Song: You'e my Monday and my Friday -Tamar and Vince

***

"Should we zoom then you can read it to me?" Kristina had texted me.

It was the weekend before spring break, the country was in mess because of the virus and our school was using this week to teach us all about the virus to prepare us for the possibility of a lockdown. 

I still wasn't sure where I'd go should our school lockdown. My parents were in Indonesia and Steven was busy helping out with Covid patients. For my safety he'd asked that I not come over to his parents house as they were a medical family and had been exposed. Though none of them had yet been diagnosed with it, they didn't want to take chances with me around.

Though I never went over, Steven and his parents always called me each day to check on me and make sure I was not without funds. My parents had decided to stay on longer in Indonesia as the pandemic was not as bad there. Hence, Steven and his parents always checked in. They were still having conversations with my parents on whether to let me travel back home to New York.  New York seemed to be prepping up to become the epicenter of the crisis. It hadn't gotten bad yet but my uncle and aunt as well as Steven were sure it was coming and didn't want me stuck there all alone when it did.  Hence, they were somewhat relieved I was in DC.

My parents thought it'd be okay to stay in New York, but Stevens parents said absolutely not. They had suggested I stay on campus while Steven had said a definite no stating it'll be a breeding ground for infections. They'd thought of having me stay in hotels in NYC and decided against it. Steven brought up Kristina, the only friend trusted by my parents.  Unfortunately, that had to be scrapped as Kristina's sister who just returned from England had fallen ill and the family was quarantining while awaiting their results. 

This week allowed me the time to write the chapter ShangYe requested and I wanted to pass it by Kristina. It wasn't the disvirgined chapter though. At first I had been suspicious, was Shang Ye a pervert? What sort of person requests such a thing from another person? It was only later I found out the real reason and wasn't sure where to hide my face.

I had asked why he asked me to write it after finally recovering from my initial shock and embarrassment, he asked me to ask Kristina. I did and her response was:

"Drinkingwine said you're a virgin and will be able to write from a virgin perspective,"

How on earth did drinkingwine know that? Of course it had to be betrayer Kristina! Or so I thought, till she explained that she didn't say anything. She only said I was single and had never dated. Leading to the group or rather drinkingwine daring Shang Ye to tell me to write the chapter.

Hence, ShangYe told me not to write it as Drinkingwine would. 

Thinking of ShangYe I click on my instagram app and look at the last DM he sent me two weeks back. 

Will be really busy in the coming days. Will call you as soon as I can,.

"Okay," I respond to Kristina's text. I had asked for her opinion on the chapter and hence the zoom question. 

What follows is an invite to a zoom session. 

I immediately click on the link and join in.

"Do you think school will be cancelled?" Kristina asks once I join.

"I don't know, we don't have that many cases here yet,"

"We don't know that, if we tested then we'd know. Heck you could have it now and we just don't know!" Kristina proclaims. 

"True, they said you could be asymptomatic," I reply.

"What does that mean?" Kristina asks.

"When you are not showing any symptoms," I reply.

"I remember now, that's what my sister was and now she has lost her sense of taste," Kristina says.

"I hear you might never get it back,"

"I can't imagine never being able to taste chocolates anymore,"

"Agreed, let's try not to get it," Kristina responds.

"How do you not get it?" She adds.

"Washing your hands, wearing a mask, but according to Steven you can do all that and still get it,"

"We're doomed," Kristina says to which I chuckle. "Mom thinks it's the end of the world," Kristina says.

"I doubt it, I reply.

"Whatever, read the chapter," Kristina says.

"I don't get why you can't just read it yourself," I reply frustrated.

"Because I'm bored and might just murder my sister if I don't get some sort of distraction," She replies.

"And the distraction is my voice?"

"Exactly,"

Sighing, I start reading;

"Wanna grab the cleaning equipments since I don't know where they are?" I ask.

He looks at me with an unsure look.

"Okay," He says walking out.

I start picking up what I can making sure not to step on the glass.

Lexis returns with a trash bag and a broom.

I move to collect the dustpan and broom but he stops me.

"My fault," He says.

I remember the glass breaking situation in my room.
For someone who took pride in taking responsibility for his mistakes you'd think he'll do the same for every girl he slept with.

"Those were not mistakes," He says.

Oh Lord did I just think out loud? I quickly rush outside embarrassed. I remember the haunted house and how he said he doesn't regret having sex because he chooses wisely.

Looking through the books I decide on one, grabbing it, I sit on the floor in the library leafing through it.

"Trigonometry?" Lexis asks laying on the ground and placing his head on my lap. Normally I'd freak out and push him away but I don't know why, maybe because of today's revelations. I didn't feel like pushing him away. Neither did I want to.

"It helps me think," I say.

"Are you sure you are not from Mars?" He asks.
I was tempted to remove my leg so his head hits the ground.

Calculating was my way of calming my nerves a way to relax and forget the world's troubles. To hear him utter those words in his mocking tone did not sit well with me.

"Why does the romance section seem untouched?" I ask changing subjects.

"Are you a romantic genre fan?" He asks and I nod.

"You are not?" I reply, I know most guys who read weren't.

"Seriously?" He asks.

"Yes seriously," I reply.

"I just find it amazing how people read Shakespeare's work who society crowns as the best romance writer and still don't see how evil love is," He says, continuing,

"Let's take for example the worst of all, Romeo and Juliet. They all one way or another kill themselves because of love. Love from the beginning of time till date has torn families apart, broken hearts, led to deaths and unbearable pain. Love always takes,"

"So you don't believe in love?" I ask

"I believe love leads to death and hence shall never dwell in it, if you're smart you won't either," He says shutting his eyes and folding his arms across his chest.

It felt like he was indirectly passing a message. His mum's love for his dad drove her mad and finally lead to her death. His hating it only made sense. Love lead to his mum's death and the death of Lexis' humanity. It killed his mum and killed him.

I raise my hand to stroke his hair when I hear footsteps and look up, my hand freezing halfway. In front of me is a man in an expensive looking suit with glasses who seemed to be in his fifties looking at both of us with disapproving eyes. Next to him is a younger man in a suit which also looked expensive, holding a brief case. The older man looks at my face then moves his eyes to my leg and Lexis. Noticing his disapproving eyes, I quickly remove my leg causing Lexis to hit his head against the ground.

"What the...!" Lexis says sitting up and stopping as he notices the two men.

"Peter?" He says one eyebrow raised.

Peter? That's what the woman called his dad. My eyes widen in realization. Oh no, that is his dad.

Once I finish Kristina stays still looking at me.

"So?" I ask

"So what, continue the story," She exclaims.

"That's the end," I reply.

"A cliffhanger, nice!," I hear Drinkingwine reply from the background.

"He messaged me when you started reading and asked if he could listen," Kristina says with an apologetic face.

"You couldn't ask or text me first?"

"Super sorry Hannah, but it was really good. I absolutely loved it! You should be writing this story in my place!" She proclaims trying to heap me with praises to divert the attention from her actions.

Rolling my eyes I turn off the zoom and head out of the room to use the restroom

***

Apologies for the delay in updating this, I am hoping to be more regular with the updates both can't promise anything. How have you been? I currently have a fever so bear with me that this chapter isn't exciting. This is more of a filler before I feel better.

-A