The Fake Dating Game's
The First Forehead Kiss

"Prepare the horse.I can compete." replied Declan firmly and loudly.

Starting from the fad Keenan who triggered this equestrian match, he did not expect if the figure of the man suspected as the lover of his daughter immediately accepted his challenge. Whether the boy can or not, Keenan doesn't know.

Inwardly, Keenan was delighted to see Declan have such great guts. Not a shudder at all. Even though the man was underestimated by his nephews, his mentality was still as strong as steel.

Another with Keenan, another with Daphne's male cousins. Harry, Clinton, and Kellan showed a hostile attitude.

Hearing Declan respond to the riding challenge, they responded with a mocking smile. They are both confident to win.

"Darius, Harry, Clinton, and Kellan, the four of you get ready!" keenan's orders.

"Okay Om, we will change first" said Harry representing.

Daphne's three cousins, with an average age of 25-30, eventually moved from where they stood, turning their bodies to enter the dressing room.

"Pi..Papi should not have to compete, huh? Watching from far away is enough!" chirps Darius who still remains.

"Why indeed? are you afraid of losing your competition to Papi?" Keenan screeched looking at his son not liking.

"It's not so Pi! Darius was only afraid that if Mami found out, Papi must have had his rampage. Yesterday Papi just had a backache, didn't he? Therefore, let us young ones who compete." said Darius who proposed Keenan to sit sweet enough to watch.

"In addition, the available horses are only 5. Not enough for six!" added again.

Although Keenan slightly sanctioned Darius' statement, but in hindsight there was a point to him as well. 3 days ago Keenan had experienced an incident while doing a gym that resulted in the middle-aged man's waist was painful and sore.

As Papi and his older brother argue, Daphne whispers to Declan while pinching Declan's arm slowly.

"Decs, you don't mess around!" lirih.

"Aww..." Declan rubbed his arm and glanced at Daphne. "Main-play how do you mean, I'm serious!"

"Decs..." Daphne whines a little. "You can't fight my brothers on the racetrack!"

"I can fight them" said Declan without the burden that made Daphne gawk.

After Keenan and Darius argue that ended with Keenan's disengagement in horse racing this time, the two immediately turned their sights on Daphne and Declan.

"Emmm.ukhmmm..." Keenan cleared his throat to melt the atmosphere.

Although Daphne and Declan spoke in whispers, Keenan and Darius could sense an aura of tension between them.

"Daphne, please take Decs to his dressing room to pick up the equestrian gear." said Keenan.

"Good, Pi.." Daphne nodded and led Declan into the dressing room.

***

"What can you do? How about falling? Have you ever ridden a horse before?" as usual, Daphne with his chatty behavior again poked Declan with various questions.

"If you're not a professional, don't. Brother Darius and my cousins Harry, Clinton and Kellan are quite good at riding. You can be sure you will lose!" the woman was pessimistic.

"What if I lose? It doesn't matter either. At least I tried!" Declan debated.

"Not so, I just don't want you to be humiliated and end up hurting Decs!" sahut Daphne sincere. Head bowed. His fingers involuntarily toyed around was unclear.

"Guests present at this family gathering event are quite a few, so this match will be a crowded spectacle. In the tradition of the Harper family, horse racing is one of the number one sports that has always attracted interest."

"Only one I fear. They'll make fun of you when you lose and I don't like it. Almost all of my cousins have a haughty nature. Just yesterday Ashlyn humiliated you, not today Decs.." explained Daphne at length.

Declan chuckled, "Didn't I ever say that I was always indifferent about it? Their words are just the wind then to me, Daph."

"Yes I know.but still.." Daphne clucked in annoyance and turned her face aside to avoid Declan's gaze.

Seeing the look of worry from the face of the woman's ayu made Declan's heart warm. At first he thought Daphne was underestimating him. But if he has a mouth, he can catch if indirectly Daphne just wants to protect him.

To answer Daphne's anxiety, Declan immediately stood up to her pretended lover, as he was done wearing shoes.

He dropped both shoulders of Daphne, and with his index finger Declan raised Daphne's chin to avoid looking down. The two of them stared at each other intensely.

"No need to doubt, I'm quite familiar with this game Daph! I've been riding a horse before. Your cousin might be a good guy, but I also don't want to lose and be able to compete." Declan's competitive spirit begins to emerge.

"All right..." Daphne finally gave up because Declan was so stubborn. "Are you sure it's okay? Slowly while driving it. It doesn't matter to me that you lose, the important thing is to survive."

Despite being nagging, Daphne still remained faithful to help Declan to wear his protective vest along with gloves and gum shield as a tooth protector so that when he fell ill.

Safety comes first, that's the principle.

"Thank you." replied Declan with a faint smile. His heart was glad to be noticed.

Then suddenly there was no wind or rain, Declan reflex affixed a sweet kiss on Daphne's forehead with a long duration.

Cupp...

Daphne's body froze. His heart rate was pounding uncontrollably. Both knees are slumped. His world felt hazy and the earth was resting as if it had stopped rotating.

Afterwards, Declan cupped Daphne's face and stroked the woman's cheek tenderly. "I'll be fine. We'll see in the arena how!"

Daphne fumbled her slightly wet forehead after being hit by a kiss mark. "Decs.kk-you just..."

"I knew. Sorry for being so rude. But in the back, there's your Grandma and Grandpa monitoring our movements from afar. They came carrying William," Declan moved his face as he spoke.

Degh's...

Daphne's heart raced back quickly.

***