They gathered once again at Austin's mansion after a long tiring day of Thursday as they have the feeling of relief after the exams are finally done. Shiro and Lynx excused themselves to join as Lynx is already busy for UAA and Shiro will eventually never join them without him. Speaking of Austin who has been looking at his paper on Mathematics, being fascinated by Professor Junio's sloppy red check marks on it.
"I'm so great!" He let out his boastful tone of voice making Yangyang roll his eyes as he typed something on his Mac Book.
"You only got 1st ranking in Math and the rest are not, specifically our major," He said in an annoying and incredulity manner that's why Austin seated properly on the couch and waved his paper in front of Yangyang.
"I passed all the exams though! And at least I defeated you in one subject Mr. Running for Summa Cum Laude!" Austin said and immediately goes back to reading the test paper again. All of them became speechless about what Austin had been acting since the dare had happened, even Asher got shocked about him suddenly changing his mind because of Shiro.
"What the hell this guy is up to my Shiro!?" Asher screamed to her mind while looking at Austin all over.
"What?" Austin suddenly shouted as if he heard what she's been screaming on her mind that's why it makes Asher jump on the couch but trying to be intimidated as she frowned back at Austin and took a deep breath before she let out her word.
"Hey, Austin..." said she as blinking her eyes intensely.
"What kind of prank you've been doing to Shiro?" she asked in a serious tone and looked at him like she was mad or something like he was going to preach at Austin.
"Who's pranking who?" Austin stubbornly said and drank a glass of water and put it down aggressively on the table as he finished drinking it steadfastly.
"I am not pranking Shiro!" he asserted and glared in Asher's direction while his hand clasped on his open wide knees.
"Then what are you doing?" Asher asked him whereas she is widening her eyes.
"I'm telling you! Shiro is our friend and not for your stupid jokes!" she warned her almost threateningly and crossed her arms dramatically while sitting up straight.
"Ash! How dare you!" Austin shouted once again and stands up holding the back of his head and deep sighing before he talks again.
"I was about to ask you later about my plans on Saturday! Then... then you are saying that in front of my face!" he let out to Asher and sit down once again pouting his lips while his head down, that's why Asher get dumbfounded, Mark panicked and stop his game going to Austin's side, Nana peeks at him a little while reading a Manga then Yangyang who is raising his eyebrows getting wondered at him.
"Y-Your plans on Saturday?" Asher stuttering and wishing undone her words she said earlier to Austin her face says it all that she's regretting looking at Austin a different way this time.
"If I heard it correctly, you said SHE IS going to treat you when you win and now you are planning it?" Yangyang let out his words and tried to dig in at their chitchat. There was a moment of silence in the living room and Austin began to rapid his eye movement and his heart unintentionally raising and he stands up again and all his friends look upon him.
"C-cause you know!" he stuttered while pointing his fingers in the air.
"Shiro... Shiro might not afford to treat me! That's why you know... Just being a kind friend to her... why not I'll be the only one to do it... Right?" He said while awkwardly glimmering at them and Asher started laughing with him.
"Yeah! You're right! Such a good boy! Haha!" Asher awkwardly speaks up and it makes Austin more embarrassed but tries himself not to be that obvious or else Yangyang will tease him over and over about it. He just sits down again and Butler Qian entered the living room specifically, the living room inside his own bedroom. He places another refill for their tea and snacks on the table and peeks on Austin thinking deeply while motioning his finger on his chin looking on to space. Butler Qian takes a deep sigh whereas he is flashing his lips and asked Austin if he needs something more. Austin was half-listening to his Butler and just raised eyebrows saying yes to him.
"Then what do you need Young master?" he asked loudly but in a polite manner as he turned his specs upwards.
"What place should we go? That memorable one?" He mumbled but still a little bit louder that his other friends can hear him. All of them especially Asher gasped once again but not Nana and Yangyang though they are interested in the topic. Butler Qian stands up properly while patting his uniform gently and he beams a smile and cannot help his 35-year-old self to get fascinated by Austin's behavior since he met Shiro. It sounds memorable to him and suddenly seeing himself ten years ago when the '20s found true love or getting to know about love.
"The place isn't that important Austin... the more simple the better, because moments are important than the place you'll go and also moments, can make any places memorable and nostalgic," Butler Qian explained in a calm convincing tone and it makes Austin to realized he became bluntly earlier that's why he rapidly moves his eyes, as usual, striking out his arms trying hard to be intimidated just to get rid of his embarrassment in front of his Butler and friends.
Asher instantly smile at him a sinister one to be exact, "Come with me!" she exclaimed that making Austin exhibits his annoyed face but he was too late to talk back when she forcibly take him alone leaving the three gentlemen to arc their eyebrows and it gives rise to Butler Qian smiled happily before going back to his other work at Zhong Household.
Friday came and Shiro seems anxious but not saying anything to Lynx. Since that dare happened, and also the day she found out she lost the dare makes her have a sleepless night. Having dinner with her mom will never be the same as she is obligated to say something to her since Saturday is her rest day or doing her assignment and advanced reviewing for her subjects and that means going out on that day will be unusual. Shiro has the feeling of awkwardness from them especially Austin who is honestly a little bit awkward seeing her too and his friends even Lynx makes an obvious manner of teasing them secretly brings Shiro to overthink what they have been thinking about them and mostly about her. Shiro has subsisted her preoccupation and trying her best to listen in every subject they are taking this day. Her mind is a little bit swirling and her stomach having flustered with butterflies inside it; denying that kind of feeling while oddly slapping herself, angrily blinking her eyes and, trying to get herself back on its feet but Austin's presence seems to be near like she felt he is watching from the distance. As they finished their class, Lynx frowned upon Shiro that suddenly jumped, and when he turned his way on the University's wide glass windows he saw Austin who rapidly moved his eyes and started to blink them on and off while Shiro Was getting dumbfounded in a very odd way.
"You know Asher's mall right?" Austin finally composed his audible voice and they started to gawk at them (mostly his fan girls) and he walked in Shiro's direction while his hands are inside of his pocket trying himself to look frigid and calm. He looks down a little at her face for he is taller than her, Shiro begins to feel her breath on Austin's shoulders and she pushes him quite aggressively.
"Yes, I know it!" Shiro answered him.
"THEN SEE YOU TOMORROW AT 3 PM! NEAR THE FIRST BOOK STORE!"
Shiro started to roll her eyes when Austin shouted at her and his voice makes a fictitious echo on the hallway that makes the other students widen their eyes and initiate to talk about them while whispering to each other.
She thinned her edges and sighed her second deepest breath for today, "You don't have to shout you stubborn jerk!" she said in a calm but intimidating manner.
"Tss... whatever I just want to say it- anyway don't you dare to be late!" he said stubbornly while pointing his fingers and walking away from them.
Shiro and Lynx just exchange glances at each other but she looks at him more deeply this time. Lynx exhibits his deep sigh.
"No, Shiro not this time," he harshly let out his mind as he knows Shiro will let him lie again to her mom. She just wipeout her stared and stubbornly stamped her feet before marching out to her best friend's sight. Lynx instantly laughed and followed her plus teasingly nudging her before he pats her head.
When Shiro went home, her mom exactly preparing dinner for them and she looks at her without any word coming from her mouth. Shiro surprisingly went to the table and perched herself making her mom wonder but ignored it first. Her mom knows she will set her feet upstairs, having her comfortable clothes before going down again to eat but this time it was different. Her mom's intuition knows she wants to say something urgent to her that's why she places the rice near Shiro and quickly opens her mouth to compose her question.
"What is it Shiro?" she asked in a calm intimidating manner. Shiro tried not to be startled and sat properly before talking.
"I have some plans tomorrow Ma..." she responded quickly.
"Then with whom? Asher or Lynx?"
"Neither,"
"Then who?" She asked Shiro once again and this time she's a little jumpy like a kid trying to tell her mom she failed in class.
"Ma... let me clarify first before I say who I'm going to..."
"No, let me know who before why..." She interrupted Shiro and that makes Shiro gulp. She stares at her mom whereas she is trying her best not to get too much tension. She rapidly moves her eyes, thinning her lips before she opens them and angrily deep sighing.
"I-It is Austin... Ma," she said with her fist clenched on her lap.
"Oh... Austin... Zhong Austin?" she asked her whereas she shifted her eyebrows upwards.
Shiro was bewildered where she widens her eyes and her heart wins against her chest so fast.
"Ma! It was a bet and I lost... just one point in our Math exam! I just want to show him I have to fulfill what we had talked about but that doesn't mean anything! It's just a dare I had to face!" she steadfastly let out then aggressively munch her food because of the embarrassment she felt.
"Just dare? Not like last time that he is a survey guy knocking out our gate? Right Shiro?" her mom said with her half-serious and half-sarcastic question to her. Shiro annoyingly scratches her head and almost stamps her feet but controls herself not to do it in front of her mom.
"Yeah... it's true, promise!" she said while pouting her lips.
"Then make sure to get here safely... AT TIME," she spoke up and emphasized her last words.
Shiro immediately comprehends her mom but is still anxious about what she really thinks about at the back of her mind. Clearly, Shiro is overthinking again before she left the dining room and goes upstairs to fix herself first before or perhaps to get ready for tomorrow. She widely opens her wardrobe, getting the best clothes she may use and picking them while looking at herself in the mirror; Checking if her clothes are okay or casual.
After she prepared her clothes and done making her routines before sleeping, she instantly leaps on her bed and covered herself with the blanket. She keeps on deep sighing, checking her phone several times, and gesturing herself back and forth.
"I can't sleep though I'm tired! What the hell was that?" she mumbled.
[BEEP] She jerked aggressively while twisting her blanket out of her body and sitting on her bed when she heard her phone vibrating.
"It's from Austin..." she whispered to herself seeing Austin's chat on her messaging app.
"SEE YOU TOMORROW!" he said.
"Is he mad or something?" Shiro said to herself while raising her eyebrows and just reading his message before she snaps it on the drawer beside her. She instantly goes back lying on her bed and closed her eyes immediately.
When morning came, Shiro look upon herself in the mirror while fixing the bag she is going to use this afternoon. She never had a good sleep last night because of constant thinking and not excitement as she said to herself. She had her breakfast and keeps on going back and forth to her room for it's still early. She keeps on looking at their wall clock every time she's going down and her mom noticed it but she was quiet about it or else she will snap Shiro's mood for sure. She read her book but cannot focus on it anyhow. She even cleaned her room even though it is always neat.
As she finished taking a bath, she widened her eyes seeing the time keep on coming so fast. Her heart starts to beat against her chest once again and takes her sigh more and deeper. She quickly gets her white t-shirt and high waist jeans along with the brownish cropped top sando she will layer over her shirt. She bribes herself and puts on a little make-up and deep sigh once again as she saw the time half an hour before 3 pm.
"Mom, I'm going," she awkwardly said while mending her little bag back. Her mom looks at her and smiles a bit before she fixes Shiro's baby hair by patting it gently.
"Take care and update me if you are going to be late..." she said pleasantly and Shiro finally pressed her cheeks on her before she ambled her feet going out.
She instantly rides a bus and is quickly seated on the vacant chair. She keeps on biting her lips and mending her hair while glimpsing herself on her phone. At exactly, 3:01 pm she hurriedly set off her feet and ran towards the mall.
Shiro stops as she was already inside the mall and immediately finds Austin or assumes he was not yet in there. When a bundle of people passes by in front of her she finally catches a glimpse of Austin as she sighted him leaning himself on the bookstore wall.
He's absolutely standing out because of his black with a red checkered cardigan over his white polo shirt and black jeans as well with his white sneakers. His hands are inside of his pockets and the other girls cannot help themselves to look at him. Shiro takes a deep breath and swiftly moves towards him. As Shiro is getting nearer, Austin hastily declines himself on the wall and awkwardly looks at Shiro before he jogs his feet going in front of her.
"Hey...You are finally here! I have also been here just now!" he let out and motioned his eyes awkwardly again.
"Uhm.." Shiro said while thinning her lips as she is holding the straps of her bag backpack. Austin takes a look at her again and he finally cannot help himself to smile. Shiro frowned at him and pushed him aggressively on his shoulders.
"What are you laughing at? You stubborn jerk..." she asked before she mumbled her last words to him. He looks at her teasingly this time and makes a little smirk before he talks back to her.
"You never dress up like that at school! You are ready that much huh," he teased her then brushed up his hair smirking at her once again.
Shiro look upon him as she smirked back and hostilely shove her feet against him, "I wore this in the first year of college and you just transferred this semester so this is not new anymore and I've been wearing like this even before! So shut up assuming stubborn kid!" she steadfastly spoke up.
"Hey! I told you to stop calling me kid! And HEY! I've been here for 30 minutes waiting for you and now you are being aggressive with me again huh!" Austin annoyingly loudens his voice and some other people look at them.
Shiro became dumbfounded for a moment and she instantly noticed Austin became awkward, "But you said earlier you just get in here... but why-" Shiro gets discontinued when Austin suddenly holds her wrist.
"Whatever I'm hungry let's eat something first!" he said with his authoritative voice and take Shiro with him forcibly.
"Wait... hey!" Shiro called out of him and she pulls out her hand, "Where are we going?" she raised a question and glared at him.
"At Yangyang's mom restaurant...why?"
"WAIT!" she's the one who raised her voice unintentionally this time and she began to glance at surprised other people by what she has done.
"I'm the one who's going to treat you and you think I can afford that? Are you dumb?" she asked her but lowering her voice this time as soon as possible. Austin raised his eyebrows and turned himself in front of her and clasped his hands on her shoulders.
"I know you are not as rich as I am so let me do it, and don't you dare to bring out your impoverished wallet," he poked fun at her once again that's why Shiro rolled her eyes and removed his hands on her.
"I don't care about you being privilege but you know why I'm here! Because I have too-" Shiro halted from her talking when Austin covered her mouth and mimicked her like a demon and he forcibly took her again away but Shiro kept on fighting back against him but Austin immediately held her by pulling her beside him.
"I said let me do it or else I will shout!" He threatens her before he sticks out his tongue like a kid and begins to chuckle when he sees Shiro's irritated face on him.
"Hahaha! Don't kill me! I'm kidding common!"
"Yeah, I am really going to do that by hanging you on the ceiling! Okay?" she angrily said to him and walked faster and Austin followed him while giggling behind her.
As they are done having their lunch, Shiro recommended something on him that she and Lynx go to whenever they are at the mall. As they stride themselves on the other building they immediately go up to the third floor and Shiro swiftly runs toward the Amusement Arcade.
"Really in there?" Austin demanded on her while holding her bag that he snatches on her even though she was against it.
"Then don't come with me if you don't want!" she said and aggressively grabbed her bag from him.
"Hey!" Austin shouted but Shiro never heard it anymore as she excitedly went inside. Austin rolled his eyes and followed her and ended up playing with her.
"NO!" Shiro shouted at Austin and he started to hysterically laugh at her while they are playing basketball for he keeps on nudging her and teasing her constantly. As they keep on playing together, Austin is amazed as he sees Shiro's smile and hears her laugh even though she's unintentionally hitting him.
"You are such a violent creature!" Austin lets out as they are playing Street Fighter and Shiro, mostly, defeating him and it is making him more competitive but in a good way. As he feels happy about what Shiro and him are doing together. He finally, feels more comfortable right now than before.
They continue to amble their feet together and Shiro begins to realize that she's alright around Austin and even talking to him casually not like the day when they find out the result of their exam and some other awkward days before this going out happened.
"Do you want that?" Austin asked her again several times or so.
"I told you what you purchased to me was enough!" She stubbornly said as she pointed to the manga and novels Austin forcibly bought for her and he even held those paper bags.
"How about that?" Austin points at something and Shiro instantly looks at it.
"Tsk... what?" she said before hitting Austin's arms and he started to laugh out loud.
"What? What's wrong with buying your new underwear?" he teasingly asks and exhibits his upper cheek dimples.
"Shut up!" Shiro responds and punches his arms now more aggressively but Austin just keeps on cracking up and grabbing her by circling his arms around her.
"Hey stop doing-" Austin gets wondered when Shiro suddenly stops talking and widens her eyes getting awestricken by what she is staring at.
"Yuta-kun? Nakamoto Yuta!" Shiro exclaimed and got off herself to Austin leaving him just for the sake of a human-size standee of a Japanese guy in a K-pop group she admired and Yuta is the one she cherished the most.
"Whoa! He's so handsome!" she said while staring at the standee and twinkling her eyes. Austin walk towards her and started to frown at them.
"How the hell he's handsome? Hey, did you know that I had gone to a party with that guy in Korea before? He's not handsome as you think and besides that, he is proud of himself so much!" he spoke up and tried to ruin Shiro's mood but he got it wrong when Shiro just began to chuckle.
"Really? Then let me see him soon when that party happens again!" she asserted and is still looking at the standee fascinating by her idol's features.
"Help me to take a photo with him!"
"WHAT? NO-"
"Common!" She persistently exclaimed and gave her phone to Austin and he got no choice anymore.
"Ready? 1-2-3," Austin said without looking at the phone and even at Shiro while he was just clicking the button numerous times.
"Hey! Make it serious!" she insisted on that's why Austin rolled his eyes and started to count with his lazy voice and takes a picture of Shiro happily smiling.
"Are you happy now?" he said and annoyingly give back Shiro's phone to her, "Wah! He's really handsome! Thanks!" she said to Austin as she marched delightfully away from him.
Austin started to gaze at the standee and angrily thinned his lips.
"I'm more handsome than you!" he spoke out a little louder and hostilely whacked it by his hands before he left and followed Shiro that's why the sales lady got panicked and checked out the standee that fortunately okay after what Austin has done to it.
"So what's next?" Shiro asked him as they continue walking and seemingly the night is touching on. Austin just angrily shrugged off and Shiro had noticed it and glanced at him instantly.
"How about on the seaside? They have rides on it... right?" she asked him once again and began to get awkward.
"Okay," he said to agree and they stride themselves going through it. A crowd of people started to get together when they finally set off their feet on the seaside. The wind started to crisp on her ears when she go near the borders and she break a smile while looking at the waves rushing on. Austin goes beside her and he cannot help himself right now to smile again as she can see Shiro's eyes start to lighten up by the sun rays of the sunset. The surrounding started to become serene because of the nightfall and Austin started to feel the time became wilder and he nervously felt it was going to separate them anytime soon.
"Let's eat again something!" Shiro happily said to him and he instantly takes her away from the seaside. As they keep on walking, there is a pink cat mascot approaching them, and Austin gets bewildered and said hello to it, and the mascot wave back at him. Shiro chuckled secretly when he saw Austin being happy like a kid while jumping his feet slightly from the happiness he felt.
They grabbed some squid and lobster balls and continued to walk along with happy people around them, like families, groups of friends, and mostly some couples having their date.
"The time is so fast it's already 6 pm-"
"WHOA!" Shiro halted her words again when Austin suddenly gasped and stopped from walking as he looked at the gigantic Ferris wheel around with the bright white lights glowing and twinkling against their eyes.
"Let's ride into that!" Austin delightfully said while pointing it. Shiro widened her eyes and looked at her phone once again and turned herself to Austin.
"No... why! I don't want to, It's already..."
"Why are you frightened by that?"
"NO! OF COURSE NOT!" Shiro responded in panic that's why Austin cracked up.
"No, you are scared!"
"THEN LET'S GO!"
Shiro angrily clamored and walk before him that's why Austin laugh at her but with excitement and nervousness inside him. Austin paid for their tickets and since it's quite expensive only a few people from the mall push to the limit to do it.
"Let's go!" Austin said and they walk instantly going through it and they get assistance from the workers before they went inside the Ferris wheel. Shiro can see how happy Austin is that's why she is not talking anymore. Her heartbeat raised so extensively as the door slowly closed. Her hands began to shiver but she tries not to show it.
"This is so fun!" Austin said to her and she calm herself a bit as she heard his voice and it's echoing inside. The Ferris wheel started to move very slowly until it goes up and up like her feet are drifting. She began to feel excited when she slowly saw the scenery and it's getting colder inside.
"Shiro are you somehow happy today?" Austin suddenly raised the question and Shiro quickly looked at him as she tried her knees not to get trembled.
"Uhm... h-how about you?" She asked him awkwardly. Austin looks on the other side once again and laughs a little bit.
"You already said yes, so, of course, me too!" he happily said that's why Shiro felt something on her cheeks seems warm and fuzzy.
"The view is wonderful..." Austin suddenly speaks up and Shiro surprisingly can hear it nearly on her ears. As she slowly turns her head she instantly sees him near her and he is looking at her deeply.
"H-hey..." Shiro tries to distant herself but she has no chance of doing it as she's anxious to move her body. Austin just smiles at her.
"Pale..." he teasingly said that's why Shiro pushed him away but he grabbed her hands and held them tightly.
"You are afraid just admit it!" Austin said to her and started to crack up.
"Yeah, and you don't care about that!"
"WAH!" Austin shouted while teasingly pushing her not that strong.
"HEY! NO!" Shiro yelled at him with her eyes closed and she unintended to hold Austin's hands tightly. Shiro opened her eyes and sees Austin gently gleaming at her that's why she hastily moves her eyes and almost to look on the high ground but Austin hurriedly touched her chin and slowly turned it up.
"Don't look down," after Austin said those words Shiro's heart starts up to win against her chest and she feels it's echoing inside.
"I'm here... you are not going to fall somewhere!" he said and smile more gently. Shiro helplessly stares at him and she cannot look on the other way than him. The time seemingly stops as she can feel Austin's face getting nearer to her.
"Shiro..." he mumbled and he is getting closer and closer. As she only heard her heartbeat and also can feel Austin's breath through her lips she slowly closed her eyes same as the Ferris wheel seems to get slower than before.