Chapter 5: A Chaotic Morning
[ALEXA]
"Ah, this wind is unsettling," I said to myself, and I started pedaling my bicycle. The streets were a bit wet from the rain, and the wind this morning was enough to make me shudder. The trees started to turn yellow and begin to fall; Winter is coming. Luckily I was wearing a rather thick shirt and a warm sweater. The weather was cloudy and that day seemed darker than usual.
The semester is almost over, and I want to finish it with the best grades to make my parents proud, then graduate. I don't go out with friends much, and I don't want to waste time going to the movies or going to the disco either. I'm nobody, and I don't want to be somebody, either. I just have a project to build my own little house right down the street from my parents' alley.
My parents don't know about my project yet. I purposely planned to build it at the end of that dead-end alley, because the place is very rarely passed by people. I want to make it a surprise after I graduate.
Before going to campus, I took the time to stop by there.
"Morning, Lily.." I greeted with a smile. I named my house 'Lily', because she will be predominantly white, with lots of white roses in her garden. But...
I stopped in my tracks and I gasped for a moment.
"My roses!!!!!"
All my roses in the garden died. I have taken care of them from seeds, until they bloomed, a lot.
I sat down on the grass and touched one of the flowers, which was languidly bent down. Yesterday afternoon everything was still fresh and healthy, and there was no storm or anything last night.
"Oh my God, what's wrong with you?"
My eyes are watery and confused. Why did it suddenly die?
I called Uncle. Was Uncle here last night?
No answer. Maybe still sleeping.
6.15. I have an appointment with Mr. Leo at 7 o'clock.
"Ah, later.. There's still enough time."
I turned and surveyed my house. I built it from wood and plywood, because from what I learned in my campus, that's the easiest way. I often asked my uncle to help put up the big logs when he wasn't busy, but I did all the planning and design myself. I started this project since I was in the 5th semester, and it took a really long time because my body was weak, but I will finish it.
The house is almost finished, and the roof truss had been made. I entered the door and looked inside Lily's interior, touching the vinyl frames. Everything looks neat and it meets my expectations. I don't really care who will occupy this house later, is it me, my sister, my parents, or just my dolls. But this house will be my pride in the future.
I entered the bedroom which was still empty. There are only four rooms in this house: the lounge, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. I'm not planning on making a living room.
"This is not an era of neighboorhood visits," I said to myself with a smile, remembering how my mom's sofas were always dusty because there were never any guests in our house.
I looked up, seeing the morning sky which was already quite bright because there was a sun peeking out among the clouds. I'll ask Uncle to start laying the roof tomorrow. He said he had a reliable handyman to help, and I had already bought asphalt tiles for the roof.
"Mom, I will make you proud."
My thesis is finished and I only have to finish a few elective classes this semester. My target is almost reached. My parents were able to send me to this expensive university because they worked so hard, and this was all I could do to make them proud.
"Lily, you look good, but I hope you will not collapse at anytime soon," I mumbled to myself.
I came out of the bedroom, out of the house and into my pathetic flower garden. I plucked one of my dead roses and kissed it. It smells bad. The leaves and the color of the flower petals are dull, starting to rot. How could it be possible for the whole flowers to die overnight like this?
"Did your roots find rose poison, Baby?" I asked.
I looked around me. No other plants died apart from these roses.
I stood up and half ran outside, peeking over the neighbor's fence. I think they have red roses.
"Ah.. Everything is still fresh," I said, confused.
Suddenly my cell phone rang. Uncle!
"You called me earlier, Alexa?"
"Uncle, all my roses suddenly died! Did you come here yesterday? Did you know that the roses died?"
"Huh?" Uncle looked very surprised. "I was there yesterday until 8 pm. The roses were still all good."
I shuddered. Now everything had fallen to the ground and was starting to turn black.
"I was surprised too, every single rose died this morning," I said weakly. I have to show this house in perfect condition in about two or three months, should I buy new dozens of blooming white roses?
"I will come there later or tomorrow, okay? I'm quite busy today. Maybe tomorrow. We'll think about the garden again when the house is finished."
I hung up. 10 minutes to 7 o'clock.
"Geez!" I screamed as I rushed to get my bike and speed towards the campus. Luckily it's not too far away.
Mr. Leo is a lecturer who is known to be very discipline, and he can get angry just because of a late appointment. I put my bicycle in the campus parking lot right next to the cafeteria, and my heart seemed to stop.
"What the..."
I saw a row of white roses along the side of the cafeteria which is all dead. Why do all white roses die?
There are also bougenville flowers around the bicycle parking lot, but all are still fresh. Only white roses die.
But it's already 7 o'clock, and I can't just stand there.
"Think about it later, Alexa!" I screamed in my heart and immediately ran towards my locker. My mind was full of confusion and many final assignments for graduation, as well as my late appointment with Mr. Leo, and I felt like dazed.
"Bruck!"
I bumped into someone and dropped him along with all his books and his plastic glass of Americano.
He fell on the ground, his clothes and hair wet and dirty from the large coffee glass he was holding. Oh this is really bad.. He is.. Justin! God, he's like a Prince in this University, and I don't want to get into trouble with him.
"Excuse me!!??" He shouted angrily. My heart was beating very hard.
"I'm sooo sorry! I didn't mean to, I was in a hurry and confused this morning, I.."
"Use your eyes when you walk!" Justin said harshly. He staggered to his feet and glared at me.
Lots of other students watched us and laughed.
Laughing at who? Me? Justin? Who knows.
Due to the rush while being dazed and confused, I was completely oblivious. I helped him pick up his books. So cheesy, right? If this was a drama series, he would stop me, hold my hand and kiss me.
Damn it, Alexa. What the hell is that in your mind? I cursed in my heart. Justin is the most arrogant and annoying guy on campus. He is much liked by students because he is handsome and rich, and he is also loved by lecturers because he is the chairman of DSA and is good at making faces. But in a billion years I will never expect him to be affectionate with me.
"Sorry, Justin. I'm really sorry."
Justin's eyes glared at me with anger, looking at me from head to toe with disdain.
"You're such a hick!"
I'm used to the views of some of my friends like that. The pretty girls on campus wear trendy clothes with bangs and short skirts as they commute by car. I always have to wear pants and a sweater or cardigan because I often feel cold when I'm on my bike, and I do look like a geek. Or a hick, just like what he said.
"Ah, it doesn't matter.." I said quietly, to myself, when Justin had walked away kicking his spilled plastic coffee cup.
My heart was a little torn. Why is this morning so painful? But I also feel so guilty for bumping into Justin until he falls and spills coffee like that. I think he must be very embarrassed that so many students laughed at him.
I ran to Mr. Leo's room and got ready to start my long day. I hope he hasn't come and won't be mad because I'm late.