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"Mom will be here any moment and I somehow have to find a fake boyfriend." I ranted to Cha-Young who was busy trying heart-shaped sunglasses at a random stall in the carnival.
An unbothered laugh left her and she looked back at me, the pink heart-shaped sunglasses sitting over her eyes, the price tag almost going inside her right eye. "That's what happens when you lie about your relationship."
"I know I shouldn't have but you know my cousins, they were all calling me a loser for not having a boyfriend yet. I had to fake it!" I whined and she shook her head in amusement.
I heard a laugh from behind Cha-Young— a masculine one— and my eyes automatically switched to the source. There was no doubt that he was laughing at our conversation, since no one stood with him. He was standing alone, an expensive cologne accompanying his sleek rich attire. He was wearing a suit, which I couldn't understand why since it was a carnival. No one wears suits at a carnival.
I couldn't see his face though, it was completely hidden by the angle he stood. He must have noticed me staring because he turned to look back at me. I instantly switched my gaze before he could catch me. I didn't even see his face, my mind buzzed.
"Cha-Young..." I caught her attention and she looked at me, tilting her chin upward as if to ask me what was up. "Don't look, but the man standing behind you is eavesdropping on our conversation—"
As soon as the words "Don't look" left me, her head swinged to look at my guided direction as quick as it could. I grabbed her face, forcing it back to my direction. "I just told you not to look!" I whisper-shouted at her.
"Oh shut up, let me see." She waved my hands off her face, turning around fully. "What man are you talking about?" Her brows furrowed and I finally looked in the direction where he was standing.
He wasn't there.
"I swear, he was there just now. He was wearing a suit—"
"He was wearing a suit?"
"Yes."
"At a carnival?"
"Yes!"
She nodded her head in acknowledgement, turning to me again. "Let it be, who cares?" She shrugged off, swinging an arm around my shoulder. "Now, tell me, where do you plan on finding a fake boyfriend?"
"I don't know, I just need a guy!" I whined again like a child. Cha-Young tsked at me in pity, looking away from me and to the salesman to buy the sunglasses she picked. I sighed heavily, looking in the direction where the suit man was standing just a few moments ago. "He would've been a great fake boyfriend." I muttered to myself, shaking my head in disappointment that he got away from my sight.
I never even saw his face.
"You look so skinny!" A familiar voice buzzed through my ear and it did not take me a second to recognize who it belonged to. My neck swirled to the source, only to be met with the comforting face of my mother, worry and concern etched over her features.
"Eomma!" I basically shrieked, taking a few steps towards her and crushing her with a hug. She was shocked at first due to my sudden burst of affection but collected herself nonetheless, wrapping a comforting arm around my shoulders, her other hand soothing down my hair. "I missed you." I whispered into her hair.
"I missed you too." She spoke. "But why have you gotten so skinny? I swear to God, I've told you so many times to not bury yourself with work all the time. You should give time to yourself too! And fix your routine, young woman—"
"Oh God, if you're only here to just scold me, then go back." I rolled my eyes jokingly, pulling away from the hug.
"Okay, sorry." She laughed, but her laugh turned into a smile when she looked back at something, or rather at someone. "Cha-Young! Sweetheart, how have you been?!" She basically pushed me away, stepping forward and engulfing Cha-Young in a hug.
I smiled at the small smile that took over Cha-Young's features. Mom has always considered Cha-Young as her own daughter, since she lost her mother at a young age. Maybe that's the reason why Cha-Young and I are more like siblings than best friends.
"I'm fine." Cha-Young smiled at her, pulling away from the hug. "Though, I might have to catch up later because I want to explore this carnival and you need to spend some quality time with your daughter."
"Oh, come on, you're family. You should be with us." I insisted, furrowing my brows at her.
She shook her head. "It's fine. I'll leave now. Peace out!" She made a small heart gesture with her fingers before putting on her sunglasses and walking away to the rides.
"Now you," Mom looked at me, her gaze squinted. "Where is that damn boyfriend of yours?! I am so excited to meet him!"
My blood ran cold.
I was so busy being happy that I forgot I had to present her a son-in-law. A nervous chuckle left my mouth and I scratched my head awkwardly. I did not notice when my armpits had started sweating, but it felt gross. Everything felt uncomfortable.
"Mom, actually he couldn't—" A soft kiss on my cheek dissolved all my words on my tongue and I went still, completely unmoving. The spot that was just touched by someone's lips burned a hole through my cheek.
"Is this your mother, sweetie?" A deep but gentle voice rasped into my ear, his cologne melting its way into my nostrils and reaching my brain. It was the same cologne I had just smelled minutes ago.
My gaze went dizzy for a moment but I regained my sight just in time to see my mother nodding her head with a bright smile on her face.
"It's really nice to meet you. Though, I am a bit busy right now, so I will have to plan a dinner for us three to sit down and have a nice chat." I could hear the sweet lie in his words. Whoever he was, he seemed to know about my condition.
I still found myself unable to turn around and just look at his face. I was frozen on the spot, still in shock that someone was helping me with the lie I told my whole family. I did not see him, but there was one thing that was sure, he was such a gentleman.
"I'm really sorry, I must leave now." A chuckle left him and then I felt a brawny hand place itself on my shoulder. "See you later, sweetheart. Take care."
He took his hand off of my shoulder and just like that, the rich cologne faded from the vicinity. My body shuddered and I felt myself finally be able to move again, like the chains that man just trapped me in finally broke.
"Wait, I—" I finally turned around but he was gone. The only thing visible to me was his black suit jacket draped over his back as he walked away through the crowd.
"Why didn't you tell me you had such a handsome boyfriend?!" Mom shrieked and I turned to face her.
I wish I knew how handsome he was, Mom.
I flipped my hair over my shoulder, faking my sass. "Now, you can tell those nasty family members of yours that I can also find a husband material boyfriend."
A smack was landed on my head. "They are your family members too."
"I don't like them one bit." I chuckled.
"All jokes aside, I'd love to meet your boyfriend again." She said and I nodded.
