Chapter 32 - PRETEND TO LOVE

Nancy spat out the coffee she drank back from her mouth as Angie revealed to her what happened between her and Maths the other night.

"He stole your first kiss?!" Nancy cringed, bewildered and Angie nodded in confirmation.

"You must be joking, don't make up a story for me please."

"Do I look like a storyteller?"

"No, I mean," she answered, rolling her eyes.

"Okay, I think we should forget about it."

"Forget about what? Maths kissed you for Christ's sake and you want to forget about it!"

"But I thought you weren't taking it too seriously," Angie said and sipped from her coffee.

"Of course I am, it's just unbelievable."

"You are right, it's unbelievable, I guess it's a dream then."

Nancy tapped her in her hand, "Are you still dreaming?"

"Maybe," Angie answered and pinched herself a little.

"You are awake!" Nancy exclaimed and burst out laughing.

"I guess," Angie mumbled and joined her in laughing.

"Wow!" Nancy exclaimed again.

"Keep it low woman," Angie whispered, "You know, he was drunk and had no idea what he was doing."

"He was drunk, so? I know Maths very well, he's not the type who gets drunk and won't know what he's up to," Nancy relayed while Angie listened carefully. "Yes, he might be drunk but he can still relate to his environment," she added.

"So you think he did it on purpose?" Angie asked, confused.

"Not thinking about it Angela, I know."

"Oops!" Angie exclaimed softly and held her mouth, "So?"

"He's in love with you!" Nancy yelled.

"No!" Angie wailed back, "It's impossible, I mean you told me Maths don't love girls."

"Oh! Angie, maybe he's already having a likeness for girls starting with you."

"But we've never had any close relationship, not even being friends," Angie muttered, confused.

"Come closer, let me tell you a secret," Nancy whispered gently to her, "Do you believe in love at first sight?"

Angie shook her head, "Not really."

"Have you ever loved someone at first sight?"

"Hmm…," Angie tried to think. "I can't remember."

"Now I get it, you don't know the feeling. Luckily, that's how I fell in love with Dennis, but you got lucky to be loved at first and it won't be a problem like mine."

"Hold on a minute, I have a question to ask."

"Go on."

"What if he's under the influence of alcohol? What if he just kissed me like he had been doing to other girls, it's nothing to him, right?"

"Don't you get it, Maths can't get influenced by alcohol and you're right about him doing it before but I disagree, this might also be his first kiss."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, that's what I'm talking about and even if he has been doing it to other girls, I promise you, he won't get past this. So listen up girl, you've got a chance to get into a relationship," Nancy uttered and winked at Angela

"Stop it, Nancy, you are teasing me."

"I'm serious."

"I've not even thought of having any relationship in high school."

"Till you get to college?"

"Yes, maybe."

"If you didn't put it maybe, I would have given you a hard knock on that head of yours," she said with a threatening stare. Angie gasped and burst into laughter. "I'm not a joker here, stop laughing," Nancy commanded and formed a frown on her face.

"Alright, alright."

"Now, let's get down to business, you are about to get into an awesome stage?" Nancy announced and smirked. "But I still don't believe it," she muttered.

"Let's drop the topic, it was a night of mistakes, I'm very sure he has forgotten or even ignored it,'' Angie muttered to her.

"Not when I'm on earth, even if he's influenced by alcohol and forgets about it, I'll make sure he recalls it back," Nancy assured.

"Nancy, please, I don't even have feelings for him."

"You don't love him?"

"Yes, I don't."

"You're sure?"

"Positive."

"Does that add, I mean you can develop feelings for him someday," Nancy convinced.

"Nancy, please drop whatever you're thinking, It can't work between me and Maths."

"I hate you," Nancy uttered, standing up from the bed she was sitting on, she placed her hands on her hips looking all serious.

"You can't hate me because of him."

"Of course, I can, do you know how long we've waited for him to bring out the human in him? It's been ages."

"But, It's just a kiss," Angie tried to make her friend understand.

"Just a kiss, Angie? You meant to say there's nothing wrong with him stealing your first kiss? Did you have any idea how much I long for that," Nancy relayed angrily.

"It's not what you think."

Nancy folded her hands over her chest, "Explain then," she divulged.

"I'm sorry to say, you're mistaken," Angie told her.

"Fine, I'm mistaken huh?" she asked and sat down feeling tense.

"Are you angry with me?" Angie asked and moved closer to her.

"Of course I am."

"I'm sorry."

"Apologies not accepted."

"Please..."

"Until you do me a favour."

"I'm fully available."

Nancy looked at her and smiled.

"You promise to do anything I say"

Angie grabbed her hands and placed Nancy's little finger on hers, "If it's up to my standard, a pinky promise."

"Well then, a pinky promise," Then they sealed it with their thumb.

"I want you to turn Maths back to the cool boy he was before," Nancy revealed.

"Oh really! How?"

Nancy stood up and faced Angie. "Pretend to love him."

"That's wack!" Angie exclaimed.

"It's so foolish, I know, we have no choice."

"What made you think I am the right person for this? Anyway, I'm not heartless."

Nancy sighed. "It's not about being heartless, I think I haven't explained to you why I need all this from you."

"That'd be better, an explanation."

"Alright, he kissed you, that's the number one priority," she said.

"Hmm..."

"Number two, kissing you meant that he has developed some soft spot for you."

"I still don't get it," Angie mumbled, her face in confusion

"Maths is someone who has experienced a woeful past, he's someone who has drifted from love and care ever since he was little. He was the only little boy who witnessed his…," She paused when her cell phone started to ring.

She picked it up from the small table beside her bed and looked at the caller on the screen.

"Dennis," she said to Angie and Angie nudged her to take the call. She took a deep breath before receiving the call.

"Hey!" Dennis called from the other end.

"Hey," she greeted.

"Can we meet?"

Nancy looked at Angie and whispered to her what he said. Angie nodded for her to go on. "I'm with Angie for now, I'll give you a call when I'm less busy."

"Okay, I'll be expecting you," he said and hung up almost immediately.

"He seems nervous over the phone."

"Maybe he's afraid to talk to you," Angie said and shrugged

"Angie?"

"Yes?"

"Are you serious about what you told me yesterday?"Nancy asked, her voice already getting low.

"What did I tell you? I can't remember."

"About Dennis loving me back."

"Yes, he will, maybe he's hesitating."

"Why?"

"He should have his reasons."

"Reasons?"

"Yea, no more questions, If you keep asking me questions, I'll have no answer to give, all you have to do now is to prepare to meet him."

"Yeah, I will but I haven't decided whether to meet with him or not."

"There's no way you'll miss meeting him."

"There is."

"What?"

"If you won't accept my request."

"That's too absurd."

"Yes or no?"

"Nancy?"

"Don't call me, give me an answer," Nancy snapped.

"Fine, I will do according to your wish but know that if things turn out rough, I will blame you for pushing me in," Angie pouted while Nancy cheered

"Yo! Girl this is what I'm talking about, you have nothing to worry about," Nancy assured.

"But, how do I pretend to love him when we aren't even close?" Angie questioned.

"Yeah, that's true," Nancy replied and tried to think. After some short silence, Nancy announced, "Why don't you flirt?"

"Flirt?!" Angie clamoured, shocked.