"Everything?"

Ishika looked at me with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. She tilted her head slightly to the side that made her seem both intrigued and unimpressed at the same time. Her raven hair fell over her shoulder, framing the contours of her face that I hadn't noticed before. The chatter of the crowd was a gentle hum in the background, but I could see her eyes focusing solely on me as she processed my proposition.

"You're serious?" she asked, raising a perfectly sculpted eyebrow.

I nodded firmly. "Everything. Dates, hand-holding, the whole nine yards. But only two days a week, and the rest we're just friends."

Her expression didn't waver. She took a sip of her water and put the glass down with a deliberate clink against the table. "And what makes you think I'd agree to such a... game?"

I shrugged. "Well, you said love is a scam, right? So this isn't about love. It's about experiencing something before you settle. Two days can't hurt."

For a moment, she remained silent, her eyes boring into mine as if searching for a hidden motive. Then, she leaned back in her chair with a sigh. "Okay, fine. But only because it's my last month of freedom before I'm shackled to some guy my dad chooses."

The suddenness of her agreement took me aback, but I didn't let it show.

Alright, deal," I said, sticking my hand out to seal it with a handshake. She took my hand, her grip firm and determined. "You won't back out, right?" I asked, trying to mask my excitement.

"If I say I'll do it, I'll do it," she replied, her voice steady.

"So, it is a deal then," I said, a smile slowly spreading across my face. I couldn't believe she'd agreed to my ludicrous idea. I felt a rush of adrenaline. The game had begun.

"So, to clarify," I began, "We're boyfriend and girlfriend on two days a week, and the rest of the week we're just friends."

"And we can do whatever we want on those other days," Ishika added with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "Including dating other people."

My heart skipped a beat, but I nodded. "As long as we respect each other's boundaries and keep it between us."

"That means, if I see you with another woman on our boyfriend girlfriend day, that bitch dies," Ishika said with a straight face, making me laugh in surprise.

"Don't worry, I won't," I assured her, still chuckling.

"Good for you. Cause I play fair and square," she said, the corner of her lips quirking up in a smirk.

"Ok ok," I conceded, raising my free hand in a peaceful gesture. "Which two days do you want to claim?"

"You tell me," she said, a playful challenge in her tone. "I'm open-minded, I'll give you the upper hand."

"Well, weekends usually work best for most people," I suggested, trying not to seem too eager. "Saturdays and Sundays."

Ishika considered for a moment. "Saturdays are out," she said finally. "I promised my mom I'd spend them with her."

I felt a twinge of disappointment, but I didn't argue. "Fine, then Fridays and Sundays?"

"Fridays and Sundays it is," she agreed, nodding.

"So, we get a total of..."

I did the quick math in my head. "Seven dates, if we start this Sunday."

Her eyes lit up with excitement. "Perfect! Now, who's going to plan the first date?"

I leaned back in my chair, feeling the weight of the responsibility. "Since you gave me the upper hand for choosing the days, I'll let you have the first move for planning the date," I said with a grin.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really? That's so sweet of you, Jungkook," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Ladies first, I see. How very gentlemanly of you."

"Hey, everyone is equal in game," I replied, playing along with her teasing. "But you better not disappoint with your date planning skills."

Ishika's smile grew wider, and she tapped her chin with her finger. "Hmm, I might not believe in the whole love thing," she mused, "but I'm pretty good with dates. So, you won't be disappointed."

With a sense of excitement brewing inside me, I leaned forward, eager to hear her grand plan. But before she could spill any details, she abruptly stood up, slung her bag over her shoulder, and said, "Alright, it's a deal. I'll text you the details. See you on Sunday, Jungkook."

And just like that, she was gone, leaving me alone with the echoes of our conversation and a million thoughts racing through my mind. I couldn't believe what had just transpired. I'd convinced her to play along with my game. The reality of it all was setting in, and it was exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure.

The day skipped by as if it had been greased by the very gods of time. Before I knew it, it was Saturday night, and the anticipation for our first date was palpable. I lay in bed, my thoughts racing like a river in monsoon, the blue jhumkas I'd bought swinging gently from my hand. They'd looked so perfect on the vendor's display, but now, against my skin, they felt like a promise, a declaration of intent. The cool metal was a stark contrast to the warmth of my palm as I imagined her wearing them, the way they would complement her dark hair and those piercing eyes that seemed to see right through me.

Oh I bought blue jhumkas cause she loves blue, I thought to myself, placing the earrings on the bedside table. It was the colour of the lehenga she had worn the first time we had met, the one that had made my eyes pop. Tho that wasn't the first time I saw her. I had caught a glimpse of her at the airport, but anyway, that's a story for another day.

Earlier I had received a notification from "Ishq," the name I'd playfully saved for her in my phone. The message contained an address, and she had already set the stage for the first date. The anticipation grew as the digits on the clock ticked closer to midnight.

My phone buzzed, jolting me out of my musings. The screen read "Ishq," and the time was 11:58 PM. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, feeling the tension in the room thicken. But I didn't answer.

The phone stopped ringing, and for a brief moment, I thought she might have given up. Tho I didn't want her to. But just when the quietness was about to swallow me, the phone buzzed again. It was 12:00 AM. Sunday.

I pick up the call, my heart racing. She was about to say hello, but before she could, I blurted out, "Boyfriend speaking, is this my girlfriend?" The line was silent for a split second before she burst out laughing. "So, you've already switched to the game mode, huh?" she teased.

"Guilty as charged," I said with a smirk. "What's up? Can't wait for our date tomorrow?"

Ishika's laughter was sweet and infectious, filling the silent room. "Actually, I called because I forgot to tell you something important."

"And what could that be?" I prodded, curiosity getting the better of me.

"Well..

Ishika's voice took on a slightly serious tone, the playfulness from earlier fading away.

******