Love on Air

Chapter XXIV: No Longer

IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE BELOW! DON'T FORGET TO READ!

Chapter XXIV: No Longer

~ UNKNOWN ~ 

     She turned around, astonished by my unexpected appearance. "Chris." she mentioned my name. She thought only us could hear it, but I can feel Ashley grinning wickedly amidst the crowd. 

     "Wait, how did you know me?" I grinned, walking further across the stage and trying to put myself under the spotlight next to Lexa. "Have I met you before? Or did I bump into you somewhere?" There were memories flashing at the back of my head all of a sudden, the scene where I first met her in the bookstore. 

     Her face made an impact of comprehension, suddenly realizing that she is still hiding her identity. Well, not anymore. She turned away, avoiding the distant sight of me trying to pester her with my inquisitiveness. I saw Jake standing sternly from his seat, inspecting me from head to toe and breaking out the code in what I am about to do. His teeth were clenching and his hands were red from balling them to fists. 

     "Everyone, please. Settle down on your seats. For tonight, everything is about to change." I wrapped my hand around her wrist firmly so she wouldn't try to escape my grip. "This girl, is not who you all think she is." There were little beads of tears dropping one by one on Lexa's face as she attempted to break out of my grasp. Then, with my free hand, I took off her pink wig vigorously and threw it to the audience. Jake caught it and looked at it with disappointment. Lexa's hair was slowly revealed behind her. Her copper locks were seen by the crowd who was gasping in awe and consternation. "This is Alexandria Elle Perkins." 

~ ALEX ~

     I looked up to the people before me. There were flashes of camera lights glistening through the paparazzis. I stopped crying, wiping the water off my face with a strong expression. I wanted to look brave, and so I tried. I searched the crowd for Jake and saw him staring down at my wig. He looked up at me, and we stayed like that for a while, eyeing at each other in different emotions. I thought it would be okay just looking at him. We used to look at each other in happiness. But now the ecsatsy was gone, replaced by an unknwon feeling of doubt and displeasure. 

     Everything became a letdown. 

     Jake shooked his head, and I mouthed, "I'm sorry." I knew he'd understand what I just spoken, despite of the five-meter distance between us, and it was impossible for him to hear a thing due to the accumulating crowd. But I knew it well that he had perceived what I tried to say. I knew it, because he left his table as quick as he could and walked briskly towards the exit. 

     "Jake!" 

     I shouted, pushing the cameramen and reporters away. When I finally reached a clear spot, I took off my heels and trudged my way towards Jake who had already left the Washington Hall. I pulled the door open and found Jake entering an elevator in the lobby. "Wait!" I ran farther. "Jake!" And farther. 

     I ran faster than before, like a plane on a runway, almost flying. I felt like my legs were giving up and my lungs were reaching out for air, but I don't want to quit. I would never back down for him. 

     "Jacob!" I tried again, surprised that I still managed to shout when I'm running. 

     I fathomed that he heard me, because he turned around and stopped at his foot. I reached him, and before I could say anything else, he spoke. "You lied to me?" His tone was soft, almost inaudible. His eyes were sparkling and glistening under the lights of the lobby's chandelier with his attempted tears. And this was the first time I've seen him like this. He was a guy with pure satisfaaction and joy. But that guy is not Jake anymore.