My beloved Young Miss

20. Alvin's Memory

Alvin walked with quick steps towards his lecture hall. He had to hurry because there was not much time to walk with leisurely.

Alvin was not late this morning, but he left for college much later than usual. If Alvin usually arrives at the campus at seven o'clock exactly, this time he arrives at seven o'clock past forty-five. Alvin was late for more than half an hour.

Alvin did wake up late because last night he came home from work too late. Alvin arrived home at about three o'clock in the morning twenty for having to help deliver drunk visitors and had to return to the nightclub to pick up his bike.

And now, as soon as he arrived at his lecture room, Alvin immediately pulled out his lecture chair and sat his panta in that chair. He took out the reading book after that and then began to read the book seriously.

But his concentration on reading suddenly split as he recalled last night's events. The incident where the girl named Evelyn suddenly kissed her lips and made herself surprised instead of playing.

Alvin slowly raised his hand then touched his lips with a finger. Alvin smiled knot. The girl's former kiss was even still so imprinted on her memory.

Ah, can Alvin call himself lucky when the girl he likes at first sight just suddenly kisses him without even being asked?

But that second also hastily Alvin realized his own daydream. He shook his head when he realized that his mind had begun to wander.

'What am I doing? He kissed me just because he was drunk and unconscious. What I'm thinking is clearly wrong. And why should I even think about this? Me and the girl are like heaven and earth. I'm definitely not his level." Inner Alvin.

"HI ALVIN!!" a loud cry of someone sounded from the direction of the entrance of the lecture hall.

That's Dave, Alvin's best friend who just arrived in the lecture hall. He walked closer to Alvin then pulled the lecture chair in front of Alvin and turned it to face the handsome young man. Dave sat himself in that chair. He stared at Alvin's movements, which were not looking at him at all, focusing on the book before him.

"Where have you been? Why did you disappear at the second lecture hour yesterday?" dave asked, looking at Alvin with a curious look.

"I'm truant." replied Alvin.

"What's? You're what?"

"Stupid."

"You truant?" Dave looked at his best friend with a look of disbelief.

"Yes,"

"Come on. Don't lie, Vin. Where could you possibly have truant. Since when have you been good at skipping college?"

Alvin shook his head. "I'm not lying."

Dave's smile faded as he looked at the serious look Alvin showed.

"Wow, so you did skip college?" Dave let out a long sigh, then looked at Alvin seriously. "Is this because of Karina?"

Dave's words made Alvin instantly frown in confusion.

"Marina?"

"Yes." Yeah." Dave nodded steadily. "I'm sure it must be because of the girl, right?"

"Why talk about him?"

"I guess. You must still feel sad and heartbroken because he left you, appeared to you. That's why you need some alone time and decided to skip college. Isn't that right?" guess Dave original.

Alvin almost choked on his own saliva hearing the perfunctory words of his best friend. He then chuckled slowly. "You're talking perfunctory. Don't joke, Dave." he said.

"Ah, so it's not because of Karina?"

Alvin clucked. "Of course not."

"That's what it looks like." Dave nodded his head in understanding. He then brought his face closer to Alvin's. "Then, what Karina me-"

"Stop talking about Karina, Dave. I don't want to hear his name in my life anymore. Karina and I don't have a relationship anymore." Alvin stared at his best friend sharply.

"All right! Don't be so mad." Dave just stared at Alvin with a big grin and then grabbed Alvin by the shoulder. "I'm sorry, okay!"

"Forget it." Alvin shook his hand.

"Oh yeah, I heard that the second lecturer went out of town today." Dave finally changed the subject.

Alvin nodded, "Yes, I also heard it from the other students earlier."

"OK, because the lecturer was not present. We're gonna be home sooner, right?"

"Yes, of course. Then why?"

"How about going home from college you and I go to the game center? Last time I lost to you so I wanted to avenge my defeat back then." Dave said.

"Game center?"

"Well, will you go with me?"

Alvin shook his head slowly and went back to reading the book in his hand. "I can't. I have to do the job of Mr. Bondan."

Dave clucking.

"Come on, you can do it later when you have some free time. Besides the task is still a long time, just in the collection next week, why are you so diligent, anyway?" persuade Dave.

"I don't have time like you to be able to procrastinate on college assignments, Dave." replied Alvin without taking his eyes off the book before him. "And yes, the task will only be collected next week, but I do not want to make my college assignments to pile up like you." said Alvin.

"No free time? Ah, you're so busy." Dave protested. He's pissed. Though usually Alvin never refused his invitation but this time his best friend refused. "Yes, what about the afternoon?"

Alvin is back.

"Why are you sleep deprived?"

"That's because I have to work until twelve o'clock or one o'clock tonight. And I don't want to get sleepy in college tomorrow."

"At twelve nights?" Dave asked in surprise.

"Yes." Yeah."

"You work until twelvepm? At midnight?"

Alvin nodded. "Yes,"

"Don't joke. You work in a nightclub so you have to go home in the morning." Dave chuckled amusedly as he said it. But his laughter faded when he saw the serious look on Alvin's face.

While Alvin just stared at Dave flat as if telling his best friend that this is not a joke.

"You really work in a nightclub"

"Sort of like that."

Dave was silent in his position. For a while Dave's life seemed to be not in his body, before then the young man blinked in confusion.

"Wait a minute, Alvin. Aren't you working in a restaurant?" asked Dave, shocked and curious.

"Yes, it's true."

"Then?"

"I've been fired."

"Fired?" Dave was back in shock. "So, is it true that you're working in a nightclub now?"

"Really, Dave. I've been saying this since, haven't I?"

"Why didn't I know you worked at a nightclub?"

"Because you never asked" Alvin replied casually while his eyes refocused on the book before him.

"When have you worked in a place like that?" ask Dave again.

"Since yesterday."

"Wow.this is a miracle. Very cool. My best friend finally entered the nightclub as well. All this time you've even resisted when I asked."

"It's different. I'm there to be a waitress, if you usually just take me out for fun."

"Totally so." Dave then brought his face closer to Alvin. "Then did you see a lot of beautiful and sexy girls there?"

Alvin finally chose to stop reading and raised his head, took his eyes off the book and looked at Dave sharply.

"What, I'll just ask." Dave protested, making Alvin sigh tired.

"It's a nightclub, Dave. There must be a lot of people like that."

"Ah, right too." Dave nodded slowly. "Besides being beautiful they must also be very sexy. Then did you ask for the contact number of one of them?"

"Don't I tell you, I'm there to work. I'm looking for money, not a boyfriend." said Alvin, his eyes staring back at his reading book.

Dave shook his shoulders. "Yes, even if you're there to work instead of looking for a girlfriend, but with your handsome face the girls will also be fascinated and approach you."

Alvin was secretly jolted by the sentence his best friend said. Then she smiled smirk. "That's impossible." said Alvin quietly.

"Why?" ask Dave wonder.

"Because I'm a waiter. They can't possibly approach a waiter like me. Compared to me, there are many men who are handsome, rich and much more have everything."

"Yes, I know they are rich and handsome. But I'm sure there won't be anyone as handsome as you." Dave said lightly. "And I'm also sure, not all women will find a rich man."

Alvin again stopped reading. He closed the book harshly, then looked at Dave.

"There is no such woman, Dave" Alvin said in a pessimistic tone. "No woman can accept a poor man. Especially the poor like me."

Alvin then smiled. Discussing topics like this only made him come back to remember Karina's treatment of him some time ago. He recalled the times when the girl insulted him, beat him up and harassed his pride.

It really hurt her even traumatized her to just be in love with someone new. And that also makes Alvin think all women are the same and they will only look for men who are rich.

Dave looked at Alvin fixedly and somehow realized the sad expression of his close friend.

"Alvin, I don't know what happened between you and Karina that ended up making you so pessimistic like this. But believe! Whatever he did to you there'll be a payoff and I'm sure you'll also get what you deserve."

Alvin immediately smiled after hearing the wise words from his best friend.

"Thank you for comforting me, Dave" said Alvin calmly. "But I don't want to expect too much."

He smiled while looking at his friend. Dave's words just now did indeed make his heart calmer than before.

***