LOVER MONSTER!
47. The Sudden Change.

A few days later.

Demian's face dried up stiffly. A short call from someone managed to wipe clean the relaxed expression of Demian's expression.

Demian, though an hour ago chuckled lightly, enjoyed a glass of martini and heard Oscar's never-ending babble, changing expression 180 degrees. 

Demian's rails hardened.

His hands clenched tightly, clenching the phone that had already become his mood-altering medium.

Oscar who was there noticed Demian's mood swings. He put the dice he was holding onto the table, the face implying asking 'Are you okay?'.

At first glance, in Oscar's mind, something bad is certain to happen. Is the problem from Bellamy or not the question?

But it was impossible that anything concerning Bellamy reached Demian's ears straight away. Whatever happens to Bellamy - usually greet Oscar's ears first. He is the source of all information.

Oscar's astonishment grew in the seconds that continued to run.

"Who called you?" ask Oscar, this time verbally.

"Angela.." murmured Demian. His voice hides anger.

At that time, Oscar did not understand the situation. If it was Angela, Demian shouldn't be all that bad right now. What happened to the woman until Demian lost control of his own emotions? Was he hit by a truck? Broken leg?

There was nothing concerning Angela squealing the urgency.

At least, in the eyes of Oscar, Angela does not have a lifestyle that can change 180 degrees and make the world shake-dog in the hubbub.

Okay, maybe this is Oscar's fault for underestimating Angela's existence. But Demian.

What kind of provocation did Angela do until Demian looked like a starving lion?

"I'll leave now," Demian spoke as he pulled his leather jacket on the sofa. He was wearing it while walking towards the exit. Her footsteps are wide.

Oscar pulls out his phone when Demian disappears from his sight. He's contacting someone who can help him now, someone with intel.

"Tell me what's going on?"

"That's.." The voice there hesitated uncomfortably. "Can you call me next time? The situation is not right now."

"Don't argue with me and just say it!" Oscar doesn't like to delay.

"Tsk, okay. Angela and Jake had a fight in Elixir earlier..."

"Reason?"

"Something about Jessica, I guess. How do you know?"

"Hmm.., that's interesting. Can you find out more?"

"I'll work it out."

*

Two hours earlier.

Jessica was reading a romance novel in her left hand, and was eating a plate of strawberries in her right hand. Jessica enjoyed her morning activities today by relaxing in Elixir. He sat at a table close to the open window. Enjoying the morning sunlight spilling over it.

That day was Wednesday. Elixir's early morning visitors were quite few, so Jessica's help wasn't much needed there. As it was not needed, so Jessica pulled over alone now.

She was so immersed in her reading books, enjoying the plot change from cheerful to nelangsa in just a few paragraphs and word order.

Jessica enjoyed her activities so much that she didn't care so much about someone pulling an empty bench across from her.

Jessica thinks it's Dania, or Ethan.

No one else would come to him except Dania and Ethan. Only two of them recognized him on this earth, and Elliot. But the chef was busy.

Of course Oscar-like figures, Jake and Demian are the few people who have the chance to interrupt Jessica. However, they were eliminated by solid reason.

First, traumatized Jake meets Angela, he won't stop by Elixir. Two, now Angela's morning shift, Demian won't approach her openly. Third, Oscar, he only comes two or three times a month. He never came on Wednesday.

At least, the reason was quite solid in Jessica's mind that was only full of logical things. He never considered the wonders of the world.

Not until he smelled the soft scent of a man's parfume greeting his nose. That's not Ethan. Jessica knows Ethan is uncomfortable with perfumes, Elli? He more often appears with the aroma of spices and food.

So then...

"What did you read until you were so tense?"

A miracle of the world brings Jake Allendale sitting in front of Jessica, chin-backed while revealing his stunning face.

"Why are you here?!" Jessica's questions were spontaneous, mingling in anxiety.

As he remembered, Jake did not want to set foot on Elixir for a while because he could not bear to meet Angela. His heart hurts, he said. That's natural. What is unnatural is his arrival now.

"I've decided to face my problems now" Jake gives an answer that is, phew, wise but doesn't satisfy Jessica.

"Are you sure you're okay? What if Angela sees you with me?" The woman could tell him this again. Raining him with scolding-maki covered reasons of concern. Jessica doesn't want to create trouble early in the morning, damn it.

"Look easy, Jesse. Let him see. My business with him is over."

"Ti-no.., the thing is..." Where did all the trauma and drama of 'I can't talk to anyone and was so depressed' go? 

'Jake Allendale, even if you're healthy, you should be happy and forget where I am now. You don't need to see me anymore!'

"Shuuush," Jake said. "It's not a problem."

That's a hundred percent problem. If Angela comes out of the kitchen and sees Jake here, only God will know his reaction.

"You better get out now" Jessica said. This time he suppressed his panic and spoke more calmly. "How about having coffee in front of this block?"

"Here also sells coffee, right? Why should I have coffee somewhere else."

"Well, that..."

"You don't have to worry about my situation, Jessica. Even though I like your concern for me, I seriously want to change and let go of all my burdens."

"I want to be a sincere friend, I want to be by your side for no hidden reason. Even though I said I had a burden that I couldn't say, I wanted to say it all now."

"Huh?"

"I want to open up to you."

"You don't have to open up..., or open anything to me, you know?" Jessica is difficult to interpret the meaning of Jake's convoluted and complicated speech. She's like math, Jessica just listens to her without understanding anything.

Jake grabs Jessica's hand, still clutching a strawberry.

"Jessica, thank you for being such a loyal friend listening to my silence lately. I said I wanted you to listen to me, but during our friendship, I never said anything."

"..."

"I feel guilty for wasting your time just accompanying me mutely. However, even though I felt guilty and felt I should stop bothering you." Jake expresses all his heart with sincerity.

Although no one knows what the reason is for him suddenly coming to Elixir and spewing out this long concoction, but sincerity is felt in every strand he said.

Did he get a revelation he'd be dead in five weeks? Jessica became curious herself.

"That's.., yeah, that's not something you need to think about." Jessica forced a smile.

While she listens to Jake's words that imply tenderness and sincerity, Jessica's eyes have a hard time focusing on him. Jessica is looking for Angela. Jessica was afraid Angela would come and chop them into five pieces.

Jessica did not want to be seen as a third person.., it was disgusting and tarnished her image as an owner.

"So, what book are you reading?" Jake changed the topic as he pleased. He peeked at Jessica's cover and found that it was a romance novel on the market right now.

"Well, I just found out you like to read novels."

"It's just entertainment" Jessica replied. He put his book on the table.

Somehow, no matter how Jake tries to make the situation natural and ordinary, Jessica still feels the discomfort of dominating it. The situation was too awkward to be anything normal.

Although Jake wants to suddenly make a change in his trauma-relieving approach, he should have contacted Jessica first regarding his visit. He can't come like a tornado.

Something's going on, something Jessica doesn't understand.

"Jake?"

As Jessica fights in her head, trying to find an excuse for Jake's sudden arrival, Angela comes to say hello. There was no pleasure in his voice. Jake turned his head towards Angela, and there, the cleavage that had separated from him, stood up.

"What are you doing here?" Angela is impulsive. He came to Jake with emotion. "Don't I ask you to stay away from me?"

Jake got out of his seat. The reluctance of looking up at Angela made her stand up. He would stop staring high at the woman again.

"I didn't come here to see you, Angela." Jake answered with calmness.

As a spectator, Jessica was struck by anxiety.

"You don't have to lie. Is that why you're here if it's not me?"

"I understand your misunderstanding, but I didn't come here to see you. I mean it." Jake shifted to point at Jessica for a moment. "I came to see Jesse" he continued.

Intentionally calling Jessica 'Jesse' in order to show familiarity there.

"Jesse..., huh?" Angela couldn't believe it. It's impossible and absurd.

"What's making me suffer all this time isn't enough, so you came here to make me jealous?!"

A drama that is done with a beautiful couple of lovers is definitely interesting to the eye. So, even though Angela and Jake were not yelling at each other there, the radiating tension between the two was enough to make the pair of eyes look curious.

Damn, Elixir is not a theater. They shouldn't have made a fuss here!

"I..., make you jealous? For what reason do I need to do that Angela? The day you left me everything that happened between us is over. Done it. You don't have any value in my eyes!" Jake said full of seriousness, his gaze sharpened.

"I've forgotten you!" shutup.

"Omong empty, if you forget me you won't come here, Jake. You're here to hurt me, you think I don't know...? Jessica's just your excuse!"

"Who hurt who, Angela?" Jake gawking. "You who have destroyed us, you who have hurt me, do not forget what you have done."

Afraid that a commotion would occur there, Jessica finally sent a signal to Dania to settle the matter neatly. Jessica didn't want to interrupt because the situation was only going to heat up than it is now. He is a suspect, after all. Angela's object of jealousy.

"What's going on here?" Dania understood Jessica's signal and immediately interjected.

"I'm sorry, just a little commotion." Jake turns to Dania while looking at Jessica. He feels guilty.

"If there's anything important you need to discuss, I suggest you do it outside. We just want peace for our guests. I hope you understand."

Jake nodded and smiled faintly. "I understand."

"And you're Angela?"

Angela swallowed bitterly in her throat. He nodded his head.

After an interruption from Dania, fortunately Jake and Angela leave Elixir and talk four eyes out of nowhere. After their departure, Jessica let out a tired breath. The situation just now was so tense, he felt like a sword had fallen on his neck, ready to slash his head.

"What happened just now?" Dania frowned in wonder.

"You won't know, Dani." Jessica laughed blandly. He shook his hand as a sign that the situation was fine. Ethan and Elliot who were staring at them from a distance massaged a relieved chest.

Jessica hopes the situation is okay, although she is actually a bit surprised at Jake's sudden change in attitude.

Jessica hopes the situation will return to normal.

Without knowing what will happen, Jessica makes hope. Not knowing at all what Jake is saying out there will affect him, affecting him.

Jake with a fire of rage blazing in his chest, said something that would burn everyone.

"I like Jessica, I'm thinking of taking an approach to her. Therefore, you will see me often in Elixir, Angela. If you're not comfortable with me, you can quit here and start another job."

*