Chapter 15: Day 7 – The Well

[ALEXA]

"You want me to come to your house now?"

"Oh please don't.. I haven't showered yet, still curled up in bed.."

I hear Justin chuckle on the other end. "I'm still in bed too," he says. "I’m watching National Geographic."

"You’re lying. It must be Demon Slayer on your TV!"

"Noo...!" He shouts. "I'll turn up the volume."

I heard the voices of men speaking in pure Irish accents, I don't know what they were talking about.

"OK," I admit.

"But actually I just watched an episode of Demon Slayer like an hour ago, hahahaha," he admits as well. I laugh too.

"Ahhhh.. I'm too lazy to get out of bed," I moan.

"By the way, what's still left on your house project?"

He really cares about me, and I think my feelings for him have grown so fast.

"Well.. just some knick-knacks like a kitchen set, wardrobe, sideboard for the living room, er... TV maybe?"

He laughs mockingly. "Hahahaha like you want to move there instead!"

"Well, I don't know. Maybe?"

The neighbor's dog barks quite loudly. Still holding the phone to my ear, I get out of bed and open the window.

"Ah, it's so bright already. It's a very sunny day."

"Yes.." Justin answers quietly in a low voice.

My heart beats faster every time he makes that strong yet gentle tone.

"What time should I pick you up?" He asks.

"Ermm.. It’s 8 now. I have an appointment with Kimmy at 9 o'clock. I think she'll be late."

"OK," he answers without thinking. "Are you sure you don't want me to join your study session?"

"Justin, just drop me in front of the cafeteria, okay?"

"Yeah, I'll just keep myself busy at DSA’s office. What time will you be finished?"

"I don't know, after I'm done, I'll see you at DSA. So.. Just wait for me there.” I reply.

I glance at the clock. I have to shower, eat breakfast and get ready.

"Um... Alexa?"

"Yes?"

"Do you have any plans this evening?"

I should be looking for a wardrobe, actually.

"No, nothing important."

Geez, you're the only one that matters, Justin.

"There’s a new Keanu Reeves movie at the cinema. Do you want to watch?"

I gasp, almost faint. My heart screams, and I struggle to keep my tone from appearing too excited.

"Okay."

"OK," he concludes. "Let's get ready, I'll pick you up at 9."

I scream silently.

I hang up the phone and go straight out of the room, going down to the dining room. Papa is sitting at the table reading something on his tablet, and Mama is still cooking.

"Morning, Papa, Mama..”

"Morning, My Dear.. Come here and sit down.. The food will be ready soon," Mama says. Papa lowers his tablet and smiles.

"You haven't showered yet?" He asks when he sees I’m still in my pajamas with disheveled hair.

"I’m gonna shower after breakfast, and leave at 9. My friend will pick me up."

And Mama turns to me. This is gonna be my second time to be picked up by a friend, and my parents must be very surprised.

"Who's the lucky friend?" Mama asks with a seductive smile.

"Still the one who picked me up yesterday, Ma.. It’s Justin," I answer with a very flowery heart. "Have I told you he's the chairman of the DSA?"

"Ah, nice.." replies Papa. Mama just smiles broadly and continues cooking.

"He also asked me to go out.. Watching a movie at the cinema." I continues.

"Wow," Papa and Mama reply in unison. Mama's cooking was ready, and I help her pour the soup into the bowl.

"This is the first time, Alexa.." Mama says. I nod.

"We are happy, Dear. But be careful, okay?" Papa says.

"Have you had a fever lately?" Mama asks, putting the back of her fingers on my forehead.

"No, Mom."

"Don't forget to keep taking your vitamins and supplements, okay?"

I nod, smiling widely.

After finishing my meal, Papa leaves for the office, and I go back upstairs to shower and get ready. I know Mama is worried about me. Her eyes looked happy, but also scared.

"I will be okay, Mama.." I mutter to myself as I climb the stairs. "I'm happy."

--------------------

9:14

I get out of Justin's car and we walk together through the cafeteria. The backyard of the campus, where I’m gonna have a study session with Kimmy, is right behind DSA, so we can walk in the same direction before I need to turn a little around the corner to enter the garden area.

Approaching the DSA’s office, Justin suddenly takes my right fingers. Thousands of butterflies are bursting in my stomach.

"I’ll see you later," he says, stopping in front of the closed office.

I just smile and nod.

Oh my goodness, My Dear Heart.. Please don't let him hear the thumping sounds.

I continue to walk and my fingers slip away from his.

I’m a bit confused. I sit on a bench in the garden, staring blankly to the land of grass, the beautiful trees and the old well in the center of the garden.

So is it fixed, then? Are you choosing me, Justin? Am I already yours? But you haven’t said anything! Or are you just being kind and considerate? But you’re too good. Too warm. Too sweet. I am nobody. I even have..

"Hey Alexa!" Kimmy calls me out, surprising me. I look at my wrist watch. Luckily she isn’t late for too long.

"Hello, Kimmy, Candy, Lisa.." I greet everyone. They are always together.

"Are the macarons good?" Asks Kimmy. I smile and nod.

"Thanks, macarons are my favourite."

"It’s very expensive, you know.. It’s more than 50 dollars,” Lisa claims.

I feel very awkward.

Do you really need to talk about the price? I didn't ask for it, though.

"I know," I answer simply. "You're so kind, Kimmy."

"Okay, so this is my thesis that the lecturer examined yesterday," says Kimmy. “Can you make the corrections on the wrong parts?”

I’m sorry?

I hope she’s not playing with me.

"What do you mean, Kim? Bring it here," I reply.

Kimmy hands over a pile of her haphazardly-bound thesis. It is still far from being finished. There are lots of red scribbles on most of the pages.

"Wow," I almost scream, quite surprised. Her work is terrible.

"Same with Lisa’s and Candy’s,” she replies.

I close the thick binding and look into Kimmy's eyes seriously.

"Kimmy, I promise to meet up today to teach you theories that you don't understand, so you can finish your thesis better, right?"

"Goddammit, Alexa. It will take us years to finish this. Can you just fix it right away, please? I don’t ask you to make a thesis from scratch like I asked last time. Just fix this!" Kimmy replies with an annoyed face.

"It's useless, Kimmy. There’s gonna be an oral exam for this and you won’t be able to answer and you will still fail."

And your work is too horrendous to be fixed, Witches.

"Just do what she asks, Bitch!" Lisa screams.

"Excuse me?" I replies, trying to suppress my anger.

Lisa looks very angry, maybe partly because she was rejected by Justin so bluntly. But I'm angry too, sad and very disappointed right now. I came here, ready to help them, but it seems they are just using me. They tricked me!

"Lisa, it's okay," Candy says to calm Lisa, but she can’t hold back Lisa who seems trying to punch me.

"You are worthless, Alexa. You are useless, arrogant, and ugly!" mock Lisa.

My eyes start to get warm and watery. My heart hurts so much.

"I came to help you," I argue in a trembling voice.

"Yes, we don't need your stupid help, you stubborn Bitch!" Kimmy sneers.

I glance to Candy. She is the only one who has been silent all this time, but she doesn’t do anything.

"Hold her!" Kimmy snaps. Lisa and Candy then grab my arm, half dragging.

"Hey, what the.." I shout frantically. "Let go of me!!"

Kimmy takes hold of my struggling body, and they drag me to the old empty well.

It looks like I'm going to be thrown into the well!

This garden has been used as a place for some students to celebrate their birthdays. Some of my friends were thrown into the well, I know. But not by force and by violence like this.

"Kimmy, please!" I scream, pleading. I'm scared.

"Our thesis is all ruined, and we can’t graduate this year because of you, Alexa!" she screeches.

"Useless trash," says Lisa.

Then the three of them lift my body which isn’t strong enough to fight them, and finally throw me down into the well.

"Bump!"

My body land on a pile of dry leaves and a few small twigs. The well isn't very deep, but still I can't climb up unaided.

I start to cry. I never thought they are this wicked.

So the macarons were actually just to trick me, like a rat getting into a trap?

They leave, and I’m all alone. Then who’s gonna help me?

I grope around the well, looking for something to climb. Nothing.

"Help!" I scream loudly.

No one can hear me. This place is right behind DSA’s office, but the office walls are soundproofed. My phone is in my bag. I can't reach Justin. When will he realize I'm in here?

I sit leaning against the mossy wall of the well. Justin will be definitely coming. I just have to wait for him.

I'm going on a date with you, Justin. Come and help me.