Chapter 4: Us

Alexa’s past instantly haunts her again. She remove her mother’s arms from her and then smiles at her.

“Mom, don’t worry okay,” she said

“Fine, by the way a guy name Arthur left some fruits and other stuffs here. He also hands me a note. I put it in the basket and it is at the kitchen. Go see it for yourself,” Alexa’s mother said. “That Arthur guy isn’t your boyfriend right?” her mother asks.

“Mom no,” Alexa argued

“Okay just making sure because he is a bit older for you,” her mother explained

Alexa then head towards the kitchen. She saw a big basket with fruits in it. She also saw some paper bags at the countertops. She scanned the paper bags and sees lots of food in it. Alexa got shocked at what she sees. She then searches for the note her mother said. She saw it at the back of the basket. She read what’s in it.

My Dear Alexa,

Everything is usual here at the company. Everyone has been talking about the incident that happened in your department. I also want to inform you that I have fired your team leader. I also planned that you should to take over the position.

Now hold up, I know you will refused. You will tell me that you don’t deserve it but darling, trust me when I tell you that you are so much worth it. You can handle being a leader Alexa because you are in fact a fighter. You have compassion. You are brave and courageous. You are also intelligent and not speaking of, beautiful. You are everything being a leader is. So please, think about it. Call me or talk to me if you agree.

I am also apologizing for not visiting you. It is a bit crazy here, many investors have called me asking for partnerships and such. I have ordered Arthur to bring you fruits and foods for you and your mother. I hope this is enough but if it is not, I am one call away.

Please do tell me you are resting and not doing anything dumb. I sincerely know you Alexa.

Just know that you are in heart and in my mind. See you my darling.

                                                                                                           Only yours,

                                                                                                            Daniel

Alexa couldn’t think clearly at what Daniel said. She asks herself if this was a confession of his love for her. Her heart flutters as she thinks of what Daniel has written. She kept reading the last part. She is smiling all by herself when her mother appeared. That startled Alexa since she was in the middle of daydreaming.

“It must have been a good note for you to smile like an idiot,” Alexa’s mother said

“It was nothing,” Alexa said

“Yeah sure, I also receive lots of letter from your father before he left,” her mother said with tension in her voice. Suddenly she lost balance but got a grip at the wall. Alexa rush beside her. She take her to the sofa and has given her mother a water.

“You should stop thinking about dad,” Alexa said

“But you know I love him even after what he has done,” her mother explained. “No one can take his place Alexa”

“It’s bad for you,” Alexa argued

“He is bad but you know that bad is what we always want. Bad is good for us,” her mother said

“Mom get a grip, he left us.” Alexa explained

“He is still you father,” her mother said

“Mom! Please he is the reason why you almost killed yourself. He is the reason why you suffered for years. He is also the reason why I suffered from you!” Alexa couldn’t control herself.

“He is the very reason for all the bad things that happened in us,” Alexa continued and tears fell from her eyes. She wipes it down with the back of her hand. She couldn’t control her anger that is why she run outside. Her mother called for her but she didn’t look back.

“Alexa!” her mother called her

Alexa runs till her legs couldn’t anymore. She trip down and fall. She got angry and punch the ground. She kept crying till rain drops from the sky. She felt that the sky also feels what she felt. Like it was somehow showing her concern. She cry in the rain and shouted couple of times. Until a car pulled over beside her. She stood up and thought of Daniel. She is wrong because another person has come to save her.

“Lily!” she shouted and then hurriedly run towards her friend and hugs her

“It is hard Lily, it is so hard,” Alexa cried so hard while Lily tap her back

“You really like crying in the rain don’t you?” Lily tease her and they both laugh

“Let’s get you inside the car okay,” Lily said and Alexa nods

Lily drives her car until they approach her house. Alexa misses every little time she spends with Lily when they are still little. She reminisce those times in her mind.

FLASHBACK 10 YEARS AGO….

Lily is running in their backyard and Alexa chases her. They play teacups and dolls.

“I’m tired Lily,” Alexa complained

“You don’t have strong wits like me Alexa,” Lily said while teasing Alexa

Alexa returns to present and saw Lily get out of the car. She then stood up and follow Lily. Lily’s mother greeted them and they continue to Lily’s room. Alexa looks around and saw that nothing has change. It is still the same only that the bed sheets are different and there are posters in the wall. She looks outside the window and the rain is still pouring hard with severe winds damaging some plants. She can also see the busy street since Lily’s house is near the main street. She saw people walking and talking to each other. She felt safe in Lily’s world.

“Are you hungry?” Lily ask her

“I can eat,” Alexa answered

“The food is already serve, we should go down now,” Lily said

Alexa nods and then follow Lily downstairs. She saw Lily’s brothers and they wave at her. They all sat the table where she sat when Lily first saw her and bring her home.

“There must be some trouble at your house Alexa,” Lily’s mother said

“I got into an argument with my mother,” Alexa explained

“It is only normal. Here we always argue specially me and Lily,” Lily’s mother said

They all eat quietly after that. Alexa devour her food since she won’t taste this for a long time again. She ate the steak and mashed potato. She also took some fries and nuggets. She also eats the hash browns Lily’s mother gave her. They were finishing the main course and ready to proceed at the dessert.

“Do you have a boyfriend Alexa?” Lily’s eldest brother ask

“I used to but as of now none,” Alexa answered

“My brother here wants to court you,” he replied

“What?” they all said in chorus. Then they laugh at that incident.

“Well I am not so sure because Alexa has a thing with her boss,” Lily said

They all laugh and Alexa stayed embarrassed to what is happening. They continue eating and Alexa glances at the window. She sees that the rain has stop pouring. She stayed at Lily’s house for a while until she got a call.

“Hello, who is this?” Alexa ask

“This is the London Medical Center, are you Alexa Jones?” the nurse said

“Yes, why?” Alexa ask

“Your mother, Rita Jones got into an accident,” the nurse said

The news caught Alexa off guard. She loose grip of her phone and it fell on floor making some cracking sound but the nurses voice can still be heard from the other line. “Hello ma’am?” the nurse asked but Alexa is not moving. Lily runs in front of her and asks her what’s happening. Lily then pick up the phone and got shocked by the news but she respond that they will be there as soon as possible. Still standing, Alexa doesn’t hear anything but herself. She doesn’t respond immediately and Lily have to slap her.

“Alexa! You mother needs you. We need to go!” Lily shouted at her but Alexa broke into tears. Lily comforts her.

“Alexa we need to go,” Lily said while her voices trembles and nearly cries

“I’m going to drive you both to the hospital,” Lily’s father said

“Thanks dad, Alexa come on.” Lily grab Alexa and she just nods

Lily hugs Alexa who kept crying. She doesn’t stop until they reach the hospital. Lily’s father asks about Rita Jones in the reception. The nurse immediately told them that Rita is in the emergency room. Alexa then runs while crying, Lily followed behind her and Lily’s father follows them. They got to Rita’s room in no time. A doctor came outside the room.

“Are you Alexa Jones? The daughter of Rita Jones?” the doctor ask

Alexa nods

“Your mother is fine but she needs rest. She got hit by a car but don’t worry, it wasn’t that hard. She will be fine,” the doctor assures Alexa.

She quickly gets inside her mother’s room and sat beside her. She thought that her mother got hit because she goes outside to find her. Alexa then now blames herself for what happened to her mom. She cried and says sorry over and over again. She stayed there for a while and Lily looks at her then comforts her. Lily’s dad call Lily to give Alexa some space. Lily’s dad then ask Lily what does she thinks Alexa needs. She told her dad that Alexa might need her and that they need cloths and foods and other stuffs. Lily’s dad leave to get what they need. Lily then sat at the chairs on the aisle of the hospital. She feels that Alexa’s phone is vibrating at her purse. She then see whose calling.

“Hello, where is Alexa?” Daniel ask

“Alexa is at the hospital,” Lily answered

“What? Why? What happened?” Daniel asks worriedly

“Easy there man,” Lily said

“I’m serious, by the way who is this?” Daniel ask again

“No time to say, go to London medical center. She is here,” Lily said. “And she needs you so please hurry up,” she added.

Lily then shuts the phone off. She took a peek at Alexa and saw her still crying. She prays that Daniel comes quickly because Alexa is losing herself from what is happening.

After 30 minutes or so. Daniel arrive and saw Lily at the aisle.

“You are Daniel right?” Lily asked

“Yes and who are you?” Daniel ask

“I’m Lily, Alexa’s best friend” she replied

“Where is she?” Daniel asks

“She’s here,” Lily said

Daniel enters the room and saw Alexa crying. Alexa looks at him and then run towards him. She immediately hugs Daniel and so does Daniel.

“I thought it was you,” Daniel said

“No, my mother she” Alexa couldn’t say anything else and Daniel hugs her again.

“Don’t worry okay, I’ll handle everything,” Daniel assures her and then Alexa stops crying. She stayed at Daniels arm for a while till she fell asleep. Then Lily enters the room, she sat at the vacant sit in front of Alexa and Daniel. She then spoke to Daniel.

“So you are Daniel?” she ask

“Yes,” Daniel answers quietly while still tapping Alexa’s back.

“She told me about you. About how you make her heart flutters,” Lily said

“It is my honor,” Daniel replied

“So you like her?” Lily ask

“It is hard to admit but I don’t like her,” Daniel replied

“Then why do you flirt with her?” Lily ask again

“I don’t like her because I love her. She is the very reason now why I am waking up every morning,” Daniel said. “She is the very reason why I want to stay to earth.” He added.

Lily laughs at Daniel and Daniel just smiles at her.

“So you are going to date her?” Lily ask again

“Yes, I plan to,” Daniel said

“Then don’t break her heart,” Lily said while looking at Alexa. “She has been my best friend for years. We stayed at each other’s lives for quite some time now. She is the best person I know. She is kind and loving. She has always helped me when I am at my down points. She is like a sister to me. God gave me her to protect and please do the same. She has suffered from lots of things. I don’t want her to suffer more. Break her heart and I’ll break your face,” Lily added.

“I assure you that Alexa is in the right hands,” Daniel said. “I will make sure she won’t suffer again. That she will feel love always. That when she looks behind she will see me supporting her. I’m going to be the reason why she will stand tall over the crowd. I will be her everything. Her every needs and wants,” Daniel replied.

Lily then nods and goes outside the room. Daniel stayed there with Alexa and also falls asleep. Alexa wakes up in the arms of Daniel. She got shocked at their position. She got up immediately and looks at her mother. Daniel also wakes up because he had felt Alexa move. He also stood up and took Alexa’s hand. Alexa got startled at Daniels’s movements. They sat down again when Alexa made sure that her mother is fine. She talks to Daniel about what happened earlier.

“I’m really sorry,” she said to Daniel

“It is fine Alexa,” Daniel said to her

“My emotion got the best of me,” she explained

“I told you my love, it is fine,” Daniel said

“Love?” Alexa ask

“Yes,” Daniel said

“What are you talking about?” Alexa ask

“Where is your friend?” Daniel ask not paying attention at what Alexa said.

“Lily!” she shouted. “Where is Lily?” she asks.

“Maybe she’s outside or at the cafeteria,” Daniel said.

“I need to look for her,” Alexa said.

“No, stay here. Your mother needs you,” Daniel said

Daniel goes out the room. Alexa stayed there with her mother. She sat beside her.

“You are so beautiful mom,” she said. “I shouldn’t have left you alone. It’s just that when it comes to dad I’m a bit off. I’m sorry,” she said

She stayed there for a while and holding her mother’s hand. She kisses it and prays that she wakes up. Later after that Daniel returned with Lily behind him. Alexa hugs Lily and thanks her for the help but Lily said it is fine. Daniel holds a bag of food for Alexa. He gives it to her. Alexa saw some rice cakes and gelato with an orange juice. She looks at Daniel and thanks him. Alexa eats her food.

“You need to go home Alexa,” Lily said. “Daniel will take you home. I’m going to watch your mother plus dad is also on his way here with some foods, cloths, flowers and stuffs. He is with my mother and my siblings. They are going to visit for a while so it is fine if you need some time first. Take care of yourself please,” Lily added.

Alexa nods and leaves with Daniel. They both got inside the elevator when Daniel pushes a button that makes the elevator stop. Daniel looks at Alexa and kiss her. Alexa got surprise at what happened. She pushes Daniel for a bit but grabs his arm and then kiss him again. They kiss for a few second. Alexa smiles and felt her heart beats terribly. Daniel puts his hands on Alexa’s chest to feel her heart and then laugh at how is beats quickly. Daniel now pushes the button and they arrive at the parking lot. Daniel took out his keys and helps Alexa got inside the car. Then Daniel drive at Alexa’s house address. They only got there for a few minutes. Alexa got inside their house. She proceeds to her room to pack some cloths. Daniel stayed at the living room looking at some pictures. Alexa saw him laughing but when he saw Alexa he stops.

“You look cute here,” Daniel said

“Don’t tease me,” Alexa said

“It is true,” he said then grabs Alexa by the waist and kiss her again.

“You keep kissing me huh,” Alexa said

“Well you have such soft lips that it teases me to always kiss you,” Daniel explained

“You are a jerk,” Alexa said

“No really, It took so much effort and concentration not to kiss you all the time,” Daniel said

Alexa laughs at what Daniel said and walks away from him. She proceed to the kitchen and pack the fruits Daniel have for her. She also pack the foods in the paper bag. She also took some stuffs.

“Do you need to rest?” Daniel ask

“No, I just got some sleep,” Alexa answered

“Well we can stay here for a few hours. Lily said they will take care of your mother. Let’s stay her for a while Alexa please,” Daniel beg her

“What are we going to do here?” Alexa asks

“Well you can tell me stories. We can talk. We can watch. We can also eat again,” Daniel said

“Okay fine,” Alexa said

Alexa and Daniel stayed for a bit in the house. Alexa showed Daniel her pictures. She also tell the stories about her dad.

“When I wasn’t still born nor created,” Alexa said. “My mother met a guy from America, they fell in love at each other immediately.  Mom said she felt the love at first sight syndrome. Then after a few months my father courted her and she said yes quickly. Then after a few months again they had me. After I was born, my father goes on and off from my mother’s life until he was completely gone. My mother search for him but she couldn’t find him. She then felt that sadness and pain rushing inside her. Until she became mentally ill. I was on my own at a very, very early age. I stood up for myself, provide for myself. My mother, she is always gone. Drinking and smoking. She partied from club to club. She always comes home late and if she is drunk, she will hit me countless times. At night I also heard her cry a dozen times. So sometimes I understand my mom. Being left alone by the guy who promised to stay by her side no matter what. It is traumatic,” Alexa added

“I’m sorry,” Daniel said

“Don’t worry, it is not your fault,” Alexa said

Alexa showed other pictures to Daniel but refuse to tell more stories about her life. They both talk for hours and they didn’t get tired from all those chitchats. They also watch some movies and Alexa explains everything to Daniel who doesn’t seem to get any movies since it is his first time seeing those. Since they don’t have movies in Aleris. Alexa also made some food for Daniel since he haven’t eaten yet. She made him some pasta and Daniel complemented her at her skills in cooking. Daniel is a bit lacking at some skills but Alexa told him some. Alexa teaches him some stuffs. Daniel looks at Alexa while they are laughing. He holds her hands then kiss in the forehead, then her cheeks, then her hands and then her lips. Daniel looks at her eyes and says.

“Be my girl Alexa,” Daniel said

“I am not sure Daniel,” Alexa said

“Look at me Alexa, I’m going to take care of you. I won’t leave like your father. I am going to stay and be there forever,” Daniel said with sincerity in his eyes.

“I’m still speechless,” Alexa said

“I love you Alexa Jones,” Daniel replied.