(S1 Finale) Chapter 11 Confession

No one's POV

It's currently, early in the day, and Nhazul was currently out with Ruka, after her asking him to go out with her before their shift at work.

Ruka: Nhazul!

Upon meeting up with Ruka, she immediately ran up to him grabbing his arm, while others guy watched jealous.

Ruka: I'm so glad I got to see you!

Nhazul: ...-_-... We saw each other like two days ago...

Ruka: That's true. It's only been two days and yet why does this make me so happy?

Ruka just smiled at Nhazul happily, as he just rolled his eyes. Afterwards Ruka took him to go shopping, with her trying on different outfits and showing him.

Ruka: Ta da! What do you think?

Nhazul: Looks nice.

Ruka: Yay! Lavender's in this spring, y'know.

Nhazul: Is that so.

Nhazul just leaned on the wall, with an uninterested look on his face, which Ruka noticed and looked down saddened, but she then spoke up.

Ruka: You know, I do realize it...

Nhazul: Hmm? Realize what?

Ruka: That this whole time, I've just been trying to force my love onto you, especially knowing your past. That isn't going cut it...

Nhazul looked over at Ruka, seeing her again smiling at him happily, with a truly genuine smile.

Ruka: Cause I want you to fall in love with me for real.

Nhazul just looked at her surprised, when she said that. As they continued their date, Nhazul ended up buying her a balloon she asked him to get her. As she's picking out the one she wants, Nhazul just looked at her.

Nhazul's thoughts: Sure she can be possessive, overbearing, stubborn, brash, noisy, and pushy.

She's also cheerful, determined, and passionate. Everyone has their flaws, me included. Overall, she's a good girl.

Nhazul just thought back to Mami's betrayal, making him sigh. After their date, Nhazul and Ruka made their way to work, and currently they were cleaning out a room, when Nhazul spoke up.

Nhazul: Look... I'm sorry...

Ruka: Huh?

Nhazul: I understand what you're doing or what you've been doing. But regaining my trust for relationships isn't a simple thing to do...

Nhazul would just clinch his fist, looking down saddened.

Nhazul: At least for me...

Suddenly, Nhazul felt something hold him tightly from behind, seeing it was Ruka hugging him, pressing her face against his back.

Ruka: I understand. That's why I'll do whatever I can to win your heart, and help you trust again.

Nhazul: ...

As Nhazul looked back up, his eyes widened when he saw both Mami and Chizuru together, walk past the room.

Nhazul: Huh...?

Nhazul opened the door, and saw the two of them enter a booth together.

Nhazul's thoughts: What the hell...?

Within the booth, both Mami and Chizuru had sat down, with Mami sliding an envelope to Chizuru.

Mami: Let's just get this out the way.

Chizuru just looked at the envelope, before speaking up.

Chizuru: I can't accept this...

Mami just looked at Chizuru and smiled passive aggressively.

Mami: Just take it.

Chizuru: ...

Mami: Come on! This won't be an enjoyable date with cash just lying on the table! Here.

Mami took the envelope, putting it in Chizuru's bag, as she spoke up.

Chizuru: How long have you known...?

Mami: About your job? Maybe for a week or two. I happened to look up rental girlfriends and found out.

Chizuru: ...

Mami: Man, you're super popular, huh? It seems you're ranked at the top for the rookies.

Mami put her phone down, looking at Chizuru.

Mami: What do you usually sing at karaoke?

Chizuru: It depends on the client... It'd be pointless to sing a song they don't know...

Mami: Wow, you're pretty versatile, huh? Then... How about when you're with someone around your age? I don't know, maybe like Nhazi?

Hearing Nhazul's name, Chizuru finger flinched a bit.

Chizuru: I've... I've never been to karaoke with Nhazul... But if we did, I would probably go with the Peggies or Halca.

Mami: Oh, the Peggies are great! Nhazi and I listened to them all the time!

Chizuru: ...

Mami: Sing one for me.

Chizuru didn't say anything, as Mami set up the song. But Chizuru then spoke up again.

Chizuru: Would you mind telling me why you booked this date? I can't imagine this is just about karaoke.

Mami, didn't say anything, picking up and microphone, setting it down in front of Chizuru, giving her another passive aggressive smile.

Mami: Sing. For. Me...

Chizuru: ...

Outside the booth, Nhazul was looking in, seeing Chizuru and Mami, with Chizuru singing.

Nhazul's thoughts: I knew it... I knew she'd find something off, when I was with Sumi. She always would look up people who would annoy her on social media. She must have searched Sumi and found out she was a rental girlfriend, in turn seeing Chizuru...

Ruka: Nhazul? What are you doing?

Nhazul looked back and saw Ruka walk up, as she went to look into the booth.

Ruka: Is something up with this booth?

Nhazul: No, it's fine. Come on, let's just get back to work.

Nhazul proceeded to lead Ruka away, looking back at booth. Back inside, Chizuru had just finished singing.

Mami: Wow! You're a really good singer! And Nhazi's never heard you sing? He's totally missing out!

Chizuru: ...

Mami: Where do you go with him?

Chizuru; I'm afraid I can't discuss that...

Mami: Ah, protecting your client's confidentiality? How cool.

Chizuru: ...

With Nhazul, he had made his way back to the booth, cracking the door to listen in the conversation.

Chizuru: I have returned the money. I don't think I'm doing my job as a girlfriend right now. I don't deserve to be paid for this.

Mami: What are you talking about? You're doing fine. You're plenty cute as you are. Besides, I wanted to see the real you, anyway. Brilliant.

Chizuru: Huh?

Mami: You've played the role of Nhazi's girlfriend perfectly for a whole year. You totally had me. That's so impressive. Just consider that your prize money.

Chizuru: ...

Mami: Sorry about the unpleasant surprise today. But now that I know what a rental girlfriend is all about. And I have zero intention of criticizing your line of work. But let me just say one thing.

Chizuru: Huh?

Mami: Drop this fake couple business right now.

Chizuru: What?

Mami: I mean, the people at college seriously believe it's real. I can't watch it go on. And I feel sorry for Nhazi. As long as he has a rental girlfriend, he'll never find a genuine one. Also, Nhazi isn't the type of person to just spend money to pretend he has a girlfriend. Girls were all over him in high school, so there has to be more to the story, but I just don't know what, but honestly I really don't care. This "loveless relationship" of yours... Your fake ass smile...

Mami looked at Chizuru extremely irritated.

Mami: It really, really pisses me off...

(Flashback)

Mami: Oh, I just found her incredibly pretty. But if you go any further with Nhazul, you should have a heads up.

Nhazul: Huh?

Mami: Once he's bored with you, he'll up and leave you without saying a word. He did it to me, so I'm just giving you a warning in advance.

Everyone just looked at Mani shocked, as she continued to casually talk about Nhazul.

Mami: I was so surprised and upset, not a call, text or anything, he just up and ghosted me after he graduated from high school. I guess I served my purpose once he graduated. I guess he wanted a more attractive girl.

(Present)

Chizuru just looked at Mami, narrowing her eyes.

Chizuru's thoughts: My fake smile...?

Nhazul: ...

(Timeskip)

After both Chizuru and Mami left, Nhazul lied and said he needed to take his brother to a doctor's appointment to leave early. He then proceeded to make his way to where Chizuru and Mami left to.

Nhazul's thoughts: I figured they'd split off at the station like she always does.

Nhazul looked up and saw the two of them crossing the bridge.

Nhazul: Correct assumption.

Nhazul walked up the stairs behind them, sitting down on the stairs to avoid being seen, to see if anything else would be said.

Mami: I'm good here! Again, sorry about the nasty surprise. But hey, nothing wrong with a girl renting you, right? Has it happened before?

Chizuru: No... At least not with me...

Mami: Well, that's unexpected, with so many lonely people around nowadays. To be clear, I'm not about to reject your line of work. I just thought it'd be weird not to let you know that I know. Don't worry. I won't tell anyone at college. I got my point across, and I has fun along the way. You're so cute. I bet you have all the boys up in seventh Heaven. Well, all expect Nhazi. You know how he is nowadays with women.

Chizuru: ...

Mami: Well, later.

Mami proceeded to walk away. As she did, Chizuru clinched her strap on her bag, speaking up.

Chizuru: How do you feel?

Mami looked back at Chizuru confused.

Mami: Huh?

Chizuru: About Nhazul?

Nhazul: ...

Chizuru: You and Nhazul were together for over 3 years. All the way to his gradation in high school. He wanted to marry you someday. You aren't just someone he could just forget.

(Flashback)

Zane: Yeah. Before he was cheated on by Mami.. They loved each other more then anything, they dated all throughout high school. He actually wanted to marry her someday. But that moment broke him, her cheating on him broke him and changed him for the worse. He became bitter and spiteful towards women and refused to date. That betrayal gave him real trust issues. Honestly, bitter and spitefulness is just a defensive mechanism for him.

(Present)

Chizuru: I know wholeheartedly, despite everything you've put him through, you still hold a special place in his heart. So why? Why would you cheat on him? Why hurt him like that?

Nhazul: ...

Mami just looked at Chizuru, before she narrowed her eyes.

Mami: And you? How do you feel about him?

Chizuru: What do you mean...?

Mami: I mean, come on. It's been a year. You've been playing his girlfriend for an entire year. Does your agency know about this?

Chizuru: ...

Mami: You could have fallen for him while being his rental girlfriend. It's possible, isn't it?

Chizuru didn't say anything for amount, blushing slightly, before speaking up.

Chizuru: He's my boyfriend!

Mami just gave her a look.

Mami: Wow. Way to dodge the question.

Chizuru: The same why you dodged my question, right?

Mami just looked at Chizuru annoyed.

Mami: I won't poke and pry into your business, so don't do it to me.

Chizuru: ...

Mami: Goodbye.

As Mami proceeded to walk off again, Chizuru just stood there.

Chizuru: ...

(Flashback)

Nhazul: You know how I feel...? HOW I FEEL?!?! You don't know anything!!! You're still with the girl you love! She didn't cheat on you!!! She didn't rip out your heart!!! She didn't destroy your trust in relationships!!! So don't fucking preach to me like you know what I'm going through!!!

(Flashback)

Nhazul: Sorry. For earlier.

Chizuru: I'm not mad or anything. At least not anymore. I'm your rental girlfriend after all. But despite that, I was being genuine before.

Nhazul: I see.

Chizuru: But I get it. At first I thought you were just bitter about your Ex, but after tonight, I can tell that it left lasting scars.

Nhazul: ...

Chizuru: But like I said before. There's no one alive who doesn't get lonely. Just a lot of people good at hiding it. The fact that you're unable to let go shows how much you care. Much better then a relationship you can easily forget.

(Flashback)

Nhazul: Get off of me...

Ruka: Huh?

Nhazul: I said get off!

Nhazul proceeded to push Ruka off of him, still glaring at her.

Nhazul: You say that you like me, but why? You've only known me for a few hours at most, that don't even make up a full day... You know nothing about me...! You have absolutely no reason to fall for me...!

Ruka: B-But...

Nhazul: Shut up! You don't like me... The only feelings you have for me are artificial... FAKE!!!

(Flashback)

Nhazul: My deal? My deal is that stupid facade you put up, as well as your job as a whole.

Chizuru: Huh?!

Nhazul: You act like you care, like you're interested. You get into fake relationships with people you have no interest in just for money.

(Present)

Chizuru just clinched her fists tightly.

Chizuru: Wait...

Mami: What no-

Chizuru suddenly grabbed Mami's hand, surprising her.

Chizuru: Wait, please! We're not done here!

Mami didn't say anything, narrowing her eyes.

Chizuru: Please, tell me! Why did you do it?! Being a rental girlfriend helped me realize just how important love really is! And being with Nhazul helped opened my eyes to how hard it is to love and trust! You have to realize the pain and hurt you put him through, the pain he's still in! And he doesn't even know why! If you no longer love him, then so be it, but you can't just forget all you've been through with him! Don't you think he deserves some sort of closure to help him move on, just like you've have?!

Mami's eyes widened, as Chizuru said that.

Mami: Moved on...?

Mami proceeded to snatch her hand away, giving Chizuru a look full of hate and spite.

Mami: I said not to pry at my business... So fuck off...!

As Mami proceeded to walk off, Chizuru could have swore she saw a tear fall from Mami's face.

Chizuru's thoughts: Was she...?

As Mami was out of sight, Chizuru soon looked down saddened, neither knowing Nhazul had been listening in.

Nhazul: ...

(Timeskip)

It's later in the night, and as Chizuru was making her way home, she saw Nhazul leaning on the rail, outside her door.

Nhazul: Yo.

Chizuru: Hey.

Chizuru proceeded to walk past Nhazul, but he spoke up, getting her attention.

Nhazul: Thanks. For earlier.

Chizuru: Hmm?

Nhazul: For earlier. With what happened with Mami.

Chizuru looked at Nhazul shocked.

Chizuru: What?! How do you-

Nhazul: You two went to the karaoke place. I work there and saw you two.

Chizuru: You work there?!

Nhazul: Yeah. I just wanted to thank you. You did something I've been too afraid of pushing to find out...

Chizuru looked at Nhazul and looked down.

Chizuru: I have to apologize to you, then. I couldn't get her to tell me why. I tried everything I could, but it was a tall order for me. I was hoping to give you some sort of closure...

Nhazul just started to chuckle.

Nhazul: Why are you apologizing?

Nhazul's thoughts: She's blunt as all hell, but she's also too nice for her own good. A harsh critic, but has shown more empathy then anyone else.

Nhazul: I appreciate the thought, but it's alright. You've done way more than I imagined.

Nhazul looked up at Chizuru and smiled at her.

Nhazul: So again, thanks. And I mean that, I'm not just being sarcastic.

Chizuru looked at Nhazul blushing a bit, before looking away, unlocking her door.

Chizuru: You're welcome...

Nhazul proceeded to open his door and walk inside.

Nhazul: See you later.

As Nhazul entered his apartment, Chizuru proceeded to do the same, and after closing the door, she leaned on it, still blushing.

Chizuru: Dumbass...