Chapter 11
1358 Words
Just Pretend - Chapter 11
As soon as the words left her mouth, Evelyn noticed the subtle shift in West’s expression.
In that instant, she realized—what she had just said sounded almost exactly like “Your face is completely unsalvageable.”
And worse—
This wasn’t even the first time she had said something like that tonight.
She was coming off like an ungrateful ingrate, a complete backstabber.
Trying to salvage the situation, Evelyn quickly added, “But even if—” She caught herself mid-sentence. No, not ‘disfigured’— she quickly rephrased, “Even if you’re temporarily injured, it doesn’t affect your handsomeness in the slightest.”
West looked at her, expression unreadable.
Just then, Evelyn’s phone vibrated.
She glanced down—it was a text from Lina: just a simple “OK” emoji.
Relieved, Evelyn said, “My friend just replied. I’ll head in now.”
West didn’t respond, just curled his lips into a half-smirk.
“Oh, right.” Before leaving, Evelyn suddenly thought of something and spoke with rare sincerity. “No matter what, even if you think it was nothing, I owe you one for tonight. If you ever need help with something, you can ask me.”
West lazily hummed in acknowledgment, waved a hand dismissively, and got back into his car.
His gaze drifted toward the medicine bag on the passenger seat before shifting outside the window—
Where Evelyn was dragging her suitcase toward the entrance of the complex.
The bag looked heavy; she moved slowly, each step steady and deliberate.
From start to finish, she never once looked back.
When her figure finally disappeared from view, West withdrew his gaze.
He was about to start the car but hesitated.
Something about her reaction to being asked for her friend’s apartment details—how she had stalled and fumbled—didn’t sit right with him.
Instead of leaving immediately, he lowered the window, resting his elbow on the frame.
His mind wandered back to high school.
Back then, Evelyn had always stood out. Her looks were striking—too striking. She was quiet, reserved, and unapproachable, leading people to assume she was arrogant.
Because of that, she wasn’t particularly well-liked in class.
Even though—
She had always been too easygoing, too patient.
Over time, people got comfortable.
They started pushing boundaries, calling her a “pretty face with no brains.” The girl who “couldn’t do anything right,” who had no common sense, who was “only good for looking pretty and dancing.”
West didn’t know if the Evelyn from back then would have cried in this situation.
But he was sure—
She wouldn’t have acted like she did now.
Wouldn’t have spoken to him so normally, as if nothing had happened.
These past few days, she hadn’t sought comfort from anyone.
She just kept thanking people.
Like she had completely erased any right to her own emotions.
West exhaled, reaching for his cigarettes—only to be interrupted by a call.
He answered.
On the other end, Austin’s voice blared, “You coming to ‘Overtime’ tonight or not? If you are, bring my car back while you’re at it. Seriously, dude, how the hell am I supposed to pick up chicks with no ride?”
West: “Yeah, I’ll drop it off.”
Austin: “By the way, why’d you leave so suddenly earlier?”
West let out a dry laugh. “You seriously don’t know?”
“…” Austin was silent for a few seconds before sheepishly admitting, “Alright, alright, my bad. I’ll make sure not to bring her next time, okay? Everyone’s already given me s**t for it.”
West couldn’t be bothered to reply.
Austin sighed dramatically, then continued, “But dude, what’s so wrong with liking cute, clingy girls? That’s just my type!”
West deadpanned, “You done?”
“Hell no. Can’t you at least pretend to care about me? Just a little? Just treat me like I’m your future girlfriend and comfort me, man.”
West: “Hanging up.”
Austin’s protests were cut off.
West tossed his phone aside and finally lit his cigarette.
Before he could take a drag, his phone rang again.
Annoyed, he answered without looking.
“You’re heartless,” Austin whined. “I finally got a break while my girl’s in the bathroom, and you just hang up on me?”
West scoffed, “I could do it a second time.”
“…You’re the worst.” Austin sighed dramatically. “Man, keeping a girlfriend is exhausting. She was cute at first, but goddamn, Lina’s getting annoying.”
West raised a brow. “So dump her.”
“Hell no. Dating’s fun as hell.”
“…” West let out a snort. “You’re just asking for it.”
As he spoke, something shiny caught his eye.
Under the dim glow of the car’s interior light, a small metallic object gleamed from beneath the passenger seat.
West narrowed his eyes, leaned forward, and picked it up.
It was a keychain.
Evelyn’s keys.
Evelyn waited outside Lina’s apartment for nearly two hours.
Lina finally arrived around midnight.
Seeing Evelyn’s disheveled state, Lina frowned. “What happened to you? You look like a mess.”
Evelyn explained, “Something came up with my old apartment, and I had to leave suddenly. Sorry for interrupting your date, though.”
“It’s fine.” Lina unlocked the door and sighed. “Honestly, I could’ve gotten back earlier, but my boyfriend is so clingy. If anything, I should be apologizing for making you wait.”
They stepped inside together.
Lina yawned. “It’s late. You can settle in first—I’m gonna take a shower and crash. We can talk details tomorrow.”
Evelyn nodded.
Lina took a few steps toward her room before pausing. “By the way, how’d you get back? That restaurant was kinda out of the way. I forgot to remind you earlier.”
Evelyn: “West happened to be leaving too, so I asked him for a ride.”
“You asked him?” Lina’s laughter burst out, like she had just heard the funniest joke in the world. “He didn’t offer?”
Evelyn was confused. “Why would he?”
Lina shook her head, her expression pitying. “You really shouldn’t do that. He’s probably laughing about you with his friends right now.”
Evelyn: “…What?”
“Think about it—he used to chase after you and got rejected. Now if you go to him, he’ll just play along for a while, then drop you the moment he’s bored. Guys like him? All the same.” Lina patted her shoulder. “Trust me. I’ve been around enough of them to know.”
“…”
Evelyn wanted to say she had no intention of chasing after him.
And she didn’t think West was that kind of person.
But she didn’t argue.
“Got it.”
Surprisingly, co-living with Lina was easier than Evelyn had expected.
Mostly because—
They barely saw each other.
Lina had a strict beauty routine, always getting her full eight hours of sleep. By the time Evelyn was up, she was already gone.
Meanwhile, Evelyn’s job had her constantly running around the city. Her apartment was more of a sleeping place than a home.
The arrangement was… ideal.
At work, Susan kept asking if things were going well. After getting repeated reassurances, she finally dropped the subject.
The following Wednesday—
Evelyn had just finished a call with an expert when Susan returned from the break room, whispering conspiratorially, “I just heard—Lina’s quitting.”
Evelyn raised a brow. “Really?”
“Yeah. Hasn’t she mentioned it to you?”
Evelyn shook her head.
Susan lowered her voice. “Honestly, she’s been barely working. She was either getting fired or leaving on her own.”
As they chatted, a familiar voice chimed in—
“Ladies~ what’s the gossip?”
It was Damien.
Susan groaned. “Not you.”
- Writer
