Boyfriend For Rent

17. Oops...She Did It Again

       Lake tapped her fingers on her steering wheel, a giddy smile on her lips as she reminisced the memory from yesterday. She knew that Min-Jun was just being nice but his actions caused her to fall for him more.

       "Good morning," Lake turned to the boy standing on the other side of the car door with the window opened.

       His raven hair was pushed back into its usual style. The few strands sticking out giving him a messy look, made him appear even more handsome. He wore the school uniform neatly.

       "Good morning," Lake smiled.

"I am glad to see you are feeling better," Min-Jun noted as he stepped into the car.

Lake turned on the car and began to drive down the road. "It is all thanks to your soup and medicine."

Her heart did a little jump once again. She discreetly glanced at Min-Jun and the corner of her lips lifted. The day before he had taken his role as boyfriend really seriously.

Lake had fallen asleep after eating. She woke up a few minutes later and found Min-Jun with his head resting on the corner of the bed sleeping peacefully. He did not leave until late in the afternoon, once Lake finished all her soup and meals.

"My mom always give me that soup and medicine when I'm sick," Min-Jun replied.

Min-Jun had Jordan drive him all the way to the other side of town to pick up the soup his mother gave him when he was feeling ill.

The raven-haired boy peeked over Lake who had her eyes fixated on the lane ahead. He did not know why but the thought of her suffering made his heart ache. He wanted to be there for her, not just because she had given him so many opportunities, but because he genuinely cared for her.

       Lake who was feeling much better turned on the radio and Not Your Barbie Girl began playing. Lake bobbed her head to the music while Min-Jun listened attentively and then he too found himself moving his head to the beat.

       "Did you forget I'm real? Oh, I'm breathing, touch me, feel—" Lake sang out loud. Her hand in a fist just a few inches from her lips as she held her imaginary microphone.

       The two waited for the beat to drop before looking at one another and nodding agreement and sang - "Not your Barbie girl, I'm livin' in my own world..."

***

       "Now, many of your are in this program because you are interested in becoming entrepreneurs in the future," Dr Adams explained as she wrote the word 'Entrepreneur' on the board with her usual fancy calligraphy. "But tell me, what does it take to be your own boss?"

       One of the boys in the back whom Lake recognized from Owen's little group raised his hand with a mischievous lift in the corner of his lips.

       "Yes Mr Dellacorte," the tall blonde professor said acknowledging him.

       "Rich," Tommy Dellacorte answered in a duh tone and his buddies laughed. Dr Adams who did not get the joke simple shrugged it off.

       "In a way you are correct..." Dr Adams nodded. Lake rolled her eyes and felt herself drifting away as the professor summarized her lecture for the day. "Alright, we will carry on with this module on Entrepreneurship tomorrow. You are free to go, have a nice rest of your day."

       Lake giddily sprung out of her seat but stopped when she felt someone tug on her blazer.

       "Who the h-"

       "Language," Ayla scolded and Lake rolled her eyes. "Walk with me to physical education class?"

       Lake bit her lip giving Ayla an apologetic look.

       "I have to go look for Min-Jun. We always meet up before P. E." Lake replied and Ayla wiggled her eyebrows teasingly.

       "Seems like your relationship is flourishing," Ayla giggled as she nudged her friend.

       "We are just friends," Lake defended as they walked out of the room.

       Ayla did not push the matter further, but she could tell Lake was lying by the way her cheeks had flushed a deep red.

       "So, I heard your birthday is coming up. Whatcha doing for your special day?" Ayla looked attentively at Lake as they continued to walk down the halls.

       Lake looked down at the books she had clutched against her chest. Ayla noticed the somber expression and immediately regretted asking.

       "I don't know," Lake sighed.

       That was the truth. Almost every year she was in the limbo when it came to her birthday. Some years her parents remembered and other years they forgot.

       "Your parents don't have anything planned?" Ayla frowned, stepping in front of Lake to get an explanation.

       The purple-haired girl pushed back the lump in her throat. She did not dare to meet Ayla's expecting gaze.

       "They aren't even in the country right now," Lake confessed.

       "Oh honey," Ayla pulled Lake into a hug. "Don't worry. I'll throw you the best birthday party ever!"

       Lake pulled back a bit worried by Ayla's excitement. Ayla was known for her pretty wild parties and although grateful for the blonde's enthusiasm, Lake did not want her house to burn down.

       "Umm... actually I would prefer something smaller," Lake intervened.

       Ayla smiled at Lake warmly. She hooked her arm with hers and they carried on with their walk toward Min-Jim's class.

       "I can work with that," Ayla said. "It'll be just a small gathering. The cute little brunette friend of yours-"

       "-Jordan," Lake replied but Ayla dismissed her.

       "Moi, the birthday girl, of course," Ayla pointed at Lake. "And Min—what the hell our they doing?!"

Lake followed Ayla's gaze and froze as she saw the scene in front of her. Olivia was pinned to the wall, Min-Jun's lips pressed against hers as she held him close. Her hands gripped onto his blazer's collar.

Min-Jun freed himself from Olivia's grip with a shocked expression on his face.

"Oh, hey Lake," Olivia waved with a smug expression.

"Lake it isn't-"

Min-Jun's sentence was cut short as the loud sound of a smack echoed through the halls and everyone in near distance gasped.