Akira

After setting new books on their place, my work is almost done and I'm rather glad that I'm half an hour early. There were not lots of work anyway seeing Mr. Jacob's mood is not very breezy. Whole day he has been dozing into his memory and I feel guilty because somewhat it's me who brought up all his nightmare.

But that doesn't mean I don't want to know anymore because I do. I want learn their story, their love and their mistakes. I also know it doesn't have any chance to happen today, maybe some other day. I'm the optimism one, I can wait for that day.

Wrapping up my work, I straighten up and swipe wrinkles on my dress. Today knowing about this date I have chosen a blue dress to wear with a little dip neck. It reaches my knees for sake of modesty and its sleeves are to my elbow. I like it and it fits me.

I caught Syd's raised brows when I was about to get out of our room but I didn't acknowledge it and with a quick bye saying I was late for work, I drifted off. I know it was wrong of me to ignore her but I just didn't want to listen anyone's lecture for my first date.

By the time I manage to get out of library, I am enormously nervous. At this moment I could share this to anyone just to feel little less nervous than I'm right now but I guess I have to manage with myself only.

A sudden thought enters mind, how would he know where I work? I groan of course he wouldn't know. I distinctly recall that he knew about Alex so it means he must be aware about 'Shine' too.

I ignore the point where my inner self asks suspiciously, how does he know about Alex? I try to convince it that maybe they already knew each other and he happened to see me with Alex.

I take out my phone and message him.

'Pick me from Shine cafe, it's near my workplace. I'll be there.' Akira.

Message received.

It's settle, now he wouldn't have to worry about searching my work place.

Sighing I make way toward the cafe. Thanks heaven that college, cafe and library are just in walking distance otherwise it'd be hell considering my lack of transport. It's not that I couldn't afford it. Just not now. After earning some money I'm sure I'd be able to buy not-a-fancy-kind but a-useful-kind of car. I'll see to it when it'll be absolute necessary. Right now I'm content with walking.

Since Kent is a small town there was not any need of car. Even when grandma wanted to give me one as my eighteen birthday present hoping I'd stay there, I refused her saying I didn't need when Logan already had one. It was Logan who taught me how to drive. He is real friend, sometimes intolerable but still he is like big brother to me if it was not for him, grandma almost tore my scholarship form. I knew she never really wanted me to come here, I never understood why.

It's my destiny.

I had to come no matter what.

Once I reach the front door of cafe, the immense amount of uneasiness sweep through me. I take two deep breath to compose my racing pulse.

I can do it.

It's just a date, right?

Is it?

Stepping in I take an empty table nearby door so I can see him when he'll come. Not that I really need to do it seeing he has the kind of influence on me that I can sense him whenever he is around me. It's a weird sensation, my body itself gets electrified and my heart starts racing. I can't really explain it but I know that I have never felt these kind of emotions before. Sometimes it's welcomed and other times frustrating.

I pull out my phone to see if he has replied me. There is no reply. It is showing that message has been received. Maybe he is on his way. Its already 7:15 pm.

Yeah.

That must be it.

I sense someone approach me just as I look up and catch the sight same girl, I think her name is Ella. Last time she was looking nervous as hell but now she looks confident and bold. I open my mouth to deny anything but stop when I see her glaring me.

"Stay the fuck away from Alexander. He is mine." Her pretty face transforms into ugly scowl.

Whoa!

Chill girl!

So she likes Alex.

That explains her nervousness in his presence and this over-confidence in his absence. She is clearly jealous because of last time when she saw us together.

"Listen you got it all wrong. I'm not after him. He is all yours." I assure her and it's true. I don't like him that way, I see him as a friend. It's not that he is not good looking or anything in fact he is very hot but he doesn't effect me. I don't feel any attraction toward him.

Not like Romero.

She scoffs, "Oh yeah? Then what was that pathetic act to his attention huh?"

What the hell?

My temper burns at her accusation but I try hard to remain calm, "You may leave. I don't have any service for you." I speak evenly and to think I thought of her as just nervous young girl afraid of her boss.

Stupid me.

"Listen here bitch, he was just trying to help you for your shameless performance otherwise he won't even look at you twice. No one will. You are just an attention seeking whor-"

"Ella." A loud voice shouts behind her, stopping her at mid sentence and me from jumping on her as my anger was just about burst open.

Oh hell no!

She doesn't have any right to talk to me in that way.

No one has.

Apart from Romero?

Not even him. He has always used my attraction back on me and that managed to caught me off guard but not now. Not after sensing he is somehow as fragile as me.

Just as breakable as me.

The same middle aged woman from first day appears beside Ella looking stern, she demands, "Apologise now!"

Ella purse her lips, looking defiantly at the woman.

Lady threatens, "Ella apologise right now or Alex will know of this."

Ella's eyes widen in panic before she turns to me still glaring as she mutters, "Sorry." but she doesn't look guilty at all.

"Go back to work." Lady orders Ella who hasn't stopped glowering me even as she goes back.

Lady turns to me with a warm smile, "Sorry about her, she is aggravating sometimes. Do you need anything?"

Only sometimes?

I sense my anger resolving at her politeness. I smile meekly, "Actually I'm waiting for someone."

Her smile widens, "Oh I see. A special someone huh?" Her eyes hold a knowing look.

How did she know?

Am I that transparent?

I blush at her words, ducking my head.

Chuckling to herself, she swings around to attend other tables.

I let my eyes roam around the room, taking everything in. This cafe is always full despite being week day and it deserves everything for its best food and service, with one as exception.

I glance at my watch which shows almost eight. He is still not here, not even a message. Where is he? Maybe trapped in traffic. I wait patiently for him as I keep looking other people.

I notice a young couple consume in themselves, oblivious to everyone. They both are watching each other secretly when one thinks other is not aware. The girl looks shy but the boy isn't being so subtle about watching her. A sigh escape my lips at their so obvious love.

They look happy.

Though I don't know them but I hope they always be happy together.

I order a glass of water when I feel my stomach grumbling a little and the aroma of delicious food is not helping too but I keep it still as I continue to wait for him.

I don't think of time until I see the couple start to get up reminding me that I have been watching them constantly.

When I check the time my eyes widen as it tells quarter to ten.

A dreadful awareness filled me, spreading cold chills all over my body. My heart cracks as the horrific realization hits me like tons of brick on my face.

Oh my god!

I palm my mouth to hold back the sob threatening to spill.

You have been stood up.

By Romero king.

No. No. No!

Yes!

I stand up with my wobbling knees after my thoughts are confirmed when the lady gives me a sympathetic smile as if she knows what this all is.

Oh god.

Humiliated, I clutch my purse in my hand and swiftly run out of the cafe in embarrassment with pacing heart but not before seeing Ella's smug smile, for her word were true.

No one wants me.

I stagger by entrance but don't stop. My eyes are burning with unshed embarrassing tear. I keep running like a madwoman.

I should have listened to my brain.

I should have seen decisiveness behind his eyes.

I'm a blind stupid naive girl who couldn't see past his brilliant act.

What have I done?

Reaching inside a dark valley I stop and lean to a wall. I desperately try to grasp some air in deep breath for my lungs are dying but it's hard to do so. The air is suffocating me like poison. Tears are streaming down and my heart is hurting painfully.

It hurts.

It hurts so much.

Grasping my chest, I fall on my knees not being able to stand and cry.

I cry with silent sky witnessing it.

With my family witnessing it.

I keep crying my heart out, until all hopes, sadness, happiness goes numb and there is nothing left for me to feel. Until my heart is void of any emotion and my eyes are empty of tears.

It's all because of him.

He humiliated you.

He made a fool of you.

Once again you fell in his game.

And he won, all fair and square.

Defeated, I force my body to stand up and to move forward with stricken face and a numb heart.

I pad my way back like a lost cause stumbling around.

For once my heart doesn't try find any sign of innocence in him.

It has given up.