LOVER MONSTER!
90. End of Linkage.

As Jessica said, that she was going to meet Jake and talk to the guy, now, this is where Jessica is now. In front of Jake Allendale who looked at him grimly.

They are in an outdoor cafe located not so far from the Bellagio fountain.

Those - on the second-floor balcony of the cafe - can still witness the view of the fountain that became the main center of attention on the strip.

Even though they had met, sitting face to face with a series of words piling up in the head, neither Jessica nor Jake knew where to start.

The two were caught in a quiet situation, only hearing the noise of the crowds down there, boisterously enjoying the attractions along the sidewalk of the road.

Jessica put her fingers together. Eyes panned toward Jake for a moment, before returning to dodge. Jessica-kendati is the one who has invited Jake to meet-now hit by doubt. Jessica is afraid of Jake's reaction later. Jessica was afraid that the man would be hurt.

Jessica..., ah, damn it!

"Yeah..." Jessica took a long breath.

Enough, he thought. He could no longer avoid this topic. Jessica doesn't want to waste Jake's time with her fears and her bullshit. Jake deserves the truth from his heart.

"Jake.." said Jessica, solidifying the sound. "Thank you for seeing me today."

"I don't want to come, but since you insist..., how else?"

Jake replies to Jessica with a hint of displeasure in his voice. He turned his face away from Jessica, avoiding looking at the girl for some reason. Jessica suspects Jake may have hated her after what happened that night.

"Ah-ah, I'm sorry." Jessica scratched her chin. "I don't mean to force you, I know you're very busy with work so meeting up is pretty hard. But..."

"It's not like that, Jesse."

"Yes?"

Jake straightened his back, the expression became more somber than the twilight sky. "I just feel like I know what you're trying to say, so I postpone our meeting over and over again."

"..."

"I've guessed.., when Demian confesses his feelings to you, dares to come forward and expose his heart to you in front of everyone, you may already be shaken. After all.., isn't that what you want from her the most? You want him to like you, but you don't like the way he treats you like a secret...,"

"You're.., maybe true." Jessica looks. "I may have been shaken."

"Jessica..., what about me? I thought you'd try to open your heart for me?"

"I've said something I can't do, Jake. I'm sorry."

Jake's smile grew sour. "I can't let you go, Jesse. I know we started this relationship with mutual symbiosis. We steal each other's profits. I'm satisfied to have hurt Ange. That was my goal at first

You may not know, but Ange met me recently. We talked and he asked me to go back to him, but I can't do that, Jesse. Because I thought.., I thought you'd do the same thing with Demian. You're gonna turn it down for me."

"Jake, do you love me?" jessica's question jolted Jake to the stage he gaped with widened eyes stunned.

Jake was silent without a sound.

"Jake..," Jessica said back. "I want to know, what do you think of me? Do you..., when you look at me, feel love? Do you really love me?"

"You're the right woman, Jesse." Jake avoided asking. "You're the best choice I've made. My brother likes you, you're the kind of woman who's comfortable with me, you're fun. I can love you better, Jessica."

"..."

"We can be better together. You just need to give me a chance."

"Jake" said Jessica. "Without convolutions, do you love me?"

"Not yet.., but I can..."

"I think that's a pretty good answer, Jake."

Jessica felt sorry for Jake, to be honest. The man just needs a friend. He was lonely, he was heartbroken and needed a friend. Jessica gave him what he needed most, a friend. However, misinterpretation is inevitable in these fragile relationships.

"I made you misunderstand my intensity that night" Jessica said. "I've made you want more than a friend. I'm sorry.--

Even if you have ulterior intentions and want to use me, I believe if I stay within my limits, you won't get to this stage, Jake. Our friendship I agreed because I wanted to help you get back on your feet. I don't intend to hurt you anymore."

"It's not about Demian or Angela, it's about you and me. I want to speak as your best friend..." Jessica looked at Jake with a soft twinkle. "Our relationship is built on a foundation that is not strong. We don't even have feelings for each other. I-I'm just using you the way you're using me."

"You just want to apologize and leave me" Jake said. He has drawn the gist of this topic. He understood that in the end, the result was just that. He will be dumped by Jessica.

"I love Demian," Jessica confessed with seriousness. "Even if I don't choose Demian, and choose you. My heart cannot lie. I like it, really like it. I-I don't want to lie to myself and make choices that will end up hurting you, too. I want to be honest with myself, Jake."

"He's not right for you, Jesse."

"I know."

"He doesn't understand you."

"That's.., I know."

"He's selfish and puts his own will first, Jesse. He's just gonna hurt you."

Jessica nodded while smiling stiffly. "There's a whole range of opportunities that can happen to my relationship with Demian in the future, Jake. Likely, he will do the things you already mentioned. He'll hurt me, break my heart, maybe he'll leave me. But..."

Jessica's words paused, she looked at Jake with earnestness in her eyes. Jessica hopes that her sincerity will touch Jake's heart right then and there. He hopes Jake understands his decision, mengikhlaskan.

"Demian will hurt me, break my heart, maybe he will leave me. I still want to be with her until that time comes. I want to be with Demian before he loses, I want to try everything possible and opportunities that can happen between us, Jake

We might be happy, that opportunity is also a possibility. Therefore, I don't want to regret anything I haven't done."

Jessica was honest there. Even if she makes a mistake in her decision later, Jessica is determined to live and face the mistakes she has chosen.

"..."

"I don't want to leave, Demian." And that was the absolute decision Jessica made right now.

Jake stood up and nodded his head, "In that case, I leave everything back to you, Jesse. I hope you don't have any regrets."

Jessica's answer at the time was like a cover-up of Jake's attempts to convince Jessica that Demian wasn't the right man for her.

The girl has come to a unanimous decision that can not be challenged.

Jake can't convince Jessica to stay by his side, not when the girl keeps her heart set on Demian.

Jessica's right. Even if Jessica chooses Jake, Jessica's heart won't immediately change. Jake too, he hasn't even been able to erase Angela's figure in his dreams. If their relationship continues, in the end, they will only deceive each other, blame each other and end up leaving each other.

"I'm so grateful you've become my friend, Jessica. I really appreciate your existence all along." Jessica nodded and smiled.

"I too.., I hope you find someone you can sincerely love in the future."

After they shake hands there, Jessica remembers one more thing before Jake leaves.

"I can't accept this" Jessica said last time, her smile was relieved after returning the gift Jake and Janette had given her.

The gift was precious, Jessica thought. Special gifts are only entitled to be received by people who really appreciate them.

A figure like Jessica - who is already using Jake for her own personal gain - is not worthy of such an expensive gift.

After that meeting too...

Jessica breezed sluggishly on the sidewalk of the road. He enjoys the view of the afternoon in the strip area that is never empty of tourists. Jessica went through the tourists passing by on the street while listening to music played by street musicians.

The tranquil journey leads Jessica to the Bellagio fountain. Lights began to light there, presenting a beautiful view of the light that burst with the attraction of the fountain that seized the eyes.

While Jessica was enjoying the beautiful scene, a can of warm coffee suddenly docked on her cheek, startling her nerves. Jessica spontaneously broke up, and when she turned to the figure that had surprised her, Jessica found Demian standing next to her.

Thanks to the sun taking a long time to set, the light of its ceiling in the Vegas sky makes Demian's curly, messy suntan mane golden under the slowly dim sunlight.

Captivating.

Jessica was stunned in silence.

...****************...