TOUGH ROMANCE || scoups || BOOK ONE

50

Hani

Cheol: look. I know I could have handled things differently. But trust me. Its better this way. If u or Mimi need anything, I want 2 know.

Cheol: Jennie probably already told u, but the security company is installing the alarm at the cottage on Saturday. What time is Mimi's game?

Cheol: r u OK?

Cheol: just because we're not together doesn't mean I don't still want u and Mimi 2 be safe.

Cheol: u can't avoid me forever.

Cheol: can't we be fucking adults abt this? it's a small town.

Cheol: we're going to run into each other sooner or later.

I pried open one bleary eye and peered at my phone screen. Satisfied it wasn't a certain dead to me man, I swiped to answer "What?" I croaked.

"Wakey Wakey!" Dokyeom's cheery voice came from half a world away.

I gave a muffled groan in response and rolled over. I had the covers pulled over my head in a juvenile attempt to block out the entire world. Unfortunately, it had the unintended consequence of also surrounding me with the scent of him. Sleeping in a bed we'd shared while I'd fallen for the farce was not conductive to anything but a downward spiral.

If I was going to survive this, I needed to burn these sheets and buy Jennie a new set.

"Judging from your effusive greeting, I'm guessing you haven't yet dragged your Definitely Getting Over Him Today Ass out of bed yet." Dokyeom surmised.

I grunted.

"You're lucky I'm not on the same continent as you right now because your time is up." He chirped.

"What time?"

"Your 'woe is me, I miss my stupid hot fake boyfriend' time. Its been five days. The acceptable mourning period is over. You are officially being reborn as New Hani."

Being reborn sounded like a lot of work.

"Can't I just wither away as Old Hani?" Old Hani had spent the last few days putting on a fake smile for Mimi and library patrons, then spending a few hours a day half heartedly trying to clean up the wreckage in the cottage. All while avoiding thinking about Seungcheol.

I was exhausted.

"Not an option. It is 6:30a.m. Your time. Your day starts now."

"Why are you so mean?" I groaned.

"I'm your mean fairy godfather. You have a transformation to begin, my little caterpillar."

"I don't want to be a butterfly. I want to smother in my cocoon."

"Tough shit. If you don't get out of bed in the next 10 seconds, I'm bringing in the big guns."

"I'm out." I lied.

He said something derisive in French. "In case you need a translator, that was French for bullshit. Now, I want you to get your lying ass out of bed and go take a shower because Jennie reports that your hair is greasier than the deep fryer at a sports bar on wing night. Then I want you to open that Sephora order I sent you and snap the fuck out of this funk."

"I like funks."

"You do not. You like game plans and to do lists. I'm giving you both."

"Having friends who know you really well is overrated." I complained to my pillow.