Love Is Black And White

25. The One Who Felt It All

It was the right time. It was the right day.

At the cafe, I read and reread the papers, knowing that each of those words would be part of the ending. They needed to be perfect. Outside, the streets were calmer than usual and the sky was gray, as if New York was apprehensive about my future, just like I was.

"Are you ready?" Dave asked me, eyebrows raised.

I took a deep breath, looked at the words one last time, and nodded.

"Good," Dave said with a smile, "Professor Bristol is here."

No longer focused on the papers, I noticed there were some people at the place, none familiar to me. My guests had not yet arrived.

Dave was already steps away from me, so I got up from the chair and followed him. On the way, some unknown faces smiled at me. It seemed strange to me, but not to Dave.

"Dave, who are these people?" I asked him.

He stopped and looked around before answering. "Well, I don't know them all, but some of them are part of the romance community."

"Oh God..." I looked to the side and shook my head.

"Hey," Dave frowned. "In case you haven't noticed yet, you're one of us now." He said, and started walking again.

Dave was right, I was one of them. The boy who used to write comic books grew up to be a romance writer. Who would have thought?

Smiling, I greeted Prof. Bristol and Mrs. Stein. "I didn't know you would come." I told them both.

Mrs. Stein looked at me in surprise. "Of course I would, everything involving this book now also involves me."

"And I'm just curious." Prof. Bristol commented with humor.

I laughed with him, "I'm glad you're here."

"Leon, I must say," Mrs. Stein spoke to me. "This kind of event usually happens after the book gets published."

"I know..." I nodded

"And your book isn't even finished yet." She kept talking. "After all, what happens in the end?"

I took a deep breath, "I will find out soon."

Mrs. Stein raised her eyebrows. "Oh, I see... Is the Jade here?" She asked, looking around the place.

I smiled. "She's coming."

Prof. Bristol put his hand on my shoulder. "I hope to read a happy ending." He said with a friendly smile.

I raised my eyebrows and sighed. "So do I."

"And I hope you give me a best seller," Mrs. Stein said to me.

I smiled at her, and thought for a moment. Me, a best selling author? It sounded so unreal. But it was the right day to challenge reality. "It will be a great book," I told her. "And if it ever turns into a movie, I know the perfect actress to play Jade."

Mrs. Stein smiled confidently at me and nodded in approval.

A few moments later, I saw Will and Anna walking towards me.

"Hey," Will said when he got close to me. "We're looking for the famous writer who is gonna read his book today, did you see him around?" He asked, looking around the place.

I laughed at him, and before I could say anything, Anna hugged me tight, "I'm so happy for you!" She spoke in a voice tuned with enthusiasm.

"Man, this is awesome!" Will said, hugging me right after. "I can't wait to see people wearing your characters' costumes at Comic-Cons and things like that."