[Short Flashback]
"Will you marry me?" Alex caressed her back, gazing down at her silver hair as she rested her head on his chest.
She smiled, her red lips curling. "No."
"No again?" He frowned. "Why don't you ever say yes?"
"Haha," she giggled, adjusting her head on his chest. "Because if I did, I'd never hear you ask me again."
He laughed. "Then I'll ask again tomorrow."
A moment of peaceful silence settled over them, as they enjoyed each other's presence and warmth.
"If you won't accept my marriage offer…" His soft voice cut through the quiet, his fingertips tracing her back until her silver hair tangled between his fingers. "Will you stay with me for all eternity?"
Slowly, she looked up and smiled lovingly. She shifted until her face hovered over his, caressing his lean cheek.
"Eternity… is all we have," she whispered, her voice soft and full of love. "And for all eternity, I will be yours."
His lips curled up in a smile. He cupped her face and leaned in, claiming what was his — her. Sealing a promise of forever with a kiss.
But alas, one day, she disappeared without a word.
And she never came back, breaking the promise she once spoke of — and his heart into smithereens.
---
[PRESENT TIME]
"Hey."
Alex slowly opened his eyes at the sound of someone's voice. Turning his head, he saw his friend Martin looking at him from the driver's seat.
"You look pale," Martin said. "Are you okay?"
"Mhm," Alex hummed, turning to the window of the front passenger row with a faint sigh. "Why wouldn't I be?"
He propped his elbow on the window, resting his jaw on his palm.
That silver hair… he thought, reminded of Aqua. I hate it.
But as his mind began to drift, Martin spoke again.
"By the way, Alex, did you know your girlfriend got into an accident?" he said, making Alex turn to him.
"My girlfriend?"
"That chick. The one rumored to be your girlfriend because she has a bunch of stuff that's identical to yours. People started speculating you two were together."
"Ah." Alex nodded. "She got into an accident? What kind?"
"All I heard is that it was bad. Almost died, they said."
Alex frowned. "She doesn't look like someone who almost died."
"You saw her?"
"Just earlier."
"Ahh… maybe that's because she lost her memory," Martin said with a shrug. "That's what people are saying, anyway. She's only been at school twice since, and folks say she's been acting weird."
"She lost her memory?"
"That's the rumor. So now everyone thinks it might be true."
Alex considered it for a moment, rocking his head as he recalled Gigi. "No wonder," he whispered. She didn't feel as annoying as last time.
"Now's the time you should clear the misunderstanding—whether you're actually seeing each other or not," Martin said. "It's a good thing she hasn't said anything about it. Probably hasn't read the rumors after the accident."
"..." Alex didn't answer.
Martin cast him a quick look, only for Alex to smile faintly.
"It's not a misunderstanding. She's my girlfriend."
"Huh?!" Martin suddenly pulled over, staring at him in disbelief. "Since when?!"
"A few days before she went on a girls' trip."
Martin's expression twisted. "How come I didn't know?"
"Then it wouldn't be a secret relationship if I told you," Alex laughed.
Martin couldn't help but judge both his friend and this ridiculous friendship. "Geez!" he clicked his tongue, shaking his head as he resumed driving.
Silence settled between them for a moment while Martin mulled over the idea of Alex and Gigi.
He didn't have a problem with Alex. But Gigi? That woman was a menace. Beautiful, sure. Came from a good family, sure. But her personality?
Capital. CRAZY.
"Why would you even date her?" Martin asked in dismay, eyes fixed on the road. "She's insane. UNHINGED."
Alex just shrugged. "She's fun."
"Fun?" If Martin could cough up blood, he would. Gigi was not fun. Gigi belonged in an asylum—or prison.
Sneaking a glance at Alex, Martin's brows furrowed. His friend was smiling mischievously. And as someone who knew Alex, Martin sensed something fishy going on.
---
Later that day…
Gigi's face soured like she'd been sucking on lemons as she stared at her phone. After Bubble left, she'd been reading her research paper to get a better grasp of her progress. But somehow, she'd ended up scrolling through a thread about her and the school prince.
The comments were ridiculous. Not mean—actually, most were cheering for their "love team" or calling them a "power couple" or some other nonsense—but that didn't mean she liked them.
"These are definitely Bubble's comments," she muttered, shaking her head. "So it's true, huh? Everyone thinks we're dating—even though there's literally no proof."
Some accessories. A few matching teddy bears. That was all people needed to connect the dots and build a fantasy relationship.
"But why did he say I was his girlfriend?" she wondered, scrunching her face. "Is this going to be one of those scenes where the male lead humiliates the girl because she's delusional and leads people on?"
She smirked. "Not a chance, Male Lead #2."
With a mischievous grin, Gigi took a screenshot of the thread and went to her profile.
[No, we're not dating. I am single, always single, and forever single. No man has ever been born to make my heart flutter.]
She proudly hit publish.
"Problem solved!" she declared. "This is easy."
DING!
Her brows rose as a notification popped up at the top of her screen.
[From: Grandson
Are you available tonight?]
"Does Grandma still remember me?" she winced but replied:
[I have some matters tonight, so I'll be a bit busy. But if Grandma is still awake, I can call her. ^_^]
Sent!
She smiled, proud of her small good deed. But then, she remembered something.
[Also, please don't let her know. I don't want her staying up just for it. If it gets too late, I'll leave a voice message for her. ^_^]
As her second message was sent, she watched his typing icon disappear… then come back.
[From: Grandson
Thank you]
Gigi smiled in satisfaction, only to be interrupted by a knock at the door. Looking back, she saw her nanny poking her head in.
"Young Miss, the party is about to start. The Madam and the Master are asking if you're ready."
"Heh." Gigi let out an awkward laugh. "I'll be right there."
"I'll let them know."
As the door closed, Gigi gasped. "Shit! I haven't even showered!"
She bolted for the bathroom, grabbed whatever clothes she could find, and slapped on a random lipstick to finish her look.
---
Meanwhile…
Lucian sat in his office, staring at his phone curiously. He tilted his head one way… then the other.
"I wonder…" he whispered. "…what does this mean?"
And by this, he meant the [^_^] she kept adding at the end of her messages.