"Wait, wait, wait. So that means. I will have to act like Kael, tagging with you as your boyfriend!?" Jake eyes were wide. He was just about to jump Off from his chair. The man loved drama but only till books and movies. Not like this.
I blew out a breath "You just have to introduce yourself as Kael Jones. That's it. Nothing more!" please Jake please. "Also, our chemistry will look real, you know everything bout me, and vice versa. Its not that hard!" I pressed further, while my legs started trembling.
"Why the fuck didn you tell your parents about your break up with Kael?" he asked, almost peeing in his own pants, "what if your parents came to know about the truth- that I am Jake? Do you have any fucking idea how angry French women's and men's are? They gonna bake the sourdough out of me!" His eyes were practically about to pop out on my lap. Poor soul was traumatized, and I need him.
I firmly placed my hand on his shoulder, as I spoke up. "Jake, how hard can it be to say, my name is Kael?"
He blinked.
So I blinked.
"I am Jake. I cant be Kael."
Jake is my best friend; the one who helps me walk out of bars and calls cabs for me. The kind of friend who acts like an unpaid therapist in your life. And on top of that, this poor soul is the HR at the literary agency where I work.
"Jake" with heavy breath, I pulled my final card, "you told me you'll do anything, when you hired my Ex and appointed me as his manager." The wicked smile pop up on my lip.
I won the argument.
It wasn't intentional when he hired Kael, since he never had the honor of seeing what my one and only ex looked like in these 365 days of our friendship. Because the day we first met, I was drunk and had deleted all our pictures.
You might think I could've stalked Kael's social media profile and shown off how handsome my cruel ex was, who also decided to dump me. But that asshole, for some reason, never posted his face online. Which led to the awful serendipitous accident of hiring him at the same literary agency where I work. When I told Jake about it, it was too late to throw him, and since every manager had their groups full, Jake pleaded me to get him under mine. The acceptance came under one condition.
And soon I became the fucking boss of my fucking Ex.
Oh what a horrific day it was! But I promised myself to make his life just as miserable as his heart was, and he'd quit this job himself.
So far four weeks has gone by, but this asshole looks fresh as ever, and prepared as hell.
I'm just as confused as everyone here.
"Why can't we just say he cheated on you this morning?"
A sane person would have definitely executed this idea. But I can't.
This morning I got an unannounced call from my fucking bitchy younger sister. Theadora. I was rubbing my eyes with confusion, since she only call me on occasions. The last time she called was to announce her "engagement", another time was to announce, "I got job at Google.", and even before it was for, "Granpa died." That's it. Oh, and somewhere in between there was, "I got into Harvard for my master's".
Honestly I have no problem with her achievements in fact I'm happy for her. But I hate the attitude she rub on my face, the way I feel like an outsider at my own house or during the family calls, I have heard so many bitter things from over the past years that I eventually decided to call less to protect my peace of mind. I don't have grand achievements to show off, or get the attention or love from my family or sister, but I am content with what I have and what I created, with who I became. But somehow that just doesn't count. And when she said today, "I'm getting married to the love of my life" it reopened every old wound- I once fucking shared the future with Kael, decided what I wanted to wear at my wedding, what he'd wear, the cake we'd have, and even the name of our seven future children's and a cute lil parade of cats. The dream was surreal but he smashed it like tiny pieces of wine glass.
Now, how could I have told, "yeah I was about to call you guys as well, you are going to get married, and I got cheated on this morning." HELL NO.
My aunty Isabella already declared I am good for nothing and wonders why I am the eldest one. And well my dad just doesn't seem to show interest in whatever is happening in my life because it is obviously very unimportant. And I can't say that the only thing they count as an achievement of my life, cheated on me…?
Bet they'd respond with, it was all my fault he dumped me.
"Nope not happening. Long story short, now let's move your ass and start packing. We are flying tomorrow." I Bombed another news at him. with a smile.
"WHAT!" Poor soul. I felt the same way today. When they told me to bring my boyfriend, Kael Jones. I almost lost my appetite, and my bedroom started spinning around my eyes. That was such a fucking short notice.
"Well yeah, I covered your tickets." I got up from the leather seat, allowing him to simmer in the tension, "See ya" as I walked towards the door- it swung open at my face before I could even grab the handle, just to greet my eye with Kael.
I hate his expressionless face. I hate this morning. I hate this day. I hate this week. I hate the whole fucking JUNEEEEEE- "Hello there Daisy" his rich thick voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
I raised my brows in suspicion…. Did he, by any chance heard everything we said?
"Ahem, excuse me." He walked past by me in the narrow room as our shoulder brushed.
Well looks like, everything is just good.
As I was about to walk out, "Daisy", his voice pulled me back…
"Yeah?" I asked past my shoulder, in the middle of the doorway.
"I have selected the query letters from young authors for you. Check them out." He ordered it so casually it made me wonder who the boss is. Me or him.
"Yeah whatever."
The door was in the mid air as I slammed it shut- "Jake, I need 2 weeks off."
WHAT?
WAIT? 2 WEEKS?
And boom. The door was closed.
2 weeks for what? So he finally made a new girlfriend!? Did he finally find someone compatible enough for him?
His week off request should have not bothered me much or at all, after telling him to get out of this job and my sight yesterday in the car, and calling him "irrelevant . But…..fuck. Thoughts churned violently inside my head as my heart sank deeper into something I couldn't even describe properly.
It felt like fucking grief mixed with anger I guess.
And before I could think straight-
I opened the door at lighting speed! "2 weeks off huh? What's so special?" Putting up the boss face, I asked around. Giving my full attention to his body language that seemed annoyingly normal. (If it showed even the slightest sign of excitement, you know what I mean.)
"Family call." he answered in mere two words, with that strong voice of his, making my mind shut down instantly. And Jake simply nodded like a teddy bear, approving his fucking 'family call' week off without fucking investigating further.
His shoulder rubbed mine slightly as he walked out the room before I could.
While I stood there like a statue.
Sometimes its hard to understand who is the real pain in the ass is here, me or him? because its my work to ignore him the way he is ignoring me, especially with that tone of his, but I end up talking to that blockhead EVERYTIME!!!
Oh how dumb can I be!
...…..
"Don't you think it will be awkward to have me there." Jake finally blurted out during the drive to airport, while I sat there with sunglasses on and a mystery novel in my hand.
"Remember to call my mom, mom, and my dad, dad. Don't call them uncle or aunty. They'd get pissed." I instructed, with a big smile.
"Someone look at you!" he finally busted up. "I'm crying over your insane decision that suddenly flipped my entire life upside down, and here you are blabbering about some 'mom and dad' shit."
Ahem…. So as a good friend I'm…. I removed my sunglasses and snapped the book shut, "accompany me to this wedding shenanigans and I won't ask you for next two months salaries." I said with a big smile. Now we are talking business. And just as I expected, the worry-lines on his forehead disappear as he started critically thinking about the offer while driving and paying full attention on the road.
Hmm…I took a deep peaceful breath, leaning peacefully on the leather chair of his comfortable car.
"And what about your expe-
Before he could say something, I answered, "Don't worry I have five credit cards and five debit cards, I have my savings." I really did. I didn't spend much on apartment or cloths, but instead I started saving money to open 'Date With Book', a bookshop in Italy. So I'm actually all sorted.
"Your sure. About that? Once we deal. There's no backing off." Jake said. Which means
"Deal!"
...…..
We checked in and moved our asses onto the plane.
While hunting for our allocated seats, we started quarreling over who would get the window seat— yes, two grown adults fighting over stupid shit while people around us smiled, probably thinking we were newly married.
Which was actually great news.
Jake was a pretty fit replacement for Kael.
Anyways, just as we found our seats, disappointment flushed across both our faces.
Neither of us got the window.
During the long painfully, disappointed flight I watched a movie and whereas my best friend snored like a bear, his head resting on my shoulder. And just like that we finally landed in Paris!
"That was tiring." Jake complaint, stretching his arms out, in the middle of the baggage collection area.
"You slept like a pig, man. How's that tiring!?" I laughed as I found my one suitcase, waiting for other one to roll down the conveyor belt.
"Hey, I am your hired boyfriend. You can't talk like that to me!" he laughed at his own comment, collecting another one of my final bags.
Finally, after collecting everything we exited from the fancy airport.
It has been so long, since French air hit my lung. I missed you Paris!
The sky was clear, weather sunny and warmly hugging, just like the people around us were hugging each other and getting their ass settled in the cabs. "Welcome to Paris Kael" I winked at Jake. While he booked online cab. Laughing at my liar ass mouth.
Nothing has changed here; the lane is still same- narrow, holding scent of freshly baked croissants and memories from my childhood.
I looked on the never ending view from my window as it brought back the fresh good memories, where I used to run around with cupcakes in my hand as my old school friend and neighbor Alain who used to race around with me. The buildings were still almost close enough from each other as it is going to kiss but couldn't. I am back at my homeland. Where everything feels different.
The cab suddenly jerked a stop. And there we were at the destination.
Ta-daaaa.
"Don't mess up anything." I before handedly warned my fake Kael, before stepping out of the cab- and he was literally sweating.
Gosh this man. "My family doesn't bite. Now help me get the luggage off." There's literally nothing to be so afraid about. Like just, say your fake name and enjoy the wedding season! How hard it could be?
He finally crawl out from his cocoon. And gave me his one final look before I could knock on the door.
His face was red. His ears were steaming hot. "Fuccccck me." that's the longest 'fuck' Jake ever said.
He took his step, and knocked the door. adjusting his smile. As he started rubbing his palm over his chest, like he is going to get a heart attack.
"Deep breaths." I finally said.
"Hey, Daisy. Hey!" someone yelled my name. and the door was still shut on our face. So we turned behind together to check out whose calling me.
A tall guy, with golden silky hair waved his hands up in the clear blue sky, "Daisy. Hey!" no way!!!!!
I scanned him up and down, where he was wearing a plain blue t-shirt, that perfectly matched with his beige trouser. The color perfectly blended over his fair-skin tone, highlighting his perfect jawline, and dazzling smile. Alain, had turned into handsome hot chunk.
I couldn't believe my eyes! "Alain?" I re-confirmed because no way this, 'Goldy bear' turned into, 'Prince charming.'
He crashed into the tightest hug of the long-lost years all at once. As I wrapped my hands around his back. "Bienvenue à la maison" his words hugged my soul. How long it has been since I heard someone speak French to me like that!
"Ahem- ahem" Jake coughed around. And we pulled out of hug. "You are…?" Jake asked like a typical boyfriend. Finally, the man got into his character. Just perfect.
"Oh yeah..uh." Alian awkwardly laughed, and moved his hand forward as a typical, introvert guy he is. Some things never change. "I um, Alain. Daisy's neighbor, or you can call me Ex neighbor and school-friend…I mean close friend."
Jake smiled. Genuinely this time, and shook his hand, "I am Ja- uh, Kael." The guy was just seconds away to ruin everything. My parents respect Alain and his family a lot. And if he smelled something suspicious, then its suspicious. My parents won't be easy at all with their investigation. Back then, it was Alain who convinced my mother that I really did have a boyfriend after hearing me rant angrily over the phone about Kael.
Apparently, he said my voice sounded too emotional to be fake.
"Oh so you are Kael. I see." Alain looked down at me, with hues of emotions. Before I could sense it or try to read it he blinked it away, and let go the handshake.
"Guys three more knock on the door, and only then they will open." Alain said, in a friendly tone. as he knocked it three times.
"Why so? What about this three-time knocking the door thing?" Jake asked with curiosity. While I felt like an outsider again. Barely knowing a shit about my own house.
"her mama clearly declared, a one-time knock is a newspaper delivery man and other delivery guys. So she opens the door as per her pace. But three-time knocks is a-
"DAISY!!" Mom exclaimed. Tears forming in her brown eyes, surrounded by little wrinkles. But she was aging gracefully.
Alain smiled softly, "See? Family knocks three times. Not once."
I threw myself into my mother's embrace. "Mama" I felt like duckling. Tugging under her mothers embrace after a long first ride lost in the river.
Mama side hugged Kael (aka Jake) "You are…?" she said in a confused tone.
"Kael" He introduced. I didn't thought he would deliver his dialogue perfectly. "Bonjur mama." The moment French slipped out of Jake's mouth, my eyes snapped toward him in complete shock. Was this the same guy who had been shitting in his pants five minutes ago!?
"Its. Bonjour" mama mouthed the word "Bonjour" like she was talking to a two year old kid. But she was looking happy. Seeing Kael.
"Bonjur." Jake again pronounced the word incorrectly.
Oh no. that's a bad start.
A real bad start.
French people expect you to speak French properly. And if you can't, then just stick to English. No need to proudly butcher the language. "Daisy, you didn't teach him French greetings? It has been years with this guy." Her eyes now pointed straight at Jake, "And you. Show some interest in learning. Say the word fully, pronounce 'O' in it, its, 'BON'" she stopped, "JOUR"
Well what a great start.
Fantastic.
"Laissez-le maman l'accueillir à la maison Mateo est un gars adorable" Alain stepped in like old times after noticing the situation getting worse. Alain believed it when I said Cinderella's shoes and Mermaids are real, when my own family laughed at me. He used to stand protectively in front of me whenever Mama scolded me for not finishing my lunch box. And just like that, he defended Jake too— telling Mama to let it go because Kael was a sweet young man visiting the house for the first time.
Fire in mama eyes started to tame, and to extinguish it wholly. I spoke up, looking at my poor Jake who is planning to run away, "Maman, Kael est Britannique et il lui est difficile de prononcer des mots français. Nous avons aussi très faim." He was looking at us back and froth with confusion, as his cheeks almost turned red again due to anxiousness.
I feel so bad for him right now. Like really bad.
Finally, Mama allowed us inside and immediately disappeared into the kitchen while Thea and the rest of the family greeted us with warm hugs and this time Jake didn't dare to speak another French word.
"What did you guys told her?" Jake whispered in my ears, still visibly shaken from his greatest battle yet— meeting my mother.
"Nothing. We said you are hungry." I gleamed with a cheerful smile to relax him down.
.......
Finally, we settled into my bedroom to get ready for the perfect bachelorette party.
And when I say perfect, I mean Theadora-perfect.
This girl had literally been planning her wedding events since second grade.
And according to her vision, here I was standing in a white-and-sea-blue bikini while Jake patiently waited outside the room in his knee-length pool boxers.
Yup.
A pool party.
We are not going to dance in a pub for her bachelorette party like ordinary people. We are holding a pool party late evening. With tequila, French wines, strawberries, and marshmallows around, and probably emotionaldamage floating around to.
The bride has already planned everything. Every single game.
I walked out the room. While Jake scrolled through his emails waiting for me on our door, "Who decides a pool part at summer evenings? It's the time you either watch Netflix or dance in pub."
"Theadora." I answered, snaking my hand around his forearm, "let's go Kael. To our backyard. Pool party is awaiting us."
As we stepped down the spiral stairs, Jake spoke up with sudden genuine intrest, "You guys are lucky af. Pool around the house." I nodded. "And you dummy." He continued dramatically, "I am the only one wearing a black nylon boxers. Look at other guys. They have cool printed ones. Also, we are not matching!" He sounded exactly like Tom Holland whining in a Spider-Man movie.
I couldn't help laughing at his observations as we finally reached the pool.
Tables were set up, with chocolate fountain and all the sweets and fruits around it. And next to it was the large classic 'Harry-potter' movie giving vibes pot in which I bet was Thea's special 'BOMB' drink.
The whole place was buzzing with loud music, of Shawn Mendes and Taylor Swift while some local French songs played in between. The back-yard was already dripping with chaos and fun!
And almost everyone was already in the pool. And right there in the middle, Thea was standing in the pool with crown over her head. Obvio she is the bride. Surrounded by many face- who I was yet to catch up with.
"Gosh. This place is killer!" Jake finally went to his party-animal mode. As he rushed towards the 'BOMB' and I splashed into the pool.
Just as I got into the pool, my whole body started shivering. It was cold. Before I could adjust myself with the temperature and suddenly changes they yelled in joy, "Daisy. We are starting our first round." Thea faced glowed with happiness; her blue eyes matched with dark sky now. Her wet blonde hair clung straight against her shoulders.
"What's the game?" I asked.
"Okay so everyone." Thea clapped, to pull everyone's attentions toward her. She was always confident and passed the 'soul of the party vibe' check- what can we say she is an Aquarius, "I'm throwing the ball around, and when the music stops, whoever's holding it has to do either Truth or Dare decided by the person in front of them. And if you refuse… you take four shots."
Excited approval hummed around the pool. And the game started.
The ball came in my hand and I quickly threw it at a random chick who I still don't know about. And then she quickly passed back at me. And the music stopped.
The fuck.
"Truth or Dare" the girl asked like she had been waiting for this exact moment her entire life.
And I don't know why- but I already don't like her. "Truth." I said. I am not planning to take dare when I already feel sus about her.
"Daze…why didn't you choose dare!?" Thea complained dramatically. "You literally ruined the mood." If she would have not been the bride, I would have simply walked out from this place.
"I'll make it fun. Theee." The girl dragged out playfully.
Many of the reasons I don't like this game. Secrets are spilled or shits are done. Plus it's fucking childish.
"So", She leaned forward with a smile sharp enough to cut glass, "are you jealous that your younger sister is getting married but you are still here, unmarried with that Brit?" she pointed at Jake, who was already pretty drunk and doing comical dance around.
The whole pool got silenced.
As if I were some celebrity doing a press conference while everyone patiently waited for my answer— preferably without me ruining the girl's face in the process.
I sighed.
Her audacity to ask such a dumb question. "Why would I get jealous of my own sisters wedding honey?" I shrugged casually.
"You didn't answered Daisy" Thea pointed out.
Is she sick. Or just dumb?
I scoffed, "No, I'm not. Are you guys seriously doing this right now? What are we, four-year-old children? Come on. Grow up" I pressed my lips together because my sarcastic ass was dangerously close to slipping again, "Congrats. If I didn't say this properly earlier and accidentally gave you the wrong signal, then let me say it out loud now." I lifted my hands dramatically. "Congrats, Thea. You're getting married, and I am soooo happyyyy."
Thea didn't replied.
And played the music again.
Oh god the urge to slap her bride face and go back to my home. The home I created- gosh the urge is so real!!!!!
I threw the ball straight to Thea. And like that, the ball danced around and again stopped in my hand.
"What the fuck" slipped my mouth in Brit accent. As everyone laughed at my reaction, including me.
This time Alain threw the ball, which instant made me feel safe and secure.
I could bet thousands pounds on Alain for not dropping dumb shit question like Thea's minion… "So Daze.Truth or dare?"
Before I could reply Thea and her 'bestie' I suppose, because that same bitch started shouting in unison, "Dare. Take. Dare."
And without a second I choose, "Truth."
Alain laughed, over my response, his laughter sounded more like, 'you haven't changed yet', "How does it feel coming after such a long time back to your home?" see, I knew Alain. He was the best soul living in this pool.
His question melted my heart, "I feel so fucking good to be back. I love the scent of old memories in the air." My answer spread warm smile around his lip. Before the song started playing again. And finally the ball landed to Thea now. And this time, "Truth or dare lil sis?" I asked like a devil.
And afterall we came from the same mother and father, so she said, "Truth." Predictable.
"Are you happy with that Louis?" I don't want her to feel the urge to change the groom last minuets. Because she can do that.
"Ofcours I am. He is so good in bed. And so good at….bed." we laughed over her answer. And the game resumed. The ball this time landed at me again. And now I highly doubt, they are playing fairly.
"Truth." I said again. I want to bore them to death. I will only choose fucking truth.
So I showed my commitment to the truth before she could test my loyalty with choices in this game again.
"Is he really your boyfriend?" her question churned my stomach. Why are they asking this? "Is he your real boyfriend? Or did you hired him for this event? I heard this is common in UK."
Can moon fall on her dumb head from the dark sky? TF is her problem!
"Yes princess. Tell them." I heard the most fucking familiar voice in the universe right behind my back n idk why the fuck did I heard it…!!!
No way I heard REAL Kael Jones. I slowly turned my attention to the back where this voice came from-
My body froze there itself in the water, I couldn't turn my head or look in front while confusion started bubbling up in people's eyes.
Looks like, this was the "family call" he was referring to, earlier in Jake's cabin. But how tf he came here? And most importantly who TF invited real KAEL over!?