Mr. Badass ✔

18 Premenstrual Syndrome

Gemma's POV

On the weekend, Charlotte asks me to go shopping.

With the change of seasons, Charlotte wants to buy some winter clothes.

The mall is huge. We're on the third floor in the women's section, but I'm leaning against the glass railing, my eyes unconsciously fixed on the men's department on the second floor.

Charlotte comes out of the fitting room. "What's up? Thinking of buying a gift for your boyfriend?"

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it but nod anyway.

"I knew it." She shrugs.

"Luke's birthday is coming up," I say.

"Alright, after I buy this outfit, we'll go down and take a look."

I'm a bit shocked. "Haven't you always been against me dating Luke?"

"Miss, please wrap this up for me. I'll pay by card," Charlotte waves to the store clerk.

Then she turns to me. "Let me ask you one thing: are you happy being with Luke?"

I nod.

"Since you're happy, that's all that matters." Charlotte shrugs. "Nothing's perfect in this world. Couples always have friction; as long as you resolve it, it's fine."

I nod.

Then I widen my eyes. "Are you still Charlotte? You're like a completely different person compared to last time when you advised me to break up."

The clerk hands her the wrapped clothes.

"Really?" Charlotte checks the receipt, smiles and nods at the clerk, then turns to me. "Maybe it's because I just broke up; I don't want my good friend to break up too. If both of us are heartbroken at the same time, that would be too miserable."

I'm utterly shocked. "When did you break up?"

"Yesterday."

"Why?"

"I met him in person." Charlotte sighs, running her fingers through her hair. "You know, he's like those product photos that seriously don't match the real thing. I didn't even recognize him at first."

I gape in shock. "But when you usually voice chat and video call—"

"He used beauty filters." Charlotte takes a deep breath. "Not only that, he lied about his height. Yesterday I was wearing flat shoes, and he was still half a head shorter than me."

I'm too stunned to speak.

"So at least your Luke is good-looking." Charlotte ends the conversation with a shallow yet profound remark.

Luke's birthday is on December 1st; I saw it on the company's internal website.

We wander around the men's section but can't find a suitable gift. Maybe giving clothes is too common; parents can give that, friends too. I want to give him something that makes him happy and unforgettable, so I decide to go home and feel him out.

"Is there any wish you've had since childhood that hasn't been fulfilled?" I ask while resting on Luke's lap.

"Landing on the moon," Luke replies without blinking as he reads.

"...Anything else?"

"Raising an elephant."

"...Anything else?"

"Seeing the application of land-air amphibious cars in my lifetime."

I sit up and fall completely silent.