Just Pretend

Promposal

"...huh?"

"I was wondering if you could pretend to be my date!"

Just Pretend
-The Beginning-

I blend the blush outwards from my face. Reaching into a drawer, I open a similar color of pink lipstick and add just a bit to my lips. Glancing at myself in the mirror, I smile. A simple, natural look.

Then I notice my hair.

"Ugh! No matter how much I brush it out, it still looks all weird!" I run my fingers through it a few times before giving up.

I heft my bag onto my shoulders and walk out the door. As I walk to the bus stop, I contemplate my plans for the day. I had it all figured out. I was going to ask Beomgyu to prom.

Worry builds in my mind as I think about it. What if he says no? Or that he's already going with someone? What if he lies that he's going with someone in order to spare my feelings, when in reality he's not going at all?

I need a way to ask him without really asking him. Feel out wether he likes me or not before I make a move.

I ponder this as the bus rolls up to the small corner. The crowd of students around me flood into the tiny bus, most moving to the back of the vehicle. It's a bumpy ride to the school. I put in my headphones to block out the chattering students around me.

When I finally get to class, I slump down to my seat in the very back. My classmates make their way into the classroom as well. It was the first lesson of the day, and luckily, it was only 30 minutes long. We took notes as the teacher lectured. If it weren't for my messy handwriting in my notebook, I'd have no memory of what we had learned today, because I spent the whole time staring at Beomgyu.

He turns to talk to a friend sitting behind him, accidentally catching my gaze in the process. I tear my eyes away from him. I hide my heated face with my hand and try to focus on the notes. What has gotten into me? He's just a guy... He is just another student at this school. I have no reason to be so obsessed with him. This is not like me at all.

"Okay class, that's the end of the lesson for today. Remember that your homework is due at the beginning of class this Wednesday!"

Everyone is rushing out of the room as I stumble to get close to Beomgyu. He's not scary, I have no reason to be afraid of him. Yet I find my hands shaking as they grasp my textbooks. I stare at the ground as I walk past the rows of desks.

"Uh, Hi" I smile at him.

He turns to me, "Hey Y/N"

"I was wondering if you could go with me to, um, prom" I force myself to keep eye contact with him, despite wanting to run away.

"What?" he asks, a blank look on his face.

Internally, I cringe. Trying to regain my confidence, I continue, "well, I wasn't going to go to prom, but everyone keeps talking about it, and, um," I read the confusion on his face. He's going to say no. He is absolutely going to say no. I can't do this. What can I say to avoid the rejection? "I need help lying to my parents!"

His face contorts, "...huh?"

"Yeah! My mom, she has this weird fascination with my social life, and she really really wants me to ask a guy out to prom! But the thing is, I don't like anybody," I lie, "so I was wondering if you could pretend to be my date so she stops bothering me about it!"

He pauses in thought. Eventually he meets my eyes again, "I wasn't originally going to go, but I can help you out"

"Really?!" I gasp in shock that my crazy plan even worked.

"Yeah, just text me the details" he smiles softly, "wait, do you have my phone number?"

I pretend to think, "Uh, no... I don't think so"

"Here, let me give it to you" He pulls out his phone.

-----

The rest of the day I mindlessly went to my classes. I'm going to prom with Choi Beomgyu!!! Except... not really. My lie about my mom being too concerned with my social life was just supposed to soften the blow of him rejecting me. I was hoping to leave with him rejecting my promposal, but not rejecting my feelings; I figured it would be easier to handle if he didn't know that I liked him. If he thought I just asked him because I was asking everyone, and that way I would save my pride.

But he said yes. He agreed to go to prom with me. Or pretend to, anyways. So... he must like me some amount to agree to go, but I'm guessing he doesn't like-like me. my feelings aren't shared.

And that hurts.

Ding!

I turn to the kitchen table where I set my phone. As I turn it over, the screen lights up with a notification from Beomgyu:

Choi Beomgyu: What do you want me to wear for prom?

Me: I don't know... I haven't actually picked out what I'm going to wear yet haha

Choi Beomgyu: Okay

I knit my eyebrows. He must be a dry texter. Unless... Does he hate me?!

The door opens as my mom walks in, "I'm home"

"Mom!" I jump, "Hey, I have to ask you something"

"What is it?"

I take a deep breath, "Can I go to prom this Friday?"