Chapter 550 Jesse is a Real Gem
Jesse was a real gem! The guy could do it all.
Elara was munching on her food, sneaking glances at the cool and handsome Jesse. "Hey, Jesse."
"What's up?" Jesse replied.
"Got anyone special in your life?" Elara pressed on.
Jesse shook his head. "Nope."
"Ever thought about dating?" she continued.
"No," Jesse said, straight to the point.
"Well, I have," Elara's eyes were locked on him, dead serious. "I was always busy with school and work, but now that I've quit my job, I wanna give dating a shot."
Jesse paused, then asked, "Got someone in mind?"
"Yep." Elara was ready to spill the beans, knowing Jesse wouldn't catch on otherwise.
"Who?" Jesse asked, not really paying attention.
"You," Elara blurted out, her tone playful.
Jesse froze, his eyes flickering with surprise.
Elara started counting on her fingers, her eyes sparkling. "You're kind, thoughtful, good-looking, can cook, have a steady job—you're perfect for dating and marriage."
"I'm not planning on dating or getting married right now," Jesse said after thinking it over.
"I'm not asking you to date me right away; I just wanna try it out," Elara simplified. "Since we're living together, let's just pretend to be a couple for fun."
Jesse felt a bit lost. He wasn't sure if he was ready for that kind of 'fun'.
"Or do you think I'm not pretty enough to show off?" Elara was setting him up.
Jesse didn't see the trap. "You're pretty."
"Then why not have some fun with me?" Elara's behavior was totally out of the ordinary. "I'm not asking for a real relationship, just someone to hang out with—walks, movies, shopping, the usual stuff."
Jesse was at a loss for words.
Elara tilted her head, moving closer. "What do you say?"
"You mean like acting?" Jesse asked.
"Sort of, but not really," Elara clarified. "We just act like a couple, but it's not a real relationship. If you find someone you like, we can end it anytime."
Jesse still found it odd.
"Since you don't have anyone special now, why not make my wish come true?" Elara knew Jesse well. "It's my 28th birthday wish."
"I can do those things with you," Jesse finally said after thinking it over. "You just want to experience dating; we don't need to label it."
Elara pouted. Jesse wasn't falling for it.
"Then just treat me as your girlfriend from now on," Elara insisted.
"You," Jesse thought of Mark's words, his gaze on Elara, his voice hesitant. "Do you like me?"
"Yes," Elara answered calmly, "I like you and Mark. You both are so good to me, how could I not like you?"
Jesse clarified, "I don't mean as friends, I mean romantically."
Elara replied, "Then no."
"Really?" Jesse asked.
"Yes," Elara said naturally, though her heart was racing.
Jesse asked, "If you don't have feelings for me, why do you want me to be your boyfriend?"
"I just want to see what dating feels like," Elara thought Jesse was being super stubborn. "If it's good, I won't be scared of marriage. If it's bad, I'll stay single."
"Then I can't agree to that," Jesse said flatly.
Elara was puzzled. "Why not?"
"Because you're experiencing it with me, and whether it's good or bad, it only involves me," Jesse was dead serious. "If you end up fearing marriage because of a bad experience with me, it's not fair to others."
Elara took a deep breath, gripping her utensils tightly. If she didn't knock some sense into him, he'd never get it!
Jesse saw her fierce expression and knew what she was thinking. "You can't beat me."
"Want to bet?" Elara challenged.
Jesse repeated, "You really can't beat me."
Elara kicked him under the table.
Jesse was about to say something when Elara's phone rang.
Already annoyed, she saw the caller and her mood worsened. "What do you want?"
"I heard from Harry that you're still single," It was Elara's cousin, who meant well but had a sharp tongue. "Want me to set you up with someone?"
"No thanks!" Elara snapped.
"Really?" her cousin pressed.
"I have a boyfriend," Elara handed the phone to Jesse, pretending to be fierce. "Talk."
Jesse looked confused. "Say what?"
The person on the other end got excited. "Who is this guy?"
"My boyfriend," Elara replied, then hung up and put her phone on silent.
Damn it! How could she get Jesse to agree?
"You just asked me to pretend to be your boyfriend, to get a taste of dating," Jesse said, understanding her plan. "Do you want to use me to act, to go shopping, watch movies, eat out when you need it?"
Elara instinctively denied, "No."
"And then end it when you find someone you like?" Jesse continued.
Elara felt helpless. What he said was true, but her real intentions were different.
She just wanted a fake relationship so that when she asked him out, he wouldn't overthink or doubt her.
This would also help her pursue him, but now it seemed her plan was backfiring.
"It's not one-sided, it's mutual," Elara emphasized, feeling like she was messing things up. "In other words, when you need a girlfriend, I'll be there too."
"If that's the case, I can do it," Jesse agreed.
Elara was about to explain more but stopped when she heard his words. "What?"
Jesse replied, "I can act with you."
Did he know what he had just said?
Elara was in complete doubt, not knowing what Jesse was thinking.
To Jesse, it was simple.
Playing the role of a boyfriend, just like last time pretending to be Daphne's boyfriend, only this time it was living normally.
In Jesse's view, Elara must be very insecure.
If Elara knew his thoughts, she would probably laugh out loud.
"Are you really agreeing?" Elara still felt like she was dreaming.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
