Girls concludes that she had been indirectly rejected.

Alyssa turned around to see the effect of her words. To her dismay, Calix's facial expression was as cold and nonchalant as the cold aura he was emitting. Alyssa tried to not look down because of the intimidation and disappointment since she had uttered those words she refused to stand down because if she did, Calix would think that she was not serious and just a kid with a crush who blabbled her fantasies. 

So she searched, looking for any sign that her words had some sort of effect but her heart beating so fast and loud in her chest was a hindrance because she could not calm down and that was when she realized something. She moved slowly and cautiously toward Calix at first with her head hanging very low and afraid to make eye contact then she suddenly raised her head and looked straight at Calix without shying away. Her look was intense and determined as she walked closer and closer to Calix slowly making the distance Calix had left between them ealier gradually disappear.

She noticed that Calix was following her every move, his eyes never moved from hers and they were drawing her in, as though telling her to purposefully get lost in them. The closer she got to them, the greater danger she felt with her heart and mind racing, she just could not tear away from his gaze. 

She came to a halt in front of him and they stayed like that with eyes in each other. To Calix's surprise Alyssa forcefully tore away from their intense staring competition and did something he never thought in his wildest dreams he would ever encounter. 

Alyssa placed her one hand on Calix's chest and gently pressed her head against his chest. Alyssa sighed in relief as Calix froze and did not move an inch. She figured earlier from stories her father used to tell her as a child that the was one thing that would not remain cold to a praise, a heartfelt thank you and even to a confession and that was the heart! His chest was warm and firm soothing her chaotic mind. 

ba dum ba dum ba dum ba dum ba dum.

Alyssa's breathing slowed and it suddenly felt like the room had disappeared and everything around her did not exist or even matter. She was lost in the rhythm of a fast beating heart as it tagged hers so much that she could not even differentiate hers, beating in her chest from the one she was listening to.

' Is this how it feels? Is this what they call love? Was this why dad always had beautiful shimmering eyes each time he spoke of the old days when he and my mother were still in love?' Alyssa thought.

'sigh, my mom and dad.' The last thought mad her sad as it reminded her of her dad's current state after her mother's betrayal and she slowly moved away from Calix's chest. She took a few steps backwards and lowered her head again.

'She is full of surprises.' Calix thought as he also felt like the room suddenly felt cooler than before on his bare chest. He moved to the dressing closet to grab a shirt. He looked at Alyssa with a very complex and intense gaze. 

' what is wrong? Why is she sad? Did I do something to make her sad?' He thought as he noticed Alyssa's change in attitude and the new emotion shrouding his mind made him slightly uneasy. He wanted to go to her and make the sad expression on her face disappear. He took one step towards her but then Prof Smit knocked and entered the room. 

He greeted the pair and sized up the situation based on how they were standing and how Alyssa's had a sad expression but then figured that what had transpired between his friend and student had nothing to do with him so he said what he came there to say.

" We need to go, Something came up in the east again." He said 

Calix looked at Alyssa for a while then erased all his thoughts from earlier and focused his attention on his friend. 

" Is it something you can not handle?" Calix asked 

" I believe we will find out when we get there. The car is ready, let's go." Lion ( Prof Smit) responded

" Alright, let's go." Calix said without looking at Alyssa. They left the room and left Alyssa standing right where she was. As they left Alyssa looked up only to be met with Calix's back as he did not even look back at her as he left. 

' Ha, he did not respond to my proposal. Is he rejecting me through silence? ' Alyssa thought to herself as she watched Calix disappear behind the bedroom door into the passage. She felt a lump in her throat but then thought again 'No, maybe I am thinking too much. No news is better than bad news, right?' She dispelled all the negative thoughts that were slowly forming in her mind. 

She was not going to work on her assumptions she would wait for him to say something before anything else. She left the room determined to ask for an answer to her proposal before Calix left because she was out of time since she would be leaving the country soon. She ran down the passage and navigated her way to the stairs that led to the open space where Grandpa and the others were. 

She was just about to turn for the last time for the stairs to be in view when she heard Calix's voice.

" Next please direct your guests appropriately. The house is big enough to have proper facilities for guests." He said to the old man 

" What? Your room had a rest room too did it not? besides I thought about and your room was the closest." the old man replied with a mischievous laugh. 

" Let's go, Calix." Alyssa heard Prof Smit's urge as she finally came to view at the top of the stairs holding onto the stair rail. 

" Whatever, just do not let just about anyone in my room again," Calix said this final statement and walked in Prof Smit's direction and they left the house.

' just about anyone? that is how he sees me?' Alyssa thought to herself as the lump formed yet again but more than anything her eyes stung. 

"Alyssie!" Aidan shouted and waved at her when he noticed her at the top of the stairs. Alyssa blinked away her tears, gave a small smile, and made her way down the stairs. The trio at the bottom of the stairs knew that Alyssa heard what Calix said and felt sorry for her.

" Grandpa, have you finished what you wanted to sort out here? I would like to go home, please." Alyssa said as soon as she reached the last of the stairs. She regards herself as a strong young woman but she knows that she would not be able to keep up the act in front of all the people present there so she needs to escape before the walls come crashing and all her emotions are out for the world to see. 

She was indirectly rejected after all.... Or so she thought.