At that moment, Irish is too thunderstruck to retort.

She would not be able to forget that smug demeanor, those handsome features, and his insufferable presence as a whole. Even when two years already passed, she did not get rid of her first impression of him. In the present, it seems like nothing much has changed about him.

​​

Asher is still as overweening as ever.

"What could Her Highness be doing at such a place? I thought you do your shopping at a mall or something - not a local grocery," he quipped with a smirk, much to her annoyance.

"Why? Am I not allowed to shop here? Do you own this place?" she spat at him while she crossed her arms and raised a brow.

"I'm only expressing my opinion. I'm just... shocked, I guess?"

"And I'm also shocked that you actually help people. Who would've thought that you could be such a gentleman? Thanks for reaching that for me."

As Irish expressed her gratitude with a bit of sarcasm, Asher could not help but smirk wider.

He really had not seen this encounter coming. When he entered that place, he only thought of buying some snacks on his way to where Cassidy and Aira were going - he was planning to pay a little visit and give them a small surprise. What he didn't know was that someone else would be taking him aback as well.

"So, I heard you're no longer in the entertainment industry. Quite a scandal you've got there..." Asher brought up all of the sudden, provoking and affronting Irish on purpose.

"Considering that you had been missing in action for some time, was it only a given that anyone would be shocked to see you here of all places?"

She fell silent and went still at his remark, which he did not expect.

As far as he recalls, she is one to retaliate and return the compliment. She is feisty yet childish enough to put up a fight in a nonsensical banter. However, for some reason, she is now acting kind of meek and reserved. She even appears mortified.

Even then, he would not take back what he said. It did not matter if he did offend her more than he intended to. He would never forget what she did to Cassidy in the past - nor would he ever show her mercy.

"I get it, I get it. I know you don't want to see me here or anywhere else for that matter..." Irish muttered with a sigh before turning around and taking her leave - deciding to retreat instead of striking back.

"Goodbye, then."

"How boring," Asher snorted, still not satisfied.

That's when both of them hear her cellphone ringing all of the sudden - someone's calling.

Without thinking much, she pulls it out of her purse and answers the call. Right then, he decided to turn in the opposite direction and leave her alone, not really up to doing some eavesdropping. That's until he overheard their conversation, helping him recognize the caller at the other end of the line.

He halted on his tracks almost immediately.

"Where are you now, little bro? I'll go there and meet you guys..." Irish began - and it was apparent that she was talking with Adrian over the phone.

"I'll just stay at the same hotel you'll be spending the night in. No need to mind me. I can take care of myself. I did survive two years abroad, right? All on my own even!"

Only then did Asher had the impression that Irish changed a little.

Still, he decided to pay more attention on what they were talking about instead of that. He's getting a funny feeling from this, and he's not about to stay put if this happens to concern a certain someone.

"Oh, you scored a date on Cassidy?!"

And then, he choked.

When Irish blurted that out almost too ecstatically, Asher felt his throat constrict from the lack of air.

In reality, Adrian only told her that he was out shopping with Cassidy at the moment - not on a date. He called because he was nervous, which is not typical of him. She already knew that they were together in the trip, but she was thrown off guard to hear that things would actually get more interesting than she expected.

"Okay, okay~! I'll let you two have some time for yourselves. Quit getting an advice from me all the time! Just spend time with her like normal, will you...?" Irish said for the last time and cut Adrian off at the other line, ending the call at once.

"Seriously, that guy... He's such a big softie-"

"Interesting talk you've got there, princess. Mind if you share a little?" Asher murmured in her ear out nowhere, coming up from behind her and scaring the daylights out of her.

"The freaking hell...?! You were still here?!"

Flabbergasted, she ended up shouting in his face and nearly slapping him at that very second.

She thought for sure that he already disappeared since she heard his withdrawing footsteps back there. It turned that he was actually right behind her all along. Now, she regrets getting too caught up in her excitement that she fails to get a more private setting to answer the call.

"This is none of your business, okay? And why would you eavesdrop on me? I'm taking back what I said about you being gentleman. You're not at all!" Irish exclaimed exasperatedly, not tolerating the mischievous look that he was giving her.

"Of course, it's my business. You're trying to rope Cassie into your silly games again..." Asher muttered in all seriousness despite his playful-looking smirk.

"Why is she with that person right now? Is he actually tagging along as well?"

"What if he is? This is not about you. It's between the two of them-"

"Oh? But how would I know if you're not going to mess up her life again? She's living steadily and happily now. She doesn't need you or him. Why do you still keep showing yourselves up to her, you pests?"

She couldn't keep herself from shuddering at the raging animosity in his dark, cold tone.

His gaze is clouded with resentment, and his voice is thick with spite. At last, he is showing his true colors.

'I know... I already know... I can never live without this kind of treatment anymore... I deserve to be despised...' Irish brooded in silence but still tried to hold her ground and tighten her resolve.

'Still, I am the only one around here who deserves it. Adrian does not. So, I can't let this guy ruin things for him.'

It's more than obvious that Asher is in love with Cassidy. Irish already figured it out since day one. Even then, her support goes to Adrian no matter what. That's why she's going to protect this opportunity for him.

'Whatever happens, I should not let this cocky guy get in the way of their trip.'

---

Their shopping adventure went better than Cassidy imagined.

She was finally able to hold a less awkward conversation with Adrian. Since the children were out in the tour with their peers, they had to go to the department store with only the two of them together. They did need to make haste, though - they could not leave their little companions by themselves for too long.

Overall, their shopping ended without any trouble -

Except for that time Adrian insisted on paying for all the items that Cassidy bought for Aira and herself. The two of them had a small spat in front of the cashier counter because of that.

"Why won't you let me pay? I'm the man here. I shouldn't let you pay. I didn't join you just because you might need some help with the shopping bags," was what he declared back there.

"I've got money, okay? Besides, is there a law that requires a man to pay for a woman? I can buy things on my own," was what she reasoned out to him.

In the end, they just split up the expenses.

On their way back to where everyone else was, they passed by several locals and tourists who were amused at the couple. They seemed to be having the time of their lives even though they kept bantering.

A moment later in their stroll, they hear this musical sound that is being played where a small crowd is gathered. It's a renowned upbeat piece that most of the audience, including the foreigners, can't help but clap their hands to the rhythm.

Everyone gets too hype when the pianist makes a ragtime impromptu. There are children who run to the center and begin to dance - and one of them might soon turn out to be Cassidy.

"Look, look! It's a street piano!" she cheered like a kid who got a candy - and her enthusiasm welled up when the pianist began to play a more upbeat music.

"You're such a toddler..." her companion chuckled at her childish behavior.

"No wonder we're going in circles - you're so easy to distract."

"I'd rather call it as a tunnel vision..." she winked at his teasing.

"Besides, your beauty is more than enough to keep me distracted."

Right then, Adrian was struck unmoving and speechless, not expecting that Cassidy would try to flirt out of nowhere.