Never an ever after

2||| Agape

Paparazzi swam around him, trying to catch answers and make a living. Despite of what he felt around him, there was this absolute clarity of awareness around him. How did I not see that coming? Then he realised. Of course. Of course, Adeliza would. Adeliza would. It had been partly his fault, in the mean time, it was not completely. It was his flaw that he neglected her, but it was also not his flaw that she chose to barricade in to his personal information. Both of them were responsible. It was the reason why he was here.

Though they were not even intimate as a couple, Richard couldn't deny the pain of betrayal ringing all over him, again. This must be the millionth time someone betrayed him. Yet, the torture arrived slowly and then all at once. The way of the emotions was just that. He had so many experience over this, yet, it came as if it was the first betrayal he ever felt. Raw and unforgettable. Oh, Adeliza. What am I to do with you now? It was officially over and he couldn't help but feel guilty. He could easily sympathize with her and her reasons for cheating. But it was a choice. That was what counted as a difference. Their relationship was doomed to be a failure.

Moreover, Richard wanted to have some space, as he had already thought out of what he could do. It would sound to the media as if he was devastated and sorrowful. He had an image to maintain. So, he did. It only clicked to him that Blythe might have had seen this coming early on. Still, why did she stay? he asked from himself. Did she stay for him? No, the idea sounded ridiculous and lovely at the same time. It only seemed like HE was the one reciprocating the emotions for her. How come she suddenly become hard to read? Did he ever knew her at all? Somehow, some time in any day, he found himself trailing his path of thoughts back to her. Wherever it went, all the way round, the ending point was her. Like a thriller book, he suspected that she had always been deeper in an extraordinary level. They had become so close, even then, she had not chosen to share her inner battleships with him. Did she not trust him at all? Was she pretending from all along? No. Nobody can pretend that good. I'll ask her myself. She was such an astonishing mystery which he was eager to solve.

What was most harrowing was the public outrage at the incident. Most fans were hysterical, some even had posted crying videos, addressed to Adeliza's account of being so foolishly exposed enough to get caught by paparazzi. She was hardly and harshly criticized along with her ex. Loads of sympathy, care and love came flowing for Richard, offering consolation. It was daunting to see how the crown empire of fame quickly crumbles down in the matter of seconds, of just how impermanent even the fame itself was. So fragile and breakable. That was why fame was always required to be handled with care, as it was a box with vulnerable stuff inside. One jerk and it would fall down. The damage would be inevitable. For individuals like Richard, who were born with fame and prosperity on their infant clenched hands, he was aware of that more than any other.

Their arguments rose as usual. This time, Richard felt relieved to end this whole affair while Adeliza wasn't keen of the idea at all.

"I'm sorry Adeliza. We can't go on. Ending this only helps both of us. But, just tell me only this. Why? Why did you do this?"

"Because you hardly paid attention to me. It was like I didn't exist at all. We never bonded, especially physically. You always refused me. I just wanted your care for me, ok? You didn't give me what I wanted, but-"

"Forrester gave that to you. What was it? Was it attention or just sex? You know what, if you ever thought of changing yourself a little bit, not being like a lawyer all the time, and we could have actually talked it out. Remember? this was just for the show, no-strings-attached relationship. It was all fine, until you took it out for a personal level." he sighed and paused.

"Adeliza, please end this. It isn't good for both of us. If you want you can be with Blake, and I can go on with my work. I only remained with the terms of our contract. We vowed to have no attachments. But you violated it."