Chapter 05

WE ARE NOW IN a taxi going to... I forgot, I couldn't remember the name of the place. He mentioned it earlier but I was too annoyed to even listen to him. The two of us were quiet the whole ride, indulging in our own worlds. He was looking down at his phone, texting someone, I guess. While me, I was just looking outside and counting the trees we passed by to ease my boredom.

A while ago, he showed me a twenty-page list and schedule of our dates, and even the things that we would do during the dates were listed! He organized everything just for this, he was that dedicated and determined to fool everyone that we're dating. But I couldn't finish reading everytime he had printed in that organizer, it was too long! I couldn't even finish reading a one-page essay that our english teacher required us for a test.

"Our Manager texted me," he said suddenly so I glanced at him. "Looks like I'll take you there with me for now. Our date today will be postponed."

My face lit up. "Really? Then that's great news!" My lips stretched to a smile. That's really, really nice! No more cliché dates that are too boring for me.

He didn't speak, but I could sense his stares at me. I just returned my gaze outside of the window, and I couldn't get rid of the smile on my face!

A few minutes later, the taxi stopped in front of a mansion. And my jaw almost dropped in amazement while staring at the large house in front of me.

"I know that house is beautiful. But it is not mine," JD quickly corrected the thought that was just about to pop in my head.

I closed my mouth and just rolled my eyesballs at him. This house isn't his? I bet his lying? He's too rich and owning a house this big isn't impossible for him.

"Let's go." He grabbed my hand suddenly and I couldn't do anything when he pulled me with him.

What the h*ck?! He's really rude when we're alone. I like it better when we're outside, where everyone could see us, because he's gentle with me. Curse you, JD!

He pressed the doorbell, and just a few seconds later, the gate opened by itself even though there was no one on the other side. My jaw dropped in amazement. He pulled me inside with him, and he walked straight to the front door of the house. He knocked, and this time, the door opened and someone greeted us.

"JD!" The old woman, probably in her mid 50's, greeted JD with a warm smile.

"Manang Soling, are they inside yet?" he asked her.

"Oh, yes. They've been here for a while now. They're waiting for you. They said you had somewhere to go to, is that right?”

When she said 'somewhere to go', her eyes dropped down to my direction, and smiled meaningfully at me. I just smiled back awkwardly and in my head, I wanted to strangle JD. Did he tell people who were close to him about our deal? Was it even part of the deal, in the first place?

"Alright. Thank you, Manang."

I almost fell over when he pulled me again. I frowned and stopped myself from pinching his ribs. He's really rude! Couldn't he be gentle with me for once!? I swear, if he keeps this up, my patience would run out and I'd definitely slit his throat!

He walked straight to the living room. I wanted to slap his hand so much! He's walking too fast, couldn't he see our size difference?! I looked like I was running!

My eyes immediately landed on four adults sitting on a long sofa, and my eyes widened in surprise when I saw what they were watching—cartoons!

And they seemed to notice our presence, because they quickly turned around to face us when we got near the couch.

"Hey," JD called to get their attention. The four guys was quick to look at JD, as if he was their master. "Where's Manager Anne?"

But instead of answering him, the four guys' gaze went down to me, and they stared at me intently. I couldn't help but gulp and blink twice, and my heartbeat started to double.

Why were they staring at me like that? Do I look pretty? Do I look horrible? Or maybe, they also think I look like Anabelle!?

"Hey! Didn't you hear me?!" JD's annoyed voice echoing in my eardrums pulled me back to my senses.

"Holy mother juice!" The man with yellow hair exaimed and stood up. "Is what I'm seeing real!?"

His face looked familiar. I tried to scan every brain cell and file in my memory to remember where him. He has braces on, his cute nose that goes perfectly well with his round eyes and face. If I remembered it right, he's... Pablo?

"Oh my god!" The guy with red headphones on gasped exaggerately and even covered his mouth! "They're holding hands!" He, then, pointed at my and JD's hands that were intertwined.

Uhm, I'm clearly not holding his hands, but he is gripping my hands so tightly as if I'd get lost if he ever let go.

I know him. He's Silvester, the guy with a manly face—thick and dark eyebrows, almond eyes, pointed noise, and sharp jaws. But his voice doesn't match his face. His face looked like he's a member of a mafia, but his voice sounded like he's that very friendly, young barista at a coffee shop, and his voice wasn't that deep compared to other males.

"Isn't she that girl from... which University was that? The one we went to because JD said he wanted to return someone's uniform?" the guy with a deep voice, asked. His brows were forming one line.

A light flickered in my head, because he also looked familiar! I think he's Felipe? He must be Felipe, because among the five, he has this exotic look that stood out among them. His natural tan skin, full lips, and those dark brown eyes that screamed dominance.

"Are you two dating?" the cute guy asked calmly, and I gasped. Gosh! He's really cute. My hands were itching to squeeze his round cheeks when he turned his face to me.

And this one, I was sure about his name. I wouldn't forget cute people when I see one. He is Josiah!

"None of your business," JD spat at him, and I gasped. He's still rude even to his friends and colleagues? He's really a jerk! "Manager Anne is not here yet?"

"She said she will be here later," the one with a blonde hair answered.

"Okay," JD said, still in a rude manner. His brows were furrowed and he clearly looked annoyed. Why was he even annoyed in the first place? Shouldn't I be the one who's supposed to be annoyed here because he kept dragging me anywhere? He glanced at me over his shoulder. "You sit down here first. I'll take you home later."

"Do you have a car?" I quickly asked. Just making sure. But I'm fine if he'll give me fare for a taxi and let me go home alone.

He rolled his eyeballs. "Just damn sit down and wait."

I rolled my eyeballs at him, too. If he's annoyed, I was more annoyed! "Fine!" I flipped my hair back before I stormed and sat on the one-seater sofa beside the longer sofa. I crossed my arms over my chest, and I glared at him. He ignored me, and he just turned his feet and walked towards the kitchen. I scoffed.

"So... It must be true?"

Someone spoke beside me, so I quickly glanced to my side to see who it was. I raised one brow at Felippe. “Huh? What do you mean?”

"That you're dating our Jensen Dayne?" he asked, with a hint of malice in his voice. I opened my mouth and was about to speak, but he continued his sentence. "It's okay. JD is at the right age to even get married, let alone to have a girlfriend. And, besides, you're beautiful, so I'll let it pass." The side of his lips stretched to a smile.

I think my heart just melted right there. Even since this morning, I kept hearing people telling me I looked like Anabelle (which, in my own interpretation, means ‘ugly’), but he said I was beautiful!

"The photo of JD kissing a girl has now gone viral on the internet," Silvester said, and my head quickly popped towards his direction. "And I suppose, that girl is you? That's why he's dating you now."

"I know JD. He won't date any girl who isn't—"

Before Pablo could finish what he was going to say, the three immediately covered his mouth.

"We're idols, Miss," said Josiah. "If you're dating one of us, it mean you're up for the challenge? I am sure you will encounter obsessive and immature fans to the point that they will invade your privacy and hurt you."

My eyebrows met. "For real?"

"And speaking of fans." We all looked at Silvester, who was looking down at the phone he was holding. "A fan page posted a photo of you and JD just one minute ago. Did you go on a date earlier?"

I immediately snatched his phone and looked at the picture he was talking about. It's true, it was a picture of me and JD from earlier this morning. In the picture, I was standing in front of the metallic bench and still smiling while facing JD. I think this photo was taken earlier when Jensen had just arrived at the Park, and this was when he told me to call him 'babe.' "Our JD is with that girl again!" That was what the admin captioned in the post.

I saw the comments below the post. Both negative and positive comments from fans and from people who just wanted to meddle were mixing. But as I kept reading the comments, I could see the comments were mostly negative. I even saw a comment threatening me, saying they would snatch my hair off my head if they see me!

My eyes grew wider and my jaw dropped. "What the hell! How—"

"This will be bad for both you and JD if this gets worse," said Josiash. "I'm sure JD knows this will be the consequence of his choice of dating you, so he must have some plan. And as his friends and co-members, we will do anything in our power to protect you." He flashed his sweet smile, and my heart skipped a beat.

He's so pure and kind! Nothing like that certain someone who kept dragging me around and kept annoying me even with just his presence. If it's possible, I'd like JD to switch roles with Josiah. I'd be willing to be Josiah's girlfriend even without a bribe or a deal!

"Of course I have."

I immediately turned around when I heard JD's voice. He took a big step towards me, and I blinked when he suddenly wrapped one of his arms around my shoulder and then gently pulled me closer to him, causing for my head to collide with his chest. I had to close my eyes when the side of my face hit his hard chest. Damn!

"She is my girlfriend after all, so it is already part my responsibility to protect her," he added. "And no, you don't have to protect her. I can do that alone.”

My lips parted in surprise and I instantly raised my head to look at him. His gaze moved down to me and when our eyes met, he smiled at me and I gasped when he suddenly planted a kiss on my forehead.

In my head, I was already screaming, nervousness and disgust were mixing in my system, and my heartbeat started to double. What the hell was that, JD?!