LOVER MONSTER!
37. Angering.

[Why don't you return my message? Are you angry at something I don't know?]

[Jessica Cherise?]

[Am I making a mistake I don't know anymore?]

A stack of messages from the same number, Demian's number appeared on Jessica's phone. The message appears over and over again with the same core. Demian wants Jessica to return the message. Unfortunately, unlike the pile of messages that would change Jessica's thinking, Jessica still ignored Demian's message.

Jessica, in order to put her focus solely on work and forget what had happened between herself and Demian, decided to ignore Demian's barrage of messages. Jessica did not want to get carried away with the rain of text messages that appeared on her phone screen. Jessica believed herself that Demian must have done the same thing to Angela.

Demian's treatment was nothing special. He can't misunderstand.

"Mrs. Ander is coming at eight o'clock with her fiance, she asks for her birthday cake and music to play ten minutes after they arrive."

Dania is leading a meeting of five employees she has chosen specifically to prepare a request from a special guest at Elixir tonight.

To be precise, a birthday celebration accompanied by a proposal will be held in Elixir. Mr. Ander, who has been a regular at Elixir for the past three years, wants to celebrate his special evening at Elixir. In order to fulfill the wishes of Mr. Ander, the situation at Elixir became even busier today.

Jessica wasn't very involved in planning the event because it was Dania's skill. Jessica, on the other hand, was just watching closely and engaging her opinion here and there.

"I want you to test the audio one more time and make sure the music is in sync with the timing of the cake out. Elli, what about her birthday cake?"

"It's safe."

"Mister Ander's engagement is allergic to seafood, make sure there are no heavy meals involving seafood there." Jessica also spoke.

"When master Ander took out his ring," Dania threw a gaze at Angela. "Make sure the champagne bottle is in your hand. Then, when Mr. Ander's fiancee says yes, Baaaammm, open the champagne bottle, and make sure to clap for celebration."

Dania was very excited in preparing for Mr. Ander's request. He could imagine every event happening before his eyes, real before it happened.

"Da-Dania..." Angela raised a nervous hand.

"Yes?"

"What if Mr. Ander's fiancee refuses?"

Jessica lifted her face from the tab spontaneously. He looked at Angela with his eyebrows intertwined.

"Angela, this is a special day for Mr. Ander and his fiancee, let's not ruin this special moment with pessimistic and negative thoughts, okay?" Dania's enthusiasm was drained instantly. He looked at Angela while shaking his waist.

"I'm sorry. I just feel like at least we need Plan B in case this plan fails."

"The only thing capable of derailing Mr. Ander's planning is his own fiancee. If he refused, no plan B would be useful and would be able to make Mr. Ander's fiancee say yes."

"O-oh, okay. I'm sorry."

"Small optimis, Angela. Don't ask the pointless."

After dissolving the meeting with the employees at Elixir, Dania headed for the counter with Elliot and Jessica. Dania glanced at Jessica and Elliot with her faint eyes. Without interpreting the reason for Dania's negligence, Elliot and Jessica already know the reason.

"Am I wrong?" ask Dania. "I mean, if I prepare an event with the thought that it could fail at any time, wouldn't receiving a request from Mr Ander be a waste?"

Elliot sat down beside Jessica, he glanced at Dania next to Jessica who was grumbling while welcoming a glass of fruit punch from Ethan.

"What Angela was worried about could happen" Elliot said later. "But we as the party in charge of preparing for the event are not in a position to think about that opportunity. Our job is to support Mr. Ander's special night into reality."

"I agree with Elli" Jessica added. "Don't think of anything beyond your control."

"After all, even if Mr. Ander's fiancee rejects the proposal, we can only stop in the middle of the road as usual. We can't continue pouring champagne to two couples who ran aground in the middle of the road, right?"

"The question Angela asked was very unnecessary to ask at all" complained Dania finally. A glass of fruit punch was like cooling his brain.

"Don't he know what improvisation is? He just needs to read the situation, my God. Huh, that's annoying."

Jessica nodded at Dania's nagging and the chatter of her three best friends there. Jessica was not particularly interested in the conversation because she was more interested in eating a plate of strawberry waffles that Ethan proffered from the refrigerator.

"Talk about Angela" Ethan said. "I haven't seen her boyfriend here in a long time."

"Jake? They broke up." Dania gave an answer. "You know Jake's close to Jesse now, right? Angela accuses Jessica of approaching Jake to use him. Crazy woman."

Jessica widens her eyes. Why did Dania spit out her secret lightly. Even if it was in front of Elliot and Ethan, Jessica felt ashamed to spread that information.

"Seriously he said that?" Ethan's stunned.

"When, if Jessica's class girl who is independent and has her own business, approaches Jake to take advantage of him, what about her own who has nothing? Wouldn't he have more chances to use Jake for himself?" 

Elliot's words are as sharp as a sword. Jessica looked left and right. Jessica was afraid that anyone would hear Elliot's words because it was so rude.

Different from Jessica who glared at her comrades with warnings and anxiety, Dania and Elliot do tos. Dania agreed with what Elliot said, one hundred percent. Fuck up!

After Dania and Elliot are satisfied to roast Angela, Ethan finally raises his voice. "When I asked Demian," said Ethan. "I haven't seen him come in a long time."

At that moment, Jessica froze. Demian's name made him remember the existence of a man who often had a tent on his cellphone.

Jessica remembers the last time she spoke to Demian on the phone. The man said he would hide for some time. After that, after ten days had passed, the man had yet to reveal himself at all.

Ten days, huh? That was a long time, apparently.

Jessica was trapped in a feeling of emptiness.

*

Later that night, as planned, Mr. Ander and his fiancee, Miss Vivian appeared on Elixir at exactly eight p.m. Among the guests who happened to be at Elixir that night, Mr. Ander's reservation table received special attention from the passing servants.

Ten minutes later, the music of the birthday celebration then resounded inside Elixir. In pairs of eyes from existing guests, looking for a figure who had a birthday that night. Until finally the cake came out of the kitchen and towards the table of Mr. Ander and his partner.

Guests sang and celebrated Miss Vivian's birthday.

Jessica in the corner of the room noticed the situation with a carefree smile. Jessica was happy for them there. Jessica is thrilled to be able to make Elixir a place for people to share happiness.

The situation went well. Fortunately, unlike Angela's preconceived notions, when Mr. Ander took the ring out of his suit pocket and rested on one knee treading on the ground, Miss Vivian was immersed in an incredible day. He approved Ander's proposal and gave her a kiss and a hug that implied warmth.

Jessica who watched from a distance also clapped with the guests who were there and also watched the love story of the two sealed beautifully.

"Well, romantic." Dania-the main organizer of the surprise event, retreated to approach Jessica after her mission went perfectly.

The boisterous atmosphere in Elixir died down. Romantic pop music then spun around the room, accompanying regular guests to eat their meals comfortably.

"Congratulations, Dania. You've worked hard." Jessica praised Dania who was now holding her. All tired Dania paid with her mission that went successfully.

"I hope this moment will be a special memory in the life of Mr. Ander" said Dania. "I feel so tired and so happy."

Jessica smiled. "You can take a day off tomorrow."

"No, no." denied Dania immediately. "This is just one event, Jess. I plan to receive a bigger and more powerful event in the future. For that, I need to get used to being busy."

"Uuhh, I'm motivated." Jessica put her back on Dania's shoulder. "Should I work late tonight?"

"You're used to overtime, you idiot. If you're motivated, you better get to bed on time and take your vitamins."

As Jessica and Dania return to tease each other about their bad habits, a man enters Elixir with his familiar appearance.

A pair of sneakers, black jeans, a dull grey t-shirt, and a flannel shirt in a combination of white and black. The figure looked throughout the room. That person is Demian.

Jessica, who was aware of Demian's arrival, unwittingly loosened her embrace from Dania. He smiled widely when he realized Demian was there. Across the room with a pair of bewildered dark irises.

Jessica was about to wave her hand, greeting Demian who after all these days, finally came back. However, Jessica's hand wave came to a halt when she realized where Demian's eyes had stopped.

Angela Lancaster waved at Demian. A plain smile bloomed merrily. Taking wide and impatient steps, Angela approached Demian and gave the man a firm hold on her neck.

"Well, wow, wow, romance is everywhere." Dania muttered next to Jessica. "I'm so jealous of Angela."

"Huh, is that it?" Jessica looked at Dania. A wry smile on his face. "I don't feel like there's anything to put up there."

"That's because you're heartless at all, Jesse. If you understand this weak heart of mine, you must understand how the sight of two people in love can make you lonely. It feels like a tragedy."

Jessica pulled a shoulder. "You just lack a hobby, Dania. Try to find something new and stop thinking of romance as something special."

"Like you?"

Jessica nodded back. "Yes, like me."

For Jessica, right now, rather than feeling romance, it's better not to feel anything.

"I'll see Jake tomorrow" Jessica said, this time talking to Ethan. "Can you handle the situation at the cafe, Ethan?"

"certainly. Anyway..., are you really going to meet Jake? I mean.., I thought Angela said..."

"His speech has no influence in my relationship with anyone in the world, Ethan. I think he has a new girlfriend. When I get close to Jake, it's none of his business or anything."

"O-key? You're not mad at my question, are you?"

"Where is it possible."

But in Ethan's eyes, there was no more appropriate word to describe Jessica's expression than anger. The girl...., when she had just clapped her hands rousingly, what changed her mood to red?

*