Chapter 8: Day 2 – He’s Too Sweet

[ALEXA]

I go to campus as usual, pedaling my bicycle. I'm a bit dizzy actually, but I don't really think about it.

Kimmy was really mad at me yesterday. She called me arrogant because I turned down her offer to earn money from working on her thesis. 30 million in total for Kimmy, Lisa and Candy's thesis. I don't want to do that. I don't want the lecturer to suspect me and give me a bad grade for being dishonest. I also don't want to do that because she’s Kimmy. I don't want to have anything to do with her. Her father once deceived my father and almost made him hurt.

Kimmy’s father, Mr. Kimora, works as a contractor, and his company is huge. He once worked with my dad, who’s just a small contractor, under the pretext of ‘wanting to help fellow contractors’. It was about five years ago, Mr. Kimora and my dad teamed up for a large client, a multinational company. A few months after the project started, my dad had done most of the design and planning, but then he was slandered by Mr. KImora, so the client finally kicked my dad’s company out of the project. Mr. Kimora then finished the project, received all the fees, using all the plans my dad made. My dad didn't earn a penny, even though he had worked hard for several months. What's outrageous is that because the client was so disappointed with my dad, they even hired someone to harm him. Mr. Kimora’s instigation made my dad’s clients go that far. Luckily, my dad was safe, and he didn't get hurt. My dad was reluctant to continue the case to court and refused to report to the police, because if we lost, we could end up going bankrupt.

I’ve never told anyone about that problem, but Mr. Kimora is the meanest human being I’ve ever known. I don't even want anything to do with him, or his daughter, Kimmy. Any amount of money seems worthless to me if it is from Kimmy.

If Kimmy asked me nicely to help her, I would definitely help her. I would teach her the parts she didn't understand, so she could finish her own thesis. But when it comes to money, I'm afraid bad things will happen.

I clench my cardigan with one hand, and continue to pedal toward the campus. The wind is not blowing too hard, but the air is quite cold this morning.

Campus is near, maybe a minute to arrive. I greet one or two students I know, who are walking into the gates of this magnificent campus. Entering the gate, I still have to paddle a few more blocks, through the vast expanses of grass where students love to sit and study. The Architecture Department building is located slightly to the back.

I park my bicycle near the cafeteria, as usual, while looking around. No more Justin? I'm still kind of thinking about his attitude yesterday, and actually I'm a little scared. He's never once been friendly to me, never even spoken to me before. Why did he act like that yesterday?

I'm getting ready for the Building Renovation class, and my chest suddenly tightens a little when I realize I'm going to be taking Justin's class today.

"Ah, there will be around 50 students later, that's a big class. I don't think he'll notice I exist," I mumble to myself.

After taking my stationery and books from the locker, I take my vitamins, and rush to aisle B. I see Justin's gang hanging out next to my class.

Shut up.

All this time I see them as a bunch of arrogant rich college students, who only want to be friends with the rich and influential students. I actually know their names because they are very popular, but we never talk to each other. Everyone is so handsome and cool, especially Justin, but it’s all doesn’t matter when they’re arrogant.

They see me coming, and I suddenly feel awkward. They never look at me like this.

"Um, excuse me," I say, as they are a bit in my way. Ramon and Jack smile sweetly. I think it's the first time they intentionally smile like this at me.

"Hello, Alexa," says Jared with a smile.

He knows my name? Since when did they know my name?

"Ah, hi," I reply, smiling too.

God, please, I don't know what to do.

They are the cutest and coolest gang on campus, and for some reason my knees suddenly feel weak. I enter the classroom, and choose the front seat. Justin must be sitting in the back as usual, and I don't want him to bother me here.

I stretch my legs forward and lean my back on the hard classroom chair. Maybe my legs are weak because they are tired, not because of Justin and his gang. Other students start to come in, and the class is now full. The lecturer finally comes, and the seat next to me is still empty. Not many students like to sit in the front.

Not long after, Justin comes in and suddenly sits next to me. My heart seems to stop beating for a minute. When I turn to him, he smiles at me. I spend the hour almost with a blank mind. I really can't concentrate.

Damn.

I don't like Justin! He is rude, overbearing, and very arrogant because he is rich.

Once he was hover boarding in the cafeteria and accidentally hit a waitress who was carrying food orders, until she fell and all of his plates broke. Justin didn't help the waitress up, nor did he help clean the shards of her plate. He just squatted for a while, apologized and gave the waiter some money saying, "I'll add more tomorrow." And the next day, the cafeteria changed. The shelves and stacks of dishes had all changed to be much more luxurious, and even the stove was also brand new. The fried rice canteen stand is now the most luxurious stand in the campus canteen, and it has more and more customers.

Ah.. but isn't that good? The average college student would just apologize and replace the broken plates, but Justin replaced almost the entire depot. My mind is racing and my heart seems trying to enter the arena of debate.

He's not that bad, Alexa.. He's not that bad.

Class is over, but I'm still in my thoughts. Justin's hand pats my desk, startling me.

"Want to come home with me today?" he asks politely with a smile.

For God's sake, why he's so good looking?

I turn my face away in fear, stand up and put on my backpack.

"I've got my bike, Justin," I answer while pretending to tie up my shoelaces which are actually still tied up, and I leave him.

Why is he suddenly so sweet to me?

I'm scared. I half run out of the classroom and almost bump into Jared and Ramon who are chuckling for some reason I don’t understand.

Only one class today, and I don't have any appointments with any lecturers. I want to hurry to my project house and talk about my roses with my uncle.

There’s s little drizzle down from the sky, very gentle. I hit the fine splatter by pedaling my bicycle, fighting the gusts of wind and the drops of water falling on my face.

Only about 15 minutes later, I arrive. It doesn't rain at all around my house.

"Hi, Uncle Robert!"

My uncle is examining my roses which are getting worse and worse. "This is really weird, Alexa. Everyone's dead, no exception."

"What's even weirder is that all the roses in my cafeteria died, too. Only white roses. All red roses are still healthy."

"What?"

I shrug.

"Sorry, I am not a plant expert, Alexa. I don't even know why this is happening." His regretful tone sounds sad. "Should I clean this? There's nothing we can do."

"Yeah, we can't do anything either. Just throw it all away," I reply. "But I'm confused, should I buy new grown roses? The deadline is tight."

"Ah, by the way, since the deadline is tight I will just focus on installing the roof first, okay? It will take a long time to clean these roses."

"OK.. Let's just leave them alone."

"I will try to find some information about cheap roses around here. I hope it won't be that expensive.. Well, who knows?"

"Right.. My budget is running low, Uncle," I conclude.

Uncle smiles and pats my shoulder to cheer me up. "Don't worry Alexa, this is gonna be the warmest home in this block."

I smile.

"Let's put the roof on," says Uncle, leaning on the ladder for him to go upstairs. I just have to throw the tiles up one by one, and he will install them.

"Hey.. here Randy is coming," shouts Uncle Robert and I turn to a big, friendly man with thick beard who comes into the yard. "He's going to help us put on the roof today."

"Hi Randy," I greet him, holding out my hand. "I'm Alexa."

"I'm Randy. Do you own the project for this house?”

I nod.

“Awesome! You're still so young!"

"Ah, this is just a simple house, Sir.. Actually I'm afraid that when the wind blows it will collapse."

He laughs, "No.. There hasn't been a strong wind here for decades!"

Then he goes to the pile of tiles that are ready to be installed, and takes them. "Let me just do this, Alexa. You'll see!" Randy exclaims with a large grin.

"Oh, okay," I reply as I put down the slab of tile that I am holding.

I see how the two of them work together putting up the roof of my house.

My house!

My heart is overflowed with joy.

But then suddenly my eyes feel strange. Dark spots appear in my vision, then more and more, and finally all I can see is darkness. I can't see anything. I wave my hand.

"Uncle Rob.. I'm blind."