#26.4 The Book Hunt
Nov 15th, 2010 by Ashley
It was the last time Alex saw her since their breakup three weeks ago. He went back to their – her – apartment for his stuffs several times, but he never ran into her. Alex’ mother let him move back to the house and in return, Alex had to do household chords that he managed to avoid doing before he moved out. But it was the constant nagging that he’s driving him nuts. He can tell that mother was actually quite happy about having him around, but she’s just unable to shut up about what a failure he is to have lost Lisa.
“Lisa is good for you.” She said, and Alex knows she’s right. He can’t believe he’s actually lost her. The truth is, Alex has no clue what he has done wrong. He couldn’t think of anything and then he remembered the last thing Lisa said to him and the ambiguous smile on her face. There must be something that he’s not getting and he’s convinced that the book holds the key to their relationship. Lisa gave him the book the day after they had a fight. Alex presumed it was just a token of reconciliation and never thought about actually reading it. But now he’s not so sure.
Alex notices the car in front of him has slowed down. He raises his head and finds the freeway backed up from distance. Alex curses his bad luck while fingering through the channels trying to find out what’s going on. By the time he gets to Gilroy, the library is already closed. Out of desperation, Alex bangs on the shut door, but no one shows up. Standing in front of the library, he cannot believe all his effort has gone in vain. He sits down on the curb, reaches for the cell phone in his packet and dials a number he has by heart.
No one answers.
Alex drives back to San Jose, but instead of going home, he pulls up in front of Lisa’s apartment. He rings the bell but Lisa isn’t there. He let himself in. Sitting in the dark, Alex slowly absorbs this place that he called home just few weeks ago. He sinks into the sofa, waiting. Time brushes by him like cold fingers, but he doesn’t move a bit. And then he hears the sound of keys jangling.
The door is open and Lisa walks in.
“Geez, Alex.” Lisa turns on the lights.
Orange warmth fills the room instantly. Alex finds that he misses this place terribly.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You’re not supposed to be here.”
“I couldn’t find the book.” His words fall on the floor like rain drops.
“What are you talking about?” Lisa softens her tone.
“The book you gave me. I was reading it and it got mixed up in the donation pile. I couldn’t find it. I went to the library and they sent me to the one in Gilroy but there was an accident on the way and by the time I got there, it was closed. I knocked and knocked but no one came out.”
“Alex, slow down. You’re not making sense.”
Alex put his head between his knees.
“I miss you.”
And there is a long silence.
“I miss you too.”
-FIN-