The Boyfriend Contract

Chapter 2 :One Impossible Proposal

I spent the entire night staring at the ceiling. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the picture again.

Lucian's arm around my waist, my coffee all over his shirt.

The angle that made it look like we were seconds away from kissing.

One accident.

That was all it took for my quiet life to disappear.

By morning, the post had spread beyond the campus gossip page. Even students from other departments were talking about it.

I pulled my hoodie over my head and hurried across campus, hoping no one would recognize me.

Bad idea.

"There she is."

"That's the mystery girl."

"I heard Lucian's been crushing on her for months."

I nearly tripped over my own feet.

People would believe anything.

My phone vibrated.

Unknown Number

Meet me behind the library after your first class. We need to talk.

I didn't need to ask who it was.

Only one person had my number.

Lucian Hayes.

°°°°°°°

"I think you should go."

Maya leaned against my desk while I packed my books.

"He probably wants to apologize."

"Or tell me to disappear."

She rolled her eyes.

"If he wanted that, he wouldn't have texted you."

"I barely know him."

"You accidentally became his rumored girlfriend. I think that counts as knowing him."

I sighed.

"Fine. I'll hear him out."

She grinned.

"I'll expect all the juicy details later."

"There won't be any."

"We'll see."

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

The old Promise Oak stood behind the library, its branches stretching over a quiet stone bench.

Unlike the busy courtyard, hardly anyone came here during lecture hours.

Lucian was already waiting.

He wore a navy hoodie with the hood down, hands tucked into his pockets. Without a crowd surrounding him, he looked surprisingly... ordinary.

For a second, I forgot he was the same person everyone treated like a celebrity.

"You came," he said.

"You sounded serious."

"I am."

I folded my arms.

"So... what did you want to talk about?"

He rubbed the back of his neck before letting out a small sigh.

"I owe you an apology."

I blinked.

"For the coffee?"

He chuckled.

"No. For everything that happened afterward."

"It wasn't your fault."

"It became my fault when I couldn't stop it."

I frowned.

"What do you mean?"

He unlocked his phone and handed it to me.

"This."

It was another post.

Not the original picture.

A new one.

Someone had taken a photo of us talking behind the library.

The caption read:

Secret meeting? Looks like West bridge's newest couple is getting serious.

I stared at the screen in disbelief.

"They followed us?"

"They follow me everywhere."

My stomach tightened.

"This is insane."

"I know."

I handed the phone back.

"So what do we do?"

"I've already asked the admin to remove the posts."

"And?"

"They refused."

"Why?"

"They said the posts are bringing traffic to the page."

I let out a frustrated laugh.

"So my humiliation is entertainment."

"I'm sorry."

His voice was quiet.

Genuine.

It was strange hearing someone like Lucian Hayes apologize more than once.

Most people with his popularity would've acted like none of this mattered.

"You said on the phone that we needed to talk," I said. "Talk."

He looked at me for a long moment before speaking.

"Tell me something."

"What?"

"Why were you so worried yesterday?"

I hesitated.

"It's personal."

"You don't have to tell me."

I looked away.

"My scholarship."

He waited.

"If I lose it..." I swallowed. "I can't stay here."

Realization crossed his face.

"You pay your own tuition?"

"My mum tries to help, but she already works two jobs. The scholarship is the only reason I'm still at Westbridge."

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

The playful smile he wore yesterday was gone.

"I didn't know."

"Most people don't."

"I'm glad you told me."

I gave a small shrug.

"I don't know why I did."

"Maybe because you trusted me."

"I wouldn't go that far."

That earned a laugh.

A real one.

I hated how nice it sounded.

"So," I said quickly, "what's your problem?"

"My problem?"

"Yesterday you said this situation wasn't only affecting me."

He nodded.

"My father saw the picture."

I stared at him.

"Already?"

"He keeps people watching everything about me."

"That's... intense."

"You have no idea."

He sat on the bench and looked down at his hands.

"He thinks dating is a distraction. He's already furious."

"Then tell him the truth."

"I did."

"And?"

"He doesn't believe me."

I couldn't help laughing.

"So nobody believes either of us."

"Exactly."

The laughter faded.

Silence settled between us.

Finally, Lucian looked up.

"I've been thinking."

"Oh no."

He smiled.

"What?"

"Whenever someone starts a sentence with 'I've been thinking,' something ridiculous usually comes next."

"This one's actually reasonable."

"I doubt that."

He stood.

"The more we deny the rumors..."

"The worse they get," I finished.

"Right."

I nodded slowly.

"So?"

"So maybe we stop denying them."

I stared at him.

"I don't follow."

"What if..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "We let everyone believe we're together?"

I laughed.

He didn't.

My smile slowly disappeared.

"Wait."

"I'm serious."

"You can't be."

"I am."

"You're suggesting we fake a relationship?"

"Just until everyone loses interest.

I shook my head immediately.

"Absolutely not."

"Hear me out."

"No."

"It'll protect your scholarship."

"No."

"It'll get my father off my back."

"No."

"We'll make rules."

I blinked.

"Rules?"

"So nobody gets the wrong idea."

Despite myself, I was curious.

"What kind of rules?"

He smiled, sensing he'd finally caught my attention.

"No lying to each other."

"No unnecessary jealousy."

"No real feelings."

"And when the rumours die..."

He held out his hand.

"...the contract ends."

I looked at his outstretched hand as though it belonged to a complete stranger.

This was ridiculous.

Impossible.

Completely insane.

Before I could answer, a familiar female voice echoed across the courtyard.

"There you are."

A girl with flawless blonde hair stopped a few meters away.

Her expensive handbag swung gently at her side, but the smile on her face didn't reach her eyes.

She looked at Lucian first.

Then at me.

"So the rumors are true."

Lucian's expression hardened.

"Evelyn."

She ignored him.

Her gaze remained fixed on me.

"You must be Aria."

I nodded politely.

"Nice to meet—"

"It's not."

The words hit like ice.

She stepped closer, her heels clicking against the stone path.

"I don't know what game you're playing," she said, her voice low enough that only we could

Hear, "But Lucian isn't someone you get to keep."

She turned to him.

"And you..."

Her smile returned.

"...we're not finished."

Without another word, she walked away.

I looked from her disappearing figure to Lucian.

Then, down at the hand he was still holding out.

Maybe pretending to date him wasn't the craziest idea after all.

But agreeing to it?

That could be the biggest mistake of my life.