Let's Pretend We Don't Know Each Other

Violet heaved a breath of relief when Ryan finally came over to pick her up. 

She did not know what was going on with her father but, Violet had a feeling that she was not going to enjoy continuing the conversation with him.

Violet was just glad that she could leave early.

Initially, her father wanted to invite Ryan for a chat. However, Violet told him that they were planning to watch a movie and the tickets had been bought.

After exchanging a few more words with her father, Violet finally dragged Ryan away.

"What's going on with you?" Ryan asked as he slid into the driver's seat. "Why are you in a hurry?"

Violet clicked her tongue. "You should be grateful. I'm saving you from having a conversation with my father."

Ryan raised a brow. He could not understand what was Violet thinking about.

Wasn't they supposed to pretend in front of their parents?

Ryan decided not to comment. He started the engine and drove off to their next destination.

"Something is not right," Violet muttered after a long silence between them. She turned to Ryan and gave the man a lookover.

"What do you mean?"

"I think my father is behaving a little strange." Her brow furrowed. Her instinct was telling her that something was off. However, Violet could not figure out what it was. "Do you think that our parents might know something?"

Violet's words made Ryan frown. "It can't be."

A thought came to Violet's mind, making her sit up straight. "Right. I remember you mentioned that your mother had sent a few people to keep an eye on us during our first meeting. Do you think that our parents might try to keep an eye on us again?"

Ryan wanted to tell Violet that she should not be paranoid. But then, when it comes to his mother... Ryan felt that sending someone to keep an eye on his date with Violet was something that his mother would do.

"Then... what do you think we should do?"

...

Half an hour later, Violet and Ryan were seen lining up in front of a ticketing counter.

As soon as they got in line, the two of them started to look around to see if there were any familiar faces around.

They were both convinced that their parents might have sent someone to keep an eye on them.

Their parents wanted to see them together from the beginning and have been pushing them to go on a date.

Ryan's mother had threatened to extend their dating period if they did not comply.

It was possible that they would continue to observe them to see if they were really spending time together.

Violet did not care much if their parents would keep their eyes on them. However, the thought that she would have to date Ryan a little longer made her shiver.

It was better to spend a few hours with him within this one month rather than having to see this annoying person again for a few more months.

"Next!" The staff called.

The two of them stepped forward to buy their tickets. As they were not really planning to watch a movie, both Violet and Ryan decided to choose anything that would start showing soon.

While Ryan went into the hall, Violet stopped by to get some popcorn and drinks.

The scent of something sweet and buttery made Ryan scoff. He looked at his pretend girlfriend and thought that this woman liked to eat sweets too much.

The hall turned darker and the advertisement started to play on the screen.

Ryan settled into his seat comfortably and watched Violet stroking her arms, trying to generate some heat in her body. "You're not doing that on purpose are you?" Ryan said.

"Do what?" Violet said, dumbfounded. She picked up another piece of popcorn and tossed it into her mouth.

"Rubbing your arms, trying to get my sympathy into giving you my jacket because you're freezing?" Ryan said.

"What?" Violet laughed. "Where did you get that idea?"

Ryan snuggled into his jacket and pulled the zipper up. "Whatever you're doing is not working. There is no way I'm giving you my jacket. "

Violet rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe how childish Ryan acted for a moment.

Who wanted his jacket?

This man was thinking too much.

He's a lunatic.

"Save it for yourself. I don't want your jacket. I'm perfectly fine with what I'm wearing. Now will you shut up? Let's pretend we don't know each other."

When the movie started, both of them stared at the screen in silence.

After a full hour, Violet started to feel sleepy. The storyline was too slow for her taste. There was too much serious dialogue. She yawned and stretched up to keep awake but was failing to keep her attention on the movie.

Violet glanced at Ryan and noticed how engulfed he was in the movie. She tried to focus back on the screen, but her eyelids felt heavy.

Ryan flinched when he felt something on his shoulder.

He looked to his right and saw Violet's head resting on his shoulder. He removed her by pushing her head away with his forefinger and focused back on the movie. A few minutes later, her head was back on his shoulder. He was about to get up abruptly just to wake her up but paused when he saw her sleeping face.

He reminded himself not to be violent. The spy that his mother sent to them might still be around.

With that thought in mind, Ryan retracted his hand again.

He lowered his sitting position so that she could rest her head on his shoulder comfortably. He stayed that way until the end credits rolled. When the others began to leave the cinema hall, Ryan touched her shoulder gently and shook her to wake her up.

Violet grunted and waved her hand in protest, trying to dismiss whoever it was that disturbed her sleep. "Mom, please let me sleep for another five minutes," She mumbled in her sleep.

Ryan chuckled in amusement. "I'm not your Mom. Come on. The movie has ended. Wake up, sleeping beauty. You better wake up now or I'm leaving you behind."

The voice was too annoying, forcing Violet to wake up.

She blinked. Once. And then, twice. Her brain started to process where she was and what she was doing there. Her eyes wide opened when everything registered in her mind. She turned around and saw Ryan with his smug smile.

"Thank god you're awake. Otherwise, I'll be forced to leave you behind."

Violet looked at the screen in front of her. "What happened with the movie?"

"The movie has ended. We have to go back now and report to our parents."

Violet looked around. The movie theater was bright and almost everyone had disappeared from their seats. "I slept through the movie?"

"Yes," Ryan nodded. "And I can't believe you had the nerve to spill your drool on me too."

"I… what?" Violet gasped. She wiped the corner of her mouth with her palm to get rid of any stains of drool from her face and yelled out. "I did not drool on you!" She glanced at her hand a few times, feeling that Ryan was pulling a trick on her.