Chapter Six: The Fake Boyfriend and Girlfriend

Every choice comes with a consequence. Once you make a choice, you must accept the responsibility that comes with it. You cannot escape the consequences of your choices, whether it turns out to be too good or too bad. 

"You said I'm just here to pretend to be your unlikable girlfriend. Then, why am I suddenly getting married to you all of a sudden?" Zoey grunted, showing Dionysus how clearly annoyed she was. Dionysus just paced back and forth in front of her.

Dionysus' grandfather, the old Chevalier, was already on the poolside, waiting for them to have an afternoon snack with him. The Chevalier mansion looked so magnificent inside and out, but Zoey can't even appreciate all the sparkling luxury before her eyes just because of their biggest dilemma right now. 

"Shut up. Let me think for a while." Two housemaids suddenly walked past them. Dionysus immediately pulled Zoey near his body and acted like he was endearingly caressing Zoey's hair with a big smile on his face.

"You do realize you looked like a nincompoop." Zoey whispered when the housemaids were gone from their sight. 

"Why? What's wrong? And, wait. Did you just called me stupid?" Zoey rolled her eyes. 

"You don't need to act like that all the time. Like, you're in love with me and we're really in a relationship. Just act normal. Like what you always do with your past, 'real' girlfriends." 

"I just don't want them to suspect anything." Zoey's eyes squinted while looking directly at Dionysus who coughed softly after hearing the words 'past and real girlfriends'. 

"Really? I'm just thinking. . Come to think of it. ." 

"What? What is it?"

Zoey was about to voice out her thoughts when she suddenly noticed something funny about Dionysus. "Wait. Do we have the same height?" Zoey even gestured at their heads leveling each other. Dionysus instantly pushed Zoey's hands away.

"No. I'm much taller than you, witch. Dream on." 

"Ohh, my god. We have the same height. I thought you were over six feet or something. But, now you're near me, I thought wrong. And, what would happen if I wore heels? Which I doubt would happen because I hate being so girly-girl. But, that means, I will surpass you. You would look like a little boy or something beside me."

Zoey laughed for the first time that day. And, even though Dionysus felt really insulted at that, little did he know, he was slowly smiling, too. Just watching Zoey be amazed at the fact that he wasn't so tall at all was suddenly a mesmerizing moment for him, even if he doesn't want it to be like that.

"Being five ten isn't so bad. I'm still taller than most men out there." 

"Wait. I forgot what I was really about to say a while ago. Damn." Zoey said ignoring Dionysus' rants.

"Sir Dio, miss Zoey, master Hermes said he is already waiting for you both at the poolside." Dionysus nodded at the housemaid before holding Zoey's hand again, for the second time around. While walking towards the poolside, Zoey tapped Dionysus' arm.

"Ohh. I remember now. I wanted to ask this. Did you have a girlfriend before?" Dionysus stopped walking and looked sideways at Zoey.

"Why would you ask about that now? Come on. Grandpa's waiting. Remember our plan. We decided to still stick to it, right? Do everything for grandpa to still hate you to the core. Goodluck." Zoey blew a deep breath as if readying herself for a battle before they continued walking again. 

"Your hand is a little sweaty, by the way." Zoey whispered as soon as she and Dionysus finally sat in front of the old Chevalier.

"What?" Dionysus whispered back but Zoey had already switched to her bitchiest mode. Right there and then, Zoey had started her mission and that was to be utterly disliked by the old Chevalier no matter what. She looked back at Dionysus with angry eyes after hearing that.

First attempt: Was to show how utterly rude she can be. 

"I said, you didn't even pull my chair for me. What a gentleman you are, really." Zoey's voice was full of pure sarcasm, as she angrily flipped her plate and picked up her utensils one by one with rage. Afterwards, she looked at Dionysus' grandfather to see his reaction about what she just did in front of him. 

Dionysus blinked while looking at Zoey, he was surprised, to say the least. He didn't expect that Zoey would start their plan as soon as possible. Seconds later, Dionysus also shifted his head towards his grandfather to also see his reaction. 

"Well, sweetheart. My grandson can really be like that. Just be patient with him. You're his first girlfriend after all." Dionysus dropped the knife he was holding to his plate and it created a loud noise. His grandfather didn't just expose him, just like that, did he? 

Zoey was also stunned to move right after for two obvious reasons. One, her first attempt failed to annoy the old Chevalier. Second, her suspicion a while ago was now confirmed. 

"Why do both of you look like that? Did I say something wrong?" Mr. Hermes Chevalier asked. 

Dionysus grunted. "You don't really have to say that about me, grandpa." The old Chevalier laughed.

"Right, kiddo. I'm so sorry. Of course, of course. You want to impress Zoey." Zoey smiled awkwardly because she knew that Dionysus didn't actually mean it like that.

Second attempt: Zoey planned to show how she can get really messy while eating. Of course, that will only reveal that she has no class at all. 

Zoey started picking up and putting so many foods in her mouth. One bite after another. Drumsticks, slices of pizza, slices of crepe cake, salad breads and even corn dogs. She even managed to shoot a piece of cheese ball in her fully occupied mouth. 

Dionysus' eyebrows furrowed at her while Mr. Hermes Chevalier was clearly amazed after Zoey munched, chewed and swallowed all the food inside her mouth in a matter of seconds. She drank on her strawberry smoothie afterwards then proceeded to stock up her mouth again.

"Isn't she so lovely, kiddo? Now I know why she had instantly captured your heart at your first meet up. Zoey was just so different from the other bratty girls. I'm really glad I downloaded that dating app for you." 

Zoey started coughing when she choked on something after hearing the positive comments of the old Chevalier for her. "I knew it." Without dilly-dallying, Dionysus patted Zoey's back hard before giving her a glass of water.

"Ouch! Do you want to break my spinal cord?" Zoey cried out in between painful coughs. And, because she faced Dionysus, her one last forceful cough made all the remaining foods inside her mouth be thrown straight right on Dionysus' face.

"Goodness gracious! I was just trying to help and this is what I got! Like, ew!" Zoey drank all the water in her glass before looking back at Dionysus.

"Gay." Then, she burped so loud that made Dionysus' grandfather laugh so hard for the next two minutes. Right there and then, Zoey and Dionysus exchanged glances, silently telling each other that they failed again.

Third attempt: Zoey will invite Dionysus to his own room. She was sure that that would be one hell of a scandalous act to make the old Chevalier to finally disapprove of her. 

Zoey tried opening her mouth to call Dionysus' name but she suddenly realized that she hasn't called him by his name since they met yesterday and it would be too weird if she would designate him as 'Mr. Chevalier' again. Dionysus and his grandfather started talking about work while Zoey ransacked her head to think of a nickname, or an endearment for Dionysus instead. It just felt too awkward for her to call him by his name that soon. 

"Honey Bun?" Dionysus immediately looked in Zoey's direction.

"What?" Zoey felt like dying in embarrassment but she still continued. 

"Baby Love? Tater tot? Hubba Bubba?"

"What are you trying to say, witch?"

"Ohh. Seems like Zoey was making you pick her endearment for you, kiddo." 

"Stud Muffin? Lover Boy? Captain Hottie Pants?" The old Chevalier laughed at the last one.

"I like that, darling." 

"I know, right? Up here." Zoey gestured her right palm on which Mr. Hermes obligingly returned by hitting his palm onto Zoey's hand as well. "Alright! Yeah!"

"How about Gummy Bear, Cookie Monster and Cinnamon Girl?" Mr. Hermes asked back excitedly. The old Chevalier's eyes were beaming in happiness while conversing with Zoey.

"Woah. I like the Cinnamon Girl. It suits him." 

"Seriously, guys?" Dionysus exclaimed and saw his grandfather's nurses on the other table eating like them, now laughing because he was sure as hell they were listening at their table since a while ago. "How do you even know those nicknames, grandpa?" 

Dionysus' grandfather nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. "I overheard it from our housemaids. Why, kiddo?"

"Ohh, ohh. How about Peachy Pie, Sugar Plum and Pudding Pop?" 

"For Pete's sake. Just go with the first one you had called me. Easy peasy. End of discussion." Dionysus interrupted Zoey. Zoey looked confused.

"Which one? I can't remember."

"The 'Honey Bun', witch." Right after that, Dionysus' face heated up and he had to cover it up by drinking his own iced coffee. 

However, Zoey was oblivious to that and still proceeded to her third plan. She cleared her throat and throw out the bomb. "Honey Bun, shall we go to your room to get some privacy? You know, some hot privacy." Zoey even said the word 'hot' with a disturbing emphasis that made Dionysus choke on his drink, too.

"Damn it." Dionysus murmured and tried to recover as fast as he could so his embarrassment wasn't that memorable for everyone. The old Chevalier laughed again. He seemed so alive at that moment. 

"It's alright, children. Go on. Have some fun. Make babies for me. After all, you're both getting married next week. And, you're both old enough for that. God, too old even." And, the old Chevalier laughed for the nth time, Zoey and Dionysus already lost count. 

"Ohh, my god." Zoey started to panic internally because she couldn't believe that it all turned out to this. Her plans obviously didn't work out, contrary to her speculations.

Dionysus was also left speechless, too. Indeed, when he thought that Zoey could actually save him from his grandfather's schemes of marrying him off to somebody, Zoey had turned out to be the woman that will be marrying him instead.

"Grandpa. I know it sounds ridiculous but Zoey doesn't belong to our circle. Is that alright with you? You're not against that fact?" The old Chevalier smiled warmly and looked at Zoey with endearing eyes. 

"Who cares, kiddo? You have enough money to support even your grandchildren in the far future. Besides, she seemed like a very good person. And, if you really like her, who am I to stop that?" 

Zoey also tried to put some sense into the old Chevalier's head. Because if they won't, she and Dionysus would really be in great trouble. "But, what if I'm really after his money, sir?"

"Well, he can tame you. I know this kiddo. He is smart enough to take care of himself. Also, it looks like you can tame him as well. He's one hell of a stubborn child. That, I tell you, sweetheart."

Zoey and Dionysus can't say anything anymore after that. Zoey stood up, thinking of a way to calm her nerves down. Her whole system was undergoing a ravaging haywire. "Where are you going, witch?"

"I just need to get some fresh air. Whoops!" It was too late when Zoey realized that she was sitting literally next to the pool. One step and her whole body dived down to the cold, chilling waters. 

"Zoey!" Dionysus didn't waste any more seconds. He removed his shirt and dived straight to the pool as well. And, the old Chevalier nodded at that scene in front of him, laughing like a crazy, old man again and again. 

"My grandson really likes the girl, Chrissy. Don't you think so?" Mr. Hermes Chevalier whispered to his head nurse. The other nurses that heard that giggled in delight. 

"Won't you really tell him about your real condition, sir?" The old Chevalier shook his head.

"Not now. Still not the time." 

While on the other hand, Dionysus immediately spotted Zoey almost drowning and already sinking at their seven feet deep swimming pool. He swam towards Zoey before he embraced his left arm around her waist and pulled her upwards to the surface. 

They both gasped as their heads finally emerged out of the water. Zoey repeatedly inhaled and exhaled several times with tears cascading down her eyes. "Damn it. I thought I'd die."

"Why? You can't swim?"

"Isn't it obvious, jerk?" Zoey snapped as she encircled her arms around Dionysus' neck, still afraid for her god-damned life. That's when Dionysus noticed something after their skins touched. 

"Hang on, witch. Wait. Why are your shoulders suddenly bare? Where's my sweater?" They both looked around the pool's surface only to see Dionysus' sweater floating far away from them. 

"Ohh, my god." Zoey whispered. 

"It's alright. I'll get it for you. Let me swim you onto the shallow part first." Zoey shook her head and stopped Dionysus when he was about to move. 

"You don't understand. I forgot to tell you that I'm not wearing any bra, dumb head. It got soaked together with my waitress' uniform so I didn't wear it." 

"You mean to say, you're naked right now?" Dionysus' eyes dared to check that under the water but Zoey instantaneously slapped his cheek. "Ouch! What was that for?"

"Don't you dare, pervert!"

~~~~~

Dionysus parked his car a few blocks away from Zoey's house. "I can just drive you in front of your house instead, you know." Zoey shook her head.

"No, thanks. My mom and my sisters might see you and you don't want that happening." Dionysus was about to say something again when Zoey faced him with a serious face. "I can't do this. Your grandfather is just the sweetest. I can't fool him anymore." A tear fell from Zoey's eyes. "Tell him I cheated just like your plan. It's alright. It just hurts me so much to see the happiness in his eyes believing the lie that we are really into each other when we're really not."

Dionysus sighed because he saw this one coming ever since Zoey stayed silent for the rest of the afternoon after their scene in the pool. "Alright. Just text me your bank account details. I will still send you the money. It's part of our deal and you worked hard for it. My grandpa was just dying to see me with someone. That's why he approved of you no matter what you do. And, he is also the kindest. He treats people, everyone with equal fairness."

"You love him so much, I can tell." Dionysus laughed at that when he almost shed a tear as well.

"Yeah. That old man was my life. I love him more than anything else in the world." Zoey's forehead creased and even though she knew it was way beyond her line, she still asked Dionysus about the thing that was bothering her ever since their encounter with his grandfather.

"Where's your parents, then? If you don't mind me asking." Dionysus diverted his gaze towards the other direction. "Ohh." Zoey took that as a hint. "Alright. I'll go then. Thank you for saving me back there in the pool. I mean, somehow I realized I was wrong about you. You're also a good person just like your grandfather. I'm sorry for always judging you. Goodbye, Dionysus."

Dionysus caught his breath when he heard Zoey finally uttering his name in the gentlest manner. He felt like it was his first time hearing his name be pronounced like that. And, he kind of liked it. Zoey opened the door, hopped outside Dionysus' pick up truck, closed it, walked away from there and never looked back again. 

Dionysus started his truck's engine before he could do something that he would regret later on. When he arrived at their mansion, he immediately looked for his grandfather to finally confess the truth. He doesn't want to prolong it any longer. But, the scene that unfolded before his eyes terrified the hell out of him upon opening the front doors. 

"What's happening here? Why are you suddenly here, Doctor Sprouse?" The Chevalier's resident doctor halted from running back upstairs where Mr. Hermes Chevalier's room was located.

"Your grandfather was having his fourth attack, Dio. And, it's much worse than before." Dionysus felt like the whole world stopped spinning for him, although every single one around him was all in haste.

He felt betrayed. He only knew that his grandfather had his first attack two years ago. And, since then, he immediately assigned him the best doctor and nurses to aid and monitor his condition all the time. No one told him that the old Chevalier had already had his second and third heart attack. What a betrayal, indeed. 

Dionysus forced his feet to ascend the stairs. He felt lightheaded and he felt like his feet were floating. He can't feel anything other than his hands and feet getting numb and cold by the second. When he finally reached the second floor, Dionysus forced himself again to see what was happening inside his grandfather's room. And, what he saw instantaneously broke his heart into a million pieces, he can't even describe his pain right now through words.

"Grandpa." Dionysus murmured as he fell kneeling on the carpeted floor. The old Chevalier was fighting for his life, while Doctor Sprouse was doing his best to save him at all cost. Dionysus heard a resounding flat line in the air, but he wasn't sure if it's true or it was just his imagination because everything became so blurry for him. 

Half an hour later, the resident doctor found Dionysus sitting on the floor outside the old Chevalier's room. The doctor sighed while pitying the dead look on Dionysus' eyes.

"Dio." Dionysus instantly stood up and walked towards the doctor.

"How is he, doc? How is he?" The doctor closed the door and tapped Dionysus' shoulders.

"He is stable now. He doesn't want to see you for the meantime because he was embarrassed for lying to you. He said, he still can't die without witnessing your wedding. I can't even believe when he told me that you're finally getting married next week. He looked so proud of you while saying that to me."

Dionysus' lips quivered. "I can't really see him right now?"

"In my advice, no. It would definitely upset him if you saw him so weak. You know your grandfather, Dio. You can talk to him in the morning, alright?" Dionysus held the doctor's arm when he was about to walk past him.

"Won't you stay for the night, doc?" The doctor laughed. 

"I will, of course. I'll just call my wife and get something to eat at your kitchen. You know I love your food here." Dionysus nodded as he sighed a breath of relief.

"Thank you." 

"Don't thank me. It's my duty, anyway. I love your grandfather as much as you do." When the doctor was gone, Dionysus still tried to open the door to his grandfather's room and took a peek at his old man. Mr. Hermes Chevalier was now sleeping peacefully on his bed, with lots of paraphernalia attached to his arms and body.

The head nurse saw Dionysus and went straight to the door. "I'm sorry, sir. Your grandfather requested not to let you see him like this. Can you go back tomorrow morning?" Dionysus painfully nodded.

"Of course, Chrissy. It's alright. You should also take turns watching over him." 

"We will, sir Dio. Have a goodnight." Dionysus closed the door and sighed. He fetched his phone and contemplated for a while. A few seconds later, he ran downstairs and went straight outside to his truck. All he had on his mind was to talk to Zoey again.