Chapter- Five

Why did I hate school? There were many reasons but math topped them all. Math seemed like a foreign language to me. It started off easy. Two plus two; done. But now, what the hell was x square. Why were the alphabets hanging out with the numbers in the first place? Why were they all buddy-buddy now? I could go on about why I really hate math. Maybe I should make a whole book about it and publish it?

I stopped my trail of thought when I realized I was busy with my own thoughts instead of focusing on the class. My mentally groaned. Maybe, Ashley was right; I should start meditating to control my thoughts.

I missed Ashley. Now that she was absent, I was forced to talk to other humans and I was feeling so out of place. I just realised that Ashley was my safe zone; I felt safe with her. I also realise how socially awkward I was. I really felt out of place in my own damn school. It also accentuated my motive to make new friends.

But funnily enough, when the bell rang, I was one of the first to run out of the class instead of trying to interact with my peers.

I was thinking whether to continue my classes or go home when I noticed a familiar face, and I also saw how his face lit up when he noticed me. His face still looked so perfect even after hours of classes. We all must have looked like a peasant when compared to him. I smiled at him, and gave him a small wave but my smile dropped for a moment when I noticed he was walking towards me.

I was about to ask how he was but he opened his mouth to say something. “Please act like you are my girlfriend.” He said as a greeting. I gave him a confused look. Wow, I was not expecting this.

He kept on looking at me with hopeful eyes, and didn’t elaborate further. I blinked, “Ah, Pardon?”

Isaac licked his lips, “I want you to act like you are my girlfriend-” He raised both his eyebrows as if to emphasize the word, “my lover, my other half.” He was making weird hand gestures as he listed off his synonyms for the word girlfriend.

Then he looked around before lowering down to my height, “I need help in rejecting a girl, my ex. I told her that I had a girlfriend, and she says that she doesn't believe me. Can you believe her audacity?”

“Wow, that must suck.” I told him because I didn’t know how else to react. Just imagine a man came up to you and asked you to be his girlfriend because he had a crazy ex? I thought this only happened in stories. No wonder people compare life to a story. I must be a character for comedic relief, and then I studied Isaac’s face. Yes, he definitely, without a doubt, would be a main character. That face was more than enough.

I sighed and ran my hand through my hair, “What do you want me to do?” I asked him as I felt like it was my duty to help him out now. Whenever I thought of that night, I would feel dread creeping onto me and I was very grateful that Isaac came forward the moment I needed help. If he wanted me to act like his girlfriend then so be it.

He looked surprised for a moment, probably because I accepted his request, “You would really help me?”

I nodded my head, “Yeah, you helped me out before so it’s my turn now.”

He grabbed my shoulders before hugging me, “Thank you so much.” The hug was so sudden, I didn’t know how to react, or even place my hands. He smelled so good, I thought to myself, and suddenly my thoughts turned bitter because no way in hell this dude even smelled good after a long day at school? I see what you do for others, God.

I stood there awkwardly as he hugged me. I didn’t realise this was a hugging matter. I could see the students around me giving us curious looks, but none of them said anything and went their own way. “So, what do I have to do?” I asked him once he let me go.

“One thing is already done.” He said with a grin. His blue eyes sparkling with humor. I cocked my head to the side, huh?

“What?” I didn’t understand what he meant by that sentence.

“I hugged you. People saw that, and now she will learn about it soon.”

Oh.

Not a bad idea.

“Can you kiss me on my cheek?” He asked me with one eyebrow raised, “It’s fine if you are not comfortable.”

I looked around us and noticed many students walking by. If we were to kiss now,

many of them would notice so I hardened my heart and smiled up at him, “Am I not your girlfriend?”

He grinned, “Yes!” I stood on my tiptoes and he leaned down to reach my height, and then I pressed my lips against his cheeks.

He smirked, “See you tomorrow, girlfriend!” And placed his soft lips on my forehead before walking away. I just experienced the most romantic thing in my life, and it was with a fake boyfriend. I stood in my place and watched him go, my hand touching my forehead. I wondered if I was blushing because I certainly felt like my body was on fire.

After my day at school was over, I needed a moment to relax. So this is why I was at my favorite ice cream place, gulping down the ice cream like it was my last day on earth. It was then that I realised that acting like someone’s girlfriend was probably not a short term thing… Oh fuck! How long was it acceptable to be his girlfriend before breaking up?

What did I get myself into?

I groaned but continued to shove ice cream down my throat. I was planning on dealing with the situation later.