A Proposal

Zed's POV

 

“Hephzibah is my girlfriend,” I said again. . Every students around us stared, including Hephzibah because she never agreed for a date.

“What are you doing?” she asked quietly.

“Just relax. I want them entertained.” I smiled back toward the crowd. Kate looked completely lost.

“There’s no way you two are dating. She made it known that you’re her worst enemy,” Newton said, with a shrug.

 

I saw jealousy and anger in Newton’s face. That was exactly what I wanted from him.

 

“Is that true, Hephzibah? That you’re dating Zed?” he asked. His voice was harsh 

She couldn’t speak, just stood there. “Tell them, Miss Glasses. Just admit it—unless you want everyone to believe Kate,” I whispered slowly.

 

Everyone anticipated her response.

“Yes!” she finally said, she closed her eyes.

“Zed is my boyfriend, and we’ve been dating for weeks—after he found out about my fantasies about him. And now that you’ve all read it, there’s no way for us to keep it a secret, Kate.” she looked at Kate.

 

I smiled. I wrapped my arm around her tightly. I knew this had to be one of the hardest things she’d ever done.

“Is Zed blackmailing you or something?” Kate asked, her face so irritated.

“Do you want proof?” I asked, then I kissed Hephzibah on the lips.

Her lips were soft, sweet, and responsive. She kissed me back. I loved the attention I was getting from the crowd. 

“That kiss was intense,” someone muttered.

“They’re actually dating,” another student said.

 

After a while, I gently pulled away, my eyes looking on Newton. His expression was terrible like a piece of shit

 

“Is that enough proof for everyone that she’s my girlfriend?” I asked,

“Now you know why I didn’t attend to you and your silly games last night, Kate.” I turned to kate, pulled out my phone to reveal her chat. The phone was passed from hand to hand in circle,

 

“The reason I rejected your offer is because I was with my girlfriend and needed no disturbance from anyone. Don’t bother to send those messages again,” I said clearly.

 

“So pathetic,” I muttered, slipping my hands into Hephzibah’s arm.

“What the hell? You think you’re every woman’s dream guy on campus, huh?” Newton shouted, his voice rough and loud.

 

“You’re telling me you’ve been dating my little stepsister while Kate flirts with you through texts?” he added. 

 

“Newton, let me explain,” Kate said, trying to grab his arm.

“No. Shut up. When I’m done with him, I’ll talk to you privately,” Newton shut her down coldly.

 

“And you, Hephzibah—you always told me then and here how you hated him so much. Even in the basement but it was all lies,” he added.

 

“I…” she stammered.

“It’s called cover-up, dude,” I cut in sharply.

“See you at home, Hephzibah,” he said, walking away.

“Wait, Newton” Kate called his name as everyone else dispersed to their various destination.

 

I took a deep breath and turned to Hephzibah. “Come on, baby.” I smiled.

Then, she dragged me away to the school pitch.

 

It was silent between us. She twisted her fingers, pacing from the pillars to pillars. I just sat calmly on the bench, waving my head like it was no big deal.

 

“Listen, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but…” she began, biting her fingers.

“Pretending to be in a fake relationship wasn’t exactly part of the deal we made earlier. And then you planted a kiss on my lips in front of everyone!” she continued,

 

“And now everyone thinks we’re actually together, Zed! Even my stepbrother,” she added, standing firmly in front of me.

I said nothing. 

“How am I supposed to explain this to him?” she held her head quickly.

 

“You don’t have to,” I finally replied.

She looked at me, her face so red and puffy. “What do you mean?”

 

“Calm down. All you needed was a fake boyfriend to hide the dirty fantasies and identity.

 

“Because you want me to start write about how endowed you are in my diaries since no one’s ever felt something for you?” she scoffed, her words hurt my pride.

 

 

“Noooo,” I waved my head.

 

“Well I discovered that Newton had been chatting with a girl online who goes by the name IceQueen17?” I opened my laptop.

 

Her face changed.

 

“How do you know about that?” she asked.

 

“Because I’ve seen the chats. She writes just like the original ICEQUEEN17 but it’s not her.”

 

She looked at me, so confused,

 

I lowered my voice. “I realized that you’ve got a unique pattern with words, Miss Glasses as the ICEQUEEN17, But!... someone’s been copying it to catfish your brother.”

 

She remained silent and I continued, “Turns out, IceQueen17 Newton is chatting with is fake. Someone’s been using your image to get close to Newton... seducing him, misleading him.”

 

“Do you know this impersonator?” she asked, looking at those chats.

 

“Her name is Kate,” I said finally.

She looked so pissed, “how do this fake relationship to resolve this issue well as we hate each other. Everyone knows that,” she said coldly.

 

I closed the laptop. “Well, I’m a very persuasive person.” I leaned one hand against the wall near her head, 

“Good luck convincing people this relationship is legit while I change those narratives,” she said with a shrug.

“I don't really care about the fake ICEQUEEN17,” she continued.

 

“Hephzibah, you know if you want me to hide your identity and fantasies… I can help,” I said, grabbing my bag from the couch.

 

“What’s the plan?” she asked.

I cleared my throat. “ I failed the art subject semester, and you’re the only one who got an Alpha Plus in that class…”

 

I paused.

“So I need you to help me with assignments.” I chuckled. “That’s the deal.”

“There’s no way I’m cheating for you,” she said sharply.

“Alright, that’s fine. I’ll ask someone else. You can walk away.” I shuddered.

 

She sighed heavily and walked toward the exit.

 

“If you don’t mind me telling everyone on campus even on the school I*******m the real ICEQUEEN17” I let out as I walked past her.

 

She grabbed my hand immediately. “Hold on, Zed. I didn’t mean it that way,” she said, scratching her hair.

“Hmmm. It’s fine… I’ll pretend to be your boyfriend and then…” she said softly.

 

I waited.

“I’ll also write all your assignments ” she finally accepted.

I felt relieved. It was more than a deal, it was a huge success to me, so I pulled her into a hug.

“But…” she stepped back, pushing me away.

 

“There will be rules,” she said seriously, sitting on the bench and pulling out a book and pen.

“Rule 1: Don’t suddenly kiss me in public unless I tell you.” I sat beside her.

“This won’t work if we’re going to be in a fake relationship. We have to kiss a lot to make it real for the public” I argued, ruining the word with her pen.

 

“I thought you liked our first kiss,” I teased.

 

She glared at me like she wanted to set me on fire.

 

“I’m just kidding, Miss Glasses,” I rolled my eyes and moved an inch away.

 

“It’s fine. I’ll reluctantly accept that, but…” she dropped her pen.

 

“Let me make one thing clear. I don’t like kissing you not even in my dreams.”

 

She flipped to a new page. “Rule 1: Absolutely no sex or intimacy!” Her voice echoed.

 

“Rule 2: “expose Kate manipulation on Newton in the victory party," 

 

I chuckled. “Do you really think it's easy to pull her down?” I pulled a chocolate bar from my pocket and took a bite.

 

“Keep dreaming, Miss Glasses,”

She shaked her head and continued to write.

 

“Rule 3: This fake relationship will last only 2 months. Once I’m done helping you with the assignments to improve your grade while you navigate my fallout on this issue, It ends.” She underlined the sentence.

“That should give us enough time to blow over all this,” she said, as I nodded along.

 

“I'll submit the best assignment for you by the end of every third week for submission,” she said.

 

“And Rule 4…” she paused and looked at me.

“Yes, teacher," I smiled. She sighed heavily.

“Don't talk about the contract to anyone not even your friends ” She tore the paper out and handed it to me.

“Okay. I agree to your terms,” I said, grabbing the paper and her pen.

“But I’ve my few rules to add,” I said.

She looked at me, stunned.

“Rule Five!”