∆18. Falling Apart
Chapter 18: Falling Apart
Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩
*halts, stares at Alpha's back as he slowly leaves the hall, mumbles* please... don't let this be the end....
For the rest of the ceremony, Regulus took the lead and spoke about the other achievements and highlights of the Expo. Rithika spoke occasionally, not really paying much attention to the ceremony. It was now a Q/A session and the participants and reporters asked them questions
Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩
*tapping her feet* *internal thoughts: Please, Please end this fast, please. I need to talk to Alpha*
Regulus ⟨Regulus Navarro⟩
*looks at Rithika, understanding her impatience* *I'm trying my best to wrap this up as fast as I can, my queen*
While Regulus tried to answer all the questions, Rithika's mind raced, a whirlwind of emotions and possibilities. Fear, doubt, and desperation created a chaotic storm in her head
Soon the ceremony was over, as the people and reporters began to disperse and leave, Rithika picks up the soft toy that Alpha had left on the ground and rushed out from the back door, impatient.
Regulus ⟨Regulus Navarro⟩
*follows her, running after her. He takes a turn and runs towards the parking lot, gets inside the car and takes it to Rithika* Get in
Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩
*stares at Regulus, jaws clenched. She had so many questions for him, but now was not the time. She opens the door and sits in the passenger seat, slamming the door shut*
Regulus drives through the main roads. He already knew Alpha's home address since he hacked into all his systems in the beginning.
They couldn't show up at his house because then Alpha would get his doubts, but Regulus was quite sure that in his state of shock, Alpha wouldn't have gone home and would be outside
As Regulus drove the car, Rithika's grip on the soft toy tightened. She looked at the toy, knowing well that Alpha probably intended on giving it to her. Her hands shook and her face dropped, the past events replaying in her head
—Meanwhile, a couple of hours ago, when Alpha left the Expo—
Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩
*mumbling* This makes no sense... Why... Good god... She really...
Alpha was, for a good reason, rather confused. He had several questions in his head, and no answers for any of them.
Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩
*waves his hand, gets inside a taxi and tells him the address. He looks out of the window, his brain filled with questions*
Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩
*mumbling* Why'd she hide it from me? What harm would it have brought her if she told me she was the CEO of Avian?
Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩
Was it really so enjoyable to fool me? We've barely known each other for three days but I felt like I could consider you as a friend or maybe even...
Alpha kept thinking about it over and over again trying to make it seem sensible or even explainable but he couldn't. Soon the taxi reached the park near his house and Alpha asked the driver to stop, paid him and got down
Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩
*buys chilled soda from a nearby shop and sits on a bench. Opens the can and looks up at the sky, sighing*
Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩
*takes a sip, whispers* Funny how a day can go from sunshine to storm in a matter of seconds, isn't it? *chuckles sadly*
Minutes turned into hours as he just sat there. The can of soda, half-empty, lay discarded beside him. He stared blankly at the sky. It began drizzling, the raindrops fell on his face making the atmosphere even more glum
A car screeched to a halt, the door slammed shut, and footsteps pounded towards him. Somehow, he already knew who it was.
Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩
*breathless* Al-- Alpha, please... Look, I can explain. It was-
Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩
*looks up at her* Explain what? That you aren't who I thought you were? That you lied to me about yourself? That you enjoyed watching me talk nonsense about your company? Just wh--
Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩
*voice filled with desperation* It's not like that, I just didn't kno--
Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩
No. Stop. Just stop. I don't understand. What did you gain from this? Was this a game? And why did you lie? What difference could it have made if you were truthful?
Rithika ⟨Rialta Flores⟩
I---- I thought you wouldn't want to talk to me if I told you I was the CEO. I didn't mean to hide it for so long but--
Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩
*sighs* Stop explaining. It's-- It doesn't matter. Now I don't even know if the person I enjoyed spending time with for the past three days was the real you or just an act.
Alpha ⟨Alvin Jones⟩
I had a great day. Until the reality came crashing in the evening. *smiles bitterly* Thank you so much for reminding me that people shouldn't be trusted so easily.
Alpha gets up, walks away leaving Rithika standing there as the rain got heavier.
It all fell down, it all fell down,
It all fell down
And all I gave you is gone
"Dynasty" - Miia
Comments
𝑴𝒔. 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕
This is too much ado for nothing. So what if she's the CEO and didn't tell him? 🤨 Why would any of them want to make fun of him in the first place? Alpha might be the best hacker but he's still dumb /Smug/ Leaving my Rithika under the rain like that? How dares he???
~reader from HBC
2024-08-10
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