Two Actors Fooling Each Other

Chapter 2

The night air flew into the window of her bedroom, her hair strands swayed in motion. She lay on her bed, staring outside as a notebook laid sprawled on her lap.

"Ahhh!" She ruffled her hair aggressively out of frustration. "He still wants to date me after all that I did? What kind of lunatic is he?"

She pulled her hair out and then dropped her arm. She grabbed a pencil to cross out everything that failed. The page title was; Ways to Ruin My Date

"Bankrupt him

Ignore him

Act spoiled

Eat like a pig

Whine

Defy him

Mention your ex a lot

Be rude

Find out what he dislikes so you can use it to your advantage

..."

"Is he not human? Why is he not breaking this marriage already?" She let out a sigh, rubbing her forehead. Her second date was tomorrow and it's not looking that bright anymore. She has no choice but to go all out and up her game.

"But I also need to get married before the year ends..." She looked out the window again, drumming her fingers on the window edge. "I need someone who is only interested in the convenience of this marriage."

She brought it to her teeth and chipped her nails. Her face darkened. She didn't want someone who is interested in fulling marriage duties. He seemed like a playboy from her memories and the way he was handling their dates felt like he had ulterior motives. It was hard to tell if he wanted another trophy to own or a contract. She also can't forget how he laughed at her during her audition. He was everything she hated.

"I'll make sure he regrets dating me."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Rei's pupils went down and up, scratching his head in thought.

"Dress warmly." Rei remembered he texted that to her as a romantic gesture. Women love it when he shows attention to the little details but...why did she show up dressed in a thin sundress as if it was summer? He blinked. It was November, the air was chilly and the clouds dark. He didn't question it and instead, opened the car door for her as the gentleman he is and closed it when she got in. He entered and placed his seatbelt on, ready to drive.

"Where do you want to go?" He was looking forward to what she had in store for him because if the first date was anything to go by, this would be another disaster.

"I want to go to the beach." She didn't take her eyes off the window as she spoke to him.

God... he really couldn't predict any of her actions. She is the living proof of "never let them know your next move." Because what in the world is this?

"Is there any particular reason you want to go there?" He tried to make small talk as he set the destination, driving there.

"Ah, that's because-" She paused for dramatic effect. "I miss my ex. He used to take me to the beach all the time when we were dating."

Rei nodded to let her know he was listening. "He used to be the kindest person I know... all the good memories we made together.... the…" She paused as if she was struggling to come up with something.

"The gifts he gave me…why did he break up with me? Waaaah!" She sounded somber, covering her mouth, weeping out of nowhere. Rei pulled out the tissues, passing it to her. "I miss him so much!"

The difficulty of this date suddenly skyrocketed and it barely begun. Rei tried to focus on the road, trying to think of words to comfort her. "It's okay to miss him, y-"

He was interrupted when she pushed a button to the radio. He glanced at her as she switched channels. Music started to play and she turnt up the volume to the highest volume, suddenly dancing on her seat as she wiped tears that he couldn’t really see.

Rei stared at her, stunned as she swung her arms, shaking her head aggressively that her hair flown with the movement then she sung loudly, tone deaf, to the English lyrics of the song. He put his eyes back on the wheels, trying to hide his face.

God...

If you are still listening...

Send help...

Please...

Sincerely, Ito Rei.

Rei got out of the car, letting out a blow of air in relief. He survived this trip. He took a deep breath back, smelling the saltiness to calm down. Note to self, bring ear plugs next time.

As he managed to keep his composure, Rei approached Kana, drinking water to reduce the dryness in his throat as if he was the one singing.

Kana glanced at him and started to spill up her nonsense again. "My ex used to compliment me, saying I'm like Whitney Houston."

Rei spit out the water, turning away from her as he shook a little from laughing without a sound. Whitney Houston? More like she found the whale's home because that singing didn't sound human. It sounded like it should remain underwater so nobody else can hear it.

He coughed as a cover up, clearing his throat. She gave him a suspicious look, shaking her head at him in disappointment. "What? You won't even compliment me?"

"... you want me to lie like him?" The laughter Rei resisted came out and he giggled, before full on laughing. Her ex DEFINITELY lied to her. What he said wasn't funny but the circumstances, her reaction and the realisation just hit different at that moment. It was one of those where the situation was funny.

Kana let out a breath of this disbelief, genuinely shocked. Her face reddened in madness before she pivoted, stomping deeper in as Rei ran to catch up to her, apologising. He rubbed his chin to drop his grin.

"You are so tactless. I don't understand how anyone likes you!" She ranted as she speed walked. "Unlike my ex, who is considerate and would never do this to me."

Why was she talking so much about this guy? Rei scratched the back of his head, confused. Did he treat her that well?

"Since we are here, is there anything in particular you want to do?" He questioned curiously. "There is a reason why you picked the beach, right?"

He stared at the almost empty clearing with a few people passing by. The weather looked a little bit gloomy but the beach was still beautiful. The sand that crunched under his feet, the sea waves splashing on the shore, the concrete that was a few levels above to show the road.

"I came to recall the memories I made with my ex." Kana mused, finger on her chin, seemingly thinking.

"Do you want to recreate memories?" he suggested. "To get over the old ones?"

"Oh! Yes!" Kana nodded. "That's a good idea."

He smiled, a bit proud of himself for thinking something she is finally satisfied with.

"Let's go swimming."

...

His eyes twitched. He should never speak again. Why did he feel the need to open his mouth? "H-huh? In this weather?"

He looked around at the people wearing thick layers of jackets. "We don't have swimsuits."

Thank god for that.

"We can just dip our feet in water... My ex used to do anything I say without question." Kana's smile seemed creepily menacing.

Rei didn't know he was competing with ghosts of the past. He let out a sigh. He needed to win her over, he needed to win her over...

"Let's- OH!" He slammed his fist on his chest to get the rest of the words out in a sound that sounded similar to 'go' because at this point, he was struggling to speak.

"Come on." She grabbed his arm, her hand sliding down to his wrist to his palms, pulling him along. He noticed that this was the first time she held him.

"We take off our shoes here." She smiled brightly and he wanted so badly to think her smile was pretty but... why does she look like a devil right now? He took off his shoes and socks, shivering as the freezing cold water teased his leg with their slow waves. The weather was so much colder.

She also got in as well, she started to unnecessarily splash the water towards him. Did she think she was filming a commercial? What is all this running, looking behind and splashing for? Rei deadpanned. It was starting to feel like acting. Like all of it was an act.

In that moment she stumbled forward, it was Rei's chance to catch her and impress her! Yet... why did he sidestepped? He watched fell down as she twisted to the side. Her clothes got wet. Her brows twitched as Rei hurriedly came to pull her up.

"Oh no, how could this happen." He pretended like he didn't purposely enjoyed her falling .He never felt so satisfied in days.

"You sure?" She got up wringing her dress. He saw the way her dress pulled up to show her thighs and got distracted. "Saw you move?"

"Hmmm... oh right. I moved by instinct, I didn't expect you to fall." He mournfully said, averting his gaze away from her to now look at her as she continued to aggressively try to dry her dress. She seemed almost annoyed when she saw the very obvious wrinkles now on her dress but then smiled.

"Right, if it was my ex, he would have caught me right away since he pays attention to me."

A vein popped on his head. The shade she threw at him... she knew how to bruise his ego. Why did he have to fight this guy when they broke up already? "So what was his name?"

She was talking a bit too much about this guy that he was getting curious now. He rubbed his lips in thought, ready to do a background check on him.

"His name?" Kana suddenly froze then looked around at the beach. "His name was..."

Rei tilted his head. For someone who was talking so much about this man, the answer sure wasn't coming immediately.

She started to sweat profusely as she blurted out. "K-Kai! Kai... umm Hiromi... Hiromi Kai."

Rei furrowed his brows as he blinked rapidly. Hiromi Kai? What a coincidence that his name meant vast ocean while they were at the beach. The name definitely didn't sound like something someone came up at the last minute, definitely not.

His suspicion grew but he didn't voice it. "Ah, it sounds like you still love him."

Kana smiled sheepishly, her hand waving in denial, not matching her mood. "I'm over him."

"Hmmm." It didn't look like she wanted to be over him but Rei kept his thoughts to himself. "Let's have a seat over there."

He signalled to a bench as they both strolled to it. She took a seat, rubbing her arms a little as the chill air kicked in. Rei took off his coat, bending to cover her with it. He nudged and adjusted it on her shoulder. "Would you like something warm to drink?"

"A cup of Latte would be nice." She muttered, snuggling into the warm coat. Finally she was listening. He smiled at her as she avoided his gaze.

Rei found a stall selling a coffee and ordered them both a drink and walked back, handing it out to her, sitting beside her.

"If this was Kai, he wouldn't have asked, he would have just ordered." Kana obnoxiously added as she took it. When she was met with silence, she wondered if he finally snapped. She turned toward him.

"Oi... what are you doing?" Kana blinked as Rei had a small notebook and pen, jolting down some notes.

"Oh, this? I'm learning how to treat you better from your ex-boyfriend stories."

"Huh?"

She got close to see what he was writing.

Loves going to places that hold memories

She doesn't like people asking

She likes latte when it's cold so order that next time without question.

Likes attention

"What is this?" She grabbed the notebook from his hand, trying to read it carefully.

"Trying to be a better boyfriend." Rei tilted his head, lips near her ear to whisper. Kana looked at him dead in the eyes as he grinned at her innocently.

"What? Likes attention?" She eyes widened in disbelief.

"You know? You want someone attentive." He tried to play it off as if it was something else when he didn't mean it like that at all.

"Tsk…" She took off his jacket. "I don't feel cold anymore."

Rei curled a brow at her slight trembling as she crossed her arm. Did she get mad at him? "It doesn't seem like it."

"I'm not cold." She insisted aggressively.

"Right." He folded his jacket and left it in his hands. She started to walk on the concrete pavement as he followed, right beside her.

"Stop following me."

"Can't do that, we are on a date, remember~"

There was a comfortable silence between them, at least it appeared on the surface when they were both secretly plotting against each other. She suddenly sneezed in a way that made her jump.

"You want a scarf??" He tried to suggest it.

"No. I'm good like this."

"How about the jacket-"

"No."

"How about we go somewhere warmer like-"

"No."

"Stay in the ca-"

"No."

He didn't even finish what he had to say and she already shot him down multiple times. It was like she wanted to not take any of his suggestions... his thumb rubbed his chin for a moment. He knew from the first date she was a very difficult person. He tried a different approach, trying to confirm if he is right.

"You know, I feel cold." He acted like he was shivering. "I'm glad you don't want my jacket. I'm happy to keep it to myself." He unfolded it to wear it.

"I feel cold now too."

…

Of course she suddenly did. "I want the jacket."

It was almost as if he didn't have a choice. He couldn't hide the deadpan on his face at what she said. This confirmed it, he wasn't crazy, she was crazy. She was going against everything he said. He handed her the jacket since he genuinely did want her to have it, although why does he feel a little bitter?

As she put it on, he caught a stall that sold ice cream. Could he... get revenge? He amusedly let his intrusive thoughts out loud. "Ice cream shops probably don't sell much near winter. I mean, who is crazy enough to eat in this weather?"

"I want an ice cream." She declared as if she wasn't shivering from the cold a second ago, walking fast to order one for herself.

Rei smirked, mission accomplished. He saw her order a cone and now he realises, with great power holds great responsibility that he won't abide with. The ability to exploit…

Rei cracked up like a cartoon villain, horns and a tail popped up as he thought of schemes he could come up with. He already thought of another one.

Kana licked the cream, her teeth clattering as she smirked at him as if she thought she was doing something. He grinned innocently at her.

He decided to test if she was doing it because she disliked him. He decided to tell a story to break the ice and to also see if she will follow it. "Walking to the beach with you reminded me of a bad date I had."

The only bad date he had was with her if he was being completely honest. The difference between what he used to think was a bad date and now… he realized it can get worse. The bar was truly in hell now.

"It was with one of my exes. We went to this French restaurant and she started yelling at one of the waiters over minor inconveniences, making a public scene. I've never been so embarrassed so I broke up with her on the spot." This never happened. It's all fabrication.

"That's definitely embarrassing." Yet why was she smiling as if she found a good solution. Rei was curious what she would do with this information he gave her. He knows she is plotting something. He hoped she was because he wanted to relish in her humiliation.

Out of nowhere, she tripped. In Kana Fujiwara, we trust.

"Wow~" Rei muttered amusedly because it looked super forced. The moment she hit the ground, she led it up into a push up? What? The worst part? She was not built for it like her whole body hit the ground and goes up.

He bit his lips as he took his phone to film this from behind her so she wouldn't notice. The people passing by glanced, looking at her confused as they made their way out.

"Oops." After doing like five failed push ups, she stood up.

"Are you alright?" He pretended to be concerned. She seemed disappointed that he asked as if she really thought he would break up with her for falling funny. He decided to put the nail on that coffin by lying.

"It was cute how you did that." It was not but if she believed it, maybe she can embarrassed herself more? He smiled innocently as horns grew on his head, tail wagging. Even he didn't know he had this side in him.

"Uh... cute...?" She made a face, one side of her lips quirk, not believing what she heard. He was absolutely with her on that reaction. He would think he was a weirdo too.

"Why does nothing seem to work?" She held her head as her brain was unable to compute. "I've never met someone like you, Ito Rei..."

"I could say the same back to you." The ironic part is that he was like this because of her. "We make the perfect pair~" He added mischievously as she let out a sigh.

"We should find a place to eat. I'm getting hungry." She finally suggested a normal activity they can do together.

OXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The people passing by were staring at their table but at this point, he shouldn't be surprised. This was just another normal day with Kana Fujiwaral. While he was being a freak by cutting his meal with a fork and knife, Kana was eating spaghetti with scissors like a proper human. Now don't ask him where she got it from, he doesn't know.

"Hmmm this is so delicious." Kana hummed delightfully.

"Would you like to try some of mine?" He extended his fork out so she could try some of his steak. Because sharing is caring or he did it purely to see her reject his advances for the million time.

"Sure." He was surprised when she agreed. She leaned to eat from his fork and while he did blush by her boldness and how she kept eye contact with him, a part of him sensed it was a trap. No way, she accepted his romantic gesture just like that.

"Your turn?" She had a wide grin, eyes closed as her hand extended to him. An electric lightning struck on the back as Rei matched her smile. He knew it. "From the scissors?"

"Yes… from the scissors." They both had that fake smile, giggling a little at each other's behaviour.

God….

Please…

Don't forsake him.

With kind regards, Ito Rei.

"Of course." He leaned over, lips twitching as he slowly opened his mouth, eating from the scissors. He returned back, munching unamusedly. Was this spaghetti disgusting or did eating it from a scissors damped his taste bud that badly because he wasn't enjoying it… not even a little bit.

He turned to look around as expected, there were a bunch of waiters watching befuddled, they quickly looked away when they made eye contact with Rei.

It's been a few days but Rei wonders every time why his father wanted this woman.

Thankfully, the rest of the meal went uneventfully. He never found being normal so attractive until today. He was taking her back home, opening the door for her, relieved their evening date was over.

"Thank you for taking me home… see you again, I guess." She stared at him, as if waiting for him to say something special.

"Yea, let's see each other soon." He smiled, disappointing her with another date. "No goodbye kiss?"

"You wish." She crossed her arms, almost challenging him in a way. He didn't care about the kiss as much as he cared about getting under her nerves.

"Oh, by the way, I took a video of you doing this." He showed her a video of her doing the lame pushups.

"W-what! Why were you filming me?" She tried to take the phone away from him but he stretched his hand out.

"What? You didn't care when you did this? Was I not supposed to film it?" He acted innocently.

"Give it back!" She started to jump and he kept on the tip of his fingers, finding it cute how short she was. She was only a head shorter but the difference seemed big at this moment.

"Ya!" She yelled as she wrapped her arms around his, using her body weight to bring him down. Instead, she dangled for a moment, swinging her leg in mid air that he couldn’t help but laugh. Eventually, his arms gave out and she managed to take the phone away, glaring at him as she checked his gallery, deleting the video. He was beside watching her do it with a smile. He was so close to her that when she turned, his lips kissed her cheeks.

"Ah!" She backed away, stunned.

"One thing you need to know about me is that... if I really want something, I'll get it no matter what." He gently took the phone away from her hands. He smirked as put his phone back in his pockets, twirling his fingers in a cute goodbye.

"See you tomorrow sweetheart~"