LOVER MONSTER!
2. Pursuing Danger.

Fortunately for Jessica, after the incident that night, Demian had never come to Elixir again.

Three weeks later passed as usual. Although Jessica felt somewhat guilty at first for stealing the trouble between Demian and Angela, the feeling slowly faded from her mind. Now, Jessica returns to busying herself just for work.

Thanks to her wet-caught experience that day, Jessica had stopped looking for the continuation of Angela's love story that once excited her. Maybe because now Angela already has a lover who always attached to her, or maybe because Jessica was a bit disappointed Demian was defeated that night. Whatever the reason, Jessica has turned a blind eye to Angela's business.

It felt a bit disappointing when Demian was rejected by Angela, Jessica sometimes thought of the incident once in a while when she hung her clothes on the balcony railing. He recalled how that night he ran to the room, locked the window and left all his work outside.

Everything's messed up.

Jessica didn't expect that night to be the last night she saw Demian. Jessica meant, because now that the reason Demian visited the cafe was gone, the man would definitely not come back again.

"Handsome men come and go.." Jessica muttered sadly. He leaned over and looked at the small alley under his balcony. "I hope he finds his own happiness out there."

After reminiscing and lamenting Demian's absence in her cafe, Jessica returned to her room and began preparing herself to leave tonight.

Yes, tonight, Jessica needs to attend a reunion event made by a friend from her high school. The event is located in downtown Vegas, where hotels and casinos stand encircling the city in its majestic shadow. Among the giant buildings, their reunion will be held in a famous pub and bar called Lumon.

"I hope this show won't last long" Jessica complained. She wears a black short dress and a matching colored blazer. After preparing himself, he went down to the cafe and say goodbye to Ethan, his friend and assistant who usually replaces Jessica.

"Be careful on the road, Jesse," advises Ethan. "Always be in the crowd and don't separate yourself in a quiet, dark place, okay?"

"Are you my mother?" Jessica laughs. "Calm down, I just came for a show. I won't stay there long, and definitely..." Jessica had no reason to be in such a pitch-black place.

At least, that's how Jessica believes it.

*

At Lumon, Jessica met eight alumni from her high school. Eight people were quite a lot, Jessica thought there would be at least five or four people present there. During the reunion, Jessica, who chose to sit in the corner of the table, chose to listen to every simple conversation with a smile.

Jessica has no intention to participate in nostalgia or just reject jokes that come out of the lips of her friends. No, because to be honest, Jessica is not the type of girl who is quite active in talking. Jessica, if not for wanting to promote Elixir to her circle, would rather settle down at home.

"Jessica, how are you doing now? I heard you opened a cafe on Almond Street." Someone suddenly threw the topic towards Jessica like throwing embers. Jessica instantly straightened her body, arranging her answer at lightning speed.

"The cafe? I just heard this?" An alumnus who Jessica remembers named Samuel recalls.

"That's because you're busy, Mr. Lawyer."

"Ahahaha.., well, I'm not a regular person hanging out at the cafe." Samuel-from his cheerful and always clumsy demeanor, was actually the most annoying man at this meeting. Rather than flaunt his glittering lawyer career, Samuel purposely humbled himself and hoped the people at the table would elevate him.

Screeched!

"So, Jesse, what's the name of the cafe. Can we go there once in a while?" Miura-the Asian-American girl asked Jessica again.

"Where might I forbid you from stopping by." Okay, thought Jessica. Now is the time for marketing. "My cafe name is Cafe Elixir. As Elina said just now, my cafe is on Almond Street. We are open from Monday to Saturday, from eight to nine at night. You are very much awaited there. I'd be so happy if I saw you guys actually coming."

Jessica closed her words with a witty grin, 'Make sure you all come and give a publication about Elixir on your social media!'.

the falsity filled the table clearly. Jessica felt like her cheeks were gouty due to developing too many meaningless laughs and smiles.

As the topic of conversation rotated again on Samuel, a bored Jessica threw her gaze outwards.

In the Lumon covered by glass walls, the view of the street outside became transparent. Jessica could see vehicles and humans passing through windows. Busy with their own world.

Among those humans as well, a familiar silhouette caught Jessica's eyes.

A tall man in a black flannel shirt sauntered past Lumon. Her messy curly hair reminds Jessica of only one person, Demian.

'Wait, if it's Demian...' Jessica-without knowing the reason why she was so enthusiastic at seeing a hint of Demian-shadow-as she stood up. He, without saying goodbye, immediately chased after Demian's silhouette that was consumed by the crowd.

Jessica kept looking for the man here and there. However, like chasing a ghost, Jessica did not find the figure.

"Surprisingly," Jessica complained to herself. "What would happen if I met him?"

Even if they came face to face, Jessica one hundred percent believed she would lose her tongue. How could he talk to a man who never even looked at him?

Not except that night.

Forgetit.

Jessica exhaled her breath. The absurd enthusiasm that emerged from just a glimpse of Demian's shadow made Jessica ashamed of herself. Since when did she become a fangirl of a man she didn't recognize and didn't know at all? Is this behavior reasonable?

While he was waltzing on the sidewalk of a leisurely street and smelling like cat litter and cigarette smoke, Jessica's footsteps swallowed as she heard a groan of pain.

Right between the two buildings standing side by side, a small alleyway unfolds with dim lighting. The sound came more clearly from there.

Jessica thought the voice was coming from a vagrant who used to hide in the darkness. However, as her vision sharpened, Jessica realized the moans were coming from a man curled up on the ground. Blood came out of the man's lips and nose. Battered and bruised face. In front of the man lying helplessly as well, a man stood haughty with a familiar flannel shirt in his eyes.

That's Demian Bellamy.

Unlike his ever-abrasive appearance, he was present within the darkness like a rumored bloodthirsty monster.

Getaway!

I have to stay away!

As fast as lightning, Jessica dragged her feet away from there. His instincts screamed like fire alarms buzzing in his ears and head.

The appearance of Demian at that time was like the appearance of a death angel greeting his victims. Jessica had not expected, the man she was chasing after her silhouette, was now the man she feared for her existence.

Huft, Jessica. You almost drove your death free of charge.

*