12. What Really Happened? (WRH) I

Oliver's apartment...

"Dad called this afternoon." Oliver said as he lowered himself on the couch near Maxwell. They had just finished with dinner and were relaxing at the living room.

"And..."

"Well, he was asking about the guest speaker. I hope you've prepared your speech."

"Hey," Maxwell turned sharply to look at him. "You just told me today. And the program is in two weeks. What's the rush, huh?"

"Hehe, I was just kidding. You don't have to look so serious." Oliver chuckled.

"But honestly I'm almost done. I started as soon as you told me. So don't worry. I'll get it ready before the time is up."

"Tsk, you're just too serious. How can you start with a speech that will be needed in two weeks, today itself? Can't you just laze around sometimes?"

"Didn't you just ask if I was done with it?"

"I thought you've changed that's why I asked. Looks like old habits die hard."

Back in high school, Oliver could remember they were given a project to complete in a month, and Maxwell finished in three days. He was so dedicated to any work he had at hand that he would always make sure to beat time. Well that was what he would say when Oliver asked him why he would finish his projects in such a short time. "Always try to beat time, never let time beat you", he would say. No wonder he won the valedictorian during their time.

Maxwell snubbed and looked away lazily, trying not to mind him. Oliver was just too lazy. He wondered how he could become a teacher. Although he was quite brilliant, he liked lazing around, with the excuse that he liked to learn with a little pressure ahead.

Unlike him, who would get right to work even if the work required a whole month to get it done, Oliver would wait till it's about a week to the deadline, or even less, to rush his work done. And sometimes he would be all over Maxwell asking for help. That, to Maxwell, was very tedious. He couldn't afford to go through such hustle. He preferred doing his work with a sound mind while there was not pressure.

"You don't have any problem with when I get it done. Just make sure the plan goes well. I didn't know I'd have to wait till two weeks to surprise them. I thought I could do it today or tomorrow." Maxwell sighed and lolled back in the couch lazily and rested his arm on his forehead, closing his eyes to take a rest.

Thoughts of the lady he met earlier came flooding his mind. Her hazel eyes, her innocent face, her long brown hair... It couldn't be just a coincidence, right? It's been over fifteen years since he last saw his childhood crush, and seeing this girl seemed to have brought back all the memories about her. He had seen so many girls around. Why would this particular girl spark such emotions in him? He didn't even know her name. And he didn't know why her appearance reminded him so much of his Mimie.

"What if she is Mimie?" This question kept bugging him that he didn't realise he had actually said it out loud.

"Sorry?" Oliver turned to him and asked, as he didn't quite get what Maxwell said well, but he was sure he heard Mimie.

Maxwell turned to him, a bit shocked. Did he just think aloud?

"Its nothing." He answered curtly after clearing his throat and returned back to his former position and closed his eyes.

Oliver nodded but kept a keen gaze on him, like he was daring him to repeat what he just said, with a smirk on his face.

"I heard Mimie." Oliver quipped in, his gaze not leaving Maxwell's face even for a second, trying to catch every little expression on his face. Maxwell abruptly opened his eyes and froze for a spilt second at the revelation, but quickly closed them and composed himself that if Oliver was not keenly observing him, he would have missed it.

"Sigh, don't tell me you still think about that girl." Oliver finally said, turning his body to completely face Maxwell, who still had the same position with eyes closed.

"That girl you're talking about has a name. I hate it when you address her like that", came Maxwell's gruff reply. He was trying not to get mad.

"Okay, okay, I get it. Mimie, I know." Oliver drawled. "Do you think she's even alive by now?"

Maxwell removed his hand resting on his forehead and whipped his head sharply to look at him with utter disbelief. How can he say such a thing? He still didn't say anything, in fact, he couldn't find anything to say. Death is a possibility no one can escape. He just hadn't thought of that possibility.

'No, she can't be dead. She can't possibly be dead.' Maxwell thought.

"What? Don't give me that look." Oliver sneered. "It can happen and you know it. Did you know where she stayed back then?"

Maxwell turned away and lolled his head back on the couch, looking at the ceiling. He didn't know where she stayed even back then. How would he find her if he decided to start looking for her? Where would he start from?

"I see you didn't. And have you thought of the possibility that she won't be able to recognise you?"

"We've both changed."

"Right, maybe she has moved on. Come on, that was way back. You were literally babies then."

Oliver couldn't believe his friend. He had a cohort of girls to choose to be with. With his charm, he could get whichever woman he so wished. And here he was, thinking of some five-year-old childhood crush who could probably be in another man's arms by now. He didn't know if he should laugh or cry, but he knew Maxwell too well, and he knew this girl meant so much to him. For the Maxwell he knew now, who looked like he didn't want to have anything to do with girls, to think of someone like this, meant a whole lot.

"If you can't say anything meaningful, kindly do me a favour and shut up. I need some rest."

"Alright, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." Oliver quickly apologized. He wasn't ready to face Maxwell's deadly wrath.

A deafening silence ensued afterwards, and Oliver, being Oliver, couldn't hold his tongue anymore. He wanted to help his friend, but how? He had seen this girl once, during Maxwell's 9th birthday. He wasn't sure he paid much attention to her to be able to remember even just a little detail about this mysterious girl. All he remembered was Maxwell excusing himself to show a girl around.

"Wait, did her mother not work in your mansion then?" Oliver asked, finally breaking the silence. Maxwell replied still with his eyes on the ceiling.

"Yes, but she was fired before I was sent to North city." He sighed and sat up straight, looking towards Oliver.

"She was fired?" Maxwell nodded, then Oliver asked again. "What did she do?"

"Mom misunderstood everything that happened on the birthday eve."

Oliver frowned. Birthday eve? Oliver racked his brain to remember. What happened on the birthday eve? They were enjoying the party in the hall, when they heard some faint cries and... his eyes widened.

"Wait, when you fell into the pool? She was the one with you?" He gasped on realization.

"Yes, mom thought Mimie pushed me, but I slipped and fell. It wasn't her fault. I tried to explain but mom would not hear any of it."

Oliver stared at him in utter surprise. He remembered it clearly. That night, they were at the hall when they heard a faint small voice in the distance and rushed to the backyard. He remembered seeing a small girl crying incessantly, pointing to the pool with a horrified expression. So that girl was Mimie! Some of them, who immediately understood what she meant, rushed to the pool, only to find Maxwell in the pool with traces of blood at the edge of the pool and in the water.

"What really happened that day?" Oliver couldn't help but ask.