7

"Huh...cough..cough.."

Alexis woke up with a tight feeling in her chest. She sat on the bed. She clutched her aching chest. Alexis lowered her head and closed her eyes. Flashes of memories while in the river water, made Alexis feel scared. It was the most reckless thing he had ever done in her entire life. After trying for a while to calm herself down, Alexis started to slowly open her eyelids. A familiar blanket greeted her eyes there. It's the blanket.

Alexis instantly looked around her and looked. She is currently in her room. The dorm room. Alexis blinked a few times her eyelids couldn't believe what she was seeing right now there. “Thank goodness… I'm in the dorm room… b-but how did I get here?” Alexis muttered with a wondering feeling there.

"I brought you."

Alexis looked up at her closed bedroom door. Where Adrian was standing leaning against the door there. Adrian crossed his arms right in front of his chest. Looking at Alexis with his blue eyes that softened slightly. No longer sharp as before. "W-what?" Alexis muttered in disbelief and discomfort there.

"Just a little advice from me. Vampires don't like rivers. It keeps them stifled by the sun's heat embedded in the stream." Adrian said as he took a tray of sandwiches and a glass of milk, then started walking slowly closer to Alexis. Without another word, Adrian handed the tray to Alexis.

Hesitantly, Alexis accepted the tray with her trembling hands. She placed the tray right on her lap. Looking at him suspiciously. "Don't worry, I didn't mix anything in the food." Adrian muttered as if he knew what was currently in Alexis's mind.

But Alexis didn't budge there at all. Still with her gaze down on her lap. Alexis began to breathe slowly. "If vampires really don't like a rivers. Then why did you save me? Why did you dare to enter the river and save me?” Alexis asked in her low voice over there.

Adrian didn't answer immediately and decided to sit on Alexis' bed. This time Alexis ventured to remain calm. Adrian lowered his head and took a deep breath. "I have no other choice." Adrian muttered.

It suddenly made Alexis lift her head and look at Adrian in confusion. Likewise, Adrian started to raise his head and looked at Alexis. “I have no other choice but to save you from that river, Alexis. What's more, you're hurting. And... even in the river you get hurt even more. I'm really sorry for losing control of not sucking blood from the wound on your hand that time. I..."

Adrian paused. “I can't help myself. As I said before that you are different, Alexis. Your blood... is very different. It felt like an addiction to me. For us, the vampires, the blood that flows in your body is an addiction. Like heroin made just for me, and the vampires that exist.”

Alexis swallowed her saliva with difficulty. An uncertain feeling she felt at every word that was said by Adrian there. “But I won't be able to be selfish by drinking your blood, Alexis. No longer. However your safety is now in my hands. As my responsibility, whatever and however, I will always protect you. And I hope you can understand, not to run away from me anymore. And also I will try not to thirst for your blood anymore. That is my promise to you.”

"Then promise me." Alexis muttered with a dreamy look at Adrian there. Alexis stretched out her palm by showing her little finger. Adrian looked confusedly at Alexis. Totally not understanding what Alexis meant right now there. “Promise me, to always protect me. Although I have absolutely no idea what you and I need to avoid now or in the future.” continued Alexis said. That's when Adrian also stretched out his little finger and linked it to Alexis's little finger. That's a pinky promise.

***

“Oh my, Alexis! Where have you been? I've been trying to reach you since this morning, and look. Not a single message or call you reply to me. And what happened to you? Why are you hurt?”

Zoe asked loudly as soon as Alexis walked into the Grill and Mac Restaurant there. Especially when Zoe saw Alexis' left palm wrapped in gauze, then on Alexis' forehead there was cotton that was given betadine, and another piece of cotton that covered the side of her neck there. While Alexis was silent because she was surprised by the loud tone that was spoken by Zoe there. “Gosh, Zoe… you startled me.” Alexis muttered in the end. But she didn't immediately answer Zoe's words. Alexis walked to the locker to store her things and changed into her work uniform.

Zoe, who was holding back annoyance because Alexis was just standing there, immediately approached Alexis. “Alexis… first answer my question. What happened to you? Where did you get all those wounds on your body??” Zoe asked because she was more curious about the wounds on Alexis's body at this time. Even subconsciously, Zoe stretched out her right palm to gently touch the wound on Alexis' forehead there.

"Ouch. Zoe...." Alexis groaned, feeling sore when Zoe unconsciously touched her wound quite tightly. Immediately, Zoe pulled her hand down.

“Sorry…” Zoe mumbled.

Alexis sighed slowly, and looked at Zoe. "Sorry. I didn't answer your question. It's just, I... this morning... I had a minor accident on the road. I was hit by a car. And got these injuries from falling onto the asphalt. Only that. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries. So I can still go to work tonight.” Alexis explained slowly. At least just saying that would give Zoe some peace of mind, and hopefully no more questions.

Zoe looked at Alexis with her inquiring eyes. She felt a little disbelieving at what Alexis had just said there. Then not long after that, Zoe finally let out a slow breath. "Okay. But are you sure you're strong enough to work tonight? You better go home, and ask permission from Mr. Joseph."

Alexis shook her head slowly. "I'm fine. And I can't ask permission from Mr. Joseph to go home and rest. What's more, he has also advised me to work in the afternoon. But I didn't come this afternoon… I feel a little bad about it.” Alexis replied while wearing the apron around her waist.

"Alright. Then let's get to work. And remember, if you start to feel unwell, don't push yourself. Just go and meet Mr. Joseph, okay?" Zoe suggested in her serious voice over there.

Alexis nodded her head slowly, and smiled briefly there. "Okay..."

***

Alexis had just finished cleaning the dining table area of the customers. Before she finally saw Mr. Joseph came out of his room. Alexis immediately wiped her palms on the apron she was wearing, while walking towards Mr. Joseph there. “Mr. Joseph…” Alexis called out in her low voice.

"Yes, Alexis?" Mr. Joseph turned and looked at Alexis with a frown on his face. Confused stares at the wounds on Alexis's body. “What happened to you, Alexis?” He asked again.

“Oh… it's just a small wound. This morning I had an accident. There was a car that grazed me and fell to the asphalt. And I got these wounds because of that. Actually that's was also what I wanted to say, Mr. Joseph." Alexis answered with a small smile on her face.

"Oh my gosh. You could have asked for a day off, Alexis.” Mr. Joseph responded with concern.

"No problem, Mr. Joseph. It's not a serious injury. Besides, I thought, it would be good if I went back to working the same shift at night.” Alexis explained.

Mr. Joseph frowned even more. "But didn't you say that it wouldn't be safe for you to come home at night, Alexis?" He asked and recalled what the two of them had discussed the previous day regarding Alexis' shift work at the Grill and Mac Restaurant there.

“Yeah about that… I've thought things through. I feel that I will be fine. I mean, I want to keep working on my old shift. Can I, Mr. Joseph?" Alexis tried to convince Mr. Joseph.

"Okay. Of course if you are sure about it. Then you can work long shifts.” Answer Mr. Joseph in the end.

Alexis smiled happily. "Thank you, Mr. Joseph." After that, Alexis walked away towards the dressing room. Start getting ready to go home. Likewise with Zoe who has also finished doing her part of the job. After Alexis finished preparing, she walked along with Zoe out of the restaurant. Alexis was standing near the road, looking left and right. “Are you waiting for someone, Alexis?” Zoe asked when she saw Alexis who was not as usual and immediately walked towards the nearest bus stop there.

“Yeah… actually it was me…” Before Alexis could answer Zoe's question there, a car horn sounded. Alexis looked at the car with a small smile on her face. Zoe looked at him curiously. Before long the car stopped right in front of Alexis and Zoe there. Adrian was seen getting out of the car with a warm smile on his face, and walked closer to Alexis. "Shall we go home, Alexis?" Adrian asked slowly.

Alexis looked at him and smiled back at Adrian. “Yeah…” Alexis turned to Zoe. “Zoe, this is Adrian. And Adrian, this is Zoe." She introduced them both.

"Hello." Said Zoe briefly to which Adrian nodded his head. "Alexis, I'll be waiting for your story tomorrow, okay?" Zoe said jokingly.

Alexis only answered with a small smile. A little awkward there. "Let's go home first then. See you tomorrow, Zoe." After that, Alexis and Adrian walked together to Adrian's car, got into it, and went home together.