Chapter 70 - Let The Cringiness Begin

It appears to have gotten a little bigger in number - and somewhat rowdier. 

Not wanting to waste any more second, Winter went to start searching at once. She had to find that hat no matter what since it was August who gifted it to her the other day. It has a sentimental value. That was the first present he gave to her in a long while, after all. And even when he keeps giving more these days, that's the one she treasures the most. 

Soon, seconds turn into minutes, and the unprecedented happens.

Right at this moment, Winter can make out a number of people flooding the coffee shop where she left Ace waiting. At first, she thought he was just unknowingly attracting attention again, but that's until she heard the ear-piercing shrill of a certain someone.

Before Winter knew it, the real deal finally began.

"My darling Aceee~!"

At that point, everything passed through her vision in a flash. 

It turns out that Chloe has made an uproarious appearance outside the coffee shop after spotting Ace there. With eyes as wide as saucers and mouth slightly agape, Winter only watches her make an overdramatic entrance as she strides right in and readies to pounce on him - with her group of supporters in tow the whole time, that is.

"Darn it! That's too soon! I still haven't found my hat...!" Winter bolted out, panic-stricken.

"If I go now, she will definitely see my face. She might recognize me, and if she blows up a fuse, she might post things about me on her social media. Since she's a popular influencer, rumors might spread about me dating my classmate. If that happens, there's a chance that August, Ms. Violet, Sir George, and Sir Lexington will find out-" 

But then, at that fraction of a moment, Winter recalls that she's not there to make a fuss over such consequences - she's there as Ace's friend.

She needs to get it together and put her thoughts straight. There's no use getting into a panic like this. Besides, she's good with finding solutions - she can both find her floppy hat and see this act through. For now, though, she has to think of a way to solve one of them first. 

"Arghhhhh...! Whatever happens happen! I don't care anymore!" Winter then grumbled before making a dash to where Ace and Chloe were.

As soon as she got back to the coffee shop, she sighed at the sight of yet another hurdle to pass through. She goes ahead and forces her way into the crowd, uttering excuses and pardons to those she bumped into all the while.

At this point, Winter can see that Chloe is so close to pouncing on Ace. Her obsessiveness is out in the open for everyone to see, but it seems like her prey is the only one who has a problem with it. He remains standing there looking stiff and flustered, unsure of what to do.

"Well, here goes nothing," Winter then muttered to herself before eventually reaching Ace and Chloe.

With a steeled resolve, she takes a deep breath before commencing the first phase of the plan.

The thing is, they have to pretend like lovers who almost broke up after a huge misunderstanding. Apparently, Ace doesn't want to make it too obvious that this is a last-minute set-up, which is why he decided to add a little bit of drama. Apart from this, reasoning out that they're madly in love with each other will most probably leave her with no choice in the end.

That's because regardless of how revolted her reaction will be, true love will always prevail in the eyes of many.

"Babe~!" Winter cooed, trying not to cringe at how she called Ace with a sickeningly sweet tone.

She immediately passed through Chloe who was already a mere step away from him. Before she could have a chance to see her face, she wrapped her arms around him and tucked her head underneath his chin, sending him almost staggering backward in nonplus. 

"Huh?! Winter-"

"Oh, my dearest Ace~ I miss you so, so much!" Winter whined as cringey as possible, interrupting him.

In front of all these people, she went ahead and embraced him so tightly that she could hear his pounding heartbeat and smell his minty fragrance, which she tried her hardest to ignore despite how much she started heating up from how close they were. 

Now, with her face hidden like that, they can still start the show even without her hat on. 

"Babe?! What?! Ace, what's the meaning of this?! Who is she?!" Chloe bolted out from behind Winter, flaring up. 

"Uhhhh... This is..." Ace trailed off before lowering down his head to look at her.

"Hey, Winter, are we really ready now? Where's your hat?" he then whispered, already getting frantic.

"Sorry, I couldn't find it. I'm alright now, though. Just don't let go of me. I'll have to hide my face..." she whispered back as she stared up at him with an apologetic look. 

"Is that alright?"

Ace was knocked out of breath at that very moment. Winter could feel him tensing up and getting a little bit warmer, which made her worry.

"Ummm... B-Babe?" she then called again, trying to snap him out of his daze. 

That's when a fierce blush blossoms across his cheeks all of the sudden, making her eyes widen in surprise. He hastily looks away and covers his mouth with the back of his hand, looking flustered time and again.

Winter can't help but think that this is quite a sight to behold. She's not sure if this part is required in the plan, but he started acting embarrassed too. 

"Hey, stop flirting, you two! Don't ignore me!" Chloe exclaimed exasperatedly, feeling neglected.

"Ace, get away from her! Let her go!"

"Go on, Ace. It'll be fine..." Winter murmured, her words coming out muffled as she continued to bury her face in his chest. 

"Do what you have to do."

"Geez... You're killing me, Winter..." Ace muttered, sounding almost breathless for some reason.

"I wish I can be as calm as you."

"Huh?"

Before she could make sense of what he said, he finally went and carried out the plan. He tried to get it together before he tilted his head upward and looked at Chloe again. 

"I'm sorry, Ms. Chloe. But I already told you. It really just won't work for us..." he started, brows furrowed and gaze unyielding. 

"As you see, I already have a girlfriend. She's the reason why I keep turning you down, but because we recently had an argument that almost caused us to break up, I couldn't tell you that. I thought she's going to leave me. But I was wrong."

And here goes the waves of cringiness. 

All Winter can do is shudder as goosebumps run a marathon throughout her body. This is really making her feel embarrassed. But she has to keep up the act. 

At this point, Ace is taking the lead. He now has both of his arms folded around her dainty frame while she only stays still in his embrace.

"What are you saying, Ace?! I never heard anything about this...!" Chloe hurled back. 

"I've been crushing on you for a long time now! You can't possibly do this!"

At her outburst, Winter can hear a round of gasps and chatters breaking out from the crowd. It seems like the audience is increasing in each passing moment. Now, they have completely turned themselves into one big spectacle.

"Did that girl seduce you, Ace?! Oh, I'm sure she did! She stole you away from me, didn't she?!" Chloe continued, throwing blames and accusations out of desperation. 

"No, she didn't do such a thing! We're deeply in love with each other! We only had a misunderstanding! But that's all the in the past now. And now... Now, she finally returned to me," Ace retaliated before he tightened his grip on Winter, taking her aback.

Perhaps, things are escalating a little way too quickly to her liking. The two of them seem to be caught up in the moment. 

"How ridiculous! You seriously can't be saying that! If all it takes for you to break up is some misunderstanding, then that is not love!"

"Nobody's perfect, Ms. Chloe. Everyone makes mistakes. There are things you'll never realize until you lose them. Now, I finally realized how much she means to me."

"Then, what about me, Ace?! I love you more than anyone else! I'm willing to give my everything to you. Did my confession not mean anything to you after all?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't let her go again. I want to be with her more than anything. So, please, don't come after me anymore."

Winter really tried her best to keep her expression straight the whole time. 

This god-tier cringiness and their wholesome retorts are definitely the deal here. Such a heated exchange does nothing but make her want to put on the flattest look she can manage, though. She prefers joining the spectators instead of being the center of attention like this. 

'Please, please, please, let this end already,' Winter grimaced in silence, wanting this absurdity to finish at once.