Chapter 4

Alex continued to eat for she was really hungry, but it doesn't help her feel at ease for she knows she's being watched.

"Julie! A lot of customers waiting!" the manager, Julie's mom, yells at her.

"Oops. Coming!" Julie stood up and left.

After eating lunch, she finally went to John's table.

"So, your phone's broken?" She raised a brow and crossing her arms.

John ignores her and finishes his last piece of sandwich.

Alex got irritated. "Wow, you came to me first, then decided to ignore me? Guys like you does exist."

She went the cashier to pay for her meals and went back to him. "Here's the deal. Tomorrow, you tell me everything I need to know. Since you already know where I live, you know where to find me." Then she walks out.

When she walked through an alley, someone suddenly grabbed her. "What the-", a hand covered her mouth.

"Shhh." Alex saw John.

"Wow! Seriously-!"

"Don't shout.."

Alex knitted her brows. She noticed John looking sideways, then uncovered her mouth.

"Are-are you some kind of a freak? Are you crazy?!" Alex pushed him but it was a merely tap for John.

He stepped back. "Someone's stalking you."

Alex raised a brow. "Uh, duh! I'm looking him right now!"

"You can't call me, ok? I call you." John sighed. "Look, you need to be careful. Some people might bring you danger."

Alex just stared at John. "W-wow. Just wow. That's a nice thing to say coming from someone who broke into my house!" Alex crossed her arms. "How the hell did you got in anyway? It's completely armed with sensory system."

"I have my ways. Your present dad may be intelligent with those stuff, but it's all just simple tech." He smirked.

"Simple tech? You're like what? 24-5?" Alex raised a brow.

"I'm in my early 20s, but I got higher skills compared to Mr. Mizor." He boasted.

"At least my dad has higher social skills than you." Alex rolled her eyes and walked away.

"Where are you going? You're not gonna ask me about the case?" John reached her forearm.

"That can probably wait. I need time to think. It's been years. It didn't haunt me anymore, so it doesn't really affect me for now." She looked down.

"Bull." John comments.

"Excuse me?" She looks at John

"They're your real parents. And they don't affect you?" John faces her.

"What do you want me to say? I have forgotten about that part of my life! You can't expect me to automatically prioritize something I can't even remember?!" Alex abruptly stops. What she just said filled her with guilt and regret.

She's happy for forgetting the painful incident but somehow feels guilty about it. John, you can't expect me to just snap my finger and bring that all back, she said in her mind.

She took an breath and walks away, leaving him at the alley.

She went to the mall to prepare for the party tonight. She bought drinks and snacks.

She went to a café to rest for a while. She already texted Mark she already got food.

"Here's your iced coffee, ma'am. Thank you for waiting." The waitress smiled and served the coffee.

Alex thanked her.

Bzzt Bzzt. Her phone vibrated and she looks at an unknown number. She sighed. She looks at it and still thinking of answering. Then she decided not to and puts it down.

"Can't pick up a phone, too, huh?" A man suddenly spoke and took a seat in front of her.

Alex was startled but managed to be calm. "Congrats. You're officially my stalker. You have so many numbers, huh? Why are you following me?" Alex glared at him.

"Just making sure of your safety." John casually sipped on his own coffee.

She shakes her head. "You never really fail to amaze me with your 'securing' words. It's like I feel really safe with the one I least trust in the whole world." She said sarcastically.

"Look, someone's got you on their blacklist. You need you to be careful."

"May I borrow what you said to me?... Bull." She said

"What?" John asks

"That's where you're going? Me, in danger? That's your BIG excuse?? The hell is wrong with you!?" She said in a frustrating and irritating way.

"Look, I know this is a weird situation for you to believe but just analyze first the case. That's where you'll find your answers."

"Well, you know what, there's actually a shortcut to it. Just tell me!" She exclaimed. "Hey, before that. I don't even know if I can trust you." She leaned back and crossed her arms.

"Ok fine. Yes, you don't know if I can be trusted. But at least, look into the case." John said

"I don't trust you, so I don't know how legit the case is. Some of them might be altered." She raised a brow.

"I think you know how legit it is, since you probably read some them and already looked into them on the web." He continues to drink his coffee

"Well, I think… I still don't trust you." She remained having a poised yet irritated attitude.

"You don't, ok? If you don't trust me, then give me back the files." He said

Alex just blinked for she didn't know how to respond to that. "N-No."

He smirked and drinks his coffee.

"Ok, fine. I can say it is legit. For now." She started. "But what's your goal anyway? What's in it for you?"

"Let's just say, it's a life for a life." He simply answered.

Alex got confused. "What? Like a revenge? Someone murdered your family, too? Oh! You think the same culprits of my family's case is the same ones that took away yours?" Woah.. I spoke too much, Alex thought

"What you said was out of my imagination. No. It's not for revenge. But I'll give you points for that imaginative conclusion." He smiled.

Yeah I probably got carried away there, Alex thought again. A life for a life? The hell?

"Don't think too much about it. To put it simply, I owe someone. I'll help you with this case to repay my debt."

"Who?" Alex asks

"Don't ask too much." John said

"FYI, I barely remember the past, so expect you'll have to answer tons of my questions. Like how come I don't remember you? You just feel familiar to me, like that's all!" She asks

John looks at her. "Your ride's here." He signals towards her back.

She turns and looks at Mark's car coming towards the entrance of the mall. She looks in front again but John suddenly disappeared.

Weirdo. Alex thought.

At the entrance, Mark was waiting on his car. Alex opened the door and put the food at the back seat.

"I bought you iced coffee." Alex placed it in the cup holder.

"Thanks!" Mark started to drive. "I hope you didn't buy much."

Alex looked at Mark. "Why? I actually bought just enough for about 20 people, since you said to only invite our close friends." Alex said.

"Oh. That's fine, I guess." Mark said

"Right. I'll message Julie to get ready." Alex reached for her phone

"No. Th-that's not necessary. I, already messaged her." Mark said.

"oh. Ok. Cool." Alex felt Mark is lying. She thinks it through. "Y-you didn't invite any of our friends, did you?" Alex asks looking at Mark.

Mark's expression turned blank. He smiled awkwardly, "Guilty." He smiled. "Uh, surprise?"

"I bought all the food for nothing?" Alex said

"Oh, you always ruin the fun. I thought I'd surprise you when we'll be there."

"Well. To put it fairly, I am surprised now." Alex smiled

"I thought we'd have the night to ourselves. I know you'd get tired when there's another party after last night. We're just gonna watch and have a peaceful night. What do you say?" Mark said.

Alex smiled at him. She kissed his cheeks. "Thank you." She simply said.

She did want a peaceful, restful night. It's summer. She was totally stressed during the last months of high school, with all the preparation of prom, graduation, application for college, and other activities.

They arrived at Mark's home. They immediately went to the private cinema room and Alex insisted to watched some romantic comedies, but Mark wanted to watched an action movie.

Alex's phone vibrated. She looked at a text.

Be careful with your precious boyfriend. You might not trust him anymore.

-Unknown number-

Alex knitted her brows. What the text said really made her worry a little.

"There. I have chosen the perfect movie. It's both a romcom and an action movie." He smiled.

Alex put her phone on her pocket and forgets what she just read. She then simply smiled at Mark.