Author's Note: I decided to cut the story into twenty chapters because I'm losing my free time and as time passes, there come the problems related to academics. So that. But I'll still be hanging here. Thanks for everything! :D
Chapter 10: Green Thing Called Jealousy
At that very same day, the hotel was furnished with red curtains and it was definitely set for a male and female party. Yes the two saw some females but a few of them were the girlfriends of Ryo's fellow models. Alice began to look at herself down because she was certainly no match for the beauty of the women that she just saw. Ryo noticed this and began to laugh.
"What's so funny?" Alice asked, trying to sound antagonistic towards him.
As if he was reading her mind, Ryo assured her with a laugh. "Don't frown. You're prettier than the women over there."
"Hah! Prettier?" Alice snorted. "Why do you also look like as if you want to bang them?"
Ryo let out a laugh. "Why? You jealous that I'm gonna hit on them?" he added.
"No?!' Alice replied in denial. But the truth was, she was just expecting the worst in front of her.
"Aww… My little blondie's getting jealous," Ryo teased. "Don't worry. Because when I'm with you, I'm not gonna look out for other girls. I promise."
Alice only made a face as she mocked Ryo's raising of hand. As the two were currently enjoying themselves, Genji suddenly approached the two.
"So, looks like you two are finally getting alone, eh?" the manager quipped.
Alice only smiled timidly and Ryo saw this. He felt that his heart soared because of her simple smile once again. He even wanted to make that smile grow bigger whenever she was with him.
"Yeah, sure, Genj!" Ryo replied with confidence. "We're getting all along!"
Alice only made it sure to accomplish a part of her plan. Actually, she still believed that something ulterior was in Ryo's mind right now and she could not help but become suspicious of what he would do especially with her around.
"Uh… That's something to be put to question," Alice answered with a timid chuckle. "And, I'm going to the restroom."
Ryo nodded as the blonde sauntered off. "Take care!" he added.
"Yeah, sure!" Alice answered casually as she continued walking.
When the blonde was walking around the white-tiled pathway, she did not notice where she was going because she was looking down and finding something inside her bag. Eventually, she bumped into someone. When she stood up and saw the man, she did not expect what she just saw. Because standing in front of her was the kind-hearted and onyx-eyed young man with black hair as well. It was actually Jun Kazama!
"J-Jun?" Alice asked as she noticed the young man who was now wearing a white long-sleeved and buttoned shirt. "Oh my gosh! Is that you?"
The young man smiled as the woman in front of him spoke up. Yes, he was still the young man with his hair to the side and he still had the tantalizing black eyes which struck the blonde so much.
"Alice!" the young man exclaimed. "It's so good to see you again!"
"Same here! Wow!" Alice said as she could not believe that her former housemate was standing in front of her. "I can't believe you're here! What brings you here, Jun?"
"I've been dragged here by my guy friend who was a model for Vanity Shinjuku. Can't you believe that he only dragged me to his party of his?" Jun asked with amusement.
"So do me!" Alice laughed. Both of us were only dragged here in this mess.
"What about you, Alice? What brings you here to the land of the living?" Jun teased. "And you haven't told me where you're working already, you know?"
Alice laughed sheepishly. She had not told Jun of her whereabouts since she last saw him.
"Oh… I'm working already as a personal model," Alice answered in a narrative tone. "But I'm not gonna tell you who the model is. He might curse me for his newfound fame and everything!"
Alice looked at her watch and found that she still had so many hours to spare before she went home. Before she knew it, Jun began to hug her. She was wide-eyed when he hugged her and she was taken aback with this sudden move.
"I missed you so much, Alice…" Jun said to Alice.
Alice was still surprised. She did not know if she will return the hug or just stand there and pretend that nothing happened. Deep inside, her heart still yearns for her other best friend but she does not allow herself to be overtaken by her own feelings especially when they were still playing tricks on her.
"Yeah, Jun…" Alice said trying to return the hug nicely as she was wrapped by Jun himself. "I missed you too!"
But from afar, Ryo was walking towards the restroom because he wanted to check if Alice was fine. However, he found Alice in a state of embrace with another man. He was agape when he saw them.
Alice? And another man?! Ryo thought as he felt his nerves crush him. Why were all the girls that I learned to love become taken all of a sudden? Is it karma because of what I did before?
Ryo could not bear to look at Alice and another guy hugging in front of him so he was still agape. He felt that his efforts were ruined because of that event. And for the second time in his life, his heart was broken once again.
For a moment, Alice was lost in thought. She remembered Ryo hugging her when they met again. And now, Jun was hugging her as well. She realized that her heart had to decide between the two guys.
I can't believe this… Why am I suddenly thinking of Ryo? Alice thought as she realized that Jun's hug suddenly became meaningless for her.
Alice's mind had returned to reality when she saw Ryo standing several meters away from her. She was shocked and with that, she eventually broke away from Jun's grasp.
In order to make sure, Ryo walked towards Alice's direction. Alice clearly saw this act.
I wonder what he's thinking now, Alice thought. I think I made him jealous. But no matter, Alice, all you wanted to do to him was to return the favor.
Alice and Jun broke away from each other and saw Ryo coming towards them.
"H-Hey, Alice!" Ryo said. This might be my last chance with her even if she was not interested either.
"Oh, hi, Ryo!" Alice said with no expression. When she realized that Jun was still standing beside her, she decided to introduce him to Ryo as well. "Anyway, Ryo, this is Jun Kazama… My friend from college and my former officemate… Jun, this is Ryo Akiyama, my friend in high school… and my current boss…"
"Nice to meet you, Sir! I'm Jun Kazama!" Jun said and offered his hand. But being around with a model for a friend, he did not have to act awkwardly enough.
"Oh… Nice to meet you too…" Ryo said and shook Jun's hand nonchalantly because he felt jealous towards the other young man. "Anyway, I didn't know that I would see you here… So, I gotta go…"
Ryo just walked away from Alice with disappointment. Alice somehow smiled dryly after seeing Ryo walking away from her. But a part of her felt guilty.
So what if he walked away? Alice thought. It's not yet the end of the world, you know?
"So, Alice?" Jun started with curiosity, startling the blonde and eventually she looked at him. "Who was that guy?"
"He's… just my… friend…" Alice said as-a-matter-of-factly. "And he's the model I'm talking about. But enough of him,okay? I don't usually entertain talks regarding my new boss. It's kinda disturbing me."
"Really?" Jun asked, feigning interest. "Why?"
"Well, he's usually ending up dating girls every other day," Alice answered. "It's kinda a turn-off for me."
"What if I tell you that I'm not like him?" Jun asked sincerely. "Will you consider me as an option?"
Alice thought for a moment. Jun was right. If she did not like a womanizer for a boyfriend, what did she prefer?
"Hmm… I don't really know the answer… But I think I will," Alice answered reluctantly.
"Besides, we're no longer housemates or officemates. We can start something already as well," Jun answered. "We'd make a great pair if you'd let me."
Alice felt an arrow struck to her chest. She felt guilty for having two guys spinning around her world and she had to choose one over the other.
Meanwhile, Genji was standing at a nearby pathway when he saw Ryo, walking towards him and was feeling down.
"Ryo?" Genji asked, notcing how wrinkled Ryo looked. "Are you okay?"
Ryo sighed as he remembered what had just occurred in front of him. "Yeah…"
Genji noticed that something was really wrong. "You don't sound like you're okay. Did something happen while I was gone?"
"It's nothing really," Ryo denied weakly.
"You're bipolar, Ryo," Genji replied with a laugh. "When you were with Alice earlier, you looked like as if you've reached the Mount Everest. And now you're looking as gloomy as the storm! What happened, anyway?"
Ryo remembered again the pain when he heard Alice's name. He wanted so badly to punch her companion earlier but what was his right to do that? He was never Alice's boyfriend. He was only her employer, not anything else.
"Tell me, Ryo," Genji answered. "So that I can help you."
"It's just…" Ryo answered wistfully. "Can't I deserve to love a person without any hindrances?"
Genji wore a look of surprise. "What do you mean?" he asked. "What do you mean hindrance?"
"What if the girl you loved already had someone in her life?" Ryo asked, feeling surreal things inside his stomach. Butterflies in his stomach, that is.
"You mean Alice?" Genji asked, scratching his temples. Alice has a new love life? Since when?
Ryo nodded simply. "I saw another man and Alice hugging each other in front of the restroom."
Genji puffed a little air from his nose. "Are you sure that's what you saw?" he asked.
"Yeah…" Ryo answered ruefully.
"Don't lose hope, Ryo. Maybe that guy was just a friend," Genji advised optimistically. "Besides, knowing Alice's job before she landed here as your personal assistant, she had so many guy friends in the past! Cheer up, Ryo!"
"I sure hope so, Genji. I think I'm going crazy!" Ryo answered while feeling his head first.
"Congratulations, Ryo!" Genji teased. "You're finally in love with a girl!"
"Yeah…" Ryo answered sheepishly. I am, really.
At that moment, Alice and Jun were walking inside the hall. The young man still had questions regarding Alice's new job.
"Why didn't you tell me that Ryo Akiyama's your boss when we're still living as housemates?" Jun asked curiously.
Alice took a deep breath as she searched for a correct answer. "Because he didn't want any other people crowding over him. It's bad enough that he was already famous before just because of Digimon. So he wanted to lessen his publicity even more. That was the real challenge. How to lessen Ryo's publicity?"
"Oh…" Jun said, trying to comprehend the situation. "So that's the reason?"
"Yeah," Alice answered as she cleared her throat. "So, where are you working now?" she asked shyly.
"Me?" Jun asked. "Oh. I'm actually working as a managerial assistant in a company just nearest to where we used to work. And oh yeah, I…"
"Saw him. I saw Davis Motomiya, the new owner of the Shinjuku Publishing. Period!" Alice completed for him yet in an irritated tone. "I know what you're going to say."
Jun let out an unusual roar of laughter. "How did you know that's what I'm going to say?"
Alice let out a snort. "Uhm… When I told you that before, you sounded as if you're teasing me so badly."
Eventually, the young man resumed laughing. "Now that you got me, spare some details. So you saw him again, huh?! What did he and you say?" he asked.
"What would I say to that asshole?" Alice asked with her nerve-wrenching voice. "God! In the first place, he's totally annoying and a pain in the ass!"
"What did he say?" Jun asked, very intrigued with what she just said. Well, he was already used to her obscene words but today seemed to be different because she just described a certain person. And when she described a certain person, she meant it with feelings.
"He said that I'm his girlfriend way back in college!" Alice replied in disdain. "Can you believe that, Jun?"
"I could hardly agree," Jun replied with a smirk of his own. "Besides, pretty girls like you are so like guy magnets if you must know!"
"Ha-ha! But, the worst part is, Ryo was with me when that happened," Alice answered ruefully.
"What did your knight in shining armor said when you and him heard about that thing?" Jun asked curiously. "I mean, when Davis told you about that fake statement?"
"He obviously had no idea and told Davis that proof was non-existent," Alice answered humorously. "I meant that kind of premise about me being Davis' girlfriend was an invalid one."
Jun laughed at Alice's mathematical way of interpreting things. "You know something?"
Alice listened intently. "Hmm? What is it?"
"I have a feeling that your boss is crazy about you." Jun grinned as he laughed as well. "I know one when I see one!"
Alice's forehead wrinkled at the piece of fact. "How are you sure about that?" she asked, feeling doubtful of the piece of information given to her.
"I'm sure. When he shook my hand, he looked as if he was mad at me… or jealous at me!" Jun answered. "And still, I don't even know why!"
Alice smiled deviously. Then everything's according to plan! Stage one completed!
But Jun turned to look at Alice sincerely. He tried his best to see the blonde's eyes through his.
"But even if he's jealous at me for one thing or another, I really want to make you happy, Alice," Jun replied sincerely. "And I'll do it if you'd really let me."
The last sentence struck Alice too hard. Maybe she wanted a man who would make her happy and would not reject her because she was someone else.
"You know, Jun… Even if I mistrusted you at first, you could be a real gentleman at all times!" Alice answered pleasantly. "Thanks for everything… Maybe I'll consider what you just said to me."
"You're welcome!" Jun answered. "You know that I'll always be here for you."
Eventually, the two broke from each other's gaze and walked along the hallway.
Meanwhile, Ryo was feeling uneasy even if Genji was with him in the hallway where they stood. He felt queasier now that he knew Alice could be with another guy right now.
"Why are you fretting so much, Ryo? Maybe the guy you just saw was just Alice's friend!" Genji replied positively, hoping that his boss would entertain his assumptions.
"How am I gonna accept that, Genj?" Ryo asked with an evident trace of worry in his voice.
"Then try to prove to the girl that you're worth loving!" Genji advised. "Try to work on it, Ryo."
Ryo wore a look of surprise. "Why? Why are you rooting for me, Genji?" he asked.
"Ryo, I maybe older but I'm wiser than you," Genji declared.
Ryo felt silent at that point. Genji was totally right.
"Besides, I'm going to leave next week so I'm hoping that you two will get it along!" Genji replied. "I'm going to put Alice in charge as your manager at that time."
"Where are you going, Genji?" Ryo inquired once again.
"I'm going to Okinawa next week since you're going on a sabbatical leave after all your photoshoots this week," Genji answered.
Ryo nodded. However, his thoughts were disturbed when they heard footsteps coming towards them. When he looked up, he saw that the pair was Alice and Jun. his color turned a little shade paler when he met the two and Genji noticed this.
"Hey, Ryo!" Alice greeted. This is gonna be fun!
"Hey…" Ryo said nonchalantly, trying to ignore the presence of Alice's friend in front of him.
Evidently, Genji noticed Ryo's reaction and secretly laughed because the model had been green with jealousy so far.
It looks like that the young man is her friend, Genji assumed inside his mind. And Ryo is definitely showing his jealousy very well! Way to go, Ryo.
Jun felt awkward even if Alice was with him. He decided to walk away for a moment because he needed to do something for the moment.
"Uhm… I needed to go already, Alice," Jun said with a smile. "I'll send you a text, okay?"
"Okay!" Alice replied, trying not to sound too excited. After all, she was already standing in front of Ryo and Genji.
Eventually, the young man walked off, leaving the smiling Alice and her two male companions agape. When the young man was totally gone, the manager decided to ask the very main question.
"Uhm… Alice?" Genji asked curiously. "Who's that guy?"
Ryo stepped out a bit so the blonde could answer the manager's question without hassles.
"Uh… He's a friend," Alice answered casually even if she knew that was the whole truth and her employer just assumed that she was going out with Jun.
"Really?" Genji asked now surprised with what he had just heard. At least I have a consolation that Ryo was just only assuming.
"Yeah! Really!" Alice cleared everything. "What did Ryo say?"
Genji laughed as he remembered the green monster that captured his employer.
"Oh… He's asking if you're taken," Genji teased.
Alice only snorted. "Come on."
"Alright," Genji answered nicely.
Ryo only gave a one last look at Alice before returning his attention towards his cellphone. He felt guilty for being jealous because he had no right in Alice's life. But he was thinking of a way on how to apologize to her as well.
Eventually, the hotel visit was over and the trio was ready to go home. Alice needed to rest because she had to deal first with Ryo's pretending girlfriend once again the next day. While Ryo and Alice were waiting for him, Genji brought the car to the door.
"Come on, guys! Let's hop inside!" Genji urged as he pressed the horn and lowered the window.
The employer and his personal assistant were not in speaking terms. Both were still harboring feelings toward each other. Ryo was feeling his high pride while Alice was trying to conceal the fact that she was the one who made the deal to be friends with Ryo again, even if it meant blushing, unusual beatings of the heart and the other things that would remind her of freaking romance.
"Uh… Alice?" Ryo asked, hoping to get an answer from the blonde.
"Yeah?" Alice answered. What does he want now?
"Sorry for my reaction earlier," Ryo said apologetically. "I guess I'm just… I'm not used to seeing you with someone else."
Alice's brows curled and let out a shy laugh. "Don't worry. He's just a friend. Or maybe something more…"
"Are you sure he's just a friend, Alice?" Ryo asked to make it clear. I hope she says yes.
"Yes!" Alice answered. "What seems to be the problem, Mister Akiyama?"
"Nothing but awesome," Ryo replied, having his confidence regained back. "Then you won't mind me having a date with you one of these days?"
"Pardon me? A dare or a date?" Alice asked, trying to make sure that she had heard it correctly.
"A date," Ryo assured. "It's no longer a dare."
Alice felt her blood boil at the dare. "So you're just playing with me, alright?" she snapped.
"N-No! It's not a dare!" Ryo answered with a grin.
"If I find out that you're playing with me once again, Akiyama, then I won't have any other choices for you," Alice threatened since she felt that she was being lured into a small piece of trap.
"No, I won't!" Ryo assured. "I promise that I'm gonna make it real! Just like my friendship to you."
Alice was now in a quandary. There was a guy she used to fall for and another was a guy who was determined to sweep her off her feet. She was totally confused right now because two guys were now after her yet her heart still pumped for the model. A part of her was still infatuated with Ryo.
"Okay," Alice answered, agreeing but still trying to test the hypothesis whether what Ryo said was true or false. Let's see about this!
"Alright!" Ryo smiled as he jumped off in the air. You won't regret this, Alice! I promise!
What if it's just a plan to get back at me because he only pities me? Alice thought to herself. Better expect the worst rather than assume everything wherein you'll get hurt in the end. When you play with love, it's either you play with your heart or play with nothing at all!
Suddenly, she felt proud of herself for having told that quote. She did not even know where that came from.
Eventually, the black car arrived in front of them and the two went to their respective seats so they could go. Genji was surprised to see Ryo smiling once again as the young man hopped inside the passenger seat.
"Alice? What happened?" Genji asked the blonde as she made way beside her.
"Uhm… Someone owed Ryo and I think he paid Ryo his due," Alice replied with a snicker. "That's why he looked so happy."
Ryo only let out a chuckle as he sat inside the middle part of the car.
Ryo really is a bipolar one! Genji thought as he realized his employer's behavior. For a moment, he's happy, and then he becomes sad… Now he's happy! God, help me in convincing my employer to turn to the good side!
Eventually, the car moved out as it was already traveling the picturesque city of Shinjuku.
Meanwhile, in the other side, Hanako was busy scheduling her employer when suddenly; she heard a conversation going on. When she peeked from the wall, she saw that it was Tamiko and another model which she deduced to be Raya Taro.
"It seems to me that Ryo's newest assistant was a clingy girl," Tamiko started.
"Clingy? How could you be sure about that?" the other model asked.
"Every time Ryo glances over her direction, it seemed to me that they're like glue. His eyes were glued towards her and I'm not okay with it," Tamiko replied snappily. "And her name's Alice McCoy."
"So what are you going to do her then?" Raya asked her.
"I'm gonna find a specific information about that girl and investigate her!" Tamiko answered. "That woman can't stand in my way!"
"So was it only coincidental that Ryo lost a personal assistant before? In the persona of Naomi?" Raya deduced.
"Yeah and I don't want to know the tiny details about his former assistant's life," Tamiko answered bossily. "And with the way that Alice spoke to me yesterday, it's as if she was really testing my patience!"
"Whoa, girl! Personal assistant rivalries are not my thing!" Raya consoled her friend. "Why don't you just treat that Alice just like Hana?"
"Hana and Alice?!" Tamiko laughed raucously. "It's impossible! Hana can be bossed around while Alice speaks up as always! Who does she think she is?!"
At that point, Hanako's hands began to clench tightly. She actually had enough but for the sake of her family, she had to work.
Let's see what we're gonna do, Miss Tamiko! Hanako thought angrily. You may have been bossing me but you know what else I can do right now!
However, as she realized that her newfound friend was the one that has been talking about; she could not help but feel worried for the girl.
I don't know what Tamiko wants to do with Alice but I have a feeling that it's not going to be good! Hanako concluded. Oh, Alice…
Meanwhile, the trio had reached the Akiyama residence after a travel of thirty minutes. Ryo felt relaxed even if his day was almost ruined by petty jealousy but he got the consolation that the young man he just met was only Alice's friend and nothing else. So when he got down from the auto, he alighted first and opened the door for Alice.
"Hm?" Alice asked in surprise. Okay? What's this all about?
"Don't worry, Alice. I'm not gonna scare you!" Ryo assured her.
"I'm not scared," Alice retorted. "I'm just surprised because of what you just did."
Just as the moment was going on, the blonde's phone rang. When she saw what was on the screen, it was her mother.
"Hello, Mom?"
Alice went away for a few moments to talk to Mrs. McCoy.
"Hi, dear! How's everything?!"
"Okay… I'm now working as a personal assistant but I just got home. What's up?"
"Well, I tried to call the airline for a follow-up ticket for you. And I realized that you're the one going to the States and not me," Mrs. McCoy answered.
Alice felt that her heart beat twice. First, she accepted a deal between her and Ryo to stay as friends and now her mother was already phoning her that she had to go and leave for America.
"Until when am I supposed to stay?" Alice asked softly, not wanting her employer to know that his new assistant would leave him abruptly. She just got the position and she had to work up on it.
"How long did you tell Ryo when you accepted the job?"
"I told that I'm going to leave but not to him. I told his manager," Alice answered. "I'm already in a hot seat with him and I just don't want to make it bigger right now."
"Alright. At least you're decisive already," Mrs. McCoy advised.
"Yeah," Alice answered. "If I didn't find this job, who knows what I'm going to do already."
"So, speaking of Ryo, how's life being his assistant? is it good or bad?"
Alice raised an eyebrow. "Can it be both?"
"Why? I'm sure something must have happened to you just now!"
"Uhm… How about being face to face with a woman who had a stone for a heart? That's right!"
"Don't worry, dear! That's how showbiz works! All of the people you'll meet are conceited, stubborn, proud and vain too!"
"I'm used to it when I entered Shinjuku Publishing already," Alice pointed out.
"That's good. I'm proud that you're flexible enough to enter into jobs that are so… you know?"
"I can still manage it. But when you told me about my soon departure, I just don't know how to break it to my employer!"
"You'll tell it in no time! But for now, you just have to keep it mum!"
"Okay, Mom. Thanks. Thanks for advising me even if you're miles away from me. I really missed you."
"Same here, dear. That's why I booked you already a flight to America so that you can live here permanently. Was there a reason why you don't want to go?"
"N-No!" Alice denied strongly. "I don't have a love life here so put the question out."
"Okay! Anyway, I have to go because your grandfather needs me at the back. I just called you so I can inform you!"
"Okay! Just tell grandpa that I miss him too! Bye, Mom! Take care!"
"Take care too, darling!"
When her mother hung up, Alice walked back towards the main door and saw Ryo still standing there.
"What are you still doing here?" Alice asked her employer.
"I'm waiting for you, you know?" Ryo answered.
"Hmm… You do know pretty well that I'm the one who's going to wait on you, Sir!" Alice replied with a snort.
"Don't worry about it, Alice! From now on, I'm going to be the good guy!" Ryo promised and raised his right hand.
"Right…" Alice could not help but laugh sarcastically.
"What's wrong with it?" Ryo inquired.
"It sounds unusual actually," Alice answered frankly.
"Oh no… You're not making fun of me, are you?" Ryo teased.
"Definitely no." Alice smirked. "Let's go before Genji starts asking questions."
"You may be right." Ryo smiled as they went inside.