Contract Marriage: The Replacement Groom novel Chapter 145

145 ‘First kiss‘ at 15 

Lolita could feel the pain coming from Jeslyn as she sang. She didn’t look like she was singing someone’s song but rather, it felt like she was telling her story. She also picked up a mic and joined her but instead of singing the same thing, Lolita remixed the 419 

song. 

While Jeslyn sang Celestine’s part, Lolita sang hers, both of them doing a wonderful duet. 

1 

You broke me, I swear 

Cause I thought you something 

It hurts so, I swear 

Cause I thought you were real 

I don’t know, how to live 

But not anymore 

It breaks me… 

Not anymore 

Don’t tell me to move on 

Cause I’m already moving on 

When I can’t understand it 

I don’t need to understand 

Don’t tell me to let go 

I’m already letting go 

When it feels like I’m choking 

On love from friends 

It hurts, it’s painful, it hurts, and I’m dying. 

The love from friends is so overwhelming 

You can’t help but feel that way 

We are here for you 

We gonna make you laugh 

We gonna make you cry 

Cause you are so special 

Whoever hurt you 

Don’t deserve to see you cry 

They are worthless 

1/4 

They are useless 

They are confused and that’s how they’re gonna liveeeeeeec ece eee eee eee eee eeeeee… 

1 

Jeslyn had stopped singing and was looking at Lolita who was still singing. Her heart moved to know 

this was for her. Lolita opened her arms while still singing and embraced Jeslyn. 

Jeslyn couldn’t hold back the tears that were biting her eyes as she let them pour like rain. 

“It’s ok, you’ll be fine, Rose, let it all out.” Lolita consoled. 

“Clap, clap, clap!” Rubenstein gave a prolonged clap and a standing ovation. “Th- that was beautiful. You sang so well and in good harmony. It felt like you’ve practiced it so many times. That’s cool.” 

Lolita rolled her eyes and broke the hug. “Of course, did you think it wouldn’t be nice?” She ignored Ruben who was awkwardly rubbing his long hair and turned to face Jeslyn. “How are you feeling 

now?” 

“Thank you, I’m doing a lot better.” She smiled. 

Reuben left the girls to go buy drinks. When he returned, the girls were already seated and were listening to other heartbreak songs from Celestine. The mood was already gloomy, so it wouldn’t have helped. However, he wasn’t going to let them continue to be like this, so he came up with an idea. 

On his return, he met the girls talking. He gave out the bottle of drinks but before he could the words that were stuck in the back of his throat, Lolita beat him to it. 

“…That’s good to know… the day is still long, how about we play some games?” 

“G–good idea! I- I was just about to say that.” Ruben chimed in. 

say 

“That’s a good improvement. You’ve finally started to think like humans do.” Lolita chuckled. “So what game should we play?” Lolita asked Jeslyn. 

“You two should carry on.” Jeslyn shook her head. 

“Certainly not!” 

“No” 

They both chorused. Jeslyn got dragged to the sofa while Lolita and Ruben fought to choose a game. In the end, Ruben chose truth or dare. 

Lolita went first and spun the bottle to be used as a spinner. Lolita was still the first to go after the spin. She bemoaned before she said grumpily. 

“Who is asking the questions?” 

No one said anything. Ruben was waiting for Jeslyn to respond but since she didn’t, he replied; “I will… What are you most scared of.” 

“Wait, what is the punishment for a dare?” Jeslyn hurriedly asked. She wasn’t listening when they 

started. 

“There’s no set punishment. It depends on what the other party would tell you to do…” seeing Jeslyn frowning, Lolita waved her hands in the air and added:“It’s just a game, so it’s not serious.” 

10:43 

2/4 

“Fine…” Jeslyn said and relaxed. She could remember when she was still a teenager… before her 18th birthday. Those playful middle school friends of hers had closed her eyes and dared her to kiss the first person she saw when her eyes opened. 

Jeslyn did as told. The stranger ended up kissing her passionately. She ran to the washroom after that to wash her mouth until it turned red. Her friends made jokes about it for a long time and she didn’t find it funny because it was her ‘first Kiss‘ and she was too young for that- She was only 15! 

If she had known that her first kiss was stolen by Maverick at the age of 6, maybe Jeslyn might be cussing herself for being unholy from such a tender age. 

“Em… I’m most scared of people with bad intentions playing the good guys; betrayers, backstabbers, backbiters, and so on.” 

“I- I think everyone does. And one thing you should also know is that they all start with the letter ‘b‘. Although we hate them, it doesn’t mean they will stop following us around.” 

“That’s the job of a stalker, right?” Lolita disagreed. 

“In my opinion, stalking, backstabbers, backbiters, betrayers, they are all the same. If they don’t stalk you, how would they know you too well to do those things?” 

“It depends on the scenario. A best friend or a sister wouldn’t need to stalk you before they know you like the back of their hands. But others can. It doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll go everywhere with you while wearing a black cap, black shoes, black clothes, and looking all suspicious.” 

“You are right.” They both agreed with Jeslyn. 

The bottle was spun again and it stopped on Ruben. 

“Ruben, we still don’t know much about you. You are quite mysterious.” Lolita said meaningfully. 

“B- but I already introduced myself.” 

“There’s no harm in doing it again. I bet Rose wasn’t listening. Right, Rose?” 

Jeslyn nodded absentmindedly. 

“O- ok. I’ll do so…I’m the first child from a wealthy family in Country V. However, I’m an illegitimate son, so you should already know how much treatment I got.” (1