353 Be Like Sweets (1/2)

Meanwhile, at a posh cafe somewhere in the city...

Cali had drunk three cups of Americano with four slices of strawberry cheesecake since the time she had come to the cafe. While she was at her fourth, Darren held her hand and scolded, ”It's enough already! Caffeine is not gonna help with your anxiety. You're just making it worse.” He took a pause to add, ”Also, you're making me really angry by eating so much cake before my eyes.”

”What's up with her?” was Francesca's question as soon as she saw Cali's condition. ”Cal, I've never seen you looking this tense. Tell me what's wrong.”

”She told Dylan she likes him while she was drunk,” stated Darren without even hiding his amusement at all.

”What? Really? What did he say?” It was no secret to Francesca that Cali liked Dylan for a long time now. She had always been like a friend to Darren more than a mother and that's why he never hid anything from her.

”He kissed her,” answered Darren making Cali groan as the memory of the kiss replayed in her mind all over again. She should have known better than to share anything with Darren. This friend was certainly going to enjoy teasing her now.

”Wow! That's good news,” Francesca clapped her hands together in excitement. ”Then why do you look so down, sweety?”

”Because...”

”Shut up, Regi! What are you, her interpreter, or something? Let her answer for herself.” Darren zipped his lips instantly. She caressed Cali's hair, and went on, ”You tell me, sweetheart. What's wrong?”

Cali looked up at Francesca. ”You know Dylan's nature, don't you?”

Francesca nodded her head. ”He is way too confused in his life.”

”Exactly. That's why I'm not even certain why he kissed me. Perhaps, it was on impulse or maybe he was trying to confirm something.”

”There is also a possibility that he likes you as well,” concluded Francesca making Cali's eyes to shake slightly.

No matter how much she wanted that to be true, she couldn't bring herself to believe in those fantasies even for a second. If it didn't turn out to be true, she'd be only hurting herself and she didn't want to do that.

”He doesn't like me. He must be slightly shaken at the moment because of my confession. He clearly told me before that he'd never date anyone in his friend circle or anyone related to his friends for that matter.” Then she glared at Darren as she added, ”This is all your fault! You set that stupid bro code and he is a dummy who won't dare to go against you. Even if he really had any feelings, he won't do anything about it because of you.”

Francesca also narrowed her eyes at her son, ”So not fair, Regi. How could you?”

”Mama, don't take her side. Back then I didn't know that she had feelings for Dylan. And besides, if she had been as confident as Qiuqiu, she would have gotten him even before Qiuqiu got in the picture.”

”Regi, don't bring that past up. You're hurting her,” reprimanded Francesca.

Darren shrugged his shoulders. ”I'm just trying to push her to not do the same mistake as she did before. You think Dylan can't find another Qiuqiu? You think if you let it go this time again, another Qiuqiu won't be able to snatch him again from you? For how long are you planning on staying this way?”