Her Fake Lover

Chapter 2

The next moment that run in the middle of the party was the dance moment. Emmeline had previously designed it that way, to liven up the romantic feel she initially thought her twin sister Lea would love. The prediction did not fly. But the fact that she had been surprised in the middle of her own party had made Emmeline not really enjoy the moment.

One thing that came to mind, dominated the contents of her mind was about Darren, who suddenly reappeared in front of her, destroying all her hopes and beautiful imaginations all this time.

Years passed. Emmeline had not been able to forget the memories of her short-lived relationship with one of her seniors during college.

Emmeline was just entering her freshman year at college, when she received a sudden and shocking declaration of love from one of her seniors. Darren said he was attracted to Emmeline, and Emmeline immediately accepted it simply because she was fascinated after having previously accidentally spent a moment together in the rain, around their campus in Paris.

Too simple for a moment of first meeting that ended in love in Emmeline's mind.

Whether it's just a frivolous feeling or just being attracted, Darren confessed his love a week after their introduction, and Emmeline who was too naive at the time accepted it with an open heart as wide as the ocean. Emmy didn't care whether Darren's attraction was enough to match her feelings or not. Emmeline thought at that time, her story would be one of the epic stories that would deserve to be proud of all time.

"Miss Karfis, will you dance with me?" said someone who's coming.

"No, Mr. Allard. Sorry, I'm not all right."

"Oh, are you sick?"

"No, no. I just wanted to be alone. Please find the right dance partner for you, sir. I really hope you enjoy the party."

"Oh, that's too bad. But okay, I won't bother you. Enjoy your private time, Miss. Don't worry, the party is awesome."

One person passed. The fourth person who tried to invite her to dance since the dance session began, who again found bitter words of rejection that were strung together gently, but sharply at the same time.

Emmeline took another sip of the drink in her glass. Staring at the many couples dancing under the dim lights. There were Lea and Darren over there, a couple of pairs apart from where Emmeline was sitting. "They shouldn't have seen me," she muttered.

Emmeline recalled her past with Darren.

Just a month after she had entered into a relationship with her senior, as Emmeline had told Chloe, Darren suddenly had to transfer to Germany for college, due to a consideration his father had taken and it was related to their family matters. Emmeline hadn't even had time to tell Lea about her relationship at the time, because Emmy was waiting for the right moment—just like Lea was waiting for the right time to tell her new boyfriend.

The relationship ended because of a request Darren made the day before his departure for Germany. But Emmeline didn't end it emotionally that time, because somehow, her absurd feelings had whispered optimism within her, that someday in the future, they would be able to meet again, and be able to resume what they had.

"Ridiculous," Emmeline whispered half-cursed. They did meet again—but in the current state, Emmeline actually thought the meeting felt like poison. Squeezing her chest violently.

Over there, Lea was seen stroking Darren's cheek, and seemed to be saying something. Not knowing what her twin sister was whispering, Emmeline choked and coughed her own drink.

"Miss, come dance with me."

"No, Mr. Richard."

"Miss, will you accompany me on the dance floor?"

"No, Mr. Andrew."

"Emmy, let's dance."

"No, Max."

"Emmeline—"

"No, no, no."

Emmeline refused the invitations that came repeatedly. She didn't understand whether each of the men had not tried to pay attention to how she had responded to the invitations that had come to her earlier. Or were they just reckless? Trying to test if they'll stand a chance just to show that they're special over the others?

"They should be sensitive to see that I don't want to dance," Emmeline muttered like she'd lost her mind. Annoyed and stressed at the same time, it could be seen from the color of her face even though it's not very clear under the dim light.

"Perfect, Emmeline. Absolutely perfect. You look pathetic at your own party," commented Chloe who came up to her. Without permission to criticize her attitude.

"Why do you think I'm pathetic?" Emmy retorted, with her gaze fixed on the dance partners who were not only young but also matured beyond their generation. It was natural, because Emmeline and Lea's friends, as well as their parents' friends were in this party. It was due to coincidence that they were connected within the scope of work, as well as because their parents wanted to take part in this party as well.

"You still have feelings for Darren. I was right, wasn't I?" Chloe asked.

"What nonsense are you trying to say. He's Lea's boyfriend now."

"Oh, destiny does surprise you sometimes, honey. But that doesn't mean you're going to keep on wailing. I know now, why you chose to be single at your age, when you've had such a great career, and have had dozens of men approach you. I was tempted to think at first. You are one of those workaholics who has a tendency to dedicate your whole life to work, but if I look closely, sometimes you show the romantic side of yourself. You give a lot of leeway to your employees who want to enjoy their honeymoon, you show a pleasant response whenever your employees share plans for marriage, and—and various other actions that show you actually have a good view of romantic relationships. Do you secretly hope that someday Darren will come back to you to ask you to be his partner again?"

Emmeline, looked up at Chloe spontaneously with an unreadable expression. For a moment she was speechless. But after that she said straightforwardly as she walked away, "Watch out for what you say Chloe. It wouldn't be nice if other people heard it. Fine. I admit I had hopes for him before, but not anymore. And I hope you don't need to be overdramatic either, because I don't feel as melancholy as a teenage girl. Enjoy the party. I want to take something elsewhere."

"Emmeline!" someone called while approaching them, when Emmeline was two steps away from Chloe. Emmy and Chloe suddenly turned to the caller.

"Lea? What's wrong?" Emmy asked.

"Where are you going? It's a dance. You don't want to dance?"

"Um—"

"She's already turned down seven men who asked her to dance, Lea. It's useless," Chloe retorted.

"Ah, no. I don't think you're going to turn it down this time," Lea chimed in. "Dance with Darren, Emmy, he wants it."

Emmy and Chloe gasped.

"Me?" said Emmeline.

"Yes. Darren wants to get to know my twin sister better. He said as my partner he needs to get to know my whole family well. Doesn't that sound like good intentions?"

Darren, by that time was seen approaching them, and Emmeline felt that things were getting worse.

"Y-yes. Sounds like good intentions, but—"

"No, Chloe. Please don't persuade Emmeline to refuse this request. Please don't," Lea said softly.

"Come on, Miss Emmeline. Dance with me for a while. We'll all get to know each other better, that's a must," Darren chimed in. Seemed to have offset Emmeline's initiative to act like strangers who had never known each other.

The man held out his hand to Emmeline, and for the first time, Emmeline saw the man's face full of scheming. But Emmeline was faced with the hopeful gaze of the clueless Lea.

"Okay," said Emmeline at last. She welcomed Darren's outstretched hand which immediately pulled her to the center of the dance floor, mingling with the other couples. Emmeline had a hunch that their conversation wasn't going to be fun on the dance floor later.

***