Chapter 10: Day 3 – A Man Like Justin

[ALEXA]

The morning comes again. I open my eyes without needing an alarm, and I'm thankful that I don't have any problems with my eyesight. Yesterday I was really in shock because I was like suddenly blind. I couldn't see anything for about 5 minutes.

I get up from my bed and sit for a while so as not to get dizzy. My balance hasn't been that good lately. I open the curtains, then stand up to my study cupboard, fumbling for my library card in the drawer. I don't have class today, but I need to go to the library to find some books on interiors.

"Knock knock," Mama's voice fakes knocking on the door.

"Come in, Mom."

"How are you today? Are your eyes okay?"

"Ah, it's okay, Mom. I'm fine."

"But Mama thinks you need to go to see the doctor, you know, so you learn if you have bad symptoms for..."

"Ma," I cut her off. "Don't worry, I'm fine."

"You don't have a fever?" Mom asks again. "How's your balance?"

"Mama, everything is normal," I reply, smiling reassuringly.

Mama stops asking questions and smiles too. "I love you so much."

"I love you so much, Mama," and I hug her. "I'm going to the library today."

"OK, breakfast will be ready in a minute," she says and taps my head gently.

My family is very warm, and Mama Papa are the best parents in the world. My sister, Cirilla, is studying in Singapore, with a full scholarship and living expenses covered by the Quantum Robots company, because my sister won a robot making competition there. So I'm the only one here accompanying Mama Papa, and I hope I can make them happy.

"Justin is going to college today, isn't he?" I ask myself. He’s always there in my mind, and it makes me nervous. I've been in love before, but it's not like this. Ah, no.. It's not love. How can I fall in love with someone like that?

Like what, Alexa?

The voice from inside my heart seems to disagree with my thoughts. I don't know Justin well, so how can I judge him?

I finish my shower, and now I see myself naked in the mirror. My body is .. okay, 5.5 feet, with very good body proportions. I have attractive round breasts, although not big, a small waist and slender legs, and I diligently clean my private part with regular wax. I caress my smooth bare under part surface and smile.

"Will Justin like me?" I ask the mirror.

Then I picture Justin's tall body, maybe more than 6 feet, with a broad chest and strong shoulders. His brown hair looks messy at times, but her sharp eyes always make him look sexy.

I sigh.

Why has he been so sweet to me in these two days? I'm nothing compared to Lisa or Kimmy.

I choose clothes and get ready, but my mind keeps racing.

"Breakfast is ready, Alexa!" Mama calls me from the kitchen, making me almost jump in surprise.

"Yes, Mom!" I shout a little louder too, worried that Mama wouldn't hear my answer.

I rush out of the room into the dining room. Mama made banana pancakes with cheese and chocolate, my favorite food.

What's Justin's favorite food?

Oh shit, Alexa, do you really need to think about Justin's favorite food?

"What’s up, Alexa?" asks Papa, who might be wondering why I just keep quiet with a strange and confused expression.

I'm having an inner fight, Papa.

"Nothing, Dad," I answer quickly. "I'm thinking about what book I want to read and borrow at the library later."

Mama and Papa smile. "Three months before graduation, right?"

"Yes, all my class schedules are finished this month."

"You actually don’t even need to take that extra class.. Do you, Alexa?"

"No, I don’t, but it's okay, a lot of my classmates take it too, because we don’t need to pay more for it. So..” I reply with a chuckle. “It’s a win, actually.”

They smile. Mom holds my hand. "Take care of your health, okay?"

"Is it still okay for you to ride a bicycle to campus?" Asks Papa, who has finished his meal.

"No, Papa.. It's close, only 15 minutes to arrive."

"Yes, I know.. Just to make sure," he answers. "Or do you want me to take you to campus today? It’s been a long time..”

My heart almost stops.

Great idea! I can have a reason to say yes when Justin asks me to drive me home later.

"Alexa?" Asks Papa again, who looks surprised because I am like suddenly dumbfounded.

"Ah, yes. Yes, Pa. That’s a good idea!”

Are you serious, Alexa? Why are you hoping to go home with Justin?

My mind seems to be raging in my heart.

I finish my meal, and get ready to go with Papa. His office is actually in the opposite direction from campus, so he rarely offers to drive me to campus.

"Be careful, okay .." Mama says while kissing me and Papa. We smile and leave.

My watch is pointing eight, and I'm already on campus. I go straight to the library and take some interior books, then sit in a spot in a comfortable free corner.

I put the four thick books on the table, then take out a note book containing some details my project. I need to calculate my budget for the interior equipment of the house I am building.

I am reading the living room arrangement section when the crowd comes into the library, and walk toward me. Justin’s gang.

Do they need to talk to me? What for?

Ken smiles. Among the others, Ken seems the kindest. I don't know if I should smile back or what.

"Alexa.." says Ken.

I smile.

"We need you," he continues. "May I sit here?"

Are you fucking kidding me?

I nod. They are very polite. I see them all smiling. Oh my God, I feel like I'm in another dimension.

Why do they look different from the image I had in my own imagination?

"I'm Ken," he adds. " And this is Ramon, Jared, and Jack."

Oh, I know who you are. There are no students who don't know all of you. You stand out too much.. and Justin.. Where's Justin?

"Nice to know you. How can I help you?"

Ken, Jared and Ramon sit down across the table, and they keep smiling at me, kindly.

They're not bad students, Alexa.. Their eyes are kind and friendly.

"DSA plans to hold a seminar entitled Student Projects in Architecture, in a few days," says Jared. "We already have sources, but I think it would be interesting if we invite students to share their experiences in making projects."

How do they know I have a project?

"We don't know if you've ever made a real project or not," Ramon quips, as if he knows what I am thinking. No one knows about my house project yet except Uncle and Mr. Randy. "But we know you won the Modeling Architecture competition a few months ago, at the beginning of the semester," adds Ramon. The competition is the same as making a house project, but only using plywood and sticks.

"We need your story about that, Alexa," Jared says with a smile, making him look even more handsome.

I've been silent all this time, because I'm really confused. Jack is just standing there with a contagious smile on his face, which eventually makes me smile, too.

"When is the event?" I ask.

"Monday, 11 o'clock, in the little hall next to DSA," Jared replies.

"What should I talk about?" I ask again, still confused. I have never once spoken in public. I'm not like Jared and Justin who often appear on stage, talking into the microphone and interacting with the audience.

"Calm down, Alexa. We will not make you confused. We will make the session like a question and answer, okay? We will give you a list of possible questions, so you can prepare your answers from home. Isn't that good?"

I can't help but giggling. "Ah, I feel like a baby! Thank you for making it easier for me!"

"You're one of the brightest students in your class, Alexa," says Ramon. "We know you can do this."

Then Jared gives me three sheets of paper, stapled together, with an explanation of the event, schedule and a list of questions for me. I skim the paper.

"I think I can do this.”

Then at the bottom of the last paper there is Justin's signature, and I wonder where Justin is now. Why doesn't he even ask me himself, since he’s the leader of DSA?

"Sorry about Justin," Ken says suddenly, maybe because he saw my eyes glued to Justin’s signature, "He's on a call with the source, but he'll be here when he's done."

I look at Ken and smile hesitantly. Ken seems very nice and calm, with his soothing baritone voice.

"Um.. Well.. Tell me about Justin," I add. "I don't really know him, actually."

Jack replies with a big laugh. "Justin is my helper, Alexa."

I raise my eyebrows.

I don’t understand.

"It's true that Justin has the impression of being arrogant to some people, maybe because he has the power, the money and so on," Ken adds. "But Justin really cares about us, especially Jack. He pays for Jack's college, because Jack doesn't have parents anymore."

What the actual heck?

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that," I am quite shock, actually. "Jack..."

"It's okay, it's been a long time. The five of us have been friends since the age of 14. My house burned down and my parents died there. These friends of mine, especially Justin, both raised money to buy a house for me, and Justin paid for all the necessities of my college."

Oh my God, I was so wrong about them. Maybe my thoughts about Justin are wrong too.

"Justin seems cool and arrogant, but his heart cares about a lot of things, actually," adds Ramon. The others nod, reassuringly.

"I don't know, I always feel like he’s rude and arrogant," I try to verbalize my feelings. "I'm a little bit scared of him."

Especially after I harmed him a few days ago.

"Sometimes when we are angry, we can be quite rude. Don’t you think?" Ken replies. "People say I'm patient and calm, but there have been times when I became violent because of something that pushed my threshold."

My lips smile on one side. Ken is the wisest here, and he's right.

And I see Justin enter the library. My heart suddenly feel like a drum beating loudly.

His hair is neat and silky, and it looks so fine that it seems to flutter a little as he walks. His face is clean with no mustache nor beard, and he has many piercings on his ears, as well as one on his right eyebrow. He is wearing an expensive-looking black leather jacket, with a gray undershirt and black jeans.

My Dear God.. Justin, why are you so good looking?

"Hey guys!" Justin greets his friends. "Have you explained everything, Jared?"

Jared nods and hold up his thumb.

"Hey, you," he greets me, with a smile and a sharp-but-warm look. I'm nervous.

"J-Justin.."

"Yes? Any questions about the seminar later?" he asks as he opens the folder Jared brought earlier.

Oh my God, the seminar. I just realize that all my thoughts about the seminar has evaporated somewhere. I don't know what to say anymore. It feels like I suddenly lost my memory.

"No," I reply, and my heart still beating too fast. I don't know how to calm it down.

"Okay, so I think we’ll go now,” says Ramon. "You two can talk now. Justin's the one who understands what the event will be like."

And they all stand up, while Justin directly takes one of their seats, sitting down right across me.

"Bye, Alexa," says Jack.

"Nice to have you, Alexa," Jared says goodbye. "We need you."

Ken just waves his hand and I wave at them all back.

"Alexa, once again I apologize for what happened last time.. I shouldn't have treated you like that"

I keep quiet and fiddle with my fingers on the table. My face is just facing down and I have no idea what to say.

Justin takes my hand.

He takes my hand!

He takes my hand!

He grabs my right hand!

He..

Oh Lord.

Justin, the only son of the owner of a giant company PT CORE Construction International, which also owns a 55% stake there...Well, that's what people say. Justin. THE Justin. He grabs my hand and makes my knees go weak.

I look into his light brown eyes.

"I'm sorry, Alexa, please let me fix this."

"I shouldn't have run into you either, Justin. I'm really sorry too."

He smiles, and his eyes look relieved. "Thank you," he replies.

He lets go of my hand.

Why did you let go of me?

Maybe the grip of his hand means nothing to him. My heart that was about to jump out now suddenly calm down.

"So you’re available on the day of the seminar, aren’t you?" Asks Justin to make sure. "Sorry, it's a bit sudden."

"Sure, I’m in."

"If you need any questions, you can chat or call me directly," Justin says, "Can I borrow your cellphone?"

I take my phone out of my bag and give it to him. Justin immediately enters his cell phone number there.

I like it. He is very practical and doesn't talk much.

"Here's my number," he says as he hands my phone back. His cell phone number is already listed there.

"Can I call you at midnight?" I ask, teasing him.

Geez, Alexa. When did you start flirting?

"Are you sure?” He replies, raising his eyebrows.

I chuckle. "No, no... I won't."

"Hey, Do you want to come home with me today?" Justin asks with a serious face.

I've been waiting for that question since this morning, and my heart starts pounding again.

"I don't happen to bring my bicycle today because my dad took me to campus this morning, so.. "

"OK, good! I'll take you home, OK?"

I desperately try to calm my own heart, but I nod enthusiastically. “I'm finished now, but I still have to write down the data on the books I’ll borrow... Is it OK?"

"No problem. I'll just wait in front of the library, okay?"

And he walks away casually, giving me and my drumming heart a little space to chill out.

I pick up the books I want to borrow and take them to the librarian near the entrance. I jot down the titles on the form, hand her my library card, and wait for a while before I could leave.

Justin is waiting outside, right next to the entrance. Seeing me out, he immediately takes the thick books I carry. "Let me carry them, yes?"

"Thanks," I reply. Then we walk to the parking lot.

As I get into the car, I see Kimmy, Lisa and Candy standing in the canteen's driveway. They look furious.