"Monday?"

The woman blinked; her mind could not assess the episode that created a bug in her system, "did you see that, Dagmar? The man walked past me as though I was a ghost."

Behind the door, Kenneth heaved. The image of Monday holding the cigarette made the worst memories of his youth surface. The ashtrays in every room. The smoke stench filtered through every fiber, curtains, clothes, carpet, and everything smelt cold tobacco, just like his mother's breath.

The once beautiful Adele Mosely was back to being Adele Willaby. The woman sank with a divorce, a crushed career, and a son to raise. Kenneth was the gift from God she didn't plan to have; at least he had her traits. Losing her husband to another woman was her punishment for taking the man from his first wife. Shattered and bitter the woman tried to give Kenneth the love and education to survive in the world. The boy both admired her quick thinking but detested the wreck she was.

Men seek a replica of their mother. Kenneths' answer to the statement was not sure; see, not at all.

Monday was the total opposite of his mother, from her beliefs to her concept of love. Monday's simplicity represented a haven in the short time-lapse, and the man fell for her. There the guard he began to let down bulked up.

"Dagmar."

"Perhaps he didn't see you," the thriller writer said, trying to sound reassuring when even she was surprised by the man's behavior.

Monday widened her eyes, "come on, we were face to face, and he walked off."

Kenneths' attitude was out of character.

Monday and Dagmar hurried back inside. It was almost time for the announcement. Still, Monday went straight to Kenneths' booth, "Kenneth, what was that about?"

The man turned, "please, leave me alone. I don't want to talk to you."

Monday tilted her head to the side. Was this the same guy who massaged her foot and with whom she played cat and mouse in the morning?

Rob and Meredith watched from afar.

"What's the commotion about?" Rob asked Meredith, who almost jingled on the spot with excitement.

"Rob, you won't believe me if I tell you."

"Try me."

"She smokes," Meredith said. One would think she blew the trumpet of triumph; the woman was ecstatic.

"What?"

"She smokes cigarettes, Rob."

Rob shook his head, "Oh no."

It was terrible. Just when he thought Kenneth had finally found someone with whom he was happy, the relationship popped smoke.

"Yes, Rob, she smokes. Isn't it funny?" Meredith said and slapped Rob's shoulder.

"Did you set it up?"

"No, that's what's beautiful. I didn't lift a finger," the woman said and returned her focus on the quarreling couple. Meredith already played the fantasy of how she would console Kenneth. She hoped he'd be quick to get rid of Monday.

In the meantime, Monday tried to dig for an explanation, "Kenneth, tell me what's wrong?"

The man looked around him, the bells of drama rang, the pressure mounted, "please leave. I don't want you here."

The stern tone left no space for misinterpretations. Monday understood the man didn't wish to see her, she retreated.

Kenneth couldn't believe he missed the detail. Monday didn't even show signs of need. The woman never harbored the smell. Her teeth were whiter than those of a non-smoker. Nor did her clothes, breath, hair, or fingers hold the scent. Oh, she did wash her hands often, Kenneth thought.

The man couldn't guess the woman only smoked when stressed. The occasional smokers' number of cigarettes spiked after the BookInc. The stress twerked on Monday's mind between her writers' block and Kenneth. So yes, Monday passed from her two emergency cigarettes to five a day. No, big deal, right?

Wrong.

The prize ceremony began. Ben and Monday applauded Dagmar, who did four back and forths for her prizes.

As for the infamous bear, it went to Berlins' own Baris Wagner.

Kenneth went up on the stage as well. His gaze fled Mondays,' who blinked with bewilderment.

The after for the fairs' closing was within the hall. Newspaper photographers took their shots while newsrooms camera operators captured footage for the evening and following morning's news.

Kenneth and Dagmar found themselves swamped by snapshots and flash questions like the other laureates.

Monday tried to find a moment to speak to Kenneth, but it was impossible as the man had disappeared. Monday approached a man from the speakers' entourage who seemed close to him.

"Excuse me, have you seen, Kenneth?"

"He's left," Rob didn't need to hide the information. He didn't know Monday, but he empathized with her distress.

One of Kenneth's senior collaborators, Rob, knew how the Scorpio stung its prey and left them paralyzed in a limbo of doubt.

Though gifted in the speech, the orator wasn't one for explanations. When displeased, all bridges and lines of communication broke. One had to replay the scenes until they found their fault and beg for forgiveness which never came.

Happy alone?

Kenneth mocked Monday for wanting a prince charming, but he forgot how he wished for the ultimate perfection. A love and a person with zero defaults.

Monday didn't tick off all the boxes, and he made her an exception, but he could not overlook this one habit she had.

Monday sighed, "okay, thank you," the woman rushed back to where Ben stood.

"Ben, I'm leaving," she announced. Kenneth probably went to the hotel. She hoped to meet him there.

The woman took a taxi and immediately went up to his suite. His belongings were gone.

She descended to the lobby, "excuse me, did the person staying in room 2048 check out? I mean, did Mr. Mosley leave."

The clerk who remembered her from the night before approached," yes, madame. Mr. Mosely checked out, but his booking includes tonight."

Mondays' eyes widened in shock.

What on earth was going on?

Kenneth wasn't supposed to leave then. The extra night on his bill attested it.

Why did the man push forward his departure?

It couldn't have something to do with her.

The whole take had massive plot holes the woman didn't comprehend.

Monday decided to leave. The woman didn't see herself sleeping alone in his suite. She sent a text message to Ben and went to take a flight to Paris.

On his flight back, Kenneth didn't take out his laptop. Instead, he closed his eyes and tried to sleep under Meredith's lioness' protective gaze.

The wanna-be Ms. Moselys' nightmare was over. Not only was Monday hell-bound by Kenneth, but the PA escaped the cyclops' eye. The smoking incident evicted the grievances the man held against her. Meredith was sure there was nothing she could do to compete with the deception Kenneth experienced with the author.

Monday spent her flight and the taxi ride back to her apartment in absolute turmoil.

Luce wasn't home when she got there. The woman emptied her bag for a washing cycle and slumped on the sofa. She turned on her phone. Her screen remained blank with no messages or calls.

Monday chucked the device on the table and picked it up again. She stared at the screen and went to her contacts. Her fingers scrolled till she fell on his name and she immediately posed the phone.

Kenneth still had a few hours of flight.

"Bae, you're back," Luce exclaimed when she saw her.

Monday sketched a weak smile.

"Omo, Dayé, what's wrong?" Luce asked, seeing her cousin's long face.

Monday shook her head from side to side. Her stare was empty as she replied, "I don't know, Luce, I don't know."

Her cousin frowned, and the woman began to explain.

"Wait a minute, what were you doing when he snubbed you?"

"I told you, I was smoking with Dagmar."

Luce slid her head back, "I thought you quit."

"I did, Luce. I did, but I've been under a lot of stress lately."

"Monday, you know. The shit will kill you; you have no idea how many people I see perish every day because of that."

"I know, Luce. I'm well aware of what smoking does."

"Wait, perhaps the man wasn't happy to see you smoke. I have a few colleagues who can give up on their crush because of it."

"Oh, come on, Luce. The man acted as though I spanked his butt without his consent."

Luce chuckled, "Monday, I see no other explanation," she clapped her hands, "Omo, men are so gifted for this kind of ploy. One minute they love you, and the next they disappear like Houdini dé."

"But it's soooooh, exaggerated. I mean, the mouth is for talking, and Kenneth does that well, daily and for hours. What would it cost for him to say, Monday, I'm against smoking. Please don't do it. It's not like I'm addicted."

Luce cocked a brow.

"It's not a necessity; okay, I would stop if Kenneth asked me," Monday said, pointing her hands at herself.

"Why didn't you tell him?"

"É sista, first, I didn't know it was that, and perhaps we're wrong. Maybe it's something else."

Luce shook her head, "I think it's the cigarette."

The conversation went around like a merry-go-round, and the only solution Luce found was the one Monday gave up before her arrival.

"Call him."

"No, Luce, I didn't do anything wrong." The woman protested. Why should she call when she was the one who lived the prejudice of being ignored.

"I said call the man, Monday."

"No, lóbátán, [it's finished]. Oga ade [this guy] fooled me."

"Okay, then leave me alone. My next shift is at 6 AM. I need sleep." Luce left Monday alone in the leaving room as the clock struck one.

Despite what she said, the woman grabbed her phone and dialed. Of course, she got diverted to the voice message. Monday cleared her throat and spoke:

"Eh, Kenneth, I don't know what happened. I'm confused." She sighed and swiped a finger on her forehead, "eh tell me, did I do something wrong? You left and em," she sighed once more, "call me back, please. Let's talk."