She's My Sleeping Pill

Around three in the afternoon, the two of them left the house to shop for gifts. This time, Stefan bought gifts for Cayenne's family and also for Chris, who had been with him ever since his business started. Cayenne also bought gifts for everyone. She got shoes for her two brothers. She bought her mother a new blouse, jeans and a bracelet. She also bought a blue necktie for Stefan. Although it was expensive, she knew that it was worth it after all the help that Stefan lent her.

"This is my early gift for you." Cayenne handed him a small gift box. "It's not much but I think that suits you better."

"I'll open once we get home." Stefan told her and put the box inside the shopping that he was holding. Since Cayenne wanted to gift her family separately, she used her own money this time.

The two of them continued to stroll inside the mall. Stefan was holding the heavier bags and Cayenne were holding the lighter ones. The two of them were having a great time since no one recognized them.

"Shall we get something to drink?" Cayenne suggested while eyeing at the coffee shop across them. She wanted Stefan to rest for a while since they've been walking and he was carrying heavy items.

Stefan smile indulgently and led her to the coffee shop. Even though he was holding several bags, he made sure to keep his right-hand empty in order to hold Cayenne's left hand. Stefan found a little bit secluded area to sit and he brought Cayenne there while asking, "What do you want to drink?"

"Café Au Lait." Cayenne placed the shopping bags on the empty chair next to her.

"Alright. I'll get our drinks for us and you watch for our things here. Any desserts that you like?"

"You can choose whatever you like. I'm not picky when it comes to desserts."

Stefan smiled and reached out his hand to rub her head. "I get it. I'll get your favorite." After saying that, he left her to fall in line in order to get something to drink and eat for the two of them.

Cayenne was watching him under the rim of her cap. She took of her dark glasses but she didn't want to look at him directly. She was afraid that he'd find her looking at him.

Stefan felt someone's gaze was directed at him. He looked back towards Cayenne but she seemed to be looking somewhere. He had no idea that she was watching him. He looked around and found some ladies were watching him. Even if he was wearing a dark shade and a cap, his figure and the view of his side profile looked very handsome.

"Sadly, he's got a girlfriend." One of the ladies commented.

"She looks pretty which can match with him. No wonder."

"Only a pretty woman can match with a handsome man. Stop vying for him." Another woman retorted. They were group of friends who were obviously taking time to relax and catch with each other.

Cayenne noticed the group of women, too and she felt envious. Not because Stefan looked at them but because the group of women were happily chatting together. She didn't know that they were talking about her and Stefan but she was still envious of them. It's been a long time since she went out with Luna, her best friend.

After almost five minutes, Stefan returned to his seat which was across the table in front of him. "You look sad. Is there something bothering you?" Stefan asked, reaching out his hand to hold her. "You can tell me. Maybe I can help."

"I just realized that I haven't been spending time with my best friend. I even kept something very important to her and I always refused her invitation for dinner."

"Do you want to catch up with her and maybe have some relaxing time together?"

"Hn."

Stefan thought about something but he didn't tell her his plan. He wanted to surprise her a little. Not long after, the waitress arrived with their ordered food and drinks. Cayenne's eyes lit up when she found a matcha cake among the desserts he bought.

"I love this!" Cayenne exclaimed when she saw the cake. "You really know my favorite."

"Of course." Stefan grinned. "I've always been paying attention to you."

The waitress pursed her lips to stop the smile from escaping his lips. She likes watching sweet couple because it makes her feel the love in the air and she wished secretly in her heart that the two of them will be together forever. After making sure that they have their complete order, the waitress left them alone. She even moved the ornamental plant a little to give the two of them some space, away from the prying eyes of the other customers.

The two of them, deeply emerged in the world with just the two of them, didn't notice the slight changes in their environment. They weren't even aware that the two of them had took off their glasses and their caps already. Even though the wall partitions were made of glass, the people outside couldn't see them because the glass was tinted in black. 

"What time are we going to have dinner with my family? By the way, can we find a place near our house? I don't want my mother to travel for a long time. It's not good for her health."

Stefan nodded his head. Whatever she had in mind, as long as it won't harm her, he would agree with her. She forked a slice of matcha cake and stretched her hand to fed it to him. "I'm giving you a share. Have a try."

Although he was caught off-guard, he likes this gesture a lot. "Thanks." He ate the cake that she gave to him, directly from her fork. Doing so was equal to and indirect kiss. Both of them pretended that there was nothing wrong with it but deep inside each other's heart, they felt sweet and warm. It was as if, a warm honey was slowly melting their hearts.

Stefan forked a 16K Chocolate Truffle Cake and did the same thing that she did to him. Cayenne looked around to see if anyone was looking at them, when she found that no one was watching, she ate the cake directly from his fork. It tasted so delicious that she closed her eyes to savor the taste of it. Stefan smiled while watching her reaction. Recently, she had been showing him her real emotions and she was no longer shy around him, although she would blush from time to time, she no longer refused his sweet actions towards her unlike before.

Stefan had a positive thought that the two of them were walking on the right path for them. At the same time, he was still hesitant to confess to her. He wasn't sure if what he was feeling was love and he doesn't want to hurt her if in the end, it is not. Moreover, if he confessed and Cayenne doesn't have the same feeling, he was worried that he'd be heart-broken once again. Therefore, he was going to observe the course of their relationship in the next two months. Once he confirms his own feelings, he will tell Cayenne about it. If Cayenne doesn't like him the way the he likes her, he's got no other choice but to let go of her.

Cayenne had no idea what was inside his mind and she has no plan to ask him either. Stefan forked another piece of cake and fed her again. Cayenne looked around to see if someone's watching and ate the cake when no one was looking at them. His sweet actions and her sneaky gestures were clearly seen by the security guard who was watching the monitor that records everything inside the café.

He was faintly laughing at them while shaking his head. They looked so adorable while secretly acting sweet when no one was watching them.

"Why are you being sneaky? It's not like someone's going to watch you eat here." Stefan commented after noticing her silly actions.

Cayenne covered her mouth to chew the cake and swallowed it before talking. "I'm not worried that someone's going to watch me eat. It's just a little embarrassing to have them see me eat from your fork."

"What's so embarrassing about it?" Stefan feigned ignorance. "I wasn't even embarrassed when I ate the cake directly from your fork. And besides, they'd think it's normal for both of us to do this. They're thinking we're lovers."

"Can't they think that we're friends? Why are they jumping to this conclusion? A male and female with close friendship can still eat together."

"No, they wouldn't think that way.  No friends would wear a couple set of clothes."

"We're not wearing couple shirts. How can they think that way?" Cayenne retorted while pointing her index finger between his clothes and hers. She was indignant but the more she looked at his attire and back to her outfit, she felt something was wrong.

'How come I didn't notice this before?!' Cayenne exclaimed mentally while her eyes narrowed down on his clothes.