Sally

I was well aware of Hermia's suspicious reaction. She knew him more than just a mindless banter with a stranger. How come of all guys she ever met recently, she remembered his name so well.

I look back at the boy who was awkwardly forcing a smile. Something was definitely up with both of them. I knew it! She's hiding see facts from me. And I'll ask that later.

Before I could ask her anything, she already walked past me and stopped in front of Ms Maria, her mom who was typing some things on her laptop.

"Mom. A second. " she said and her mom glanced at everyone else in the room. Something's fishy.

"Fine. "

And that was how they dashed into the kitchen. I soon heard murmurs from where I stood. I glanced at Aaron and smiled at him.

"Hey"

"Hi." he replied, eyes glued to the mug of coffee in his hands.

I already moved closer to the stairs in an attempt to go up into Hermia's room, when I overheard what Hermia said.

"Why the hell would you call him over? It wasn't like he was really doing anything that night. "

"Hermia. Would you try to understand me? We're neighbours and his father is the owner of a big company. Haven't I informed you I recently lost my job? So I just invited him over for coffee to properly thank him for the other night your friend was sick and maybe get in his good books. That way I might get a job if I persuade him later on. "

"You're so shrewd. You're using him? " Hermia said and I heard footsteps nearing the kitchen door. I quickly glanced at Aaron over my shoulder to see in case he saw me but he didn't. He was still staring at his probably already cold coffee. I dashed into Hermia's room quickly.

A heave of relief escapes my lips and I replayed the conversation I overheard. I shouldn't have listened but what if I didn't? That meant all these while, Hermia hid it from me that she's neighbours with Aaron. Who knows maybe they are actually meeting on the sly? She didn't want me to know hence she called her mom to the kitchen.

Why would she hide it? Am I a busybody that can't keep secrets? Yeah, I tend to blurt out but it's not like being neighbours with Aaron is a big thing.

Nevertheless, I wasn't going to judge without confronting her so I patiently waited for her to come in her room. Till then, I toured her not-so-large room which was stuffed with basically nothing important.

There were large posters of Jhope, V and Jimin from BTS K-pop group on every four walls and then, a poster of Lady Gaga was at the back of her room's door.

By the centre of the room is her queen-sized bed roughly arranged with throw pillows and her bedstand held three nail paints on it.

The nail paints and anything else that was associated with girls in her room were brought by me on several occasions of sleepovers. I would always plead and sometimes argue before I could let it be in her room. She's never probably used those makeups.

I went over to the vanity mirror, the only girl material she had in her room by herself, and touched the lid of the vanity box. Dusts clad to my fingers.

She's never touched this

I shook my head in disapproval and just then the door opened to reveal Hermia.

"Hey. Sorry I kept you waiting. "

"Um. " I said instead of asking the questions I had right away. "You've never touched these? "

She laughed and strode towards her bed before tossing the baggy t-shirt she was wearing unto the floor and slumping into the soft sheets of her bed.

"Ah. . . Never. "

"Okay. Time for makeup. Or else you'll get late for the date. It's almost seven pm. We need to get there earlier so as to create a good first impression. "

"Yes ma'am. But I'm a bit tired. Let's wait for 30 minutes more. I don't think I need the makeup too much anyway. I'm fine this way. "

I fulfilled her wish. We started to talk about things she should know about first dates since I've been on a couple of dates and of course credit to my romance novels.

"Done. Thirty minutes over. Come over for  transformation your highness. " I bent courtly and she sighed.

"Just this once... " she murmured and sat in front of the mirror.

"Nah. You'll face me so you won't have any complaints. I'll apply the makeup-"

"Powder and blush remember? "

I smiled. "Okay. But at least it'll be good. Now turn around. "

"Ugh. " she groaned and turned around.

I soon started to touch her face with the powder puff brush and slyly applied eyebrow liners on her face too. She was humming a K-pop songs now.

"What song is that? "

"The one I'm singing? BTS Run. You'll love it. "

"Well, only people like you would like them. They're cool though but seriously, they're guys who can't live live on their own terms. I heard they can't get a girlfriend or crazy fans like you would mob them. "

Hermia laughed. "Well I don't know about that. But it's just a contract. They are all guys from different backgrounds who come together. Bad Tang Boys might soon disband since they're on hiatus now. I'm gonna miss mochi" she pouted.

I smile at her cuteness. If only she'd stop limiting her own world and freedom then she'd see how great a girl she is and I'm there to help her. That reminded me of the question that I'd been dying to ask.

"Was Aaron your neighbour? " I paused to watch her next reaction and I was right. She went pale and then cleared her throat.

"Well I don't know. Why did you ask? " she opened her eyes.

I shrug. "He was here. I thought you don't like him? "

She lowered her gaze. "My mom called him over but. . . I'm not sure why. I don't know. He lives. . .around. " she lied and I knew it.

I dropped the brushes I was holding abruptly. "Done. "

She turned around swiftly probably to avoid me seeing her guilty face.

"You applied this! " she pointed at the eyebrow liners.

I shrugged and tried to put up a smile while I looked at her from the mirror.

"You look very pretty. "

She rolled her eyes and stood up. "I'll decide my clothes. "

I watch her from the bed I sat as she picked a tank top then putting on just a very short shorts.

She asked me to follow her downstairs which I did.

"You're going out? " her mom asks immediately we get down. I look at Aaron wondering why he's still there but I saw he was helping her type some things on her laptop.

"Yeah. We are going-"

"No. Actually she has a date. " I blurt out on reflex before I could stop myself.

Whoops

All eyes settled on me. Including Aaron's.

~~~

Disclaimer: I had said this before but will still say. Any resemblance to any living person or group is purely coincidental and mentions of real people is only used in a fictitious manner. No one is meant to be defamed.

There you go, crazy fans of BTS

Aren't you a fan as well?

Well, just not a crazy one lol

A!N: Your votes and comments are really appreciated!

By the way, what do you think of Hermia's lying habit?

Had you been in her shoes, would you tell the truth to your best friend knowing how loose-mouthed, filmsy and melodramatic she is?

Comment your thoughts. Don't be a ghost reader 😂