Chapter 14: Day 6 – Almost Got Her

[JUSTIN]

"Honesty is indeed a very effective bait to win women's hearts. I think Alexa has changed after I told her about Lisa yesterday."

Ken who is sitting across the table nods silently while listening to my story.

"I called Ramon right away on the way home from Lisa's, and Ramon called me stupid for stopping the kiss," I continue, chuckling.

"But what are your plans after you finally break Alexa's heart later? Don't you want to date Lisa?"

Ken's question is very, very important, but I still don't know the exact answer.

"I don't know Ken.. Lisa is easy. Although I reject her for like 100 times, one day if I want to be with her, she will accept me."

"So you really don't want Lisa right now? Or is it just because you haven't got Alexa yet?"

"Almost, Ken.. Almost. I've almost got Alexa. You’ll see," I reply certainly.

"But how do you really feel?"

I go silent.

My true feelings? I like Alexa, and desperately deny that I'm fascinated by her.

"Alexa is a special woman, Ken. But I want to finish my plan," I answer firmly. Feelings of love don't need to interfere with my plans.

"Even though I still don't like your plan, I still applaud you for turning down Lisa, Justin. Not many guys are like you."

"I'm not a bad person, Ken.. I'm not a bad person," I reply, staring blankly away at the empty basketball court.

I'm not a bad person, but I plan to break Alexa’s heart. What kind of person are you, Justin?

"Bang!"

The sound of heavy books slamming the table startles me. I turn around, and I see Kimmy with her thick thesis.

"I need to talk to you," she says.

"I'll go to class, Justin," says Ken, letting Kimmy finish her business with me.

"My thesis was rejected, and it's because of Alexa. Then why are you treating her like a queen, Justin?" Accuse Kimmy angrily.

"Wow wow hey.. Sit down, Kimmy."

"Like what the fuck, Justin!" she curses. "You rejected Lisa just because of that girl named Alexa?"

"Hey, enough!" I snap.

"What's so special about her, Justin?"

"You have absolutely no right to question my decision, Kimmy."

"But she's not worth it, Justin! She's a trash! She refuses to help me, even though I want to pay a lot for it. And what Lisa means to you, huh?"

I take a deep breath. "Calm down, Kimmy, please."

She leans her back on the cafeteria seat.

“You know I like you.. I like you like A LOT,” Kimmy continues, emphasizing how much she really has a crush on me.

"But I love Lisa.. She's like my own sister. I don't want you to hurt her."

"How's Lisa? Is she all right?" I ask.

"She cried all night, because you blatantly rejected her."

"I’ve already apologized to her."

"The problem is .. She didn't expect it, Justin.. All this time she felt that you also wanted to be with her," Kimmy replies.

Duh. That’s a crazy mind game, young lady. Aren’t you trying to be close to all handsome men in this campus?

"Moreover, seeing you now seems to be close to Alexa.. It hurts us. It hurts Lisa. Not only you, your friends too..." She complains again.

But I can't possibly share my plan to Kimmy. She will ruin it.

"My friends and I became close because of the seminar, Kimmy. Nothing more," I reply.

"I'm heartbroken, Justin. Lisa is in much more pain."

"I don't want to date, Kimmy."

I've never been serious in dating, even though it's easy for me to get women. I've had my life full of women and one night stands, and I've been getting sick of it lately.

"I want to be serious about dating when I'm sure I want to get married," I add.

“Trying to be conventional, huh?”

I nod.

"Be honest with me, Justin. Do you like Lisa?"

"Lisa is one of the most beautiful girls I've ever met, Kimmy.. Of course I like Lisa. But just being pretty isn't enough. Just having interests to her physics isn't enough," I answer firmly.

"Lisa said you kissed her back."

I smile. "It was a great kiss, trust me. But if I were a guy who liked to take advantage, I wouldn’t have stopped her, and she wouldn’t have to take me to her room. I myself would carry her and finish what she started," I continue.

Kimmy seems to be starting to understand my feelings.

“I don’t want to take advantage of anyone, Kimmy.”

It's actually about Alexa, but on the other hand, everything I say is my own principle in the last year or two. I'm tired of my old lifestyle. I want one time to find a special woman, then be serious with her until we get married.

"Okay," Kimmy responds slowly.

"Tell Lisa she's going to get a guy who's cuter and cooler than me," I tell her.

"And you? Are you gonna be with Alexa?"

"It's none of your business, Kimmy."

That's absolutely none of your business.

Why do women always like to pry into other people's business?

"OK, sorry," Kimmy replies as she lifts her thesis from the table and stands up, "I understand. Alexa is a smart and good student.. Sorry I said bad things about her."

Kimmy smiles and walks away.

I throw my back against the back of my chair and breathe a sigh of relief. Kimmy really deserves to be a wimpy witch. She is beautiful, even prettier than Lisa, but her aura is annoying. Anyway, she finally understands, and I don't have to worry anymore.

It's still 9, and now I still have to go to DSA’s office to check the journals. I promise Alexa I will meet her in the library at 11 o'clock, and we will go home together.

"Sugar! Dear kitty kitty kitty.." I call Sugar in a small voice. I want him to accompany me at the office.

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11 am.

"Still looking around?" I ask when I find Alexa in the corner of the library, reading a thin book full of colorful pictures.

"Ah, no, I'm just waiting for you," she answers with her trademark smile. I really can't lie anymore that I really like her smile.

"Are you done with your business?" She asks. I nod while raising my eyebrows and smiling. Her smile grows wider.

"Oh, by the way I got this," she says, holding up a glass box filled with macarons of various colors.

"Wow! Where from?"

"Guess!"

"Ehmm.. from Mrs. December, your thesis examiner, because she was too fascinated by your answers?"

She hits me lightly with the thin book she was holding up earlier. "That's nonsense! No lecturers would want to give this to students."

"I don't know," I reply, "Who is it from?"

"From Kimmy."

"What??"

I’m very surprised. Why did Kimmy suddenly give Alexa a big box of these expensive macarons? The bakery is nearby, I know, but this costs like fifty dollars.

"She apologized for what happened on the basketball court last time, Justin," Alexa says. "She looks sincere, and I accept this."

"Wow.. I didn't expect it at all."

"Me too... Maybe at that time she was in a bad mood, and the important thing is that she’s nice now. She no longer offered me money."

"Good."

"But I know that she has just been rejected for her thesis, and has been told to revise it all over again. It's a pity, and I promised to help her."

I don’t like this. I don't want you to get hurt, Alexa.

"Alexa.. You don't need to help her."

"I’ve promised her. Tomorrow she will meet me at the back of the campus."

The back of campus. There is indeed a small garden where students usually relax and seek peace.

"Did Kimmy meet you alone? Or was she..”

"She was with Candy and Lisa. But only Kimmy talked a lot."

"Is Lisa good with you?" I asked curiously. “I mean.. Didn’t she hurt you or anything like that?”

"No.. They all looked friendly."

I am silent for a moment. There's a little bit of suspicion because I still can't believe the three wizards are finally accepting Alexa so well, but I don't think much of it.

"You want me to meet them tomorrow too?" I offer to accompany her.

"Noo.. Don't! I know they all like you, Justin.. I don't feel good if I come with you. I’m afraid they'll be in a bad mood again."

It’s actually just a little heart break, Alexa. But sorry I'm not going to tell you about my brief meeting with Kimmy earlier.

"It's okay, Justin. They're our friends," Alexa adds. She puts her palm on my chest and pats it. "We'll have fun tomorrow."

I take a deep breath.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow, okay?"

Alexa continues to smile, then nods. "Thanks for everything, Justin."

Alexa carries several thin books in her left hand. I take Alexa's bag from her shoulder.

"I'll bring this for you.."

Then we both head to the parking lot. I really don't feel okay. Something is bothering me, but I completely can’t recall what it is.