Okay, so here's the thing: I'm sorry. First, sorry because it took a long time for me to update. To be honest, I wasn't expecting that much followers and faves QAQ Thanks so much, you guys QAQ Second, sorry this will be too short and kind of will suddenly fly away from the last chapter. Hope you guys would get why.

And third, sorry for ALL the scenes that will follow this chapter. As in, really really sorry, you guys.

That is all~ 3

Fourth Ingredient – The First Cup of Tea

"I like you…"

He wondered what has gotten into him. If ever he was going nuts, or that the heavy humidity brought about by the early days of Summer was getting on his head, making him say things he would never—not anywhere in his life would he ever—ever expect to hear…

But he was saying it. And he wasn't stopping to think.

Right now, he didn't want to think.

"I… I really, really like you…"

Just let it all out. It didn't feel wrong, so maybe it is not wrong.

"I-I don't know if it's love yet; I can't say that… But I can pretty much say that I want you… I really want you…"

He'll regret it some other time.

Blue had the same thing in her mind too. If this were just a normal event, then she would've shrugged it all off and accuse him of being weird and all that, and tease him relentlessly for it. But even though she knew that he knew that she was never going to let him live this down for the rest of his life, he still said it nonetheless, meaning he meant it. That this was no joke.

And that she was in a hell of a situation.

"G-gosh, Green…" was all she could muster up to say. Green fidgeted in his seat. Seriously, he had imagined himself a lot cooler than this. He had reeled this scene over and over again in his mind, and he was sure that the Green he saw in his head did not act like Red when faced with a hardcore fangirl.

He felt so… tensed.

Honestly, fantasy tastes so much better than reality, sometimes.

Not that Blue was surprised—she gets this kind of situation with the other men she jokes around with (she's done it with Red countless of times. The boy never learns, and she found it refreshing). As in, she flaunts herself around them, tells them she loves them and other shits like that, enjoying the show as the boy falls desperately for her. And she'd lead them on just to enjoy the laughs. (Don't take her wrong though. She's not evil, just lethally playful. Besides, she's already thrown away that habit a long, long time ago.)

But she thought Green was different. That no matter how much she played with him, he will always return it with that monotonous—sometimes overdramatically-dreary—look in his eyes with the words "Pesky Girl" drawling from his thin lips. That no matter how much she hugs him, she kisses him, she flirts with him, he won't care. He won't return the favor.

He's the only one she knows whom she can have fun with without the fear of feelings getting hurt.

"I-I don't know what to say…"

But, she guessed, there are some things that even she, the great and witty Blue, can miscalculate. And Green may as well be her biggest blunder yet.

"I can't blame you," Green replied, casting a sidelong glance, letting his emerald orbs land on the untouched Jasmine Tea on his side of the table. "Even I don't know what to say anymore…"

"B-But…Why the sudden… this? I mean, what's the occasion?"

Green's face was getting brighter. "W-what do you mean 'what's the occasion'?! You're the one here who asked what was bothering me and why I was being nice to you and all that, and I'm just answering…"

The silence grew heavier, in contrast to the lighthearted laughter that filled the venue as Blue began to taunt Green while working. It was just supposed to be like those other days. Just like those other times…

Why this all of a sudden?

She tried to open her mouth to speak, but immediately clumped it back shut. There was still nothing for her to say.

Green watched her challenge her own hesitation, and wondered if he did the right thing. The funny thing is, he felt no regret where the regret should've been. He doesn't even feel bad about what he did. There's nothing wrong, his mind kept saying, and he, despite himself, is believing that.

And that's what making things worse.

"Look, Green, I…"

"Look, Blue, you…"

They watched each other, simultaneously praying for the other to go on.

"You go first," Green commanded, but Blue replied with her childish pout, making him contradict his own request.

"Fine," he hissed, and then sighed. "The truth is, I planned to tell you this before, or rather, I wanted to tell you, but the plan was really hide this until my or your funeral. Whoever between us goes first…"

Blue gave effort not to snort at that.

"But, I guess, a part of me didn't want this to pass on as just a fleeting feeling or perhaps an eternal secret. That wouldn't be fair to me since I would have to endure your constant taunting without you knowing that deep inside—way, way on my insides—I am affected by the things you say and do—especially the things you do…"

She just watched him make an adorable fool in front of her. If she had something to say a while ago, she had finally forgotten all about them, and the only thing she could hear from wherever ideas come from was static noise.

Green had noticed that.

"W-well, say something," he said, feeling uncomfortable. "Laugh at me, tease me, anything… Just don't look at me like I did something so bad. Do you realize how hard it is for me to lay my feelings out bare like this?"

"I know how it feels, Green," she suddenly replied. "Don't worry, I really do."

Green stopped fidgeting enough to look at her.

"It's just that… Well, I really do not know what to say to you… I'll be honest, I never expected this from you of all people. Thought you were… well… harder than that." She gave out a forced giggle. "Or maybe my charms have evolved into something more powerful than I could ever imagine."

"Don't get too full of yourself…"

"But either way, Green," Blue continued. "I… have to apologize. I may have pushed myself to you too hard that you may have not noticed yourself finally falling from too much force. I guess I underestimated that part of you…"

"No, wait, Blue…"

Blue chuckled. "I should really stop with all this ploys I do with boys. It develops unwanted feelings that could be very troublesome if left unnoticed…"

"Blue, no, you got it all wrong…"

"But, I'm afraid I have to turn you down this time, like what I did to them…"

Green's trembling stopped. Even the prickling sweat he felt crawling down the back of his neck seemed to have stopped as well.

Everything went to a standstill.

"Look, Green, you're an awesome guy," Blue went on, aware of the effect she had caused the boy. "And if I could, I would really, really go out with you…I mean it this time. No joke. It's just that… I, well… I don't think I'm ready for a real relationship at this stage of my life. I doubt myself in these aspects and I'm afraid I might drag you down to hell with me…"

"Blue…"

"I'm really broken, Green, it just doesn't look that way from your perspective. Or from anyone's perspective to be honest. I've spent the last few years of my life making sure it is like that, especially with the people I care about the most…"

Green pursed his lips, and hung his head.

He had thought of every possible response from her, except this one.

"Besides, you're not sure about your feelings right? Who knows? Maybe it's just a spur of the moment—nothing special, really..."

"And if it was?" he asked.

Blue just gave a weary smile.

"I honestly don't know…"

"What kind of answer is that?"

Blue just kept that smile intact, much to Green's frustration.

"Well, you are Green after all… I know you and how strong you are…"

Green had to resist the urge to flip the table and make a scene.

"It's not like something bad is going to happen, right?" Hesitatingly, she added: "And if there was, hopefully, it happens to me, and not you, Green…"

They watched each other's expression before slowly, ever so slowly, casting off the awkward tension, and began moving in robotic manners, reciting their farewells and moving towards the exit.

Towards the escape.

Two days later, they'll see each other again and the both of them will act like nothing really happened.

But two weeks later, they'd find terrible unease with one another, with Blue being less conspicuous than Green can ever be. But since both are quite stealthy, only a chosen few will ever know of what happened.

Two months later, and Green would've appeared to have forgotten everything that he has said, and Blue would be nowhere in sight. But they know how they are when they are reminded by the little things.

And the small pains that would seep through their veins they would have to endure on their own. The distance between them would have to suffice as help.

But two years later, everything will have to change.

-m16-

"So, what's the big news?" Green wearily asked as he slumped on the couch next to Yellow. He quickly looked around and realized somebody was missing.

But then again, it's not like he cared.

"Yes, Red," Yellow chirped. "Why the sudden invitation? Did something happen?"

Red beamed from where he sat. "Blue's coming home tonight."

Green slightly paused at the sound of her name, but eliminated it from his system before the emotions gets out of hand. He hid the tension from them by reaching out for the tea Red had set out on the table for him.

"Yeah, so?"

"Well, I was thinking we throw a 'Welcome Home' party for her, and I was hoping you guys could come!"

"Oh, that's wonderful!" Yellow cheered. "I'd love to come! I miss Blue so much!"

"And you had to make us come all the way here just for you to tell us that?" Green sneered, sipping from his cup. The other two didn't seem to mind. They were used to him being like that.

"Well, actually, there's one other thing…"

The fall of his tone caught Green's attention.

"What…?"

Red smiled. It was the most cheerful smile both Yellow and Green have seen him do in a long time.

"I'm gonna go ask her to marry me!"

Green began coughing out his tea.

He never realized something as sweet as Jasmine can be so bitter.

-Fin-

Just one last thing before I go: Patience is a virtue ^_^

…Please don't hate me.