My Phony Ladylove

07. Help

"Director," said Baek Hyun to the newly arrived man. Keira's eyes widened upon seeing the young man closely. It was a familiar face greeting her.

"YOU!" they both said at the same time.

"Do you know each other?" Baek Hyun asked both of them.

"No. We don't."

"No"

Seeing that the situation wasn't going well, Baekhyun spoke, "Sir, we only have 25 minutes to go."

"Dammit!" Yvo wasn't able to stop himself from cursing.

Keira, on the other hand, was still confused with the situation when Baek Hyun went closer to her and pleaded, "Miss, he's my boss. Will you find it in your heart to help us? We're really desperate now. You're the only person who's capable of helping us."

"How much do you want?" Yvo asked.

"What?! I don't even know what kind of help you're asking from me and mind you, you're asking for my help but look at you now, you're being rude!" Keira retorted, unable to believe what she was hearing.

"I don't have time for this! How much do you want?! Name your price, " Yvo replied.

"Are you some kind of an ATM machine? I'm sorry but I'm not interested in your money." Keira said before she turned her back towards him but Yvo grabbed her hand.

"I'm still talking to you! Just tell me what you want!"

"Sir, please calm down," Baek Hyun said as he noticed that they were getting the attention of the people around.

"Are you deaf? I just said, I'm not interested with your money." she angrily replied. "Now, will you let go of my hand?"

"I'll give you anything you want. ANYTHING!" Yvo said, still not letting go of Keira's hand.

"Even if you offer me all your riches, I'm not going to accept it! Let go of me!"

"Who do you think you are to act all mighty?!"

"If you think you can order everyone around, think again! Not everyone is blinded by money! If you won't let go of me-"

"You'll do what, huh? What will you do?!" asked Yvo.

In a blink of an eye, Keira's right leg connected with his crotch. Pain was what he felt, making him kneel down to the ground but didn't let go of Keira's hand.

"Let go of me, you psycho!" she tried freeing her hand but his grip was strong. He stood up and pulled her to him.

"P-p-please j-just help me. I... I don't want my mom and grandm-ma to be disappointed more with m-me. P-please. I'm begging you. Pre-pretend to be my girlfriend just this once." Yvo struggled as he said. There was desperation in his voice. "Ple-please."

Keira contemplated on what to do upon seeing his state, "Do you actually know what you're asking me to do? You're asking me to lie to your family! They already have a bad impression on me during our first meeting. I even dared to lift my head up high in such an embarrassing situation. I hoped and prayed to never cross paths with any of you again and now you're asking me this? You're even asking me to do them wrong?" Keira said to him.

Yvo's face became serious as he spoke, "I don't have any choice but to do this. I don't want this marriage. I don't want to marry a woman who I know nothing about. I can only think of this. They didn't even ask for my opinion when it's my freaking life they're meddling on. If not for my cousin, I wouldn't even come to know this. Once they heard that I already girlfriend, I believe all of this craziness will stop." He said as he looked at her troubled face. "There's no else who could help me but you so please..."

"You don't understand. I don't want to see you and your family again. How am I supposed to face them after all that had happened?"

"They already know that it was just a misunderstanding. It was even you who told them. Since we already had an unfortunate incident, why don't we just act like we kept seeing each other after? It's not really big of a lie. We, in fact, saw each other today."

"A lie is still a lie."

"Look, I don't have a choice. Just help me, please. I swear... I really swear that if you help me just this once, I won't appear in front of you ever again."

After a long while, pondering on whether to help this desperate man or not, she thought of sticking to her decision. She cannot afford to have more complications in her life. But... her kind and just self is kicking in. And she can't help but feel pity for the guy. If she'll be placed in his situation right now, she'll probably feel stuck and desperate as well. And if no one would help her, especially during desperate times like this, she would probably feel like her world will crash down at any moment and her life will be over. But arranged marriage in this modern-day and age to someone you haven't even met? People are people and marriage is not a business deal you have to close. What are his parents thinking?

"Okay, I'll help you. But you have to agree with my condition."

"R-r-really?! Wait, what condition?"

"I want you to tell them that you broke up with me after this."

"Wh-what? But they will proceed with the engagement if I'll tell them that! Let's just pretend up until the engagement issue is completely out of the picture. I won't ask anything from you. I won't bother you, I promise. We'll go on with our separate lives just like before. We will be a couple by name only."

"Keep your word."

"I will. I hate doing this to my family but I don't have a choice. At least, by doing this, I won't have to go against their wishes and disappoint them more for if they learn that I already have a girlfriend, they will break off the engagement themselves," Yvo said. He realized he was talking a bit too much.

Keira carefully observed him. He looked so sad. She felt... errrr... maybe sadness as well?

"Fine. I'm not doing this for your money or anything. You just... you sounded sincere when you talked about your family."

Yvo was about to reply when a familiar face called for their attention.

After getting out of his luxurious car, Liam spoke, "Kook, if we don't leave now, we won't make it on time." He was then shoocked when he looked at Keira's direction, "Isn't she..."

Realizing that it's not yet the time for him to seek answers for his questions since they're pressed for time, he spoke, "Are you guys finish with all the drama there? We need to keep going, ya know."

Yvo and Keira just stared at each other.

"What are you waiting for? Let's go," said Liam.

"Aren't you letting go of my hand?" Keira asked, pissed.

"I won't. You might run away, " he replied before interlacing his hand with hers. He then opened the door of Liam's car for her before letting go of her.

"If my parents ask you how it went from that incident, just tell them that we contacted each other after. If they ask about you or your family..."

"I'll tell them the truth."

"Fine by me if that'll make you feel better. What's your name again?"

"It's Keira Charlotte Delevigne."

"L-l-Keira Charlotte Delevigne?"

"Why? Is there something wrong with my name? Do I even have to change my name?"

"N-no. Age?"

"22."

"I'm two years older than you so you will call me oppa."

"Are you kidding me?!"

"We're a couple, right? What's wrong with that?"

"We're only pretending to be one. I'd rather die than call you that."

"What kind of girlfrie-"

"I'm not your girlfriend!"

And their banter went on until Liam had enough of it. "Both of you, shut your mouths up. We're here so get the hell out of my car."

"Whatever."

"Fine."

They both replied simultaneously as they went out of the car.

Yvo then grabbed Keira's hand and interlaced it again with his.

"What do you think are you doing?!" Keira asked angrily as she tried pulling her hand.

He then pulled her close to him. He held her waist and whispered to her ear, sending chills down her spine, "If you won't shut that mouth, I have all the means to shut it up."