Faking It (Fake boyfriend Duet 1)
|♠ 14: A revelation that got me beaming.

"I'm just saying, honey I think it's worth the shot." Mom is telling Dad as she prepares the doughnuts and squeezes frosting into the cupcakes on the table.

One of our neighbours, Mrs. Janell, has watched my mom's cupcake and doughnut making videos from month's back so she ordered four dozens of cupcakes, two dozens of doughnut muffins and one dozen of watermelon doughnuts for her son's seventh birthday tomorrow.

While dad is feeding Lupita her baby food, I'm helping Mom out with the frosting of the cupcakes, since she's working on the doughnuts. My frosting's not as pretty as her work, but it's not so bad either.

"Well, it can be just like last year. Which wasn't a good turnout." Dad has a playful smile on his face even as he mutters the words pretending the spoonful of food in his hand is an airplane, making Lupita giggle with glee before allowing Dad to put it in his mouth.

"You don't know that."

My parents are talking about the upcoming state fair. Last year, Dad participated in it— got himself a booth and all to showcase the best selling books of Baldwin Reads & Sno-cones. It wasn't a fail exactly, but it wasn't a success either. So I'd been disappointed.

"Well this year's fair falls on a Saturday, which means there will be plenty of kids. Put Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Twilight, The Chronicles Of Narnia, Lord of The rings and whatever series currently trending on display and they'll surely go crazy over it."

"She's right Dad." I chime in. "Since I have no school that day unlike last year, I'll serve as your marketing mouth piece. Daph and I —we'll both be here to help, I promise."

Mom beams at me. "That's so great sweetie." To dad she says. "Why don't you order some souvenirs and memorabilia to go with your books? You can sell them as a pack of some sort."

Dad's interest perks up, suddenly inspired. Then he and mom proceed to enthusiastically bounce ideas off each other. While I'm just content to listen and perfect —or at least try to– my frosting design.

Seriously I'm happy that Mom is totally being supportive of Dad. Now no one would think she wasn't a fan of dad's business in the beginning. Because nowadays, she's his number one cheerleader and motivator, especially during the days when Sales are down. She's there to cheer him up and remind him that his highsale days far exceed his slow-sales ones.

Dad's the same with Mom's YouTube channel –although in her case, it's views instead of sales.

They're a truly solid team.

As I aspire to have a marriage as awesome as theirs some day. But at the moment, I have to tread through the complicated web of teenage relationships.

Which for the most part sucks. Especially when the guy you're falling for is the most frustrating guy on the planet.

Teenage boys are the worst. I wonder if adult guys are any better?

God help the womankind if they're basically the same. Daph insists that Gun feels the same way, but I don't see him knocking on my door to prove it. Like where is he right now? But it's as if fate is mocking me, because the doorbell chooses the moment –of all moments –to ring. Damn it fate.

Seeing that Both my parents are currently occupied, I scamper off to the door, mindlessly wiping the frosting stains off my hands on the apron I'm wearing. Yeah, I'm all disheveled from helping mom bake, but I just don't care. It's probably Daphine anyway, waiting to hangout. Although she didn't tell me she was planning to come over.

"Hey Daph, what's the —" The words die in my mouth when I realise that the person standing on my doorstep isn't my best friend.

It's her brother.

My heart stutters in my chest. What is he doing here? "Honey who's that? Mom calls from the kitchen.

"No one." I practically yell, stepping outside and closing the front door behind me. Then taking a deep breath, I brace myself and turn to face him. "What are you doing here Gun?"

I resist the urge to smooth my chair and check myself for any smear of cupcake frosting. I shouldn't care that I currently look like a pauper in a Disney movie. He came here unannounced. He can deal with my unglamorous self. "What do you want? I don't have all day." I say, when he just stares at me quietly, his eyes taking me in intently, giving me the urge to sneak back inside the house and freshen up. Especially when he looks soo good in just a simple red T-shirt and dark jeans. But that's the thing about Gunther —he always looks good.

He shifts on his foot, suddenly looking nervous. "Can we talk? Please Nikky?"

With wary eyes, I wrap my arms around my waist. "About what?"

"About us."

I remain still. "What about us?" Is he here to declare his feelings for me? Or break my heart even more? No, he's not that heartless......is he?

Gun takes a deep breath as if to draw courage. "When I told you i regretted agreeing to be your fake boyfriend, I lied. I never regretted it. Not even for a second. How could I when it made me realise my feelings for you?"

My breath hitches at his words, my heart racing, but I mask my reaction by crossing my arms over my chest. "Then why did you say it?"

"Because, I got jealous when I saw you with Zac. I thought the two of you—"

"Are back together? That's why you assumed the worst of me?"

He grimaces. "I'm not proud of it, but yeah."

"That really hurt me, Gunther." I blurt before I can stop myself. But I mean them nonetheless.

"I know." He winces. "God I know. Seeing you cry last night......" He swallows hard, a pained look on his face. "It made me realise how much I screwed up. You were right. I hadn't said anything to clue you in."

My heart is going a mile a minute now. The sound of steady beat in my ears. What is he saying?" "W-what are you s-saying?" I echo my thoughts, stuttering over the words.

His eyes meet mine, and in them, I see it– what he's yet to say, what I want to hear. "I'm saying my heart is yours Red." A sheepish grin curves his lips, reddening. "And I really hope you don't break it."

My chest tightens and swells, it feels like I'm having a heart attack. And its all I can do not to throw my hands around his neck and kiss the bejeezus out of him. But I want to smack him silly for putting me through unnecessary pain.

Because seriously, why didn't he say anything? This boy. It's not going to be a smooth ride with him. We'll be arguing endlessly, and he's going to piss me off a lot, but also know that he'll win me over again and again

Because he's Gun and he has my heart too.

"Nikky? What are you thinking? Say something, am I too late?" His eyes are wide with panic, it makes me want to laugh.

I shake my head. And with a suppressed smile, I say. "I'm thinking that that had to be the most stereotyped line I've ever heard." When his shoulders sag, I quickly add, "but also the sweetest. "

His face brightens at that. "Does that mean my poor soul is forgiven?".

I giggle. "Yeah."

He mutters a dramatic "thank goodness" before slipping his arm around my waist to pull me to him. But my hands shoot out and push against his chest.

Staggering back, he gives me a confused look. "What the hell? I thought we were okay now."

"We are. But I deserve a little groveling, don't you think?" I let out a loud sigh, as if it's an inconvenience to explain myself. "I'm not an easy girl Gun, you have to prove your feelings for me first."

But I have to be firm about this. It's the last he can do after making me cry. Its not that I plan to make him sweat or anything. I just need him to woo me a little and make me feel that he's really serious about us.

Biting back a laugh, I pat his chest. "I still have a batch of cupcakes waiting to get frosted, so I'll see you later, okay?" I say pecking his lips.

"W- wait—"

But I'm already inside and closing the door, a huge smile on my face and a spring in my step as I make my way back to the kitchen.

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