Chapter 11: Still day 3 – Home

[JUSTIN]

"Kimmy, Lisa and Candy..." Alexa breaks the loneliness, as soon as I drive out of the campus parking lot.

"What about them?"

"They looked very angry to see me go home with you.."

"Don't worry."

"You're close to them right?"

"Hmm, not really. They just joined DSA, that's all," I reply. I hope she never finds out that Lisa even likes to be presumptuous, playing petting and holding hands all of a sudden.

"After the red light you should turn left," she says, pointing to the road. Her voice sounds so soft, and I just realized that Alexa's scent is very fragrant, like a mixture of jasmine and citrus. Every time she moves, it smells good and I really like it.

"Noted.”

I turn at a big crossroad, and she continues, "Turn right at the third alley, my house is number 7, on the right side, without a fence, with a big cypress tree in the yard."

That clear, complete explanation shows that she is indeed a very intelligent girl. I can't remember the last time I got close to a smart woman. The local models and artists I used to be close to live in expensive apartments in the city, but chat like elementary school kids.

"Your house is quite close to campus.. I can see why you choose bicycle," I admit.

"Yes," she answers with a smile. "If my dad drives me to campus, he'll have to go all the way back to his office."

"Like this morning?"

"Yeah, he wants to take me sometimes," she replies, again with a smile.

She's so cute when she smiles. Her rosy pink lips look natural, unlike Lisa who likes to wear thick make ups. Alexa may not even use any powder on her face.

"That's my house,” she snaps me out of my thoughts.

Justin, remember, you only want to play with this girl for seven days, and that's it. Don't get carried away with feelings.

I see the house, pale white with a large cypress tree in the yard. I slow down my car and park in front of her house.

"But I'm curious, Alexa," I enunciate, before we get off. "You're one of the smartest students on campus. Don't you want to make a project or whatever? I have several friends who have graduated from Architecture, all have their own houses, as the result of their own construction projects."

She is silent for a while, then finally looks at me and smiles.

"I actually have a secret project, Justin. Even my mom and dad have no idea about it."

I am quite surprised, though I actually expected it.

Was it the house I saw yesterday?

"Wow," I respond enthusiastically, widening my eyes. I pull the hand brake and direct my body towards her, "Now would you want to tell me?"

I don't want to force her to talk. It's her secret project, and she has every right to keep it hidden from me.

"Actually I would," she replies. "Because it happens to be for our seminar purposes, I’d love to tell you. I’ve been doing my project right there, at the corner of this street."

"If it's a secret and you don't want to talk about it, it's okay, Alexa," I assure her.

But I'll definitely find out for myself later, Alexa.

"It's OK.. It's almost finished anyway, and graduation will be soon. So..?"

She smiles even wider and her face seems to glow. This secret project of her must be something very valuable.

"OK!" I answer with enthusiasm.

She points straight ahead. "Let's go forward, to the end of this road,"

I start to drive slowly. This alley is quite long but not too crowded with houses, and there is a lot of vacant land on either side of the road. After passing by about ten more houses, I see the end of the road. It’s a dead end road, and it looks very lonely there, and it is totally suitable for keeping a secret.

"The end of the road?" I ask to make sure.

"Yes, on the right side."

And I park my car right in front of the all-white house. Yes, it's the exact same house I saw yesterday. There's a simple white short fence in front of it, and...

God. Dead roses!

I hold my face so as not to look surprised to see the roses that died because of my last magical request.

"This house?" I ask as I turn to Alexa. "This house is your secret project?"

"Yeah," she replies with a pretty grin. "My parents wouldn't know, because it's a dead end road, and people don’t usually come around here."

"This is incredible, Alexa.. Your project is incredible."

I hope I don't seem like a great liar.

Compared to my friends house project, this house is very small and simple.

She looks very happy and her eyes lit up. "Thank you," she says. I am starting to feel uncomfortable.

"Come on down, let's go in. The roof was just finished yesterday."

I get out of my car and walk in. The house is only about 8x15m, about the size of Jack's, and will be comfortable enough to live in. It breaks my heart to see so many white roses all dead, but I still pretend not to notice.

"How long have you been building this?" I ask as I look around.

"Since semester 5," Alexa answers. "My uncle is an architect and a builder too, so he helps me a lot."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, Uncle and my dad built a contractor business together, but my dad’s company is small, not as big as Mr. Kimora’s company."

I chuckle. "Don’t talk about Kimora Industries. They don’t just build houses. They build factories, too.. It’s huge.”

“Ah.. But your father’s company is way bigger, still,” she argues.

It’s one of the biggest in the country, Alexa.

I open the door of the house. Sturdy. This house looks simple but the materials are of high quality. I think Alexa is more intelligent than I thought.

"The interior isn't there yet, is it?"

"Oh not yet.. That's why I went to the library to borrow some interior books, right.. I'm still confused about what I'm going to fill in and how to arrange it," she replies.

"Are you also going to tell me about how much money spent on this? Tomorrow at the seminar?" I ask.

"Maybe I’m gonna share an outline. The most important thing, I think, is how I can have enough funds to build this," she replies.

Very interesting. Justin, this girl is very attractive.

Alexa enters the same room as me. I lean my body against the wall of this front room and look at Alexa curiously.

"How?" I ask.

"All from my savings, Justin. I've been saving since I was in elementary school."

I'm wide-eyed. "What!?"

"Yes," she smiles as she crosses her arms over her chest, with her face slightly raised, acting cocky.

Justin, why does she suddenly look so pretty?

"That's crazy!" I exclaim.

"Well, I agree .. that is crazy," she replies with a laugh. "It's not that I never spend my money at all for other things, but I can manage it very well. The more money I accumulate, the more I can invest and earn interest on my investments."

"You are very smart, Alexa," I conclude, praising her, with all my heart.

This girl is special. I've been living for 22 years – Where have all these girls like Alexa gone? I've never found a girl with this quality. My own mother is not the type of intelligent woman who excels. Papa once said he married Mama only because Mama was the prettiest woman he’s ever seen, slim and kind.

Then Alexa starts talking about how she was going to fill this and that space with this and that thing, and I'm still wondering what I'm dealing with now. I have to deny that I am actually blown away, and I have to stay focused on my original plan.

Justin, remember how humiliated you were back then, with your Americano spilled on your whole body. She makes you look disgusting. She makes people laugh at you.

"I hope my parents like it. It's all just for them anyway. I just want to make a keepsake for them, because..."

"They'll love it, Alexa," I cut her off. She smiles again.

My Dear God. You have to stop smiling, Alexa.

I come out of the house, and again I see the roses drooping limp and blackened with rot.

"Ah, sorry, my roses suddenly died all of a sudden, Justin. I don't know why," Alexa murmurs, probably seeing me froze for a moment on the page.

Don't apologize, Alexa.. Why are you apologizing to me? This is all my fault.

"When did these roses die?" I ask to be sure.

"Three days ago," she answers. "We haven't had time to clean it up yet, because we have to finish this house fast first."

I take a deep breath.

Should I reveal my secret too?

"But I will buy new roses later, hopefully there are still enough funds," she continues.

I look at her with mixed feelings. I didn't expect to feel this kind of guilty, and this rose issue bothers me quite a bit.

"Justin, I have to go home now. I have to plan the interior for today. My uncle is waiting to hear from me, so we can arrange it together this afternoon."

"Alexa, I have something to show you."

"What is it?" Her face was a little surprised.

"About this rose. I know what happened."

She frowns. "How come?" she asks in surprise.

"Tomorrow I'll pick you up early, and I'll take you somewhere."

Tomorrow is Saturday, and we have no class schedules. I'll reveal my secret tomorrow, though I'm a bit hesitant.

"Tomorrow?"

"I’ll pick you up at 7 in the morning?" I confirm with certainty. On the other hand, I hope she refuses.

"OK," she replies.

Oh, shit, Justin. Why should you reveal the secret? It’s not a big deal if Alexa never knows about it.

I drive Alexa home with my mind busy fighting myself.