Chapter 12: Day 4 – Alexa or Lisa

[JUSTIN]

This morning is very shiny, but the weather is quite cold. Alexa and I have already left for the forest to see the miracle.

"What did you do yesterday?" I ask Alexa. I remember yesterday she was planning to fill his house with furniture.

"Oh, I just filled the living room with a sofa and a table yesterday. We were immediately assisted by the shop clerk as well, so it could be finished quickly."

"Ahaha, you spent longer time making up your mind which one to buy, right?" I tease her, chuckling.

"That's right, hahahaa! I went around five shops before I finally bought one. Uncle Rob took me around."

"He must be very proud of you, Alexa.”

I'm proud to be your friend, Alexa, really.

Again this feeling of sincere adore arises, and I don't know what to do.

"We're here," I claim as I park my car on the side of the road, a little way inside.

"Is it safe here?" Alexa asks, to see that this area is very quiet.

"It's totally safe. This is where I’ve been playing since I was little."

She smiles again, with her wide eyes looking excited.

Alexa, if you keep smiling like that, my plans will be totally ruined.

"Woah.. What is this place?" Alexa says in awe, as we enter the beautiful lakeside area.

"This lake doesn't have a name yet, Alexa. Would you like to name it?"

"I don't have any ideas, Justin.." She replies as she walks towards the lake, with her eyes fixed on the fresh white roses growing along the south side of the lake.

"These white roses .." Alexa’s eyes are looking for my explanation.

"This is what I wanted to tell you, Alexa."

I crouch for a moment and pluck a white rose that is perfectly crowned. I smell it, then tuck it into Alexa's ear.

"I'm so sorry, Alexa.. These roses can grow and live because your roses and all the roses in DSA died."

Alexa looks devastated, but still confused. "How.."

"You see that yacht anchored there in the east?"

Alexa sees it and nods.

"This lake created it, Alexa."

Alexa shakes her head, frowning. "But how..?"

I take Alexa's hand and bring her to Mera, and invites her to sit beside the tree stump.

"I know you're going to have a hard time accepting this, but give it a try," I affirm, looking deep into her eyes, showing that I am serious. "Tell me what you want right now."

"Are you serious?" she asks. She must be very confused. "I want a chandelier for my living room. I want to buy a good one but it is very expensive."

"Wow, I can't draw chandeliers," I bawl a bit, grinning.

"Why do you need to draw?" Asks Alexa, who still has absolutely no idea about anything in this forest.

"Hmmm.. Wait. Do you have an idea of a chandelier brand you like?"

"Nestudio Irene?"

"OK, I know it," I reply, starting to draw a very simple chandelier.

You have a good taste, Alexa. I also like this brand, too.

I write the name of the brand next to my picture, and I also write down the place where I want the lamp to appear.

"Grass," I spell the word.

"Justin, this is crazy," Alexa says.

I shake my head. "You haven't seen anything, Alexa."

I get up on my feet, crumple up the paper and throw it into the lake. When I turn around, Alexa is still sitting beside Mera, facing me while shrugging her shoulders. Her eyebrows rise and her eyes are widened.

"What's gonna happen, Justin?" she asks.

I walk slowly over to her, then I see a fairly large cardboard box at her feet that she doesn’t notice. I take the box and hand it over to her.

"This is your request," I reply with a faint smile.

Alexa looks a bit shocked. She takes the box and looks at the picture of the chandelier on the box, with the exact brand she wanted.

"I'll introduce my secret, Alexa.. This is Mera," I narrate, patting the tree stump where I draw the things I want.

Alexa gaps, while her fingers touch the surface of Mera's stump.

"And the lake never has a name. She make everything I ask for come true, but only if I draw it on Mera."

"Can I draw here too?"

"Nothing would happen if it isn’t for my hands to draw it," I claim.

"So it's just.. you? So a miracle can only happen between you, Mera, and the lake?"

"Yes," I answer firmly.

"And the roses?"

"I made a mistake, Alexa. I just realized I can't ask Mera for any living things."

"So you asked Mera for some roses?"

"At first I asked for a cat," I reply.

Her eyes bulg and her mouth opens, shaking her head slightly.

"For DSA," I add, "I thought I wanted a pet at the DSA, and I wanted a cat."

"Then?"

"I actually got a cat, but .. Ken's cat died."

"What the heck.."

"Yes," I nod as I play with the grass with my feet. "Ken’s cat died because his soul was used to make my cat alive. Well.. That’s my theory, actually. The cat’s name is Sugar, and he is still at Jack's house.. I haven't moved him to DSA."

"Then you tried to ask for white roses just to check whether they really exchange lives?"

Crazy. This girl is indeed very smart. I don't have to go overboard with her so that she understands what I mean. I feel like I've known her for years.

I looked into her eyes and nod slowly.

Alexa, I'm sad and I’m so sorry, really.

"It turns out that DSA’s white roses weren't enough, and your white roses died, too eventually."

Alexa looks sad, but at the same time relieved to understand what has happened.

"I'll replace your roses, Alexa. I'll buy the new ones.. Ones that's already blooming."

Her face immediately brightens. "Really?"

I nod firmly. "Yes! So, don’t worry.”

"Wait. What if we just move some of these white roses from this lake? You don't have to buy!" She exclaims.

I just realized, that's a great idea. I just need to take some of them.

I raise my thumb, and she rises to her feet, half running toward the beautiful, healthy roses. Her body is slender and she is quite tall, but she doesn’t seem agile. Compared to the other female friends, especially the three witches, Alexa looks less healthy. But she looks normal, though.

My cell phone rings.

"Yes, Lisa?"

"Justin.." says Lisa there. "Don’t you want to come to my house?”

"I'll be right there in an hour," I reply, and I hang up. Then I walk over to Alexa. I count how many more days before I plan to break her heart.

You're crazy, Justin. You don’t have a heart.

"I'll have an appointment later. I'll take you home, okay?" I say to Alexa. "Just tell me how many roses you need, and tomorrow I'll be back with my gardener."

"Thank you!" She answers with a big smile.

I usually spend Saturdays with friends, or just watching detective series at home. I've gone to the movies or eaten ice cream a few times with Kimmy, Lisa and Candy, but I've never been on a date with Lisa alone. I thought they were never apart, but maybe it’s different now.

After dropping Alexa off at her house, I go straight to Lisa's house, which is actually not far from my house.

At her residence, I see a young woman in front of the yard. I stop the car right next to the line of plants she is gardening, then I open my car window.

"Oh, hey, Justin," she greets me politely. "Lisa is inside the house. Please come in,"

Lisa’s maid, Katy, still remembers me even though I've only been here two or three times.

"Thank you, Katy.. I'm coming in.” Then I drive into Lisa's wide yard, and stop right near the huge front door.

I get out of the car and walk inside the house, and I see Lisa standing in the corner of the living room near the kitchen, still wearing a bath towel.

Oh my God, you are of the sexiest creatures I’ve ever known, Lisa.

She looks a little surprised to see me, then laughs out loud. "Justin! I didn't expect you to come this fast! Have you eaten? Let's eat!"

"I'll eat anything," I reply.

Get changed first, Lisa. I don't want my mind to go anywhere else.

"OK wait, I'll cook some instant remyeon."

She pours water into the pot and put it on the stove, and lit the fire. Then she goes upstairs and disappears into her room.

I sit at the marble dining table beside the kitchen. Everything here is luxurious - a clean kitchen with an all-white kitchen set that looks expensive. It's not as expensive as my parents' furniture, but Lisa's family is also quite respected in town.

It feels like less than a minute, but Lisa has come down the stairs, wearing only thin overalls that almost looks like lingerie.

For God’s sake, Lisa.

I take a deep breath. She knows what she’s doing and I think she’s gonna seduce me hard this time.

"Justin, be honest. Are you close to Alexa?" She points it out suddenly. Her face is flat, like a little scared, or disappointed.. I don't know.

"What?"

"Kimmy, Candy and I saw you coming home with Alexa yesterday. And I was like.. What do you actually need from her?”

"Ahh.. I really need her, actually.. She will be the guest speaker at our seminar on Monday."

Lisa's face suddenly changes, looking relieved and cheerful. She stirs the instant ramyeon she has put in the boiling water.

"Ohh.. I see. Does she want to be the speaker?" Lisa asks as she cracks one egg and pours them into the pot.

"Jared and I wanted her, to be honest. And she also has an interesting project.. That's why yesterday she came home with me to show the location of the project."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah."

Lisa turns the fire down and comes closer to me. She rests her arms on the table, with her fingers brushing my cheek.

"Justin, you know I like you."

I shake my head, looking deep into her eyes. "Actually, Lisa.. No, I don’t.”

I really don't know for sure, and I don't want to play guessing from her behavior.

"I have a crush on you, Justin. Please, if you need a woman, I’m here for you. Don’t go to anyone else."

I take her fingers on my cheek, then grasp it with my two hands. "You're so beautiful and charming, Lisa. I don't have the right words to say no, but..."

Lisa kisses my lips before I finish my words.

Ah, those soft, fragrant lips, sweet as cherries.. Oh my goodness, Lisa.

Her body fragrance puts a spell on me, and she is a very good kisser.

I kiss her back.