's being a hypocrite because he likes the young woman too? Thoughts spiraled inside his mind that he didn't noticed Finn, a cousin of him ruffle his dark blue hair.
FINN: What made you frown like that? Do you like flowers too?
JERICO: What? Of course not!
FINN: If you want to win her heart, you need to give her something more than flowers and chocolates. Give her something touching.
Tiwari overhears this, and felt guilty that she was helping Murasaki win Gabby's heart, although she too, wasn't blind that Gabby showed no interest in Murasaki. More so, why didn't she helped Jerico in the first place? He seems nicer. Was it because she knows herself that his quiet demeanor won't keep their relationship exciting? Or was it because she just sees Jerico as the submissive type of person who's afraid to go out of his comfort zone?
Tiwari looked back at her computer and wonders if Gabby would like Jerico more or not.
Jerico, upon hearing Finn's suggestion immediately blushed and hid his face with his notebook.
FINN: You're not getting any girl with that attitude.
JERICO: Hey, it's not like you know better, wasn't Tiwari the one who asked you the 'real' questions? You were a pussy too, I know you.
FINN: Okay, maybe this is the first time that I wanted you to be quiet.
Jerico glances at Gabby again, who was still absorbed by work, and back to Finn, who looks determined into helping her. After that, Finn leans close to his ear and whisper his thoughts, wanting to do his best to help lift up his cousin's confidence.
FINN: Do you like her?
JERICO: Sshhh.
FINN: What do you mean shhhhh? Everyone here knows you like her. What the hell are you so shy about?
JERICO: My...face. I...
FINN: Dude, you look cute. You have this cool hair, just like an anime character does. And your eyes are pretty charming too. Blue green? Are you kidding me? Then your skin, I feel a bit jealous they were that smooth. It matches your personality so much. You're like a cute soft blueberry. And she's the strawberry. Blue and red goes together, so just believe it when I say that you're a match made in heaven rather than that Murasaki.
Jerico felt speechless. He was red all over and it was obvious because of his pale skin. He continued to cover his face.
JERICO: But everything I give her...she takes it but sees it as a gift of friendship.
FINN: Have you told her your feelings yet?
JERICO: ...no?
FINN: Then that's the reason! She's not the type of girl to assume. So what you need to do is-
TIWARI: You two, get back to work. Or I'll be forced to doing your work. Chop, chop.
FINN: But-
TIWARI: I said...chop, chop.
Finn, defeated, moves to his seat while Jerico rethinks of all the words his cousin said.
Not wanting Gabby to grow tired of Murasaki's courting and just accept it for convenience, Jerico first wanted to confront Murasaki to tell him what exactly Gabby is feeling.
A friend first, before a lover. He wanted to do his best to remove the uneasiness in her eyes before pursuing her too.
Red, invisible, sees all this and was kinda proud of how the young man was acting. Jerico seems to have purer intentions when it comes to Gabby. And if he had to choose, he'd be voting for him over Murasaki because Jerico was putting Gabby's feelings first before his own. Although despite his smile of comfort that someone could possibly cherish Gabby more than he does, he does feel a bit hurt knowing that he won't be that guy.
He keeps a smile, hoping that as time pass by he would learn to accept the outcome that Gabby would soon forget her feelings for him and move on. Although he wanted her to move on sooner.
It keeps things harder when you're both still in love with each other.
...
Gabby steals a glance at Red, who was busily looking at Jerico, she felt confused as to why Red had suddenly showed great focus on her collegue, that is when she heard her phone ring.
She takes it out, and was surprised that Murasaki was willing to drive her home after their work.
Jerico hears this, and showed an even more irritated expression.
That was when he knew that he needs to do something to stop Murasaki from making Gabby feel uncomfortable.
If he needs to step out of his comfort zone(which he rarely does by the way), then he'd do it just so Gabby won't end up with someone like him.
The pencil he was holding broke in half and he didn't even realized how much angry he had become. The cracking shocked him and the sound it made eventually made everyone turn all attention to him.
That made him even redder as he was.
GABBY: What happened to you? I've been using pencil for a lot of time now and I haven't cracked one, not even once. Are you angry at someone?
JERICO: ...no?
GABBY: Good..you know what they always say, becareful of the quiet kid. They're scariest when angry.
JERICO: Don't worry, you're the last person I'll ever get angry on.
GABBY: Ah...uh, wow, heheh, that's so sweet.
Even Finn was shocked at the words that came out of his lips. Wow. Did his words suddenly became effective?
JERICO: I...uh, I mean...no, why would I get mad? I...I just...you know what? This pencil is really weak anyways. So, sorry.
GABBY: Ah, okay? Anyways, if you have a problem you can always talk to us. I...I don't feel good whenever I hear something cracking.
FINN: Then you should date him, or else you'll hear his heart cracking.
Finn chimed in, but his disturbance owed him a joking hit from Tiwari, who was just beside him all along.
TIWARI: Quiet you, quit exposing your cousin, you know how he feels about it.
FINN: I'm teaching him, how to be a man!
TIWARI: Whatever, some couple of months ago you were just like him, stupid.
FINN: I used to be is the correct term, sweetheart. Don't you want him to be her boyfriend? Are you siding with that rich guy, huh?
TIWARI: What?! Ugh, just quiet down. Our boss might hear us.
FINN: Whatever you say, babe.
...
When their work were over, Jerico stops Gabby and from her steps.
JERICO: C...can I talk to you?
GABBY: Oh, sure. Was it urgent? I...I'm kinda worried about how you're acting lately, are you okay?
JERICO: Yeah, well, with everything going on I can tell you're uncomfortable about Murasaki.
GABBY: Uh. Well...you're...
JERICO: I know he's someone you know longer than all of us but you should speak your mind out sometimes too. Rejecting him won't really be a bad thing if it makes you uncomfortable.
GABBY: Thank you. You're really kind.
JERICO: You're...you're kind too. So...if, if he's there, you...you could make an excuse...or you could just tell him no.
GABBY: Well, I...I'd try.
JERICO: Think about your feelings too, okay? If you haven't moved on from Red yet, it must have meant that he was a good guy, and that he treated you right most of the time for you to still hold your feelings to him. If not, maybe you and Murasaki are just not compatible. If he likes to pursue you still, I think he should do it without making you feel stuck or suffocated.
GABBY: You sweet little wallflower, you could be an adviser. You talk really good stuff.
Gabby ruffles his hair then pinches his cheek lightly, something she does often with him as a friendly gesture, even so, it was enough to make the blue haired guy blush intensely. And was forced to hide his embarrassment by covering his face with his arms.
Fixing his confidence and doing the confrontation with Murasaki might be a lot of work.
But he'll get there, hopefully.