Masked Facade

Chapter 7: Reconnect

Ryan's POV

Those dove eyes which always saw good in people stared at me like they didn't recognize me. It was more of like they didn't want to recognize me. Six long years wasn't enough to lose my hold on a person like her. She was like a moth to a flame. It was that void she left behind haunted me. And now standing in front of me, she reminded me that I failed to replace her. Because I didn't want to replace her.

While my surrounding faded away, the memories I shared with Alice reached out to me. The first fight where she accidentally spilled her coffee all over me, then the first ever slap of my life, the first encounter of a drunken Alice and many more to add. But my eyes held her captive. They knew that she was her. That she was my other incomplete part.

A tugging at my arm tried to avert my vision away from Alice, but I shrugged it off. My legs on their own accord led me to her. I heard voices but couldn't perceive their messages. Her face casted the same surprised expression as that of mine. With every step, the distance between us lessened while my heart thumped against my rib cage rapidly.

I wanted to analyse whether she was real or not. I wanted to make sure that I wasn't dreaming. I stopped right in front of her and I noticed how her eyes were as big as saucers. I raised my hand to her face but the way she reacted crushed me. She flinched away from my almost touch. Instead of backing off, I cupped her cheek and at that moment I believed myself. I believed that she was my Alice.

"It's you. God, Alice! It's really yo-"

She drew herself away from my reach. Looking behind me, she gave a small smile. Then she gazed at me and gulped audibly. Audible enough for me to hear.

"S-Sorry Mr. Rodriguez. I think there's some misunderstanding here. I-I am Raelyn Harper." It didn't escape my notice how she stuttered while saying her fake name.

Score!

I knew how to bring her back to me from her denial. I neared her while she backed away but after couple of steps, the couch behind her stopped her from running away. I closed the distance between us while she was dumbstruck by my action. I took the chance to admire her. I cupped her face with both of my hands and she closed her eyes, relishing the warmth that emanated off of me.

"No..." I whispered by maintaining extreme proximity that my breath fanned against her face. "You. Are. My. Alice. Don't you recognize me?"

I waited for her response but received nothing. So I continued, "I'm your magician from the party six years ago, remember?"

I noticed how slowly she was giving in. She raised her hands to place her fists over my chest. A smirk formed on my lips and I found the courage to walk down the memory lane to capture her and seize her from escaping my hold. I brushed her locks away to have a good view of her face.

"Just lose the-"

I was abruptly interrupted by a forceful push from her. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion while questions swarmed in my head.

Why is she being so protective of herself? What the fuck did I do to deserve this?

"Get off of me!" Her voice was clipped with irritation and warning. She clutched her bag close to her chest as if she was afraid of me. Then she spoke the next set of words all the while looking down at her shoes.

"I'm sorry. Excuse me." And with that, she stormed away from me. Again. I called out for her, but she refused to acknowledge me. More than pain, rage clouded my eyes. I was mad at her for denying me.

After all these years, why now! Why now make a grand entrance in my life when I thought I was about to start a fresh chapter? Why did she leave me to reconnect again?