[Yesterday]
(Mark's POV)
I was out on the streets strolling and also to buy some supplies. I went inside the shop and bought a bottle of milk, some cheese, and some fruits.
I always had an habit to juggle the fruits even though everyone said it was wrong to do so but I never listened mostly because I always forgot about what they said.
So, the same thing happened and took the fruits and started juggling them as I walked home.
As I was doing that, a man walked to me and asked, "Are you Mark Smith?"
I was too focused on juggling so I didn't heard him the first time. so he said it again, "Are you Mark Smith?" and this time was too loud. I almost felt like my ears busted. I was jumped by the sudden noise and lost control. I fell down with the fruits landing on my head. I turned back and saw a man with a black suit and black trousers with black goggles. It seemed like he was bodyguard of something. In no time, I was surrounded by men like him. One of those men moved sideways giving way for another to walk in, but this one was different.
He walked inside the circle with a three-piece suit, with pen in his pocket and with formal shoes. I doubted myself of being mugged by FBI.
"Mark Smith?" he asked me.
"Y-Yeah," I answered.
"Good grief. We finally found you."
"I did something?" I asked him.
"Yes," he answered, "Myself, Aaron Kin. I am the Mayor of this town."
I started wondering of hearing a name similar to that.
"Sorry for disturbing you, but I had to ask you something. Can I?" he said.
Well, I didn't have any chance of saying no. So, I just nodded.
"Is it true that you're dating my daughter?" he asked.
"Huh? Dating me?" I questioned.
He asked a phone from one of his men standing behind and showed me a picture.
A picture of me and Carol, where she fell on me.
"Is this you in the picture?" he asked.
"Yep," I answered, "Where did you get this picture?"
As I said those words something struck in my mind and a name roamed in my head, Caroline Kin.
"Uh—you don't mean she is your daughter, right?" I asked him.
"Yes, she is." he said as he leaned over. His voice sounded dreadful, just like Carol's, "So, tell me you're dating her or not?" he said and fear rushed through my veins, "And if not…"
"Yes, we are." I interrupted.
[Present]
(Kyle's POV)
"What the hell?"
"Were you out of your mind?"
"Why would you say that?"
Questions were fired towards Mark.
"Hey, I didn't have a choice." he argued.
"How hard is it to say 'no'? Oh sorry, the word never existed." I said.
The room was full of heat. Especially, Carol was on a different level than usual.
"I know. I know. What I did was wrong, but I was scared to my death. He is way too scary?" said Mark as his feet trembled.
"Well now that you mention it, I remember meeting him in my childhood. He was there for a party or something and I remember it clearly because I started crying as soon as I saw him." I added.
"You know right? I am in the same room as yours?" asked Carol as I stated it.
"See, I tell you he is ten times scary than her." Mark said as he pointed towards Carol.
Carol was confident of we not buying it but everyone came up with same response, "You did the right thing,"
"How is that supposed to be a right thing?" she questioned and then saw our grim faces, "Am I really that scary?"
Jason ignored everything and walked in the middle to sort things out. He said, "Why don't we pretend that you are dating?"
Carol was confused and said, "You know, my head is filled with so many things. I could literally punch you right now."
See, that's the scariness we were talking about.
"Uh—I mean, you guys act like you're dating for some days which will calm the situation and Mr. Kin will be happy too. After the situation is good, we'll tell everyone that you broke up." Jason rephrased.
"That's a great idea," said Amy.
"Okay. But for how many days?" asked Carol.
"2 mont…." he said which popped Carol's vein, "2 wee…" which made the vein even more visible, "2 days. It'll be enough. What do you say?" he said with a crackling voice.
"Fine. I'll do it," answered Carol which calmed Jason, "But listen, no holding hands and all," she said, "You come close to me. You what I'll do," she said as she looked at Mark, "And same applies to you,"
With a face like a demon, who wouldn't agree on her terms.
She walked towards the door with the intent to leave. We followed her as we had classes going on which I really didn't wanted to attend.
She opened the door and started walking down the hallway and she walked a group of girls jumped in front of her.
"Is it real? That you're dating him?"
"What changed your mind? Didn't you say you didn't like these things?"
Everything was so chaotic that she didn't know how to react. It felt like she wasn't used to so much attention, I mean even though she was infamous for all sorts of things but this is a complete different situation.
Mark stepped in front with his arm covering Carol, "Hey, would you mind?" he asked them to give us way, "We really need to be somewhere."
Carol was surprised and so were we. I had never seen Mark walk up like that. I always felt like he was just a creep and nothing more.
They moved sideways and Carol walked through them.
"Such a hypocrite? Always talked about how not to date but here she is," came a voice from the crowd.
That caught Carol's attention but she didn't look after them and walked straight with her head down.
"Hey, don't you pay attention to that." Mark aided her as he saw her despondent face.
"I don't need to hear that from you. Remember you're the reason why I am in this situation." she said as she rushed in her classroom.
"She's in bad mood" I said to Mark.
"I know," he answered with guilt in his voice.
He went inside his classroom.
"Kyle?" said Amy, "Are you free?" she asked.
"Yep," I answered within a second.
"Great. I had a small assignment and I really needed your help. You think you can do it?" as she walked close towards me.
"Sure, for you—anything," I replied.
"Great. Then meet me in the library in a second." she said.
I nodded. My heart started dancing as I was going to be with Amy. Well, I know this is not a big achievement but I have never experienced something like this. So, I was swaying inside.
"You too. Meet me in the library," she said to Jason and Staci.
In a moment my face was turned from a happy and elegant one to utterly disappointed one.
"They are coming too?" I asked with a vexed face.
"Yes," Staci answered.
"Why?" I asked with the same face.
"Huh?" reacted Amy with a confused face.
"I mean, why not." I said to avoid misunderstanding, "They should totally come with us."
After a five minutes we all met in the Library and started
Looking for the suitable books. The assignment was Evolution of certain species.
"I got it. Mr. Darwin here," said Jason as he showed us a book. He dusted it a little bit and the said, "He might help us."
We then sat down on a table. Staci sat beside me and Jason and Amy in front us.
I really wanted to sit beside Amy, but I realized I am being too childish or don't know what to do.
I almost feel like it was silly and too immature, but as I said I am experiencing this for the first time and I can't even tell that I am enjoying this or not. When I was still a child, mother used to tell me that love is a thing you actually enjoy. 'Falling for someone was the best thing that can happen regarded that you fall for the correct person' she used to say.
Be it childish or not, but it was true that whenever I saw her. I just wanted to be with her.
"What do you think? Is Carol going to be okay?" Amy asked us.
"Beats me," answered Jason, "But I always knew that people wouldn't leave the chance of getting back on her."
"But I don't like to see her like that," said Staci with a worried look.
"Don't worry," I solaced, "If anything Carol is good at, then it is getting up again after beaten down. I remember—we both were in school and we were given tasks to solve. More like mathematical problems. Most of them were able to solve and some weren't. Carol was one of them, she was taunted over by everyone. I swear, if I was in her place I would run away from school but she never gave up. So, she worked hard and what do we see—the next test, she scored the highest. More than me. I know that this is a different situation but what I mean to say is—that whatever people will say, whatever they do. I am sure that she'll stand straight and face them. Not to mention that she has the courage to go against this world. We just need to give her some time. She'll be okay."
After that, we focused on the work and completed it.
Everything was fun, but the real fun was actually waiting for me at my house.