"Let's stop pretending… let's make this real."
.
.
.
"Fuck this traffic!" Philip slammed his palm against the steering wheel, his teeth clenched in irritation.
He'd been stuck in the middle of the road for what felt like forever. The sun was scorching, sweat clinging to his temples, and his patience was evaporating fast. He rolled down the window and leaned out.
"Hey! Are you people even planning to move?!" he shouted toward the unmoving sea of cars.
Perfect. As if the heat wasn't enough, now his temper was boiling over too.
He was supposed to meet his stepsister at the mall, but thanks to the cursed traffic, he had been crawling on the road for nearly an hour. He quickly texted her that he'd be late—again.
By the time he reached the mall's parking lot, he was a ticking bomb, searching for a spot. Every space was taken.
"Fuck! Fuck! Why is there no space even here?" he muttered through gritted teeth.
Everything was pushing him over the edge today. What a damn unlucky day.
Finally, he spotted an open slot. His mood lifted for a millisecond—until a car swooped in and stole it right in front of him.
A guy stepped out of the car, acting like he owned the world, flashing the most irritating grin Philip had ever seen.
"Oh, you're dead. I swear I'll flatten your tires, you arrogant little—" Philip slammed the wheel again in frustration.
He drove around several times before he finally found a spot, but at that point, his mood was beyond saving.
He walked into the mall only to receive another text from his stepsister.
She had already gone home.
He cursed under his breath—every profanity in his dictionary spilling out as he clenched his jaw.
"Fuck this day! I swear I could kill someone right now," he muttered angrily as he headed toward the exit.
He was still fuming when someone bumped into him.
"Ouch! Hey, you should watch where you're going!" a woman complained.
Philip turned—and stared.
"Is she… human?" he whispered to himself.
The girl had long, curly hair, oversized glasses that swallowed half her face, braces that sparkled when she talked, and a rainbow-colored outfit that made her look like a walking cotton candy explosion. Nothing matched. At all.
She caught him staring. "Why are you looking at me like that? Don't tell me… you like me?" she asked dramatically.
Philip felt his stomach twist. "Are you joking? I'd rather stay single forever than develop feelings for you."
She blinked. "Wow. Rude."
"Aemie, babes!"
Both of them turned toward the voice.
Philip's blood pressure skyrocketed the moment he saw who called her—it was the same guy who stole his parking slot earlier.
Great. It was him!
"Bro, what's your problem with my girlfriend?" the guy snapped.
Philip scoffed. "No idea. She's the one who spoke to me."
He rolled his eyes and walked away before he did something violent. If he stayed another second, he might actually smash the guy's face in.
He headed to his car and drove home, still cursing the universe.
Meanwhile, Aemie glanced at her boyfriend.
"Babe, who was that guy?" she asked.
"I don't know," he replied curtly.
They were about to leave when his phone rang. He stepped away to answer it, just like he always did whenever his phone buzzed.
Aemie watched him with narrowing eyes.
Once again, he had that secretive look—the expression he wore whenever he thought she wasn't paying attention.
He was always texting someone. Always taking calls away from her.
And she was starting to suspect… something was definitely going on.
.
.
.
The following day.
"Thanks for the ride, big brother," Tammy said as she stepped out of the car.
She was Philip's stepsister. After their mother passed away, their father remarried, and Tammy's mom became his stepmother.
Philip started the car and drove off, stopping briefly at a convenience store to grab a bottle of fruit juice.
.....
Meanwhile, Aemie was tailing her boyfriend. She had a strong suspicion he was meeting someone, and she needed to find out who. She hid behind a tree, heart pounding.
"Hi, honey," greeted a woman, sultry and confident, her pale skin glowing in the sunlight, her chest impossibly accentuated.
The woman immediately pressed her lips against his.
Aemie's chest tightened. Her throat burned with betrayal. How long had he been cheating on her?
The two of them walked away, and Aemie hurried to follow. In her rush, she accidentally collided with someone. The fruit juice he was carrying spilled all over his polo shirt.
The man spun around, his face a mix of shock and anger.
"Hey! Look at what you did!" Philip bellowed, furious, his voice cutting through the air.
Aemie froze. The juice had soaked his shirt.
"I-I'm so sorry!" she stammered, bowing slightly.
Philip's temper flared even more as recognition hit him.
"It's you again!" he snapped, pointing at her. "You're that ridiculous girl from the mall!"
Aemie glanced toward her boyfriend and the other woman—already far ahead.
"I really am sorry," she said again, then bolted.
"Hey! Come back here!" Philip shouted, but she didn't look back.
Frustrated, he returned to his car, muttering under his breath.
.....
Aemie ran until she caught up to them, just in time to see her boyfriend locking lips with the other woman.
Her chest tightened. Rage and heartbreak collided in her throat.
"You cheater!" she screamed, flailing her bag at him.
Her boyfriend and the other woman froze in shock as she caught them red-handed. She hit them repeatedly with her bag. He pleaded for her to stop, but she ignored him, letting her anger take over.
"You're shameless! Both of you! Cheaters! Liars! Aaaahhhhh!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, drawing the attention of passersby.
The couple immediately got into their car and drove off, leaving her standing in the middle of the street. Aemie sank to the pavement, burying her face in her hands, silent sobs shaking her body.
.....
Philip, driving nearby, noticed the same ridiculous woman sitting in the middle of the road. She was blocking traffic, completely immobile.
He honked, but she didn't move.
"Hey! Are you trying to die or something? Move out of the way!" he yelled, jumping out of the car in exasperation.
Still, she didn't respond.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!" he barked again.
Suddenly, her wailing exploded into the air.
"Waaahhh! That cheater! He left me for someone else! Waaaahhh!"
People passing by were now staring. Philip felt the heat of embarrassment—both hers and his.
"Hey! Can you be quiet? You're embarrassing both of us!" he scolded.
"Nooo! Waaaah! My heart is broken! Huhuhu!" she shouted, flailing in the middle of the street.
"God, this girl… unbelievable," Philip muttered, clutching his head.
"I WANT TO GET REVENGE!" Aemie screamed next, throwing her hands in the air.
Philip winced—the noise was nearly deafening.
"Fine! I'll help you get revenge, okay?! Just calm down!" he yelled into her ear.
Instantly, her sobs slowed, curiosity replacing fury.
"Really? You'll help me get back at him?" her eyes sparkled suddenly, sharp and alive with mischief.
"Y-Yeah," Philip replied, feeling a little trapped by his own words.
"Alright! That cheating bastard! He'd better be ready, because he'll regret leaving me for that bitch!" Aemie yelled, gripping Philip's shoulders so tightly it left him wincing.
"Ouch!" he groaned.
"Oops! Sorry, hehe," she said, lifting her hand in a playful peace sign.
Philip immediately regretted agreeing to help her. How did I get myself into this mess? And to think I'm stuck with her…