But Was It Real?

Is there still time to cancel the plans that have been made carefully? Castelia was ready in a sexy sparkling gray dress, barely half thigh length, with her hair flowing beautifully. Her arms and shoulders are exported, as is her face which has been given a bit of make-up.

That woman not only looks beautiful, but she is also perfect. Black heels covered her legs and a pink fur coat covered her overly exposed body. Maddie shoved the voice recorder as a mini mic into Castelia's coat pocket before looking at her.

"Don't worry, Cas," the woman said quietly, confidently saying, "We'll get this over with very quickly." At least that's what Maddie hoped for, the job ended smoothly without any problems.

Castelia didn't respond but took a deep breath and exhaled slowly to calm herself, she just stood still and watched Maddie shove a small camera into the pocket of another coat.

"You're so perfect, Cas, you," said Maddie after being satisfied with judging her friend's appearance from top to bottom and back to top. "Believe me that you'll be fine," she added. "Joshua will be so stunned by you, and he will not be aware of our plans."

Because even Maddie was blown away by how beautiful Castelia was, even now, as the girl wore a frightened expression, her brows furrowed, she still looked beautiful like a pathetic puppy that could win anyone's heart. Therefore, Maddie can guarantee that their plans will be completed quickly.

This was their plan. Castelia would arrive five minutes before Joshua at the promised place, hiding the small camera behind the TV from her pocket and ensuring it was recording properly.

Castelia was sitting under the bed, but the clock's shorthand was no longer seven but nine. The girl didn't move from her position at all, time passed quickly for her but not for Maddie who had also been waiting all this time. The girl rubbed her forehead before exasperatedly grumbling, "Where is that bastard?!"

Maddie's exasperated voice entered Castelia's ears through the supermini earphones she put in her ear canals and covered with butterfly stud earrings. "I don't know." Castelia had barely even realized what time it was when she turned her head. "Maybe he won't come?" she muttered doubtfully.

Castelia couldn't believe it without ignoring the fact that Joshua had never broken their promise since they first met. The man would come when he said he would, which is why Castelia doubted Joshua wouldn't come tonight, mainly because he was busy.

However, Castelia had to remember that it was many years ago. It wouldn't be strange if it turned out that Joshua had changed and he was busy right now or just playing a prank on Castelia. The thought made Castelia not want to wait any longer. She got up as she said, "I'd better—"

Go home. That was what Castelia wanted until then, a sudden sound of a door stopped her footsteps. The sound of a lock opening was heard and the door opened, revealing a man who had been waiting for a long time.

Joshua in a work coat, Castelia concluded that the young man had just returned from work and it turned out that Castelia was right. "I'm late because of an impromptu meeting," said the man, he smiled before closing the door and looking at Castelia.

"Has he come?" Maddie's voice was heard and broke Castelia's daydream which for some time had been lost.

"Hmm." Castelia flinched at the small answer that came out of her own mouth, and she pretended to cough to hide the fact that it was for Maddie in the next room. "I'm sorry, I'm not feeling well today," she said, looking for an excuse before Joshua could ask.

Embarrassing, perhaps that one word deserved to be given to Castelia. They planned that Joshua would be mesmerized by Castelia's beauty, but Joshua hadn't even done anything and it was Castelia who had been embarrassed by the man's handsome face.

"You are sick?" Joshua asked. Without permission, he touched Castelia's forehead to check her temperature.

The discomfort caused Castelia to look down and take two steps back to dodge. But Castelia was the one who knew best that it was impossible to avoid an approaching Joshua. The man said, "I know how to warm you."

Castelia would have fallen if Joshua had not pulled her hand, sending her into his arms. With that attention and hug, Maddie had got what she wanted, but that would only happen after Castelia took their mini-recorder back and handed over the memory inside.

How to get out of this place asap? Castelia gently pushed Joshua and took one step back to create some distance, she looked at the man before changing the subject, "Why did you ask me to meet?"

"I just wanted to meet you," replied the man. With a straight face and eyes that didn't mean anything, Castelia couldn't figure out what she was thinking. Joshua smiled crookedly before adding, "I didn't expect to meet you by chance yesterday. Don't you think it's funny?"

Not funny at all. In fact, what was funny to Castelia now was how could the man in front of her suddenly appear with a smile and without any remorse or guilt after all that had happened and the pain he had caused? As if all of that was meaningless, as if everything was fine.

"You-"

"I have to go to the toilet," Castelia interrupted before Joshua could say anything else. She ran towards the indoor bathroom before getting a response from Joshua. The first thing Castelia did after closing the bathroom door was to press her chest and exhale, trying to calm her pounding and throbbing heart.

Castelia couldn't understand what was happening in her mind and heart, but it felt very unpleasant. 'Maybe I shouldn't have come here.' That was what he thought.

"Cas, are you okay?" Maddie's voice rang out, worrying Castelia as the conditions suddenly turned quiet.

"Uhm," Castelia mumbled. "I'll take the camera and get out of here," she whispered.

"Sure, do it right away," Maddie replied and the conversation was over.

After smoothing her beautiful hair, Castelia came out of the bathroom but her footsteps stopped when she realized Joshua was sitting on the sofa under the window. There is wine and two glasses on the table. Not only that, even half the lights went out, causing the room to turn a little dark.

"Come here," Joshua asked and Castelia complied dubiously. Castelia took a seat on the sofa beside Joshua who was separated by a glass table, watching him pour the red wine.

Joshua raised his glass and made Castelia do the same, the man gulped down his drink while Castelia just stared at his glass. "You … still don't answer me," she said hesitantly as Joshua stared. "Why do you want to meet me?"

Castelia wanted an answer, whatever it was, whether it was important or not, but it felt like Joshua was reluctant to answer correctly. He just smiled, whatever it meant but it felt like he was mocking. Joshua said, "Aren't I always happy to meet you?" He smiled sweetly as if the answer was honest and the feeling was true but was it real? Castelia's heart ached every time he acted like he was serious, but in reality, he was just playing around.

Joshua added, "It always feels good to have you around."