LOVER MONSTER!
114. Beginning And End.

Jessica's long-awaited Monday finally arrived. A day that becomes a symbol of busyness, the beginning and return of time. This Monday, in Jessica's eyes was like a fateful day. The day she will remember as the day begins and ends everything that has happened and complicates Jessica's current situation.

The conflict at Bellamy will be over and they can go home to Vegas. Start a new, calming life, without anxiety. Demian will be back in time, and Jessica will forgive the man.

Although Jessica was still unhappy about being exiled, but, as long as Demian returned to her and apologized sincerely, Jessica would forgive the man.

"You're so cheerful, Miss."

Gianna-alau was just a day with Jessica-not showing any reluctance at all on Jessica's whereabouts. Now, as Gianna was preparing pears for Jessica, she sat on the balcony terrace with Jessica who was observing the silent front gate of Rhoden manor.

Today, the Bellamy family is massively gathering. Christian-the head of the Bellamy family-will lower the crown that weighed down his head for many years this-to one of his sons. Because of that important event, Rhoden manor became very quiet. Everyone went to attend the event. Give proof of their devotion to the new head of the family.

Lisa and Robin also left with Hestia this morning. So, there were only a few bodyguards guarding in front of the gate, bodyguards from the lower caste.

"I'm going back to Vegas, how could I not be cheerful." Jessica chimed in casually.

"There is no better place than home" Gianna said.

"Yes, right? Hehehe. As bad as Las Vegas is, I'm still part of that city. I love the obnoxious flashing neon lights along the street, the towering hotel building, the casino with their tacky music

Oh, I even love the humid air after it rains there. The scent of rotting food scraps on the street, mingling with sewer water..."

"Ew.., is this what nationalism is called?" Gianna was disgusted at the thought of Jessica, her nose frowning strangely there. Gianna's reaction at that time also made Jessica laugh.

"I guess..," said Jessica.

Jessica didn't know she had it, a love for her homeland. Not until she's in a country of people and whines about wanting to go home.

"I can't wait to see my friends."

"Are you and Mr. Oscar friends?"

"I guess..., I? I considered him a friend all along, but now I'm not sure anymore. I mean, he's been tricking me. I don't know if his closeness to me is purely because we're friends or because he's just using me."

"Yeah, that guy is a snake." Gianna mangosteen understands. "But, at least, you're lucky he helped you, right?"

"M." Jessica nodded. "I owe him a lot."

After chatting with Gianna on the balcony, Jessica opened her phone. He read a line of messages from Dania appearing there. Attack him with a stack of questions asking for details regarding Demian's meeting today.

Unfortunately for Dania, Jessica doesn't know anything either.

Jessica didn't know anything because she wasn't involved in the meeting. Jessica also did not want to get involved there and met Erthian anyway. So, until Hestia comes back or maybe Demian comes here, Jessica will only be able to dream on the balcony of her room. Staring at the orange leaves that spread throughout his eyes.

"Someone is coming..." Gianna suddenly spoke. Reacting to Gianna's remarks as well, Jessica spontaneously just stood up from her stool. He leaned his body over the balcony railing and stared at the group of cars that came and parked in the front yard. His black mane fluttered in the wind.

"I'll be back" Gianna said. Her close existence to Jessica was still a secret. Therefore, as soon as several cars were parked in front of the gate, Gianna immediately passed leaving Jessica blushing cheerfully.

It's only eleven at noon. It was quite surprising that the meeting would end so briefly. Jessica thought she would need to wait until the afternoon for information to spread out and reach her ears. However, it does not seem.

Good, no.

Jessica was so enthusiastic she ran out of the balcony and out of her room. Demian was probably in the crowd of cars arriving. Demian might come with Hestia, pick her up to go home.

Jessica's heart was pounding in nervousness. The closer his steps were to the first floor, the stronger his heart pounded against his chest. It was as if the space in his heart wasn't wide enough and now his heart wanted to jump out of his chest cavity. Jessica was very impatient to meet her Demian!

Done, it's all done.

Jessica went down the connected rung on the first floor, and as she stared at the end of the stairs, a man stood there. Jessica's step spontaneously paused.

The man, the man at the end of the stairs, glanced at Jessica. The face reminded Jessica of Hestia. Jessica-like deja vu, knows the man. He was the kid in the picture frame that he found yesterday. Hestia's Child. Only, his face was a little more resolute and more mature.

So he came. As Jessica recalls, Hestia said she was studying in London.

The man-without paying much attention to Jessica whose existence is so alien-greeted another existence who is now entering the door of his house with Hestia. Seeing the serious attitude the man showed, Jessica became reluctant to step down. Perhaps this was not the right time for him to greet Demian.

At least, that was what Jessica thought.

Jessica pulled two steps back, reluctant to go down.

Jessica intended to go back to the room and wait patiently, but she locked her intentions as soon as she found Demian's face approaching the man at the end of the stairs. Jessica noticed Demian's face which at that time seemed firm and full of authority. She was so charming, and at the same time, exuded a terrifying aura.

"You go home" Demian said, referring to the son of Hestia who now stands before him.

"It would be rude if I didn't attend your coronation, wouldn't it? Even though I'm a little late...?" Since Demian was already here, it meant that the coronation process of the successor at Bellamy had ended.

"I was just going there."

Jessica who was not far from them, listened to the chatter of the two without a sound, frowning.

Didn't Jessica hear wrong? Son of Hestia-Did she just say your coronation? Mu in the sense of referring to Demian?

"You just got here this morning, Aaron. You don't have to force yourself to follow unnecessary formalities."

"How could I do that?" Aaron Rhoden - the son of Hestia - revealed a faint smile. "I have to give a loyalty oath to my cousin now-ah, should I refer to you as my superior?"

"Don't joke."

Aaron chuckles. "After all, congratulations on being the leader at Bellamy. My mother tried so hard to make her dream come true. He must be so proud of you."

"Leader?"

Just as Demian was about to reply to Aaron, Demian heard a familiar voice greeting his ears. Interrupting his conversation and freezing his entire body. Jessica Cerise was standing at the top of the stairs, a pair of emeralds were panning towards Demian with gazes full of doubt.

Aaron looked up at the stairs and felt confusion there. Like a sudden tension in the air between them. Aaron sensibly opened up space for both. Aaron glanced towards his mother-Hestia-but he only found the old woman stalling a faint smile.

"Jesse," Demian greeted Jessica, one step up the stairs. "When were you there?"

Jessica didn't respond to a question that she thought was so unimportant right now. Jessica just stood there, waiting for Demian to give her an explanation for Aaron's words just now.

"Are you..., a leader...?" Jessica recited the word she hated so much in her mouth.

The mistrust they were bitter in his chest, making him goosebumps stunned. It must be engineering, right? He must have heard wrong! Demian couldn't possibly be the leader in his family! Didn't the man hate his background so much, hate his family and refuse to be a part of them?

"I came to see you" Demian said. "Let's talk in the room."

"Huh?"

Demian climbed the stairs one by one in front of Jessica, and when she was one step ahead of the girl, Jessica pulled one step back. "I'll hear you, Demian."

Jessica suppressed her confusion which now chimes with wrath. Jessica did not want to get angry suddenly at Demian without hearing the man's explanation first. Jessica-for God-for God-is trying her hardest to give Demian her trust. Giving the man his chance and patience which is only the tip of a nail.

Following Demian's words, Jessica sauntered quietly in the corridor connected to her room. Along that journey, Jessica endured the turmoil in her chest, enduring the bitters that spread in her throat. It was as if a knife was stuck in his neck. Jessica arrived at the room and immediately threw a sharp glare towards Demian.

"Jessica, you're listening to everything clearly."

"..."

"I..., from today on, I will be the leader at Bellamy."

Ha...

Haha...

"Joking, huh?"

"I'm serious, Jessica."

"No, wait..." Is it possible for Jessica's heart to slide into her stomach, because for God's sake, Jessica felt her heart being dislodged just now? Stop beating, stop functioning!

"Demian..., are you aware of what you're saying?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"In that case, are you aware of your choice?" Jessica pressed against her chest, as if there was a wide gaping wound there. Jessica held back the small pinch that appeared and created a sense of pain in her heart. "So..., you're leaving me?"

A pair of dark netra Demian widened furiously. "That's not going to happen," he said.

"What do you mean it won't happen? You think..., I...., I'll be with you.., right here?"

"Yes. I'll protect you, Jessica. We don't have to end everything. I don't have to make any choices. You've always been my priority, Jesse. Merely, my choice today need not be a hindrance in our relationship."

"Ah..., ahahahaha.., you know you're talking nonsense, right?"

Jessica didn't know how to respond to Demian there. Thoughtful porcelain. Disappointment, sadness, and wrath, all blending in one and creating a blue flame blazing in his chest. Burned all over his body with tremendous heat.

"Jessica," Demian approached Jessica, her hand grabbing Jessica's wrists and carrying the girl's hand to her chest. "I'm doing this for you. I was just thinking about you."

"Don't" Jessica's voice came off low, but full of anger. "Don't make me your excuse."

Jessica's expression darkened. "I never asked for anything from you, Demian. And I remind you to come back, this is not what you promised me when you brought me here!"

Jessica pulled her hand out of Demian's grasp, her eyes heating up in disappointment. He threw his gaze away from Demian, trying to obtain some calmness. He did not want to explode in tears there, he did not want disappointment to dominate him. But, God.

"Jessica, listen to me..." Not only was Jessica frustrated there, Demian had expected Jessica's reaction. "I have no other choice! I have to do this so I can.., I just want us to be free with Jessica."

"Are they threatening you? Did they use my presence to threaten you?"

Demian shakes.

"Then...?" Jessica did not understand. Why did Demian betray him like this?

"What have they done? You know you can always be honest with me, right? Why do you do something you never wanted to do? Didn't you go to Vegas to avoid all this?"

"I am! I wanted to avoid everything, but I changed my mind, Jesse."

"..."

"I want this. I didn't get any threats, I wasn't forced by anyone. I just.., I want this for us."

"Don't involve me at all." Jessica gave her affirmation once again. "I don't want this, Demian! I just want to go back to Vegas with you!"

"Jesse, I understand you're disappointed. I've reneged on my promise and you deserve to be angry, but." Demian grabbed Jessica's arm once more and the strong edge she received when Jessica refused her touch resonated strongly with the pain creeping across her chest.

"This relationship doesn't have to end, Jessica. You and I can still be together. You don't have to think about anything. I'll give you the peace you want. You can stay with me, we can go to Vegas whenever you want to check your cafe. We..., shit, everything can be arranged, Jessica!"

"You know I want peace, but you're spilling all this stuff on my head?" Jessica pushed Demian's chest, pushing the man full of strength. "What's so quiet about this place? Just a week here and I feel like I'd rather die! You don't know anything! I hate everyone here, Demian. Your aunt who always humbled me, or your brother who always terrorized me! I hate you for your decision!"

"You don't have to think about them anymore, I can give you whatever you want now! You don't have to deal with them if you don't want to..."

"I want to go home." Jessica cut Demian's speech. His voice was cold. "The last thing you can give me is just, give me back where I was, Demian. I..., I don't want anything here."

"Jessica!"

After expressing her wish, Jessica decided to ignore Demian completely. He took wide steps towards the closet and took his suitcase out of there. Jessica was about to pack her things when the large suitcase she had placed on the bed was suddenly snatched away by Demian and thrown to the end of the room.

BRAKKK!!!

Jessica froze silently. He was struck by the huge sound of the suitcase flying to the floor.

Without giving a pause in his actions, Demian forcefully pulled Jessica's shoulder to face her, looking at her. Eyes meet eyes.

"You're not going anywhere!" press Demian, his voice low is terrifying.

"I'll see you back when your anger subsides. For now, I'll give you some time to rest. We'll talk later."

"..."

"..."

"What?" Finding her control back, Jessica spontaneously frowned. He chased after Demian's steps towards the door. "I don't want to talk to you about anything! I'm going back to Vegas!"

"..."

"DEMIANS!!!"

"I told you I wouldn't let you go, right?"

"Huh?"

Demian looked at Lisa and Robin who were in front of the open door. His sharp delicacy made the two bodyguards conical under his intimidation.

"Don't let him out!" demian is like a king. "If he gets out of here, you'll both be dead!"

"Eh?" Whahuh?

Jessica looked at Demian's back which was so foreign in her eyes. The intimidating aura that oozed out invisible from the man's body was very not Demian. At least, it wasn't the Demian Jessica used to know. It wasn't Demian he loved. That guy.

"You can't lock me up here! Demians!" Jessica tried to tread one step out of the room when Lisa suddenly pushed her in and closed the door right in front of her nose. With the room sealed up as well, Jessica's eyes widened open. He gaped.

What is this...joking?

Demian...., is Demian seriously locking her up?

...*...