Dream Page

'The Fair Place'

February 3, 2011.
Saskatoon, Canada.


 February arrived already.
Alex went to Saskatoon for a small trip by herself.


Alex went to a cafe in Saskatoon.
Everything was cozy.

A  young waitress caught her attention and came forward.
Her name tag said "Audra Genelia Beaulieu". 

Alex asked her when she came close, "Hmm... Beaulieu? It means the 'fair place', right? Are you a student?"

She had a cute smile.
Her four front teeth were comparatively larger, which added uniqueness to her smile.
Some of her gums were exposed.
She had short, wavy shoulder-length brown hair.
She had brown eyes. 

Alex noticed the waitress involuntarily noticing her necklace for a second.
She might've silently admired it too, who knows?

She replied with a sweet smile, "Yeah I am. I'm only 15. What would you like Ma'am?"

Alex returned the smile, "A Caramel Macchiato."
The girl went into the kitchen to place the order.

Alex told herself, "These teenagers are working part-time from now.
They're becoming so independent these days. I-"

Some of the memories of her early teenage years reappeared. 
She was thirteen back then when she met a crying boy.
 He was on the other side of the zebra crossing.
She was crying too.
She closed her eyes to re-absorb every detail of that day.

She once asked her dad, " Dad, Why do people keep names? Why am I ALEX?!"

Her dad chuckled and pulled her closer.

He replied, "Because people always keep a part of their heart with their child. So your mom kept a part of her and my heart alive with you. Alexandra means protector. You must protect what's given to you. We must cling  to our fate; no matter how it is."

She wondered, " EH? Cling onto our fate? What does that even mean?"

The day when her dad died, she was devastated.
She just saw that she became an orphan and ran like a maniac.
Tears rolled like raindrops.
Everything in her whole world came to an end.
Everything was in the face of destruction.
She screamed and her vision was getting darker.
The earth, the bright sunlight, the happy faces blurred in front of her existence.
She covered her ears with her arm.

Her feet stopped and her eyes stuck on the most beautiful pair of grey eyes.
Those beautiful grey eyes were visible in the broad sunlight; bright and clear.
That 14-year-old boy reflected all her emotions.
Their souls got connected.
She felt as if she looked into a mirror.
His eyes were like the deepest ocean, deep, and full of pain.
Once you get lost in them, there's no making it back to the surface.
 The depth was clearer in those tear-filled surface greyness.
She kept searching those eyes forever from then on. But---  



This explains why she wants to die but is clinging somehow.
Alex recalled those memories by playing with the teardrop-shaped necklace she wore forever.
 It was deep red and it glows orange-ish for no reason sometimes.

It is glowing suddenly now too.
Nobody knows what it means.

..........

Seeing the waitress arrive with the coffee, she quickly hid the necklace in her dress.
The waitress had seen it but didn't bother or ask anything.


A customer also saw the glow but pretended he didn't.

He was more than 6 feet which was as tall as Zuch or Zai and was wearing a cap.
He was also a bit different psyche than them.
He looked in his Late twenties or Early thirties.

He seemed he got suddenly worried as if he saw something he shouldn't.
Alex caught him doing that.

She glanced once at her necklace.
Alex noticed that the coffee had art with caramel.
Alex smiled seeing that which made her day and her anxiousness go for some moments.
She sipped it quietly.


Before leaving, she pretended to not see that customer following her.
She was somehow unbothered as if he was always there with her, following her.


Suddenly someone pulled her into an alley.
She was flustered.



She thought it was him from earlier.
But it was Sarah!


But Alex was more flustered to see Sarah there, in Saskatoon.
She exclaimed, "Sarah! What are YOU doing here?! In Saskatoon?!"
Sarah cooed, " I missed you! So I thought about visiting Saskatoon as well! "
Alex chortled, " Aw! You're so cute!"
Sarah wondered, " BTW, Did you know that you were followed?"
Alex nodded, " No. I didn't."
Saying this, she grabbed Sarah's bag.

Sarah was staying at Alex's hotel for two days.
Then, she will take Alex to Quebec for two days.
This is a common practice between them. 

Sarah kept on talking about random things.
Hiding the fact that Alex wanted to die, Alex joined her with enthusiasm.


At one point Sarah complained, "I hate my new landlord."
Alex joked, "Why? Is he rude? Should I kill him for you?"


Sarah laughed.
Sarah corrected, "I think he is a womanizer! Look, isn't it weird if someone's too good to you? No, I mean---"

Alex interjected, "Is he handsome? Is he rich? Is he single? No, wait! What is his favorite flavor of ice cream? What is his eye color? Most importantly, how old is he?"


Sarah cringed, "Are you nuts? Get a cab!" Alex laughed.

Then Sarah called a cab herself and went to Alex's hotel with Alex. 

Alex noticed him looking at her from the back of an alley.
As if he decided not to hide himself this time.
His face became clear and it seemed VERY similar and new at the same time.


He has 'those' grey eyes, the ones Gaven, Zai, and Zuch have.
He looked tensed and his eyebrows had a slight frown.
His other facial muscles were however still.



................



When Alex went to Quebec to Sarah's new house, Sarah gave her a lemonade as a refreshment.
Alex and Sarah chatted and laughed for some minutes.

Soon, the owner came out of his room to meet Alex.

As soon as she saw him, her cup fell from her hand.
Her mouth hung open.
Her eyes widened.

He said with his hands in his pockets, "Hi."
As calmly and unbothered as possible but with a smile.









                                                                   TO BE CONTINUED...