Chapter 4: The Plan That Changed Everything
1317 Words
A contract relationship. A fake love. A man who entered someone’s life unexpectedly.
The idea sounded impossible.
But…
Maybe it could work.
“Whatever.”
She looked at her phone.
“Rose needs someone else.”
She paused.
“But will she agree?”
Her eyes returned to the book.
“No… she isn’t ready to date another person.”
Then another thought appeared.
“Not a real boyfriend.”
Her eyes widened slightly.
“A fake one.”
She whispered.
“Fake boyfriend.”
Sophia was still staring at the romance novel when her phone buzzed. She looked down.
A message from Rose.
“I’m sorry about what I did at the cafeteria. I promise I’ll pay you back.”
Sophia stared at the screen.
Despite being upset earlier, she couldn’t stay angry at Rose.
Not when she knew how much pain she was carrying.
But she also knew she couldn’t continue watching Rose destroy herself over Ethan.
Before she could reply, another message appeared.
“I’m really sorry, Sophia. Tell me what I can do to make it up to you.”
A small smile appeared on Sophia’s face.
She finally typed her reply.
“Then let’s hang out tonight.”
Almost immediately, her phone rang. Rose.
Sophia answered.
“I can’t go out tonight. You know that.”
Sophia leaned back on the couch.
“Then forget apologizing. It’s not accepted.”
“Sophia, don’t be like this. You know—”
“No.”
Her voice softened, but she remained firm.
“Even I’m hurt, Rose.”
There was silence on the other end.
“Don’t let Ethan ruin our friendship too.”
Sophia looked down at the picture of them on the shelf.
“You will lose me too if you keep shutting everyone out.”
“Sophia…”
Rose’s voice broke slightly.
“I can’t lose you too.”
That was all Sophia needed to hear.
“Then come over.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes. Tonight.”
Rose hesitated.
“I…”
Before she could finish, Sophia hung up.
She smiled to herself.
“This girl.”
For the first time that day, Rose’s breakup wasn’t the only thing on Sophia’s mind.
Her thoughts shifted to her best friend. She couldn’t lose Rose. They had been together for almost their entire lives. She needed to help her.
Not long after, Rose arrived at Sophia’s apartment.
The distance between their homes wasn’t far, only a few kilometers, but to Rose, the short journey felt heavier than usual.
She stood outside the door and pressed the bell. A few seconds later, it opened.
Sophia smiled.
“There you are.”
Rose looked at her.
“You’re still angry?”
Sophia stepped aside.
“Come in.”
Rose entered and sat on the sofa.
Her eyes immediately landed on the romance novel resting on the table.
She smiled.
“You still have that?”
Sophia picked it up.
“Why? Should I throw it away?”
“No.”
Rose touched the cover gently.
“That’s not what I meant.”
She smiled softly.
“Thanks for keeping it. It reminds me of our younger selves.”
Sophia sat beside her.
“Do you remember when we used to hide and read this?”
She laughed.
“Your mother would never allow it.”
Rose smiled.
“You were always the one encouraging me.”
“And you were always the obedient one.”
Sophia shook her head.
“Funny how you’re still the same.”
For a moment, the sadness disappeared. They were no longer two heartbroken women. They were just two childhood friends remembering old times.
Then Sophia became serious.
“Rose.”
She turned toward her.
“I want you to forget Ethan.”
Rose’s smile faded.
“Sophia.”
“He isn’t worth you.”
Sophia opened the novel and turned to the last page.
“You wrote this, Rosy.”
She pointed at the words.
“I know I don’t believe in the kind of love in this book.”
She looked at Rose.
“But Ethan isn’t the love you were searching for.”
Rose lowered her gaze.
“There are many people better than him.”
Rose gave a small bitter smile.
“You think someone else would want to date a virgin like me?”
Her voice became quieter.
“Only Ethan accepted that.”
Sophia immediately shook her head.
“Who told you that?”
She held Rose’s hand.
“Rose, you’re beautiful. You’re intelligent. You’re kind. What exactly are you lacking?”
Rose looked away.
“I wish it was that easy.”
Sophia squeezed her hand.
“I’m going to be your backbone.”
She took a deep breath.
“I know I don’t believe in this story we read when we were younger…”
She looked at the novel.
“But I’m going to make something like it happen.”
Rose frowned.
“How?”
Sophia smiled.
“Let’s find you another man.”
Rose stared at her.
“Another man?”
“Yes.”
Rose immediately shook her head.
“He would only want to sleep with me.”
“No.”
Sophia sighed.
“Listen to my idea first.”
Rose folded her arms.
“Okay.”
“This is ridiculous.”
Sophia ignored her.
“When we find this man, we’ll make a deal.”
She paused.
“He will pretend to be your boyfriend.”
Rose stared at her like she had just suggested the impossible.
“A fake boyfriend?”
“Yes.”
“Sophia, I’m not doing this.”
“Why?”
“What will Ethan think when he sees me with another man?”
Sophia leaned forward.
“Jealous.”
Rose shook her head.
“Not jealous.”
She looked down.
“He’ll think everything he said about me was true.”
Her voice lowered.
“He’ll think I moved on immediately. That I became exactly what he accused me of.”
Sophia’s expression softened.
“But we both know that isn’t who you are.”
Rose remained silent.
Sophia continued.
“Ethan is already hurting you by sending pictures of other women.”
She held Rose’s hands.
“You’re only showing him that you’re not waiting for him forever.”
Rose looked uncertain.
“If he still loves you, he’ll come back.”
Sophia paused.
“And if he doesn’t…”
She gave a small smile.
“Then you’ll finally know the truth.”
Rose looked at her. The idea was still crazy. But part of her wanted to know. Did Ethan really stop caring? Or was he only pretending?
“I don’t know any man.”
Sophia smiled slightly.
“Good question.”
She started counting on her fingers.
“Gym. Cafeteria. Restaurants. Clubs.”
Rose immediately shook her head.
“No.”
Sophia looked at her.
“You haven’t even heard the whole idea.”
“I don’t do club things.”
Sophia sighed.
“Relax. I’ll be with you.”
Rose looked away.
“Just a fake boyfriend.”
“Exactly.”
“I’ll only agree if the club is not part of it.”
Sophia hesitated.
“Okay.”
Rose looked at the novel between them. Could pretending to love someone really make Ethan regret losing her? Or had he already moved on?
She took a deep breath. The idea was ridiculous.
Impossible. But maybe…
Maybe she needed something impossible. Finally, she looked at Sophia.
“Okay.”
Sophia’s eyes widened.
“Really?”
Rose nodded slowly.
“I’m in.”
Neither of them knew that the decision they made that night would change both their lives forever.
What started as a plan to make Ethan jealous…would lead Rose to a man she never expected to meet.
A stranger who would become much more than just a fake boyfriend.
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