Rename the White and Black

CHAPTER VIII - ENGAGEMENT RINGS (Part 1)

I did not know what to do or what would be my reaction. This was the last day of being single because it was our engagement party this night. It was like a dream at night because even this was how I looked like, he allowed me to be his wife but after this, he would file an annulment and may be, he was not really happy.

I woke up late in the morning and I felt someone who was caressing my hair. I quickly opened my eyes and remembered that I slept with him last night. I covered my chest and examined myself but nothing was hurt to my body. He was looking at me with his smile.

“Good morning, princess,” he greeted and I was stunned. Was this real or a dream? He was not like this but why did his actions changed towards me again? My eyes circled as he kissed my forehead gently and he looked at my eyes.

It was an awkward position again with him. He was caressing my hair and his face was closed an inch to me. I wanted to be free from him but I could not move my whole system as he hugged me.

“Kai, what a-are yo-you d-doing?” I asked and I blinked my eyes few times.

“Are you shy?” he asked me back. “I hear the beatings of your heart,” he added while he put his chin above my head. I felt my pulse and I noticed that it was true. It made my face blushed.

“Yes, I was shy because you were too close to me.” I hesitated.

I felt a hand shaking my shoulder and when I opened my eyes, it was him looking at me seriously. I noticed myself smiling so sweetly at him but it disappeared when I realized that it was just only a dream. He wore his black sweatshirt and gray jogging pants. He looked good whatever his clothing style was. He was stuck and emotionless again. It was creepy. How would he be my future husband if he was acting like this?

He requested me to make our breakfast that made me pissed off. He was on the living room and watching something about sports. I was really annoyed when I remembered that dream. Yuck! I looked like a flirt girl wanting some love from him. As I was busy making four garlic breads, I noticed him watching me but I ignored him. I would not let that dream to become true. I made his brewed coffee without sugar. Let us see how he would react. I grinned while looking at him.

“What are you looking at? Is there something dirt on my face?” I asked. He shook his head and he sat opposite to me. I did not know why he was doing this recently. I should be vigilant with his actions.

“Are you ready for tonight?” he asked me while he sipped his coffee. He frowned at me as he picked the jar of sugar and put some in his coffee and I stopped eating my garlic bread. What? Was I ready tonight? I did not know what would be my answer to him. He looked furiously at me because of his coffee.

“Tonight?” I laughed a little. “Why, are you excited?” I added looking at him and he almost choked. I sighed as I did not know what he was thinking. He did not like me at all, right? I should make him upset to make sure I would not fall in to his actions.

“And you, are you excited?” he asked me back and he made me pissed. I wanted to kick him quick to his foot but I swallowed first my food and I answered him.

“May be?” I looked away to him and I felt my face hardened. He smirked then, looked away to me with his blushing face. “You’re not running away, right?” I smiled wryly and caused him to change his mood. Would he ran away later? Would he really leave me?

“Actually, I was thinking about it last night,” he answered seriously and grinned playfully that was why my smile disappeared. “Don’t hope my actions with you are real because it is just a show.”

“It’s okay. I know that an ugly girl like me should not fall in love with someone like you.” I smiled but deep inside, I was hurting myself silently. I turned my emotions away. Yes, I should not fall for this guy because I would get hurt if I continue being affected like this.

“I will not like you forever,” he seriously said and I was frightened with his face. I hurried finishing my food and washed the dishes. I felt him watching me at my back but I ignored him. I just did my best to finish washing the dishes.

I wore my gray sleeves and black pants. I always use this clothing style if I would be outside because I should hide who I was. I put a specialized make up on the exposed areas of my body. I was bullied once because of my old look but I preferred looking like this, an ugly girl who chose to be simple and living peacefully.

I came near at the book store and stayed there for awhile. I looked for books I liked to read every time I was bored. Reading books made me happy and I liked its smell. I bought four books and went out to the shop. Unfortunately, my books were dropped because I accidentally collided to someone.

“I’m sorry,” I said sincerely and looked at the books at the ground. Quickly, I picked it up but he, too, picked it up.

“I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean it,” he sincerely said. His voice was familiar and when I looked at him, it was Haji wearing his navy blue shirt and black pants.

“It’s you, Sae.” He smiled and he invited me to watch a marathon movie in his house. He wanted to watch a horror movie but I did not like it at all. He begged me to stay with him. I was really a scared cat when it comes to horror movies.

While watching it, I put earphones to my ears to make sure I would not hear anything but he was screaming and it made me afraid. I frowned at him and covered my eyes. I did not want to see the creepy things. He was just the only person I know enjoying the movie. He was trembling beside me while hugging me. I wonder why he wanted to watch this kind of movie if he was like a scared cat too. It made me laughed a liitle while he was reacting weird.

“C’mon. Let’s go to our favorite café.” He invited me happily and I was like hypnotized to came along with him. When we arrived at T’shop Café, we went to the counter directly to buy foods and drinks. His favorite drink was wintermelon milktea, his favorite drink, and nachos, and mine were strawberry or chocolate milktea and fries.

“What do you like? My treat.” He smiled and he looked at the menu. It was his treat today and I felt happy with it.

“I like cookies and cream milktea, barbeque flavored fries.” I smiled, thinking that I should try drinking other flavored milkteas. He bought wintermelon milktea and nachos. We looked for our seats behind a huge glass window near the entrance.

“So, what’s up with you?” he asked joyfully. “Wait, why do you look sad?” he added surprisingly.

“Nothing,” I said while I shook my head. “Why did you watch that horror movie?” I changed the topic.

“I was just making fun with myself. You already know how much I was stressed with studies.” He grinned. “Wait, I wanted you to watch our soccer play next week. You should be there!” he smiled and I nodded happily.

“Yes, I will go. You invited me so, I will cheer you up.” I punched him slightly at his arm and we laughed. After ten minutes, our foods and drinks came. I think that my stomach grumbled. I know that he heard it because he laughed and I smiled with embarrassment.

“Your pets were grumbling inside your stomach, huh.” He laughed again and I whipped his arm while laughing too. He started to ask me how was my engagement party with Kai tonight.

“I don’t know what will happen later,” I answered, looking down at my fries.

“I know that you’re suffering with him,” he seriously said and I stopped picking my fries.

“How did you say so?”

“You’re too lonely and it looks like you’re thinner these past few days. Let me know the truth, did he say something again?” he asked curiously and I slowly breathe. How could I say it all to him?

“He didn’t like me and he would never like me at all forever.” I sadly said. I saw that he closed his fists on the table and he deeply sighed.

“He’s too much. He was lucky because you’re so beautiful and if only he knows the truth, he will surely regret,” he said angrily. My tears fell down as I remembered that Kai looked at my ugly face and I know I was in disguise. What if he would know the truth? No! It should not happen.

“You should burst it out, Sae,” he said sincerely, caressing my back and sat beside me. He held my left hand while his right hand wiped away my tears.

“You deserve a better man, Sae. You don’t need to do this. I don’t like to see you getting hurt,” he said while caressing my hair. I noticed that there were customers coming from the entrance so, I removed his hand.

“You’re right, Haji. I deserve a man. I will wait for him.” I smiled at him. He put his hand on my head and made me like a dog. “Stop it! You’re ruining my hair.” I laughed with him.

He was right. I should not let him see that I was hurt by Kai. Someday, I would meet the right man for me, who would love me much more than I do. May be, I did not meet him yet but soon.

He took me at home early because I should rest for awhile. We hugged each other and said goodbye. I watched him drove his car away. I was grateful for having him as my best friend. He did not leave me at my worst.

What if Kai would ran away? What if he would do such a thing that makes me hurt again?