Masked Facade

Chapter 20: Unimaginable closure

Ryan's POV

Six years ago...

No one would have loved the feeling of loneliness like I did. For others, it was considered as hazardous. Some even quoted the feeling as sickening. But I cherished it because I lived those moments. Solely having the company of my mind and the pumping monster to myself, I figured my life. I calculated my every future moves while validating my thoughts with the reality.

Resentment towards solitary was like, according to me, living without a purpose in your life. Because it was just matter of time when someone abandoned you and moved on with their life. Only cowards feared the aftermath of the very idea of losing someone close.

I craved my time with myself more than usual because of Alice's irresistible presence around me. The aura that came off of her just pulled me towards her even though pretty much I still felt the same way about her as earlier.

Nothing had changed but I could feel something shifting around me. Something didn't fit well within me but it never felt wrong. My intuitions were being messy and all around the place.

But every other speculation flew away out the window when I noticed an unfamiliar car being parked in my driveway with a dark, healthy silhouette leaning against the trunk. I heard a sharp intake of breath from my right side and when I analyzed the state of the owner of that gasp, realization dawned on me as I was standing in front of my home and out of Jeremy's car.

Moments passed while contemplating between choices lay in front of me. And then something caught my attention. Leisurely advancing on that huge figure, Alice started putting distance between us. For some strange reason, I didn't like it. Uncomfortable was what I felt. So with quick strides, I fell right beside her in synchronization with her steps.

The moonlight illuminated part of that person's face and suddenly the huge form stepped out of the dark space and stood right in front of Alice.

Dressed in a branded suit, the guy in front of me seemed to be in his late forties with his rich salt and pepper hair. His face clean shaven appeared like a solid rock, blank and emotionless. His hands were stuffed in his pant pockets but I could clearly notice the bulging effect from both of his pockets. Believe me, it wasn't that bulging in his pants. If it was then I'd have known.

But of all things, I could not look away from his suit that he wore. It wasn't like he stuffed his body into that suit. It was like the suit chose to clothe him. It looked... neat and maybe in his terms, presentable and precious. He reminded me of the character 'Barney Stinson' from 'How I met your mother'. Just to add effect to my point, he smoothed his tie in slow motion.

Yup, definitely it's the older version of Barney Stinson.

"Hey, baby girl." He said and instantly my head snapped in Alice's direction. She didn't acknowledge me but sure as hell, she did for the huge beast in front of her.

"Dad..." Alice breathed out and then continued, "What are you doing here?"

Okay. That was freaking weird. No greetings, no show-off of her love towards her dad.

"Couldn't catch up with you lately." He shrugged his shoulders off like he expected her to guess what was coming her way.

"I've been busy." She informed him in the same tone that he used on her. Like father, like daughter.

"Yeah, I can see that." With that said he eyed me from the corner of his eyes. "Care to explain what's going on with you and him."

I didn't think he recognized me as the son of the Mayor. And from the manner my dad narrated the Collins; I didn't see that silent accusation coming in my direction from Mr. Collins.