Hidden Horns

Parents for today's event

Severe headache greets Chloe as soon as she shoots her eyes open. She groggily pushed herself to sit up and stared at her door. Her eyes were stinging from crying too much last night after Yohan left her room.

The marriage, that her mom insisted to her that's why she's forcing her to go back to their house. She agreed to it, without even thinking what might be the trouble and problem she will get into.

She agreed to it, because she can't stay loving Yohan, knowing what kind of inhuman she is. Yohan isn't ordinary and Chloe was sure of it. She has seen them, Agma, Jess and Yohan, doing things that ordinary humans couldn't do. She had heard them multiple times, talking about inhuman conversation.

Those times were when she had caught them multiple times and pretended that she didn't hear or see anything. Because she still believes that Yohan is not that bad, she killed people that might hurt Chloe eventually, at least that's what Chloe wants to believe all this time.

Her phone buzzed which made her snap in her deep thoughts. She reached for it and answered the call without even looking for the caller.

"Hello?"

"Chloe, where are you?" Mr. Smith asked.

"Home, where else." Chloe scoffed.

"So I heard from your mom that you agreed to the marriage?"

"Yeah, actually I'm not quite sure why I agreed but mom won't like it if I back out now, right?"

Mr. Smith chuckled on the other line while shaking his head in disbelief. Then he let out a soft sigh. "We'll be expecting you to dinner so you could meet your future husband." He said.

"Ugh, I hate my life." Chloe groaned as she sat up and ended the call. She tossed her phone behind her before rolling out of the bed and padded to the bathroom.

She still has a photoshoot today with Charlene and Ivy, so she has to start her day like her usual day. She dressed herself with a checkered jersey cardigan and a button down bra underneath, paired with puddle jeans and white soccer shoes.

As she left her room, she heaved a deep breath and exhaled slowly to compose herself. She's not ready to face Yohan, but she has to. She's not gonna hide herself just because she became true to her feelings last night. Thanks to Charlene, she has found out that Yohan still cares for her even if she has given her cold shoulder for the past few weeks.

There are sounds of pan clunking from the kitchen, the good smell of a pancake, the aroma of the black hot coffee and the view of the last person she wanted to see in the morning are all on the table.

Their eyes met but Chloe immediately looked away and was about to turn her heels but Agma was standing behind her, blocking her way out.

"Good morning, ma'am." Agma greeted her playfully.

"Morning." Chloe replied and continued her way out but Agma moved to the side where Chloe moved. It looks like they were both dancing as they kept avoiding each other but ended up blocking each other. "Excuse me."

"Why don't you eat first?" Agma asked.

"No thanks, I'm in a rush." Chloe refused.

"But your driver isn't in a rush." Agma shrugged her shoulders and she continued her way inside and sat on the table across Yohan, who was just watching Chloe with amusement in her face.

"Jess is my driver, right?" Chloe asked as she turned around.

"Not anymore, your Dad said that Yohan is your driver and I'm not to drive for you anymore." Jess said as she put the plate on the table with vacant chair. "So sit down and have some breakfast first."

"When did you talk with my Dad?"

"This morning before he calls you." Jess replied and took the seat next to Agma, which mean the only vacant chair is next to Yohan. Chloe's eyes landed on that spot then she shook her head before walking towards it. "Let's eat and let's have a good day after this meal."

Everyone started to eat, without talking, only the sound of the utensils hitting the glassware was the only sound they could hear inside the dining area.

"Uh Yohan, will you be able to be with Chloe the whole day for today?" Jess asked, breaking the silence.

"Yeah." Yohan simply replied with a head nod.

"Good, cover up for us. We'll make it up to you tomorrow."

"Where are you going?" Chloe butted in.

"Molly has a family day event in school and we're going to pretend to be her parents." Agma said and she leaned back to her chair, she stretched her arm and wrapped it around Jess's shoulder. "I'm the father."

"And I'm the mother." Jess said and she leaned her head at Agma's shoulder.

"What?" Chloe laughs the word's out, looking at the two ridiculously. "You're gonna embarrass the kid."

"Then who will do it better? You?" Jess scoffed.

"Do I look like I've given birth?" Chloe asked with her left eyebrow raised.

"No, so we're more suitable to be Molly's parents for today's event." Agma said.

"Suitable? You guys look like the mafia who kidnapped the kid—."

"Then do it then, I'll be the father and you'll be the mother." Yohan said to interrupt Chloe. The latter snapped her head to the person next to her with mocked surprise.

"What? No, I have a magazine pictorial today." Chloe shook her head.

"I'll take care of it— hello Charlene?" Jess's phone is already attached to her as she speaks with her index finger held in the air. "Can you guys ask the photographer to reschedule the pictorial today? Chloe is in bad shape and I don't think everyone will like an ugly Chloe in a magazine cover." Jess chuckled, earning a ludicrous look from Chloe. "No, she's fine at all, she just needed a rest. Okay then, thank you so much." Then she ended the call with a goofy smile on her lips.

"Are you for real?" Chloe asked in disbelief.

"Yep, now eat and you have to be there before 8." Jess said to dismiss Chloe but the latter shook her head in disapproval and she stood up.

"I can't go there, a lot of people know me. What if they recognize me? That will only put me in trouble."

"Then we'll disguise ourselves."

"No, that's so ridiculous. Let's just go—."

"Come on, Chloe. It'll be fun. Just for this day and for Molly." Jess said as she stood up to block Chloe's way and she looked at the woman with her puppy eyes. "Please?"

Chloe stared at her, then to Agma and lastly to Yohan. Then she sighs and slumps down her shoulders. "Fine." She sighed.

"Yes! Now let's—!" Jess was cut off when Agma suddenly stood up and she ran out of the dining area. She didn't take even 5 seconds when she came back with paper bags in her hands. "Right, the disguise." Jess said as she clapped her hands giddily and took the paper bag. "Here, you'll need this."

"You aren't obvious that you were prepared for today."

"We're not." Jess chuckled and she dragged Chloe to her room to get change.

As the two left the room, Agma turned to Yohan, still holding one paper bag in her hand. "Might want to change to?" She asked.

"I have plenty of suits."

"Who the hell would wear a suit on a family day?" Agma scoffed and she put the paper bag in Yohan's lap. "Wear casual attire and a cap, use a fake moustache and tie your hair."

"Let's just cut it short." Yohan said as she stood up. "Tell Jess to go in my room." She added and left.

—

After Chloe changed her clothes into much simpler jeans and a fitted blouse, her hair tied in a bun and she wore a pair of sneakers. Jess told her to wear the wig, but she doesn't feel like wearing it. She then decided to call her agency and ask to reschedule the pictorial because of some private matters. Her agency didn't ask further and just agreed to her since Ivy backed out first due to her hangover.

Chloe left her room and went downstairs to the living room. She saw Agma, looking at her with confusion.

"You're not going?"

"I will, I just don't feel like pretending to be someone else. I can be Molly's parent for today as Chloe Smith." Chloe said with a shrug and she sat next to Agma.

"We're ready!" Jess yelled from upstairs and they both descended. Agma and Chloe both looked up and they were stunned upon seeing Yohan. "Isn't she too amazing?"

"Wow, I didn't know that wolf cut would suit you." Agma commented.

Chloe scanned Yohan from head to toe. The latter was wearing a simple black Celine shirt paired with fitted ripped jeans and a pair of black Balenciaga rubber shoes. Her long blonde hair was cut into a new hairstyle called wolf cut and it's now black. She's also wearing a fake moustache which made him look more masculine and looked like a real man.

"Hey, I told you to—." Jess was cut off when Chloe spoke.

"You look great." The brunette said while staring at Yohan.

"You too." Yohan said with a smile. The kind of smile that is rare for Chloe to see.

"You guys should go, Molly doesn't have any idea that she will have parents for today's event." Jamie said to break the staring between the two. "Chloe, are you sure that you will be fine showing yourself?"

"Of course, I'm not a criminal to hide." Chloe said and she finally stood up. The four of them walked towards the main door and let the pretending couple get in the car before Agma and Jess went back inside.

Yohan drove the car, leaving the driveway and into the road to Molly's school. As they roaved the highway, the deafening silent engulfed the two of them. It was so awkward yet they have to bear it.

The event last night kept taunting the couple. It's as if Chloe just felt embarrassed for confessing her feelings to Yohan, while the latter could feel how nervous she is thinking of how to confess to Chloe. Either way, the two were both nervous for some reason.

Yohan killed the engine after she parked the car in front of Molly's school. There were a lot of parents and children happily walking inside and Yohan felt guilty again. If she hadn't killed Justin, he would be with Molly at today's event.

"Do they know that Molly is an orphan?" Chloe asked while they were both staring at the gate, still sitting inside the car.

"Not quite sure but they know Molly has a father but he's out of the country."

"So you faked his death?" Chloe asked again.

"I didn't, Molly did. She told her classmates that her father is working abroad." Yohan said as she unfastened her seatbelt and opened the door. As soon as she stepped out, most of the people entering the gate stopped walking when they saw Yohan.

"She's indeed an eye catcher." Chloe scoffed when she saw the people staring at Yohan with awe.

"Let's go." Yohan said and offered her hand to Chloe, the latter reached for the hand and stepped out from the car. Now all eyes are on her, parents and passers-by immediately pulled out their phone and took Chloe's pictures.

They could hear a lot of praises as they made their way to the gate holding hands. Chloe could feel something while Yohan was holding her hand tightly which made the whole crowd begin to vanish from her sight and all she could see was Yohan and their hands holding.

"There she is." Yohan said which snapped Chloe from her trance.

Chloe looked up to the kid at the kid, she's sitting at the swing with her head hanging low and kicking the small pebbles on the ground.

"Molly." Chloe called as they stopped in front of the kid.

"Aunt Chloe—?"

"Mom, call me mom for today and this is your Dad." Chloe said to interrupt the kid.

Molly's eyes widened when she saw her aunt Yohan, then her lips slowly stretched out, forming a toothy smile.

"Dad!" She yelled happily and she jumped into Yohan's arms. "Thank you for coming." The kid whispered.

"I'm sorry for coming late." Yohan whispered back and kissed the top of Molly's head. "Let's have a great day today, Molly."

"Of course, Dad!" Molly said excitedly then giggled at the way Yohan tried to make her voice sound like a man. Molly took Yohan's hand and Chloe's hand, then pulled the couple inside the gymnasium where the event was held. "I feel so happy having a complete family!"

"Me too." Chloe mumbled while staring at Molly, then when she looked up to meet Yohan's eyes. They both smiled at each other.

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