Chapter 7:
Babe

Harry looked at the beautiful girl in front of him closely, the girl kept her head down. Her body shook, it seemed like she was crying. Or nearly crying and what the girl was doing actually had an effect on Harry.

"Hey— hey, I didn't mean to. . . it's just. . . you know, this is my mum's boutique and you're in this room and you really—" Harry's gaze shifted to the position where the new mannequin would normally be placed.

Harry swallowed before shaking his head. "No, no. I'm just thinking nonsense, I'm just hallucinating. " Harry held his head and the blonde girl looked up, wiping away the tears that had not yet fallen on her cheeks.

The girl looked at Harry who still seemed to be trying to get rid of all kinds of thoughts that were in his mind. "This. . . this is the second time you've seen me."
The girl said, bringing Harry's attention immediately to her. When their eyes met, the girl immediately looked away.

"I'm sorry." The words flowed out of the girl's mouth which made Harry frown in confusion.

"Why are you apologizing to me? Who are you? What are you doing here and why are you. . . ? " Harry stared at the place where the mannequin should have been before staring at the strange girl before him.

Harry cursed softly, "Damn it! What's happening?!"

Actually, Harry was talking to himself, but the girl seemed to have heard and thought Harry was angry with her. What made Harry even more confused was when the girl suddenly hugged Harry's leg very tightly.

"I. . . I don't understand why I'm here, but please, let me stay here. I. . . I have nowhere else to stay. I have no family. I don't know where to go. "

A beautiful girl suddenly hugged my legs while begging for help.

Harry had never been treated this way before and it was all on reflex Harry did. Harry bent down and asked the girl to get up. The girl obeyed and sobbed while doing so. Harry bit his lower lip. This is not the first time Harry has seen a girl cry, in fact Harry has often been the reason for girls to cry. It's just that, Harry still doesn't understand what's really happening.

"Please, don't cry. You're making me even more confused! "

The girl stood back and lowered her head. "I'm s-sorry."

Again, Harry stared at the girl before returning to look at the place where his mother's beloved mannequin should have been placed. The mannequin really didn't exist and this girl really looked like the mannequin.

"I don't understand and I won't try to understand. There's already too much trouble in my head so, whatever. Although I don't know you, I must admit, you're very fit to be my new lover, but fine. My head is spinning and you're free to do anything here, as long as you don't change the position of everything in here. Looks like I need water to think clearly. " Harry turned around holding his head, completely dizzy.

When Harry was just about to walk away, a hand grabbed Harry's arm and made the handsome young man stop himself from leaving. Harry turned around and the girl stared at him, still with a terrified expression on her beautiful face.

"I can only stay here at night until before sunrise. Please, keep this a secret from anyone. Let's just say and pretend we never met―, "

Harry interrupted the girl quickly. "Not. I can't do that. I could just report you to my mum so she can take care of everything. Do you know? You look like a thief, but the problem is. . . you don't even steal, you. . . you just confuse me. " Harry's eyes glanced over the position of the mannequin that should have been there.

"But only temporarily. Until I finally understand what's really happening. " Harry raised an eyebrow. "I don't understand. Never mind, you make me even dizzier. I have to go—,"

The girl tugged gently at Harry's arm. "Please, don't tell anyone."

Gradually, Harry felt uncomfortable with the girl. Harry thought for a moment before grinning broadly at the idea that came into his mind. The young man sighed and cleared his throat assertively.

"Okay. I'll keep all of this a secret as long as. . ."

"As long as?"

"Well. . . my friends are hosting a party tomorrow night and since the past week, they have been teasing me nonstop about my singles status. So, I want you to come as my fake partner. " Harry grinned.

The girl raised an eyebrow. "Singles? Party? Fake couple? What do you mean? And don't you mean, single status?"

Harry frowned. Isn't his sentence clear enough? It seemed very clear what Harry's request was.

"Singles are the same as single, but specifically for singles, the meaning is slightly different, this term is just made up from my group of friends and I think we're the only ones who uses that. It's some sort of inside joke I guess. But anyways, singles means no one is interested in you yet. Meanwhile, being single means that you have reasons to be alone and are not too passionate about getting a partner. And my friends keep teasing me about the singles part, and I don't want them to think that. Do you understand?" Harry asked the girl who clearly didn't understand what Harry was saying.

Harry sighed. "Singles has a very complicated and difficult meaning to understand, so I really understand if you didn't understand what I said earlier. To be honest, I also don't understand what I'm even saying. " Harry laughed at himself whereas, the girl was still looking at him in confusion.

The young man was waiting for a response from the beautiful girl, however, there was none. Harry sighed again with encouragement before asking, "What if we just forget the whole single ramble and move on to the actual party?"

The girl nodded.

Harry smiled broadly before explaining again. "A party is an event where you can have fun, it's where you can forget all the burdens in your life for a moment and feel free. But sometimes, parties also become a place where singles try to change their status, by finding a partner. "

Again, the girl kept silent with her innocent face. Harry had to really hold his temper.

"So that means, pretending to be date means you have to pretend to be my partner, in front of some people I know." Harry explained again.

The girl shook her head. "I don't want to meet other people."

Harry had to rack his brains again to explain things that would leave the girl with no reason to refuse. "I don't know who or what you really are. My friends don't know you so everything can be normal, take it easy. "

The way her blue eyes glistened still shows that she's terrified and couldn't trust Harry completely. "This is only a one time thing. I'll pick you up here at eight o'clock in the evening. Make sure to wear the best dress there is. " Harry's instructed.

The girl looked down doubtfully and bit her lower lip. "W-what should I do again?"

"While at the party, you must continue to hold my hand. Don't go anywhere and you have to stay close to me. The point is, you have to grind with me while we're at the party." Harry glanced at the girl from head to toe before grinning. "My friends will surely regret teasing me yesterday." Harry muttered triumphantly.

"Remember that, alright? I'll pick you up tomorrow and ah, yes! My name is Harry. But I don't really mind if you call me babe the same way I call you. " Harry winked before turning around.

"I'll see you tomorrow, babe."

Harry winked again flirtatiously and walked away leaving the girl who Harry himself didn't really care about her origins. He decided he'll think what later. For now, as long as the girl is pretty and could make Harry's friends jealous, Harry didn't mind.

Now, Harry is looking forward to attend the party tomorrow night, because of his date of course.