Chapter 13: Day 5 – Sincere

[ALEXA]

It's already Monday, and I'm ready for the seminar. Last Sunday was tough for me. Even though I was very busy with my interior projects, I was constantly thinking about Justin. What is he usually doing on every Sunday?

I pedal my bicycle to campus with enthusiasm. The Modeling Architecture class still has about three weeks of meetings remaining and there are still a lot of assignments, even though this is just an additional class. My body doesn't feel fresh today, but I feel happy. For the first time in four years of college, I finally get to know Justin better.

Just a few hours from last Saturday morning has made me change my mind about him. And yesterday? I struggled hard to stop myself from calling him, from dialing the number he had saved himself on my cell phone. Hate. Curious. Intrigued. Attracted. Fear. Love. It feels like they are all mixed together.

Are you also thinking about me, Justin?

I called my sister yesterday, to take my mind off Justin. My sister, Cirilla, said she thought maybe Justin wasn't as bad as I thought. When I told her that he was the son of a wealthy businessman, Cirilla was hysterical and said that I had to get him. Honestly, I'm even too scared.

Justin has a lot of mysteries, but yes, he's not bad at all. He's really not as bad as I thought. He turns out to be kind, sweet and polite. Eventually! Ah.. all of a sudden it feels like butterflies are flying in my stomach, right now while I am still riding my bicycle to campus. This boring road suddenly looks like a flower garden, and my heart seems to be filled with peonies. I'm meeting Justin again today!

Justin is a smart, practical, no-nonsense guy, and I like his character. Somehow I easily forget his harsh words to me a few days ago. Am I that stupid?

He's apologized so many times, Alexa.

I sighed. I think everyone won’t be able to control their mouths when they are angry. It’s human, right?

Is it?

I still remember how nice and clean his car was, and Justin himself is the nicest man I've ever known. The fragrance of his body is very fresh, like the smell of the blue ocean. His brown eyes are sharp but also calm at the same time, with his thick eyebrows, his sharp nose and his lips that are shaped like an arrow.. Oh my God, I'm afraid to fall in love.

Is he thinking about me too?

I feel so stupid, for being able to leave all my hatred for him behind, just because of a little sweet treatment. But all my former hatred was nonsense. I never really knew him, did I?

I enter the campus yard and while continuing to pedal, I let my mind and heart continue to fight.

"Beep beep!"

The sound of a car honking startles me until I almost jump off my bike. Duh, indeed when you're daydreaming, this sudden car honk can sound like an explosion!

"Alexa, I'm so sorry!" He says when he sees me so shocked that I stopped suddenly and got off the bike.

"Justin.. It's okay," I reply with a smile. My chest is pounding even harder.

"I'll be waiting for you in the parking lot!" He adds as he continues to drive, because another car is approaching behind him.

I take a deep breath and try to normalize my erratic heart again, then I start to ride my bike to the parking lot. It isn’t until a minute later that I arrive at the parking lot, and Justin is waiting for me there.

What? Waiting for me? So I didn’t mishear that he said he’s gonna wait for me? Why is he waiting for me?

Oh, you stupid moron, It’s the seminar day. Of course he’ll wait for you, the guest speaker.

I curse myself for being too high. And I saw that white Mercedes Benz in the parking lot. I park my bike near the cafeteria, and out of the corner of my eye I see Justin getting out of his car.

"Hi, Alexa," he greets with a big smile. I'd always turned my head away every time I met him and his gang, and I never really realized how friendly and nice he is.

"Justin," I reply, holding up my bag full of books.

"Let me carry this,” he says, and without waiting for my permission, he takes my heavy bag.

I know a lot of mashers who like to seduce and talk a lot to attract women's attention, but Justin seems very practical and has more actions than just words and sweet promises on the lips.

Well, it seems so. I hope I'm right.

"Thank you," I reply as I walk to class, side by side with him.

Am I dreaming? He is the most influential student on campus, the chairman of DSA, the son of the richest man in town, and he walks beside me carrying my heavy bag.

"Sorry my bag is heavy, because it contains thick books that I borrowed last Friday," I murmur.

"Ahaha," he replies with a laugh, "Indeed, their fate is in my hands, Alexa."

I laugh too.

"So I'll take you directly to the library first, okay? Then we go to class."

Oh, what a gentleman.

He can offer me convenience, not the type of person who waits to be asked and answers with nonsense.

"Okay!" I answer with a blooming heart.

We are walking down the long hallway to the library, and suddenly a student I don’t recognize is skating fast on a skateboard from the opposite direction. Justin puts his arm around my shoulder and shifts my body to his left side.

"Be careful, you’d better walk on the inside," he says.

He protects me, oh my Dear God. And oh my heart.

My heart!

Don't need no butterflies when you give me the whole damn zoo, Justin!

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13.00 o'clock

This morning's class was fun because I sat next to Justin, and he seems to be smiling a lot today. The seminar also went very smoothly, and everyone praised my ability as a speaker.

Everyone congratulated me, except for Kimmy, Lisa and Candy.

The three women looked sullen throughout the event, and I think it must be because of the problem with the thesis offer that I turned down a few days ago.

"Let me introduce you to the DSA’s precious. This is Sugar," says Jack, holding up the cute white cat right in front of me.

"Oh my.. Sugar... You're so cute!" I immediately hold the beautiful cat.

"So.. this is Bob?" I whisper to Justin. He looks at me nodding.

"Oh my God.." I hug Sugar and stroke his clean and soft fur.

"Ken, I'm so sorry.." I say sincerely to Ken, and he smiles and nods.

"It's okay, I'm taking care of him here," Ken replies, "Now he's a resident of DSA."

"We all take care of him here together," Ramon interrupts, "Even though not all of us are DSA members, hahahaa!"

"Anyway, Sugar belongs together," concludes Jared.

I return Sugar to Jack, and he puts it back in front of DSA’s office.

Justin grabs my arm and leads me to an empty seat in the cafeteria. "Last Sunday I went with all of them," Justin reports, pointing at his gang with his eyes. "And I told them that I had shown you the truth: Mera, the Sugar thing, and the white roses."

"What did they say?"

"Yes, no.. I mean.. It’s no problem.. But other than us, you shouldn't talk about this to anyone, okay?"

I nod.

"And I've also asked my friends to help move the roses from the lake to your house," he adds. "So, later my gardener will help pull out the roses, but to make it fast, we should do it together."

I gasp. This answers my questions this morning.

So last Sunday he’s been thinking of me too? He planned it all for me?

"Huh? Really?" I almost scream.

He nods.

"Justin, that's.." I am speechless.

"Consider it my apology for killing your roses and also a gift for your performance today, okay?"

Oh, yes, right. I deserve it. You killed my roses, so you have to replace them right? Duh, Alexa .. no need to be emotional just because of this.

He doesn't think about you.. He just wants to be fair!

"Okay, thanks," I reply, giving him my sweetest smile.

Don't you fall with me, Justin?

"Let's go straight to the woods and to your project in a bit, shall we?" He says again excitedly.

"Oh wait.. I don't have a handyman today.. My uncle also said he couldn't help me today."

"Ah.. no problem... I told you, I have four builders!" He answers while calling Ramon and his three other friends.

Jared comes over to me and give a gesture like a strong handyman. "My Lady, we will all serve you."

"Now?" I ask, still confused. I didn't expect this at all.

"Yep, come on!" Justin replies. The gang get ready immediately.

"I-I have to go home first. I'm on a bicycle!"

The five of them immediately stops and turns to me. I'm nervous but I can’t hold my laugh because they look so funny.

"I’m on a jeep, so just put your bike in my car, okay?" Jared replies with a grin.

"Hahaha okay!"

"Aaaand.. you're with me." Justin immediately takes my arm and leads me to walk with him to his car.

"Wait, I want to show Jared my bike and then put it in..." I say as I turn to Jared who has already lifted my bike into his jeep.

"Oh, he knows where my bike is.." I gush to myself, amazed.

"On campus there are very few people who ride bicycles, Alexa. And your old blue bicycle is too easy to spot..." Justin teases me.

I'm laughing. I really wasn't ready to see all this happen. Why are they all suddenly so nice to me?

"Follow me!" Justin shouts to his friends, and they say yes with a finger code.

I get into Justin's luxury car which always smells fresh. We start off, and I still can't believe what I'm going through now. Four years of college, I never once got close to all of them because I considered them arrogant and misbehaved. But now?

"I want to tell you something, Alexa.”

"Yes?"

"Lisa and I..."

My heart stops beating when I hear that name. I turn to him.

"We kissed."

It's like a thin knife is slicing through my heart right now, but I shouldn't be surprised. It's Lisa. All the male students are crazy about him. But why did Justin tell me this?

"Wow," I reply, pretending not to be disappointed. "And then?"

He is silent for a while.

"She kissed me first, and I kissed her back. But I guess I was wrong. I don't want to be with just a pretty face."

I am dizzy. I'm confused. People say women are hard to understand, but for women, men are really, extremely confusing.

"But you kissed her back, right?" I ask.

"Yes, but only one kiss, not like the french kiss you see on TV.. It’s not like that.." he argues.

I don’t know what to say.

"I also explained to her that I refused to do more than that. His parents were away at the time, and she tried to take me to her room. I refused, and I went home," he adds.

"Why are you telling this to me?"

"You are a nice person, Alexa, and I want you to see me for who I am."

I fall in silence. Is he really sincere? Many people say finding an honest man is very difficult, but why is this man looking too honest?

Are you for real, Justin? You’re too good to be true.

My mind can't deny what my heart is feeling right now.

"I appreciate your honesty, Justin, thank you," I reply.

He just smiles. There doesn’t seem to be any demand in his eyes, or any particular feeling like he is attracted to me or anything like that. He just seems like a really nice guy, that's all.

His honesty has really changed the game right now.