Alexa's Parents

 CHAPTER TWO

 ALEXA'S PARENTS

EVENING

DOWNSTAIRS-At The Dining Table

 It was time for dinner. Alexa quietly sits on the left side of the table. Her father, Tommy, sat at the head of the table while her mother, Stella, sat by the right.

ALEXA: Good evening Dad! Good evening Mom!

 They replied and there was silence again except for the well-calculated chewing of food and good table manners. At the end of the meal, her mother speaks up.

STELLA: Alexa, dear.

ALEXA: (Looks up at her) Yes Mom!

STELLA: What have you been up to since the holidays started? It's gonna be a very long holiday, you know?

ALEXA: (Breathes slowly) (To herself) Okay!!!

 (Gives her mom a small smile) Nothing much. Just going through my lecture schedules and course outlines for the next semester. I'm also trying to read ahead of my tutors. I've covered a lot since last week.

(Drinks water)

TOMMY: Mhmm! (Nodding) That's impressive, Alexa. Don't hesitate to tell me if you need anything.

ALEXA: (Nods slowly) Yes, Dad!

STELLA: What about learning a new skill...(Shrugs) Knitting! I'll get you all you need, delivered and a sound online tutor. What do you think? (Smiles at her)

ALEXA: (Gives her a small smile) I'm fine, Mom. But if you think it's best for me, then I'll do it.

STELLA: (Laughs shortly) Good girl!

ALEXA: I'll be heading back to my room. (Stands up)

STELLA: Wait!!

ALEXA: (Sits back) Yes Mom!

STELLA: (Peers closely at her) Hmmm!

ALEXA: (Nervous, she drops her gaze to her fidgeting fingers)

STELLA: Oh!- Darling, you're getting thinner!

ALEXA: (Bows her head slightly) I'm sorry, Mom.

STELLA: Hey! Why are you sorry? It's my fault.

TOMMY: (Wiping his mouth, he looks at Alexa) 

 Are you sick?

ALEXA: No! I'm fine.

STELLA: Are you sure?

ALEXA: Yes, I'm sure. You can check my temperature if you want. I take my vitamins regularly and do my routines and pep talks daily. So-I'm-fine. (Breathes out slowly)

STELLA: (Nods slowly, still looking at her)

 That's okay, dear. You can go back to your room.

ALEXA: Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad. (She stands up and walks back to her room as the other two are smiling as they watch her climb the stairs)

ALEXA'S V.O: Funny enough, from my research, I found out that in the outside world, parents were proud of their children getting married or being independent, achieving one thing or the other, and living successful lives. But my parents are smiling just because I'm obediently walking up the stairs back into the room until breakfast. Uuuuuurrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhh!

EVENING

ALEXA'S BEDROOM

 Entering the room, she walked up to her laptop and turned it on.

Nobody has downloaded the app.

Disappointed, she turned it off and walked to her bed, slumped on it, and slept off.

 FIRST DAY——> GONE

 SECOND DAY——>No response-Void

 THIRD DAY——>No response-Nothing

 FOURTH DAY——>No response-Nil

FIFTH DAY

MORNING, AFTERNOON, AND EVENING

 Different phones were clicking on this new app on the Play Store, and they saw its info on social media. Posted and shared by one Miss Lizard. Lol!

 Downloading the app, they filled in details of themselves after being assured of their privacy protection. And then the rules appeared.

LIPS READING: There is no backing out once you've clicked on the NEXT button.

(Lips scoffing)

Answer every question truthfully—it's just us here...(Giggles)

No hate speeches. Everyone's opinion is accepted.

(Eyes rolling) Whatev'

After a minute of pausing, there was a rushed clicking on the NEXT button from different fingers—manicured and plain.

A WELCOME sign appeared on the screen of different phones.

NIGHT

ALEXA'S BEDROOM

 Alexa entered her room and walked to the study table. Lits the lampstand and puts on her eyeglasses. She turned on the laptop, and not long after, she was tapping rapidly on the keyboard. She squealed and rotated around the chair, excited.

ALEXA: (Breathes out softly) Okay!!! I got this

 (She started tapping again) 

ALEXA'S V.O: Everyone is welcomed to the platform. We will start introductions by tomorrow. So that's all for today— Bye!!!

(She logs out)

She took off her glasses, turned off the laptop, went up to her bed, and sat down, covering the duvet to her waist region. She set her alarm, took her vitamins, checked the temperature of the room with a remote control, and turned off the light on the lampstand beside her bed.

ALEXA: (Huffs) Goodnight to my 15 new friends out there and I. Sweet dreams. (Smiling softly, she adjusts herself properly on the bed, closes her eyes and goes to sleep)

NIGHT

IN ANOTHER ROOM

 Tommy and Stella were staring at a screen monitor. It was showing Alexa's activities in her room. A motion sensor. They saw her movements in a glitch. A beeping machine was also by the side. It showed the temperature of her room and her heartbeat condition.

STELLA: ( Sighs) Her breathing is heavy. She is finally asleep.

TOMMY: (Looking intently at the screen monitor) Yeah! When is the stuff arriving?

STELLA: (Looks at him) Tonight. What about the documents? 

TOMMY: Dr. Jeffrey still has it. He might hand it over today. Let's go; we don't want to keep him waiting.

STELLA: (Nods) Okay! (Glances at the screen monitor)

 She quickly picks up the black leather jacket on the chair and follows Tommy out.