chapter 2

Footsteps echoed as she keeps on walking up this tunnel. Where is she? Reaching the top, she came to a meadow of tall grass but she wasn’t alone. There was someone else there. Who could it be? His back was facing her but those shoulders are familiar. Where have she seen those shoulders before? His left hand raise and she could see he was holding a single rose. Slowly, he turned around.

‘Oi! How many times do you expect me to wake you up in a day?’

‘What?? Didn’t I tell you to shut up before?’

‘What’s the big emergency? Why did you wake me up again? We don’t have any class for the day right?’ said an annoyed Clover. She was so close to seeing his face that she’s pissed at this point.

‘Yea we don’t have anymore class for the day. So how do I look? I have a date later. Does this lipstick look okay?’ asked Lily. Clover almost wanted to strangle her. If only she wasn’t so far away, she would have.

‘Hmm.. you look fine I guess. Is he coming up to get you or are you going down?’ asked Clover.

‘well he is the guy and we only live on the third floor so he should come and greet me right?’ answered Lily.
'yes ok. Then please lock up after you leave, alright?’ said Clover.

Five minutes later the door bell rang.

‘Ok he is here. I going now k? Make sure you eat later and don’t open doors to strangers,’ said Lily with a chuckle.

‘Do I look like I’m five to you?’ asked an irritated Clover.

Lily responded with a laugh. She walked out to the front door and open it. A few seconds later she came back into the room and said ‘erm there’s someone else besides my date at the door’.

Clover got up and went out to the living room with Lily and to her astonishment it was Alex.

‘What the hell are you doing here? How did you find my house? Who brought you here? Why are you even here?’ shouted Clover, each question louder than the one before. ‘and besides, isn’t the girl you were looking for is Lily?’ asked Clover this time with a calm voice.

Alex smiled and for a moment Clover was taken aback for the smile was warm and sincere unlike the usual dark and cold smile he displays in public.

‘You like to ask a lot for a girl who has bed hair,’ replied Alex coolly with his usual poker face. ‘Yes I was looking for her before but now I’m here for you,’ Alex continued. ‘I’m sorry for barging in and making you late for your date,’ said Alex finally noticing Lily and her date.

‘Now if you’ll excuse us,’ Alex continued while giving Lily a gentle push to the door. After she was out, he shut the door at the shocked face. ‘Now where were we then?’ said Alex smiling facing Clover.

‘Look I’m really tired alright? I work till 2 in the morning yesterday and I still have to work later so can you like disappear or something?’ said Clover. She rubbed her eyes and stretched her body to the side, emitting a loud crack.

‘Okay then you go sleep and I’ll prepare dinner for you before you go to work. How bout that?’ said Alex clearly stating that he isn’t leaving her house. Clover wanted to say something but stopped after Alex folded his arms with a stubborn look on his face.

‘Do whatever you want then,’ replied Clover with a yawn. ‘Just don’t steal anything,’ she continued.

‘As if you have anything worth stealing here in the first place!’ laughed Alex.

‘Whatever alright! I’m sorry but I’m just too tired and grumpy to deal with you right now! You know where’s the door so why don’t you just leave??’ replied Clover who was now filled with rage. She only managed to sleep for four hours that day after getting interrupted by Lily since morning.

‘I’m not going anywhere,’ said Alex and he took a seat on the living room couch. ‘I bet you like it when I said I was here looking for you instead of your attractive friend,’ Alex continued after observing the living room.

It was a small simple room with nothing but a big and comfortable couch and a television in front of it. Shoes were thrown messily beside entrance door. There was a walkway leading to the kitchen on the right and another walkway leading to two rooms on the left.

‘So am I wrong?’ Alex asked again after his eyes finish scanning the living room. Clover looked hard at him and then turned to leave the living room.

‘Hey! Hold on a second!’ Alex got up at once and walked quickly towards Clover. He grabbed her left hand firmly and pulled her around to face him.

Clover struggled furiously which forced Alex to pin her against the wall.

‘You are not that strong but you do have agility and you are experienced enough to hit vital points,’ said Alex after Clover stop struggling.

He was so close to her face that she has no choice but to look at him. She could see his thick eyebrows, his almond shaped brown eyes, his tall nose and small but full lips. His dark locks fell messily on the left side on his face which gave him an emo look. He was much more attractive than she thought but overall she coouldn't help tearing away from his eyes.

Those eyes that are dark and cold seemed to hold a sad story behind it. He let go of her and turned away.

‘Don’t look at me that way,’ said Alex.

‘I’m sorry,’ answered Clover. ‘Hey wait a minute! You are the one who are supposed to be sorry here! You pinned me against the wall just now!’ shouted Clover.

‘If you continue to scream at me I’m gonna shut you up my way. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!’ shot Alex.

Clover took the chance while he was loosening his grip on her hands and punched him in the face. She ran to her room but before she could lock the door, Alex barged in. Pushing Clover to her bed, he locked the door.

‘Not so tough now that you know that I know your secret eh?’ said Alex with a dark look in his eyes.

‘I’m sorry. I overreacted just then. I just had to get away from your eyes,’ replied Clover.

Alex grinned.

‘Am I really that scary till you had to punch me that hard?’ he asked after a pause, massaging the part where she hit him.

‘No its not that,’ said Clover as she climbed into bed.

‘Your eyes are so sorrowful. I was afraid I might get sucked into it that’s all,’ Clover continued, now adjusting the pillow.

‘It hurts you know. I want a compensation for it,’ said Alex. He gestured his head towards her bed and gave her a smile.

‘Then climb in next to me. I’ll lend you my body heat and a small side of the bed if you don’t mind,’ replied Clover.

Alex climbed into bed next to her and then stared at her.

‘What are you looking at so intensely? Don;t get any strange ideas! I'm just allowing you to lie next to me!,’ said Clover after a few minutes obviously disturbed by his eyes again.

‘You are not as good looking at your friend but you are cute though,’ laughed Alex.

‘Shut up! I’m trying to sleep,’ replied Clover, tightly shutting her eyes. She felt her cheeks burn in embarrassment.

‘I like cute,’ said Alex.

Clover opened her eyes to find herself face to face with Alex.

‘Why are you here? Tell me frankly,’ asked Clover.

‘Well I wanted to see how poor people like you live,’ said Alex quickly. Clover whacked him across the face.

‘Hey hey! Come on it was just a joke! Don’t ruin my face! My mom spent a few thousands for my skin care!’ said Alex with his hands up to cover his face in case of more attacks.

‘You are so rich you can even employ your own poor people. You don’t need to come and torment me you know! Plus your friend Jimmy is ten times much better looking than you!’ shouted Clover.

‘Dude! I’m right next to you! You don’t have to scream into my ear!’ replied Alex, still covering his face in case of sudden attacks.

‘Hey how do you know Jimmy anyways?’ asked Alex after a while.

‘He’s popular for being so good looking, who doesn’t know him and which girl does not want to know him?’ answered Clover.

Alex laughed half heartedly. He turned away from her and asked ‘do you want to know him? I don’t mind introducing him to you if you want,’.

‘Then do you want to know Lily? I don’t mind you coming over using me as an excuse if you want to,’ said Clover.

‘Does that mean you really want to know Jimmy?’ Alex asked slowly.

Clover replied immediately ‘does that mean you really want to come over to meet Lily and use me as an excuse?’.

‘Hey stop repeating everything I say!’ said Alex.

‘I am not! And I don’t want to know Jimmy. Guys like him are players anyways,’ replied Clover.

How long has it been since Clover was in bed with a boy? Not very long ago there was another who likes to sleep next to her. He would whisper soft words to her and make her feel like she was the only one he sees in the world. The feeling of losing was something she doesn’t want to endure again. The feeling of wanting was something she feels every time she goes to bed. This time it was different. There was another of the same sleeping next to her this time. Though it wasn’t the same person but strangely the vibe is the same. She felt safe with his body so close to hers. Instead of her providing him comfort with her body heat, she felt it was the other way round.

‘Hey are you falling asleep?’ asked Alex.

‘No. not when you haven’t answered me yet,’ answered Clover with a small voice.

‘I’m here for you and I will always be here for you. Lily though she’s beautiful, is not my type. I prefer you who has a burning flame from within to warm my heart,’ said Alex while facing the other way.

‘If I weren’t so sleepy I would say that was bullshit but thanks. It felt somewhat so sincere that I’ll believe it for now,’ said Clover with a side smile. She felt her cheeks burn again. 'Could it be that Alex is shy?' she thought in her head.

‘Can I sleep now?’ asked Clover.

‘Only if you let me do something first but I’m not going to tell you what. You just have to agree to it and do as I say,’ replied Alex.

‘Fine. Since I’m so sleepy I’ll get you after I wake up if I don’t like it. But nothing perverted k!’ said Clover.

Alex sat up and looked at Clover. she looks like she’s about to break apart as she’s half asleep. Unlike the tough personality she displayed in public, now she looks as fragile as glass. There lying on white bed sheets, with her brown curls covering half of her face. It was as though she was part of an old oil painting. She fair and red cheeks blend perfectly against her soft features. Though her eyes stores hardship and sorrows, it was surreal that a girl like her even existed and so close to him that he could touch even her. At that moment, it was as though time stopped and he would never want to lose sight of her. Not now, not ever.

‘Close your eyes and don’t move,’ Alex said softly.

Clover looked up at him for a moment and obeyed. He swept her hair from her face and gently placed his lips on hers. After a soft kiss, he pulled away from her.

Clover looked up at him and said ‘yup! I’m going to get you after I wake up. You can count on it,’.

Then she closed her eyes and turned her back to him. Alex grinned and lay next to her. He looked up at the ceiling and saw how empty it is. Her room is blank with no pictures or posters. There was only a bed where they are both sleeping on. All he could see was a small window, a small desk under it and a cupboard beside the door. Everything else was blank and the walls were yellowish white but it doesn’t matter. Her body heat was all he needed. He closed his eyes and fell asleep at the sound of her slow breathing.