Jai peeked through her glasses at the couple seated at the end of the Chinese restaurant. She was disguised in a big brown leather coat, a blond wavy wig, and blue contact lenses, hoping to blend in and avoid detection.
Her eyes narrowed as she watched Yuan, her ex-boyfriend, kiss his new girlfriend, Mei-Ling. Jai's nose scrunched up in disgust at the sight. She felt a surge of agitation and rolled her eyes, silently cursing the couple.
Jai's disguise was a precautionary measure to avoid being recognized by Yuan or his lawyers. She had been issued a restraining order, and she knew that if Yuan spotted her, there would be consequences.
Jai's mind was still reeling with thoughts of Yuan and Mei-Ling's betrayal when a young Indian-American waiter approached her. He looked utterly out of place in his oversized Chinese costume and sneakers, and his grumpy face only added to the comical effect.
Jai smiled at him guiltily, feeling a pang of sympathy for the clearly unhappy teenager. But instead of returning her smile, he frowned and shoved a photo into her face.
"Have you seen this lunatic?" he asked, his tone gruff, his Indian accent thick and rich.
Jai's eyes widened as she took in the photo. It was a picture of herself, with her usual black oily hair and lip pink gloss. Her disguise, it seemed, hadn't fooled the waiter.
Jai's eyes widened in alarm as she took in the caption on the photo: "Crazy ex". She shook her head frantically, trying to process the situation.
Finally, she spoke up in a strange but funny American accent, trying to deflect suspicion. "Never seen her," she said, almost choking on her Chinese green tea.
The young waiter didn't seem convinced, but he didn't press the issue either. Instead, he trudged off to the next table, muttering under his breath.
"I hate my job," he grumbled. "I don't care about some crazy woman who won't let her ex be. People like that deserve to be arrested and charged with prison time without trial."
Jai watched him go, feeling a mix of relief and amusement. She was glad she had managed to avoid detection, but she couldn't help chuckling at the waiter's dramatic outburst.
Jai's eyes snapped back to attention as the stranger's words cut through her focus. She felt a jolt of anxiety, wondering if she had been discovered.
"Not sounding racist or anything, but you look nothing like what you are pretending to be," the stranger said, his voice low and smooth.
Jai's eyes locked onto the stranger's, her heart racing with anticipation. She took in his appearance - tight black pants, blue beige shirt, full blond hair, blue eyes, and soft pink lips. He was undeniably handsome, and for a moment, Jai forgot about her mission.
The stranger's gaze held hers, his eyes sparkling with amusement. Jai felt a flush rise to her cheeks as she realized she had been staring. She quickly looked away, trying to compose herself.
The stranger's gray eyes seemed to bore into Jai's soul, making her feel uncomfortable and exposed. She shifted in her seat, trying to composed herself.
"How did he get there?" Jai wondered, still trying to process the stranger's sudden appearance.
She cleared her throat, trying to sound calm. "What makes you so sure?" she asked, still using the fake American accent.
The stranger smiled smugly, holding up a copy of the flier the Indian waiter had earlier. "Big eyes like a raccoon, small lips like a rat, short like a twelve year old and dressed like a junkie," he read out, his eyes peering into Jai's, tearing her apart with his words.
Jai felt a sting of hurt and anger. How could Yuan describe her like that? Every other thing he had mentioned was a lie, except the part where he said she was short like a twelve year old. That one was unfortunately true.
Jai's face burned with anger as she listened to the stranger's words. She decided to give him a taste of his own medicine, and her voice rose in a loud, fiery tone.
"Shut up, you dirty misogynist! Don't ever talk to me like that, or I'll rip that beautiful smile from your face!" Jai slammed her fists on the table, making the dishes rattle.
But her outburst only seemed to amuse the stranger. His grin grew wider, and he exclaimed, "Wait, you're that lunatic ex in the photo!"
Jai's face fell, and she felt a sharp knot in her stomach. She realized she had to get out of there, fast. If she didn't, she risked getting into trouble again, and she couldn't afford to spend more of her savings on court charges. It was a cycle she'd been stuck in for six months now, and she was determined to break free.
"I better be going," Jai mumbled, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over her. She had never felt so humiliated in her life.
But before she could take a step, Blond Hair's grip on her tiny hands tightened. "Hold on, where do you think you're going?" he asked, his voice firm but calm.
Jai struggled to break free from his hold, but she was no match for his strength. The people in the restaurant began to gather around them, drawn in by the commotion.
Murmurs filled the air as the onlookers watched the scene unfold. Jai's face burned with embarrassment and frustration. Why wouldn't Blond Hair let her go?
As she struggled, Jai's mind racing with thoughts. Was this how far Yuan would go to keep her away? Had he hired this guy to catch her, no matter where she hid? The questions swirled in her head, making her feel trapped and helpless.
Blond Hair's actions had already left Jai feeling embarrassed and trapped, but when he ripped off her wig, exposing her true identity, she felt like she'd hit rock bottom.
The crowd gasped in shock, their murmurs turning into a chorus of whispers and pointing fingers. Jai's face burned with shame and humiliation as she stood there, her dark hair messy and exposed.
Just as she thought things couldn't get any worse, a familiar voice called out from the crowd. "Jai?."
Jai's eyes scanned the crowd, her heart sinking as she locked eyes with the person she'd been watching for the past hour - Yuan.
~ ~ ~
Jai sighed softly as she washed away the thick layer of makeup from her face, her eyes fixed on Jamie's disapproving expression on the FaceTime screen.
The past five minutes had been a lecture, with Jamie scolding and yelling at Jai for making a fool of herself in front of her ex, Yuan, and his girlfriend. Jai couldn't blame her friend; she was disappointed in herself too.
"I know you like this dude, girl," Jamie said, breaking through Jai's silence. "As a matter of fact, you still do, but you have to move on. This guy isn't worth the trouble."
Jai nodded slowly, knowing Jamie was right. She had to move on from Yuan, no matter how hard it seemed. But the memory of today's humiliation still stung, and she couldn't shake off the feeling of being a "lunatic" in the eyes of Blond Hair and the crowd.
Jai's voice trailed off as she struggled to explain herself, still shaken from the embarrassment of the restaurant scene. She could almost hear Nana's disapproving tone in her head.
"I'm sorry, okay?" Jai said finally, feeling a lump form in her throat.
Jamie let out a sympathetic sigh. "Uh-hmm, so your savings for this month has gone... pttff!" He made a whiffing sound with his hands, and Jai couldn't help but smile slightly.
She wiped away the tears on her face and turned off the faucet in the public bathroom. "Something like that," she mumbled, staring down in shame.
Jamie's expression turned angry. "That son of a feral bitch!" he cussed, and Jai's small smile grew a little wider.
"Please tell Rachel that I got into a little accident and I'll be there in 30," Jai said, dumping her costume in the bin and shutting the lid.
Jamie's reminder made Jai's heart skip a beat. "Okay honey, but you have to be here before..." He glanced at his watch, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "9:30. The new Sweetheart is here." He licked his lips, and Jai rolled her eyes.
"Have some shame, Jamie. You're married, for heaven's sake!" Jai teased, shaking her head as she walked towards her packed green Chevrolet sedan in the public car park.
Jamie chuckled and said, "Bye, hon," before ending the FaceTime call.
Jai felt flustered from the previous event, but she tried to shake off the feeling as she opened her car door. She slipped into the driver's seat, turned the key in the ignition, and the car engine roared to life.