“Are you sure you prepared this?” Zoey stared suspiciously at Aiden as she swallowed a spoon of the soup.
“Is it good?” Tiffany chuckled, scooping the soup with her spoon.
“Huh, I’ve told you already that I am a good cook. I’ve been staying in the kitchen with our house chef since I was ten, so there’s no reason to doubt my cooking,” Aiden boasted.
“Aiii, see someone boasting,” Zoey rolled her eyes.
“How is it, babe?” He looked at Tiffany as a spoon entered her mouth.
“It is delicious,” Tiffany smiled after she had worked on what went into her mouth.
“I give it to you,” Tiffany gave him a thumb up and Zoey scoffed.
“Are you always this bitter? You’re just like Declan,” Aiden hissed.
“How am I like Declan?” Zoey rolled her eyes.
“He also doesn’t appreciate my cooking even though the only thing he can make is noodles,” Aiden said and Tiffany laughed.
“Declan can’t cook?” Zoey dropped her spoon.
“Do you think he can? He has been living alone for almost three years and he is not making effort to learn how to cook,” Aiden said.
“Don’t worry! I can always do the cooking!” Zoey hit her fist on the table.
“Can you cook?” Tiffany asked, trying not to laugh.
“Of course… no!” She added with a fallen countenance and the couple burst into laughter.
“By the way, why are you thinking of doing the cooking when you guys are not a real couple?” Tiffany tilted her head.
“It is not new that I have a crush on Declan and the fact that we’re always together because of the fake relationship is really messing with my heart,” Zoey shook her head.
“I would have told him, but I don’t want to be embarrassed the second time. The first time was enough, I can’t risk it again,” Zoey shook her head with a fixed gaze.
“You’ve confessed your feelings to him before?” Tiffany asked.
“Don’t get started, that idiot turned me down,” Zoey said and Aiden laughed.
“He told me about it. I didn’t know you were quite bold at taking the first steps.”
“Thinking about it is getting me riled up. Let’s eat,” Zoey hissed.
Aiden and Tiffany glanced at each other and shook their heads and then burst into laughter.
==
“Take care of yourself, Lil bîtch,” Zoey pulled Tiffany into a tight hug for the umpteenth time by the door.
“Yeah, I will,” Tiffany chuckled and broke the hug.
“Hey, Aiden, don’t try shît with my girl. Tiffy, if Aiden tries to do anything you are against, I’m just a call away. I’ma appear here and kîll him,” Zoey grumbled with a smile.
“You should not interfere, we are a couple already. Okay?” Aiden placed his hand on Tiffany’s hair.
“Tsk, whatever, I will leave now. You guys should let me know when anything comes up, okay?” Zoey pouted.
“Okay,” Tiffany nods her head.
“Take care of yourself, please, and don’t you dare think about the situation you are in, my cute demon slayer,” Zoey giggled.
“Fûck you,” Tiffany laughed.
“Bye!” Zoey waved her hands at them and walked out of the already opened door.
“Call me when you get home!” Tiffany shouted, unsure if the lady was going to hear.
“Okay!” She heard the voice of Zoey.
As they turned to walk back inside, Aiden halted and turned to look at the door all of a sudden.
“Shît,” he groaned and hurried towards it, Tiffany trailing behind him.
“What’s wrong?”
“I forgot Declan could come here anytime, he knows the passcode to this place,” Aiden unlocked the door.
“Oh.”
“Yeah, we could get screwed if he happens to walk in like… Boom!” Aiden chuckled and began to reset the passcode.
“When is your date of birth? I want to use something he wouldn’t be able to guess,” Aiden asked.
“13th of November,” Tiffany answered curtly.
“For real?!” Aiden shouted and moved away from the door.
“Yeah, is anything wrong?” Tiffany raised a brow.
“We fûcking share the same birthday!” Aiden giggled.
“Wow, that is… ”
“Unpredictable!” He interrupted.
“Yeah,” Tiffany chuckled.
“I’ll just use something else,” Aiden said and moved closer to the door.
“According to the Orphanage, I was found by some woman in the mountain after I was given birth to,” Tiffany smiled.
“Oh,” Aiden sighed.
He didn’t know what to say next, he didn’t want to say anything that was going to hurt.
“It’s fine if you don’t know what to say, you can just listen,” Tiffany said to him as if she had read his mind.
Aiden moved away from the door after he had reset the passcode, locked it, walk towards Tiffany, took her hand in his, and walk to the living room.
“I left the Orphanage when I was nine years old due to some reason I’m not sure about,” Tiffany started as they both walked towards the couch.
“Nine years old? That wasn’t the proper age for you to leave,” Aiden creased his brow.
“I know, right?” Tiffany smiled and they both settled on the large couch facing the big plasma TV.
“You know, while I was in the Orphanage home, I was hated by many people, I was a total outcast. Things got worse for me the moment my dormitory mother saw my wound close up. When I left the Orphanage, A man who almost hit me with his car took me to his house and I began to live there till I was fourteen. They chased me out when they also saw my wound close up,” Tiffany laughed at her painful memory but was reassured as Aiden’s hand caress her hand.
“Well, I pushed through, I engaged in all kinds of works to earn money. I’ve worked at a site before, and I’ve done many jobs I can’t even mention till I got this job at the sandwich bar where I’ve been working for almost seven months. At first, I was allowed to sleep at the bar for almost four months till I got that apartment I’m staying in now,” Tiffany said with a sad smile.
“Where did you used to live before you got that place? ” Aiden asked.
“Just anywhere the night meets me. Though, I slept mostly under the bridge and by the waste bin,” Tiffany nodded her head.
“You…” Aiden took his lower lips in his mouth slowly.
This babe had suffered. Damn.
“Don’t pity me, please. I didn’t die, and that is what matters,” Tiffany nudged him gently.
“When your eyes return to normal, let’s go on date. Tons of date. Okay?” he smiled at her.
“Okay,” Tiffany smiled back.
“I…”
“Fûck!” Tiffany removed her hand from Aiden’s and covered her hands with her mouth.
“What is it?”
“My part-time work, my boss must be expecting me, and how the fûck am I going to survive without working?”
“Well, you have this rich boyfriend by your side,” Aiden winked at her.
“What are you saying?” Tiffany hissed.
“Let’s give your boss a call. I bet she’d understand,” Aiden suggested.
“You think so?” Tiffany rolled her eyes.
“Yeah.”
==
Aiden was the one to talk to Amelia, Tiffany’s boss and the woman understood when Aiden said the lady was sick even though Aiden had a hard time convincing her boss not to come to check on her.
The two of them spent the rest of the day chatting and gisting and when it was diner time, Aiden ordered two servings of Pizza as per what he wanted the lady to try.
Wait, how could someone say she doesn’t know how pizza tastes?
Well, maybe his girlfriend doesn’t.
When it was in the night, After they had gazed at the artificial stars on Aiden’s ceiling, he bade the lady goodnight and used another room.
This was her first night here and he wanted her to be comfortable.
Well, he doubt if he was going to be a gentleman the following night.
==
Next day…
Declan and Zoey*
Zoey was in her room, Netflix and chilling when her phone rang which startled her.
‘what the fûck does this dickhead wants!’
She hissed.
“Yes?” She feigned a low voice as if she was sick or something.
“We were going to watch a movie, remember?” Declan asked.
Fûck, this guy was never going to be romantic!
Shouldn’t he ask what was wrong with her voice?
Oh God, what was this guy?
“Not you and me,” Zoey grumbled.
“Come on, we are visiting the cinema today.”
“Why? Can’t you go alone? We’re no longer in school so do we need to show the world we’re fake also?” she groaned.
“I got you and I ticket already. Just get your àss outta your house,” Declan hissed.
“Shouldn’t you speak nicer? You need me to come over, then speak nicer, and don’t be a dick,” Zoey hissed.
“Zoey, please, get out of the house and let’s go see a movie,” Declan gritted his teeth.
“Yeah, that is how it should be down. Where should I meet you? Text me your address. I’ll come to pick you up,” Declan said.
“Pick who? With what?” Zoey had asked before she remembered that her fake boyfriend was a rich guy.
“I…”
“Forget it. I’ll text you the address of where we should meet, not my house,” with that, Zoey ended the call.
“Fûck, I had no plans of dressing up today!” Zoey glanced at the pant and bra she was only wearing, pushed off her laptop, and rolled on the bed angrily.
“Now, what the hell am I supposed to wear?!”
“Fûck!” Zoey screamed in pain as she rolled unconsciously and fell to the floor.
=
Declan sat in his new white sport car his dad had given him two weeks back, humming to the song he was listening to and shaking his head to the rhythm of the song.
He had been staying here for almost twenty minutes and Zoey was nowhere around.
What was the big deal in coming over to her house?
It’s not like he was going to go there next time without an invite.
He exhaled and then leaned forward to the pick up the incoming call from the girl when he noticed the lady standing in front of his car.
She was wearing a very short black gown that didn’t even reach her kneel with two tiny straps, and her hair was packed almost roughly at the back. She carried a little portable white purse and wore white heels.
“Hmm,” he gulped as he watched the lady with keen interest.
“Where the fûck are you? I’ve been standing here for almost one hour,” Zoey lied and Declan chuckled.
“Dummy, you walked in front of my car just now, liar,” he scoffed and pressed the horn of the car which made the lady jerk.
“Huh, whatever,” Zoey hissed, ended the call, and began to walk towards the car.
Honestly, the girl looked gorgeous, but why the fûck is the gown too short?!
Was she planning on snatching other lady’s boyfriend at the cinema?!
Declan shifted uncomfortably as the lady opened the car door and entered, grumbling.
“Other men would probably open the door for the lady,” she hissed as she settled beside him.
“Hmm,” he cleared his throat and looked away.
Why the fûck was he suddenly getting cautious of what she was wearing?
“Shall we go?” Zoey rolled her eyes and waved her hand stylishly at him.
“Yeah, sure.”
==
Zoey walked out of the cinema with a smiling face, Declan trailing behind her slowly.
“Don’t you think the movie was good?” Zoey turned to look at Declan and grinned.
“Huh, I knew it was good before I recommended it,” Declan rolled his eyes.
Ignoring his annoying remarks, Zoey added, “don’t you also think the male lead wasn’t necessary. He was a nerd, he’s not even handsome.”
“Do you only watch movies to see handsome men?” he scoffed.
“You are damn borinnnnng, shît!” Zoey hissed and walk away.
As she got to the place where the banner of the movie they had just watched was boldly placed, ‘MARRY ME’, Zoey turned around to take a selfie and while she was doing that, Declan moved to the other side to get them ice cream.
He was still standing patiently, waiting for what he asked for when he turned to look at Zoey and the guy who had just walked in front of her.
“Hi, would you like if I take a full shot of you?” The guy stopped in front of her with a smile.
“Oh, that would be nice!” Zoey grinned, clutched her phone to her chest in relief, and gave it to the guy.
The guy smiled, moved back and took pictures of the beautiful lady, and then returned the phone to her after he had taken a few pictures.
“Oh, It came out nice,” Zoey smiled as she stared at the pictures.
“I am Jesse, mind if I know your name?” he asked with a smile.
“Zoey. My name is Zoey,” Zoey answered with a smile.
“I guess you came to see the movie also alone, same here too,” Jesse smiled.
“No, I…”
“Sweetheart!” Declan said as he stopped in front of her, pushing Jesse away.
“Huh?” Zoey widened her eyes.
“Did you get bored while waiting for me? Sorry, I went to get us ice cream,” he smiled and showed her the ice cream he was holding.
“And you are?” He turned to look at Jesse who stood still, looking at them.
“I… I am,”
“Take baby,” Declan interrupted by handing over a cup of vanilla ice cream to Zoey.
“Shall we leave?” He smiled.
Huh, someone is trying to be sweet right now.
Zoey forced a smile and then collected the ice cream from him.
“Yes, babe,” Zoey decided to play along.
“Then, shall we?” He curved his arm and Zoey locked her arm with his instantly.
Hehehe, the girl understood the assignment.
Declan chuckled inwardly.
“Thanks for the nice shots, Jesse,” Zoey smiled as she walked away with Declan.
“Do you always smile at everyone you see?” Declan gritted his teeth as they walk.
“Huh, do you always claim everyone you see? As far as I am concerned, I am not your girlfriend, so why do you have to interfere?” Zoey hissed.
“Then you should have not played along, you should have ignored me and continued your chats with him,” Declan scoffed.
“I bet he’s still there, let go of me and I will go back to him, he’s handsome anyway, I love cute guysssss,” Zoey drawled in an accent.
“I refuse. You are my girlfriend,” Declan sniffed.
“Fake.”
“Uh, yeah, fake,” he rolled his eyes.
“Idiot, I prefer chocolate to vanilla,” she removed her hand from his, snatched his chocolate ice cream, and then gave him hers.
“You didn’t tell me!” Declan hissed.
“I didn’t know you were going to buy it. Huh, someone was trying to act sweet, hehehe, how creepy,” Zoey shook her head and increased the pace at which she walked.
“This girl is… Huh!” He groaned.
==
Aiden’s residence.
“What is this?” Tiffany raised a brow as Aiden dropped a big bowl of popcorn on her lap.
“Let’s Netflix and chiiiiiil,” he sang.
“Huh?” Tiffany drew her brow together, what was the guy saying.
They had spent the whole day playing games she doesn’t even know how to play no matter how long Aiden had tried teaching her.
“I’ll go get juice from the refrigerator,” Aiden smiled and hurried away.
As Aiden left, Tiffany glared at the popcorn that was very tempting to the eyes then she suddenly felt a bad energy around her.
She had never felt it before, she turned to look at her right side and caught a sight which seemed like someone ran swiftly.
She turned to look at her left side and felt the same energy, all of a sudden, her body suddenly felt cold and a cold air brushed her ear, she looked back hurriedly and caught nothing.
“There you are,” she heard an intimidating growl in front of her, turned swiftly to look at who was there, and to her surprise, she widened her eyes as she saw the golden eyeball of some animal who was only a few inches away from her.
“It wasn’t hard noticing you at all,” the animal moved backward and it was a huge, frightening tiger.
“Hi, Akilang,” she could feel the sarcasm in the way it talks.
Suddenly, the tiger moved back slowly, ready to bounce on the lady.
Tiffany shook her head and grab the bowl of popcorn tightly.
As the Tiger prepared to jump at her, as if it was going to devour her, Tiffany screamed and threw the bowl of popcorn at it.
As the Tiger bounced on her, it vanished without even touching her leaving the lady in utmost fear.
Yeah, that was the first thing it was going to do.
Make her get scared.
Make her get scared till the extent of peeing on herself.
*