ONE MONTH DEAL

AUBREE POV

I was shocked when Mr. Korea introduced me as his girlfriend to his friends and Seb. And just like me, Seb also looked so shocked.

My eyes narrowed. Why is he so shocked? Did he think that he was the only one who could move on?

Is he thinking that I am waiting for him until now?

Well, yes, he is right!

I waited for him because I was still hoping that we will still end up together.

But now I know that I am the only one who is still holding on to our love.

I know that the tears I was holding back are about to fall.

"Excuse me, guys, Gav, I'm here for work, so I can't stay with you this long. I need to talk to my clients." I said sweetly to Gavin.

I could see in my peripheral vision that Seb was staring at me. I can't look back because I know any minute my tears will fall.

I need to get out of here before they could see my tears falling.

They nodded. Seb was still looking at me.

I went outside the hall to get some fresh air and to release the tears that I am trying to hold.

It hurts so much to see the person you only loved and waited for a long time was already in the arms of someone else. And the worst part was, he will marry that person.

I see no one else in my future but him. Even though he was not with me, my world revolved around him. I love him so much that I did my best to succeed, to be worthy of him. And for his family to accept me.

But reality hits me real hard. No matter what I do, I can never win his parents' heart. All the things that I have achieved so far were not enough for his family to accept me. And I know Seb knows that. That's why he gave up on our love.

It hurts. I wish that he did not give me that letter. Maybe I will not let myself hope that our love has a chance. I wouldn’t have waited for him this long. He should not have made a false promise because I believe and hold on to that.

Who am I kidding, right? I know that even if he did not give me a letter back then, I would still wait for him because I love him so much.

"Are you okay?" said the person behind me.

I was suddenly got nervous. I hope that it's not Seb.

I want to beat myself up. Why would he follow me?

I immediately wiped away my tears. I calm myself first before I face the guy behind me.

And I must admit I was a little disappointed because this person is not Seb. Deep inside, I still hope that it was him.

"Gav!" I just said.

Yes. It’s Gavin. I was not aware that he followed me. Did he see me crying?

"How long have you been here?" I asked

"I just got here. I was looking for you earlier because I believe that I owe you an explanation." He said seriously.

"Oh, that?"

Of course, he introduced me to them as his girlfriend earlier. Why did he do that? I could not notice what he did a while ago because Seb's presence so consumed me.

"Yes. Well, Sam is my ex-girlfriend. And we broke up because she needs to go abroad to study. After her, I never had a girlfriend, but not because I still love her. It's just that I'm so busy with my career and I don't have time for love. And every time we talk and she finds out that I don't have a girlfriend yet, she always does her 'guilt drama' thinking that I'm not over her yet, which is not true. " He explained.

I raised my left eyebrow. Isn't he arrogant there? Trying to look cool?

"Don't look at me like that. What I am trying to say is that, were too young at that time. And I just courted her because of my friends. Peer pressure, you know? And also, I was too immature at that time. " He explained again.

I sighed. "Okay. I get it. But still, why did you need to introduce me as your girlfriend?"

"Because I can see that she was about to start her guilty drama again." He said.

I frowned. "Guilty drama?"

He chuckled. "Yes. She has that tendency to create a scene saying sorry for leaving me with matching tears."

My left eyebrow rose. So Seb will marry such a woman?

"Really? Is she... you know.... crazy?"

He chuckled. "No, she's just too innocent and sensitive. She can't afford to hurt anyone."

Really? If I tell her about Seb and me, will she leave Seb for me? That is what I want to ask Gav, but I do not want to look so desperate.

No one will ever know the stupid things I did for him.

"Okay." Smiling, I said.

----

GAVIN POV

"Okay? So it means you agree?" I asked her.

She frowned. "Agree to what?"

I want to beat myself up. Of course, Gav, you haven't asked her yet.

"Y-you know, the thing I announced earlier." embarrassed I said.

Her left eyebrow rose. "You mean when you introduced me as your girlfriend?"

"Y-yes." Embarrassed, I said.

I do not know, but I am nervous. Well, I've been like that to her ever since. I was very conscious and anxious when she is with me. I feel like I went back to high school. This is precisely what I felt for her back then.

"Is there anything else I can do? And I said yes earlier." Smiling, she said.

Of course, Gavin! Have you forgotten it already?! I smiled, the kind of smile reaching to my ears. You know the feeling that you have got the thing you have been dreaming of for a long time. That's how I feel right now, even if it's just a fake relationship.

"Bree?" I called her.

I have wanted to ask her this.

"Yes?"

"Do you know him?" I asked her.

The reaction of her and Seb seems like there was something between them. That they did not only knew each other but there is also more from that.

She frowned. "him?"

"Sebastian." I just said.

I saw the change in her reaction. She also got pale again. It's confirmed! There is more from it. But what is it?

"Yes." She simply said.

I also saw tears forming in her eyes.

I frowned. Who is Seb in her life?

"He's my ex-boyfriend." She said. You can hear the sadness and bitterness in her voice.

My eyes widen. What a coincidence?! They are also ex-boyfriend and girlfriend!

The luck and the stupidity of that man. He already had Ms. Chad, but he let her go.

"That's the reason I go with your act." She confessed.

I swallowed hard. I don't know, but it hurts me to see her hurting.

"You still love him?" I do not know why I am nervous about her answer.

"Y-yes." then she smiles bitterly.

Of course, she will say yes. By the way, I look at her right now; it's very obvious that she's still in love with Sebastian. I wanted to comfort her, and I wanted to hug her and tell her that everything will be alright, that I am just here for her. I don’t know what is stopping me from doing that.

I envy Sebastian. He didn’t know what he had lost.

***

Ms. Chad and I went inside together in the event hall. We caught everyone's attention, and one of them is my mom. She went to us.

"Son, is Sam telling the truth?" My mom asked excitedly.

I frowned. "What do you mean, mom?"

"That you and" she the look at Bree. "Aubree are together?" My mom asked with a smile on her face.

I think she likes the idea. So do I.

"Ye-" I was about to answer when Bree cut me off.

"No, Ma'am. Mr. Inarez only needs to say those things because he doesn't want to ruin Ms. Sam's engagement party because of her guilt. After all, she thought that Mr. Inarez is not yet over her." She said in a formal voice.

My mom and I were shocked by what she said. I didn’t particularly appreciate that she denied it, and I was feeling a bit hurt. I want her to say yes though it's fake. But I still can’t blame her.

"Gavin?" My mom questioned me.

"Yes, mom. Aubree is telling the truth." I said, almost a whisper.

"I thought that was true. You look good together. But maybe in the future, it will be true?" There is a mixture of regret and at the same time excitement in mommy's voice,

I just laughed at mommy's reaction. She likes her. And who wouldn't?

After my mom left, I guide her to an empty table. I faced her and asked.

"Why did you tell her the truth? I thought that we both agree to pretend a couple?” I can help but ask her.

She looked at me. I was swallowed hard by the closeness of our faces.

"Yes. But only to Sam and Seb. And after a month, we will announce our break up." She said.

My eyes widened. "What?"

What is she saying?

"We don't need to prolong it. All we need to do is for Sam not to think that you're not over her. We can say that I broke up with you because I want to focus on my career, and I can't do that if we are still together. In short, I'm choosing my career over you." She explained.

I do not know what to react. I just sighed. I think this is for the better.

"Okay. One month deal" Then I offered my hand, and she accepted it as a seal in our deal.