As we walk, I slip my phone out of my pocket, turning the airplane mode off. It starts vibrating nonstop, and the screen lights up with numerous messages from my family and friends, along with notifications from different social media apps.
“Vittu,” I mutter, wanting to throw my phone away. I don’t even have the energy to find out what has happened. Yet, one thing is clear: these many notifications can’t mean anything positive.
“What’s wrong?” Vivian asks, a worry lacing her tone.
“Not here,” I whisper, motioning us to a quieter spot where nobody else is waiting for their bags.
“What’s wrong?” She lowers her voice as I keep staring at my phone. “Is it something with your family?”
“No, they’re all good, I think.”
“Jasper, talk to me. I need to know what’s got you all moody.”
“I don’t know what’s happening exactly, as I didn’t want to have a better look yet, but I’m pretty sure there’s another article about me…maybe even about us.”
She sighs and holds her hand out in front of me. “Let me see.”
I hesitate for a moment but then hand over my phone. I watch as she quickly scrolls through the messages and notifications, her eyebrows furrowing.
“Huh,” is all she says.
“What is it?” I ask, my heart racing with anxious thoughts. I don’t want to stress Vivian with the media nonsense, but here we are again.
“Looks like there’s a lengthy article about us on Paparazzi Playground,” Vivian says, naming the most popular gossip magazine in the US. “I never thought I would say those words,” she adds, focusing on the screen.
After the longest minutes of my life, Vivian hands me the phone, and I read the article. The headline alone makes me stop and scoff.
“Are they fucking serious—mystery brunette spotted multiple times in Finland with the NHL player Jasper Åkerman?They make it sound like I’m some womanizer!”
“Jas, we're in public,” Vivian reminds and puts a hand on my shoulder, trying to calm me down. “Don’t let it get to you. Not right now. We both know the truth, and it’s what matters the most.”
“I know,” I reply, the anger still simmering inside me. “It’s just so frustrating that they can write whatever they want without even checking their sources.”
“That’s how the industry works. Those journalists wouldn’t have jobs if they didn’t write something their readers want to read.”
“How can you be so damn calm?” I hiss out before gritting my teeth, clenching my phone tight.
She shrugs like what’s happening is an everyday occurrence to her. “They could have said worse things.”
I take a deep breath and nod, my anger going down a notch. “You’re right, but it isn’t only about me this time. They included photos of us together—and photos of you alone.”
My eyes scan every image, not bothering to read all the lies they wrote with them. The photos of Vivian alone are the ones that bother me the most. They’ve captured her in moments that were supposed to be private like when we were exploring Helsinki and enjoying our time in Santa Claus Village. But because of me, she’s being dragged into the spotlight.
“I’m sorry,” I mutter, reaching for her hand. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“I can handle it—trust me. Once I knew how famous you actually were, I could have stopped seeing you. But no, I decided to face it if that means I get to be with you.”
I smile weakly at her. “I’ll be forever grateful that you want to be with me, but it doesn’t make it any easier…I’m so s—”
“Don’t even dare to apologize for something that isn’t your fault,” she replies. “I deal with media for work sometimes and have media training, just like I expect you do too with your career.”
“That’s right, but I still hate it.”
“I know, Jas. Truth is that we can’t let them control our lives, so let’s get ahead of this and deal with it ourselves.”
I’m more than grateful for Vivian right now. She seems to know how to handle tricky situations, even when I’m feeling overwhelmed. And I should be the one who’s more used to the media, for fuck’s sake. It just hits differently when they write about Vivian—someone who means so much to me. Someone I'm falling for.
“What do you suggest we do?” I ask her.
