He drove me home, stopping at my door but not
coming in.
<
“What are we?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” I said, my mind a whirl.
Did I like him? Impossible.
Was I attracted to him? I didn’t know.
“‘I don’t know.‘ Real helpful,” he chuckled dryly.
“Alex, this is only the third time we’ve met.
What kind of answer do you expect? What am I
supposed to say?”
“Only three?” He looked into my eyes. “I seem
to remember more than three.”
“Then where else have you met me?” I asked,
instantly wary.
He smiled at my nervousness, leaning down to
whisper in my ear. “In your dreams.”
<
12:32
E2
“In your dreams, you call my name. Your voice
is softer, sweeter than it is now… want to hear
more?”
“Stop it. Get out.” I blushed furiously.
“You don’t have to give me an answer. I’ll give
you mine.” He ruffled my hair. “You said you
liked me. I accept.”
“I don’t like you!”
“Sure. Go to bed. I saved my number as your
first contact.” He stood at the door, looking at
- me. “I’ll pick you up in the morning.”
I didn’t agree or disagree, just closed the door,
my heart pounding.
17
The next morning, I woke up to find baby’s
breath on my windowsill. Sleep vanished. He’d
hoon here ansin? Who was he?
<
12:32
GE 32
I logged into Facebook. The “he” account had a
new post.
“Don’t love anyone else. Just love me. Okay?”
Creep. I logged out.
After I got ready, Alex arrived. He made me
breakfast, accompanied me to class, and ate
lunch with me. He was famous on campus now,
infamous really. Everyone was afraid of him. No.
one dared to whisper anymore.
“Don’t you have anything better to do than
follow me around?” I was uneasy with him
constantly being by my side.
“I had a falling out with my cousin. If I don’t
follow you, I don’t eat.” He was playing the pity.
card again.
I supposed it was true. He’d stood up for me
une na wander ha and David
against Sarah. It was no wonder he and David
had argued.
“Where do you sleep at night? Does your
cousin let you stay at his place?”
“In my car.
“Your car?” I was speechless. He’d been
sleeping in his car for days? That’s why it had
been parked outside my apartment complex.
“Isn’t it uncomfortable?” I couldn’t imagine.
sleeping in a car for days.
He looked at me thoughtfully. “It’s… firm.“.
“You shouldn’t have gotten involved. Sleeping
in your car isn’t a solution.” I felt guilty, like I’d
caused this.
“Then where should I stay? Your place?” he
asked with a smile.
<
“Absolutely not.” I didn’t even know what we
were.
“Right. Can’t impose without a proper title.”
I was at a loss for words.
“You should talk to David. Or maybe I should.
This whole mess is because of me.”
“You want to go see him? You still like him?” His voice turned cold.
“Why would I like him?” I was exasperated. I had liked him, once. But since coming back, any feelings I had were long gone. I just didn’t want
to cause any more trouble for anyone.
“Actually, I have an idea,” he said.
“What idea?”
“I pretend to be your boyfriend. That’ll get my
<
12:32
COUSIN OTT your back, and shut Saran up. He looked sincere. “And I won’t have to sleep in my car anymore.”
I stared at him. It sounded… logical. But be with him? Was I crazy?
“I’ll give you five seconds to think about it,” he said, grinning. “Starting now. Five… one.”
“Time’s up. You agreed.”
What?!
“Five, then four. What kind of countdown is
that?” I wanted to hit him.
“I couldn’t wait.” He laughed, ruffling my hair.
“Good afternoon, girlfriend.”
thought it was just pretend?”
“We have to make it convincing, don’t we?” He
looked at me intently
<
My heart pounded. I looked away, unable to
meet his gaze.
He continued to accompany me to class, to
meals, back to my dorm, even more openly now.
It seemed to be working. Sarah and David
finally left me alone. I breathed a sigh of relief.
I had one goal: finish school, find a decent job,
support myself. That was enough.
A few days later, my mom came to see me at
school, apologizing.
“Why aren’t you answering my calls or
responding to my texts? Are you really going to
abandon your mother over something so
trivial?” she cried.
“Isn’t that what you did to me?” I asked calmly.
Since I’d returned, had she spent a single
evening with me, gone shopping with me,
<
accompanied me to a therapy session? No. She
always said she was too busy with my brother.
She’d found someone else to focus her
attention on, and now she was asking why I was
ignoring her?
