~ Germany, Frankfurt ~
6:10 PM
Jesse is in the hotel room, getting ready for his evening mission.
After the café, Jesse and Oni returned to their hotel to change. Jesse told Oni that he will handle tonight's mission on his own so that she can rest. To his surprise, she accepted.
Usually Oni would insist to join him but now it's different. She is different and he knows why. Jesse told himself more than once to shake it off. He needs to let her go and this is for the best. For all of them. He needs to stop acting like a toddler who is hiding a toy so that others can't find it while refusing to play with it himself. And Oni is not a toy. She has a will of her own, and her will is to distance herself from him. He needs to respect that. Somehow.
Jesse walked out of his room and looked at the door on his right. He hesitated for a moment before walking toward it.
Oni answered the door after several knocks. "Yes?"
Jesse observed that Oni is wearing flat sandals and a sleeveless cream summer dress which ends above her knees and fits her… perfectly. Is that a lipstick? Since when is Oni wearing a lipstick?
He cleared his throat. "You are going out?"
Oni glanced left and right down the hallway before responding: "You said that you will do tonight's mission without me. Did that change?"
"No.", Jesse responded and straightened his back while putting his hands in his jeans pockets.
Jesse is wearing a black t-shirt and black jeans with black running shoes. It's perfect for hiding one's presence during night missions, and it fits his toned body very well. Everything fits Jesse well.
No matter how much Oni does not want to see him, she can't deny that he is very handsome. Oni told herself not to get lost in a daze. It's not like that anymore and she should not look at him for too long. "Why are you here? Do you need something?"
"I wanted to let you know that I am heading out."
Oni paused. Jesse never did anything like that. He would always move around without notifying her in advance and she would use Eve-vision to confirm his location. Why is he suddenly acting… civilized?
"Thank you for letting me know."
"You are going out?", he repeated his question.
"Yes."
"Alone?" Jesse is not sure why he asked this. Of course, she is going alone. With whom would she go?
At this time, Oni's phone buzzed. She checked the message which read that Robert is waiting for her downstairs in the lobby. She texted back: "On my way.", and looked up at Jesse. "How is that your business?"
Jesse felt that something is off. A simple: 'yes, I am going alone', would suffice. "I am the senior in this mission. I need to know where you will be."
"Dinner and maybe a nightclub after that. If you want to know the exact location, you can use…", Oni pointed toward her eyes indicating that he can use the lens.
Jesse frowned. "Nightclub? You are underage."
Oni stepped to her right and a second later returned to her previous position with a cardigan hanging over her arm and a purse. "Oni is underage. Tanya is not. I will stay out of trouble. You can focus on your mission. Anything else?"
Oni gestured for Jesse to move and she stepped in the hallway and closed the door of her room before turning to Jesse. She asked him a question, why is he only staring at her and not answering? He should say that there is nothing else, so that she can go without being impolite.
"Are you going by yourself?", Jesse spoke after some time. He didn't like that he is asking this again. Why is she not answering his questions?
Oni exhaled in frustration. "No. I am going with Robert. I see there is nothing else, so if you excuse me…"
Jesse felt that his mind exploded. Robert? Robert who? She can't be talking about that guy from the café, right? That guy was interested in her! Why is she going out with him? Dinner and a nightclub? That is a date!
"Oni…", Jesse called.
Oni stopped her steps and turned toward Jesse. "It will be good if you wait a minute or two before heading down. Robert is in the lobby and I told him that you are in a business meeting, so if he sees you I will need to come up with an explanation." She resumed walking toward the elevators. "Good luck tonight."
Jesse looked after Oni and his hands balled into fists. Why is she going out with that man she met only this afternoon? She does not know anything about him. What if he is a spy? What if he is not a good guy? What if he has bad intentions? What if he wants to…?
Images of Robert hugging and kissing Oni flashed in front of Jesse's eyes and he saw red. He was never this angry. Jesse had a strong urge to go down, grab Robert and rip him into pieces.
…
Jesse is standing on the rooftop of a building and looking at the large glass window of a restaurant across the street where Oni and Robert are having dinner.
Eve-vision is allowing him to zoom-in and see them clearly.
They ordered a large plate of mixed meats and are sharing it. Each of them has a salad and they have a basket filled with various breads. Oni is drinking lemon water.
Jesse saw that Oni picked up to eat a Vienna Schnitzel.
Jesse remembered that they spoke about it when discussing this mission. Oni would always ask Jesse about his likes and dislikes and the places he visited, and she listened to his every word intently while her eyes sparkled with excitement. At that time, Jesse said how Vienna Schnitzel is one of his favorite dishes since he lived in Germany and Oni was excitedly telling him that she looks forward to getting a taste of the authentic Vienna Schnitzel, made in Germany. She didn't give up the topic until he promised that they will go together to a restaurant which serves perfect Vienna Schnitzels. Well, so much for that promise.
She is getting to taste it, but without him. Is this how things are going to be from now on? Oni without him?
Jesse observed Oni. She spoke with Robert and smiled but her smile didn't reach her eyes. Jesse wondered if he is seeing right, or is he just imagining it because he wishes that her real bright smile is directed only at him… her smile which can lit up the whole room… and his life.
Jesse sighed. Aiden is right. He is selfish. He knows that he is broken and that he can't give Oni what she needs, yet he is unable to let go.
Even now, instead of doing his mission, he is standing here and stalking Oni. Jesse wondered, is Oni more important than the mission? Or is he just a possessive brute who is drowning in jealousy?
Jesse told himself that he should not be jealous. He should be happy. Robert seems genuinely interested in Oni. But... they can't think of a relationship, right? With her in the United States and him in Germany, it will never work out. What if Robert is thinking about a hookup? With her!? What if Oni is thinking about a hookup!?
---
If you are not reading this at 'W e b n o v e l .. c o m', then the content you're reading is stolen! Please support the author by reading this novel from the original source.