Chapter 4: His Pretend Girlfriend

I want to go back to the Café to read a book but I have to practice and memorize the lines in this script. Taking a break, I sighed and looked up at the ceiling, this is not a dream. I am inside the book and that means I have to meet more guys than Nathaniel, I flustered of the thought and grabbed my phone and scrolled in Instagram. Liking and following other celebrities, it just part of my routine. I get it why celebrities are too tired to reply to their direct message, I got lots of unopened direct messages and it's around 100k+ messages. I was about to put my phone back when a sudden notification popped up.

A notification from.

"The girl that I love @DaphneSummer"

It was from Natahniel's Clayton Instagram and it was me. It was me on the café with a subtle smile. There were tons of likes and comments flooded in, I read each comment.

xx_astheriellexx : "Love? Is Daphne and Nathaniel is in a relationship?"

Evey_cutie: "Is this true? Oh my godddddddddddd"

Marielovescat: 'Why Daphne is so pretty"

Just_for_tea: "Wait, I thought it's Olivia?"

I shake my head after reading each comment, I took a deep breathe and click Natahniel's profile and directly message him.

DaphneSummer: "I never knew you are a stalker. Delete it"

Nath_Clayton"hey, pretend girlfriend. Why? You are pretty there"

DaphneSummer: "Stop with this nonsense, Nathaniel. Dlete it"

Nath_Clayton: "How about a no?"

Infuriated, I gathered all my anger and took a deep breath. Nathaniel Clayton, why Daphne likes you in the first place?

DaphneSummer: "Delete it."

Nath_Clayton: "I'll delete it if you agree with some terms."

DaphneSummer: "Terms?"

Nath_Clayton: 'Yes, to be my pretend girlfriend"

I sighed, I hate dealing a jerk.

Nath_Clayton: "Okay, I'll delete it but... you know what? Nevermind. I'll delete it"

I clicked back on his profile and the picture of mine that he posted was gone. I feel bad but what kind of term does he mean? I put the phone back on the couch and read my script again, Nathaniel is not worth to be helped. An hour passed, reading the script isn't helping. I feel bad about Natahniel, I grabbed my phone and replied,

DaphneSummer: "Okay, before I'll be your pretend girlfriend. What do you mean by your terms?"

Why does a part of me want to help Nathaniel? Was it me or... Daphne's feeling?

Nath_Clayton: "Can I see you ?"

My heart pounds faster, it was just a question from him. I I calmed myself and replied, "For what?"

Nath_Clayton: "For the terms"

DaphneSummer: " Okay? Terms? You sound sketchy but sure. Where should we meet?"

Nath_Clayton: "I'll go at your place. Send me your location"

I wasn't sure if I want to help him but a part of me is telling me to help him. I send my location, and he replied that he'll be here. An hour passed, a sudden knock on the door was heard. I opened and it was Nathaniel, wearing a navy blue hoodie that match his blue Bermuda shorts with a pizza in hand.

"You brought pizza?" I said as I lean against the door.

"Yeah, am I welcome?" I scoff and shake my head, I step backward and let him come in.

"Nice interior" Nathaniel said as his eyes wandered around and sit on the couch. I closed the door and looked at him, why does Daphne like this guy again? I just hate the fact he rejected Daphne.

"Done checking out?" He asked, placing the pizza on the mini table. He noticed that I'm already looking at him for a couple of minutes. I rolled my eyes

"I'll got get a drink" I said and went to the fridge. The thought of Nathaniel being here makes me flustered, I've never invited a guy before in my house nor my apartment.

"What do you like? I have Soju..." I said as my eyes look around inside the fridge. "Or do yo—"

My sentence was cut off as I felt his arms wrapped around my waist.

"I thought you already know what drink that I like" he said with a husky voice. I took a deep breathe and removed his arms on my waist.

"Okay," I said as I grabbed two cans of soda and rushed to the couch. "You are here for the terms and not to flirt on me"

I heard him laugh as he followed me from behind, "You really don't like to be tease, huh.. Knowing I'm your crush befor—"

"That was before, Nathaniel that doesn't mean I still like you. I also don't like to be teased by a jerk" I said and took a pizza slice out from the pizza box that he brought. My eyes widened as he sits beside me, I immediately gave us both some space. He looked at me as if he didn't know what he is doing.

"You can sit closer", he said with a smile. "I think you still have feelings for me based on how you rea—"

"Oh no, you jerk. I hate sitting with a jerk and being close. So if I were you, distance yourself" and munch my pizza. He stared at me with a smile, "I didn't know you are cute when you eat."

I can feel my cheeks burning of what he said, I hate being this kind of girl that easily gets flustered by a guy's remark.

"But okay, I'll distance myself" he said, stood up and sat on the left side of the sectional couch. He is glancing down and didn't grab a pizza that he brought.

"You are not taking a bite? I feel bad if I'm the one that could finish eating it" He scoffs and shot me a playful smirk. "You can have it, Daphne as you have my heart"

Choked by the slice of my pizza, I heard him laugh as I grabbed a soda on the table and drank. "Can you stop that? It's not funny. Besides, you are here to tell me what of the terms." I said as I took another bite on the pizza.

"Well, about the terms. We have to deal with and not to be unfair, you can change and add some of the terms." He fished out of his phone and typed something. "Here, do you agree on that?"

I stood up and took the phone from his hand, reading what's in front of the screen.

TERMS TO BE AGREED ON: PRETEND-RELATIONSHIP WITH DAPHNE SUMMER

1. Never get jealous when Nathaniel/ Daphne is with someone.

2. You shouldn't mind when Nathaniel/Daphne is hooking up with someone. Remember, this is just a pretend relationship.

3. Be sweet on the public and this includes posting pictures on social media. Paparazzi is all around, this pretend relationship is a display.

4. In case, Daphne must act sweet when Nathaniel's former girlfriend is around.

5. Nathaniel/Daphne can flirt on each other but make sure that this is only for the benefit of PRETEND RELATIONSHIP.

6. Must not be in love with Nathaniel/ Daphne.

I nodded at him as I gave his phone back, "I agree with those terms. So, we must look like 'boyfriend and girlfriend' and act sweet on the public?"

He nodded, "Yes. We must look like that" and shoved his phone back on his pockets. "Why are you doing this, anyway?"

"For my former girlfriend?"

"Why?" I asked and drink my soda can. He shot me a playful smirk before he replied, "Why Daphne Summer is interested?"

I let out a disbelief laugh and put my soda can on the table, "No, I'm just... "

"Curious" I continued. He gave me a look, "What's the difference of being interested and curious? Both can apply to the statemen—"

"Fine, don't say i—"

"We broke up" he replied.

Deep inside, I want to laugh because he is dumped by his girlfriend but a part of me feel pity for him.

Nathaniel glanced down as he continued, "I don't want the media to think that I'm single. I also don't want my ex-girlfriend to think that I haven't moved on."

"Sorry."

Nathaniel shake his head, "No need to say sorry, girlfriend. After all, you are mine now" Nathaniel laughs as he saw my reaction, my eyes widened and my cheeks are burning.

"You are like a cute tomato" I rolled my eyes and averted my gaze, "You are doing this because your ex-girlfriend might think you haven't moved on? And you don't want the media to think you are single?"

"Yes. That's why we have to do this pretend relationship."

"When will this end? I don't want to spend my life with a jerk, pretending to be his girlfriend"

"Oh, you want to be my real girlfriend?" Such a tease.

"No!" Nathaniel chuckled and laid his back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. "Till I or you find the love of our life"

Finding the love of our life huh..? I slowly nodded, "Okay"

Nathaniel looked at me, "So... you up with this?"

I rolled my eyes, " To be honest, I don't want to but... I pity you so, give this a go"

Nathaniel shot me a playful smirk, "Pity me? Oh really?" Nathaniel stood up and sit beside me, he reached out his hand, "Glad, that you are my pretend girlfriend."

I shot him a sarcastic smile, "Not glad to be your pretend girlfriend" and shakes his hand. Nathaniel chuckled and pinch my cheeks. "You're cute. " He fished out his phone and opened his camera, "Let's take a photo"

My eyes widened, I pushed him away. "You're too close." He leaned closer, "Girlfriend, smile"

He pulls me closer and smiled at the camera, his hands on my waist. "Girlfriend, smile. 1.2.."

I looked at the camera and my cheeks is burning as he pressed his lips on my cheeks. He smiled as he looked at the photos, he put his phone on his pockets and smiled at me. "Thank you. Anyway, it's already time for me to go home. It's almost 10 pm, I need to sleep. "

He stood up and stopped on his sentence, "Or... do you want me to sleep here?"

"Pervert, I won't let you sleep here. There is no room for jerks" I said, crossing my arms and averting my gaze. Nathaniel laughs, "Glad, you agreed on it. Are you sure you agreed… especially on the number 6?"

I scoff, he seems underestimating me." Yes, I agree on it.."

"Because I pity you" I continued. He scoffs and shake his head out of disbelief, "Good luck then. pretend girlfriend" and kiss my forehead and went to the door.

"Good night" he said with a wink and shut the door.

My brows furrowed, cheeks flushed. I cupped my cheeks, how could he just casually kiss my cheeks as if he is already my boyfriend. A sudden notification was heard on my phone. I grabbed it and looked at it, it was on Instagram.

"Spendin' time with my princess, @Daphne_Summer."

A lot of comments and likes flooded. Followers commented and I read each of them.

girl_peach: "OMGG?! Is Daphne and Nathaniel in a relationship?"

cutie_princess:"OMG!! Daphne? Damn, I love Daphne, and they look cute together though"

babycakes: "Why both of them are cute? OMG! It's confirmed y'all that they are in a relationship"

justrandomgirl: "Wait, Where's Olivia and Nathaniel? I thought they are in a relationship"

bouje_girl: "I haven't seen a post from Olivia yet. She only posted the photos with products and sponsors she endorsed with."

girl_likes_tea:"Actually, Olivia already posted about their break up. Haven't you viewed her Instagram story 2 weeks ago? Like... gurl, are you even updated?"

girls_tea: "OH, what's the reason though? I'll send you a dm, this is such a teaaaa"

Spill_that_tea: "Me too, Immma send you a dm"

Some of the followers know about Nathaniel splitting up with Olivia, Shan put the phone on the table and laid back on her couch. A smile tugs on Nathaniel's lip,

I can't believe I'm his pretend girlfriend now..