The first study season was going smoothly. At least at first. After her school activities Viola start heading to her new job as a waitress, three times a week, from Monday to Wednesday. Job itself was pretty easy but fast-paced. Even after the shifts she still had time to study. This much she could easily handle. But..
"Do you have time to take a few more projects?"
That is what Mr History had ask and practically thrust the deal to Viola. At first being an assist as a side job wasn't so bad. But when the test week was getting closer, she could definitely feel it. How tired she had suddenly become.
People inside the auditorium were silently listening while Maxi was talking in the front. The lecture was on the go.
"..to have strong drawing and designing skills. You will develop technical skills in your studies, with an emphasis on designing and.."
While talking, Maxi turns to look toward the students, immediately locking his eyes on one of the students who isn't clearly paying attention here, but instead leaning his head down, almost like sleeping. Maxi tsihs and slowly leaves his teaching area. "..AND creating buildings and spaces," he keeps talking while walking forward. He takes a chair with him, next to the first level, and actually steps on it, moves himself to walk on stands, in the middle of the students, all the way next to the person who was taking her rest. "Study of architectural design is often studio-based now a days, but you will have a change to research and explore your potential as creative designers under his teachings if you choose his classes. Please, get to know of his most selled book. You won't regret buying it. IF you are really interested. Unlike this one here."
Maxi sits down to the empty seat next to Violas. All the students were watching how Maxi leans his head a little closer, gently touching her hair with his fingers to remove it away. That small touch woke Viola up. Slowly she opens her eyes and sees Maxi sitting next to her. "I know it's boring, but I hope you can bear it for now..," Maxi says then, smiling to her.
Thinking a second more, Viola finally understands the situation. She moves his head up, looking Maxi, then the students around them who were all staring at her, smiling, some holding their laugh. She had fallen asleep! In the middle of this lecture! Blushing Viola grabs her book to cover her face. "S-sorry!"
Maxi stands up, pets her hair and starts heading back, this time through the normal road. "I know I have a calming voice. Hope you others won't get sucked in too."
Students were now laughing. While Viola is just trying to hide herself even more. Gosh, she feels so embarrassed..
- - -
"You fall asleep??" Kina laughs. "In the middle of.."
"Please don't laugh," Viola sighs, still feeling very confused about what happened back there. "I feel so embarrased. This is so not me.." She kept crying while hiding her face behind her hands.
"It's our first testweek. And you have your job too. I would never manages all that. Maybe you are just over doing it all," Kina smiles, actually trying to comfort her friend here. They were walking on one of the schools hallways, ready to get something to eat. "Drop something out."
"I have less shifts now than before. But I have to sort Mr Historys papers and study for tomorrows tests..," Viola starts to count her missions for the day. "Am I really overdoing here..?" She actually start to doubt will her energy level keep up with this all. She doesn't remember when was the last time she had actually just relaxed a minute or too. Listen, study, read more, memorise, repeat.. That was all she has done these past days.
"You look like a zombie," Maxi gives his straight opinion of how tired Viola actually look like. Girls both turn to look at him, stopping their steps. Guy was standing at the doorway close to them, eyeing back at them. His smile is polite, but Viola could swear there was a slice of mocking in it.
"Speak of the devil," Kina smirks back, poking her elbow against Violas arm.
"Oh no..," Viola crys quietly. This guy is the last she wanted to see right now.
But Kina was fast to save her from this awkward meeting. Or morelike, turn the attention to herself. "Hey, cute neigbor. Still remember me?"
"Sure. Zombies friend. The freeloader whose name I couldn't find from the participants list," Maxi smiles to her, clearing he indeed already knows girl was in that lecture back then without permission and just to kill time. "Kina, right?"
"Aww, did you even look out my name?" she smirks.
"Not really.."
"Well, you agree with me, right? She has taken her student life too seriously. Forgetting have fun once in a while. She's so tired she actually fall asleep during your class," girl keeps, pointing Viola next to her. "Please make her understand too much is too much. She has too many things going on at the moment."
"Indeed, college is for expanding your general education through studying. Preparing you for the working life, giving you tools to help you grow, develop into independent adult one day. So there is no reason not to take your student life seriously," Maxi clears, without dropping his serious attitude first. His eyes were now looking toward Viola, making sure girl realizes he is talking straight to her. But then Maxi shows this gently smile. "But you can also do all that and have your fun. By knowing your own limits. More importantly, what would I do if you were to attack me and try eat my brilliant brains," he grosses his arms, like as a shield. "Zombie neighbour would be annoying. I can already see you turning.."
Viola isn't sure how to react. But Kina starts to laugh. "You are fun. I like you."
Maxi lows his hands back down. "If you don't have time for everything you should speak out. No one expect you to do impossible," he adds, still looking Viola, now actually showing way more gentler smile than before. "So I agree with her."
Those words sounded more like from a teacher rather than from another student.. Sure, hearing even this guy saying it out loud made Viola really consider has she really taken too big bite to eat. Still, she promised to do this all, so she can't back off now. "Gosh, I'm really fine. I just haven't organized everything yet to match my time. I know what I'm doing!"
"If you ask me, Mr History doesn't need an assistant but a spine. Why you even agreed to help that old man..," Maxi speaks out his thoughts while moving his bag on his shoulder, planning to leave.
"Says the substitudes stupid substitude," Viola snaps back, smirking. This guy could talk pretty noble way, but indeed had also agreed to do something he wasn't planning at first. Like taking over a certain teachers class. Rather than saying no. Acting so big, but actually Maxi was nice enought to do just that.
Maxi stops his steps, turns to look back at Viola. Now that was a checkmate.. "Oh burn...," he clicks his tongue. "But don't over do it. You too, Kina." Then he actually leaves.
"Ay, sir," Kina smiles, holding her hand up. But when the guy is far enough, she fastly smiles to Viola. "He is kinda cute, don't you think. And so worried about you. Uuh <3."
"When I turn to a zombie your brains are the first to go," Viola smirks back and attacks Kina, tickling her. They laugh and keep going too.
- - - -
The last day of their first testweek. Viola steps out from her house, wearing the same clothes on as yesterday, holding a book on her right hand, a trash bag on her left. Starting to head to school. She hasn't slept a bit. So she was feeling incredible tired at the moment. While walking, with a lazy hand move she drops the bag on the full trash can in the recycling area and keeps going, reading her book, listening some music through her ear buds.
Maxi is right behind her in front of his house. Staring unbelieving how his zombie-like neightbor was accidentally able to splay all the bags around without noticing, almost making the whole trash can fell over. What was happening behind her, Viola has no idea. She just keeps going.
"Hey! Viola!" Maxi yells, trying to get her attention. But no answer. Girl is listening music. She can't hear him.
Guy lets out the deepest sigh ever and walks angrily toward the trash can. "Damn, just clean your own messes, girl!" Maxi picks up all the bags and cleans the mess. The bag full of empty energy drinks got his eyes. That must be Violas. "Really? Just energy drinks," he sighs once again and stands up, moving his eyes on the girl walking in distance. "She will not roll far with this shit," laughing, Maxi pushes his annoyed mood out. Then his look gets more serious.
- - - -
Finally the last test was over. Viola is pretty sure she was able to pass every tests with fairly grades. Now the only thing left is go back in her house and rest. She should spend the whole weekend resting. No work. No school. Just rest.
But even when Viola was happy now that the first testweek was finally behind her, she is still feeling quite uneasy. Is she actually even feeling that fine? After forcing her tired body walk all the way to sit on the bench outside the main school building, Viola plan to take a small break before actually heading back to her house. Right now she couldn't move a muscle. Nor keep her eyes open.
She is.. just so tired.
Viola searches her phone, thinking to call Kina if she's still around. Viola needs coffee. Some pushing energy to be able to move. Caffeine would give her that. So would Kina's positive energy. But the crawing to just let go and sleep start to overrule her other plans. She could feel her heartbeat strongly. Even moving her phone is exhausting..
"Oi, zombie. Are you all right?"
That voice was familiar. But so distant..
Maxi sits down next to Viola, carefully eyeing this sleeping girl. After sighing out he gently tries her forehead with the back of his hand. "You are burning hot. What happened to that 'know what you are doing' shit..," young man snorts, quetly.
No answer. Viola was in deep sleep.
- - - -
When Viola wakes up again, she found herself staring the ceiling above her. She was lying on her bedcover, inside her house. Still wearing her jacket.
Slowly she pushs her body up to sit, looking around. "Did I fall sleep..? How I get here..?" she mumbles, trying to totally wake herself up. How ever she get here she feels more refreshed now; sleeping really helped a lot. But everything was not so right either. Where was her thermometer? She feels feverish..
Was she able to walk here on her own? No, seriously she just remembers falling a sleep on the bench at the park in the middle of her way here.
Her phone was ringing on the living area. But before Viola could do but stand up, someone else already picks it up and answers. "Is this possible miss Kina speaking?"
Now hearing Maxis voice is not what Kina expected to hear, so she's pretty much muted a second or two. Finally she's able to speak again. "Y-yes! This is Kina. Is this the cute neighbor?" her voice turns to more relaxed. "Why you have Viola's phone?"
"You know this pain in the ass better. So what's up with her?" Maxi turns to look at Viola who is now slowly walking out from her bedroom, staring back at him, no clue what is going on here. Maxi is indeed standing in her living area, talking to her phone. Showing an annoyed glance toward her, like she was the problem and not the guy who was inside HER house without permission. "Does she have any instinct of self preservation? Or does she actually know kung wu or something? 'Cause I think it was very bold move just pass out in the middle of the park. She didn't even woke up when I carried her home. Not to mention I accidentally realized her fridge is totally out of any solid food and just full of shit out of energy subjects.. Is this normal or just some current thing? How exactly her parents let this piece of art live alone?"
"What is going on here..?" Viola mumbles quietly, being very confused.
"Oh my, you checked her fridge?" Kina awes. She knows exactly what Maxi was talking about. "Yeah, that's just her. She is really a rich-bitches daughter without any knowledge of how to take care of herself. Is she okay?"
"Is that so.." Then everything so far make somewhat sense. Maxi is eyeing Viola, without dropping his stare. "Yeah, she just woke up. But she has a fever."
"She has? I'm not in school anymore. I'm with my mom..," girl on the phone talks calmly, trying to think should she just come back to school. She sounded very worried. "How about you? Are you busy? Can I leave her to you?"
"Well, she takes nice cat pictures and is cuter than my previous neighbor so I can't really decline," Maxi wonders out loud, now actually moving his eyes away.
"Hah, I'm glad to hear that," Kinas voice starts to sound more relaxed. But she had to add the rest to tease the guy a little. "No dirty moves."
To that Maxi doesn't answer anymore. But just clicks his tongue. "Thank you for your time," and he ends the call, putting the phone back on the table.
Now their eyes meet again.
"I think.. it is very rude to answer others calls..," Viola whispers, scratching the back of her head while moving her eyes away. By now she was very aware of the situation she was in. Indeed she had fall asleep on that bench. Was so out she really didn't know what was going on around her. Indeed she now really looked like one not able to take care of herself. Really she wasn't THAT clueless. Things just happened..
Viola has really made people around him worried. Even got her neigbor involved. He must feel so annoyed..
But instead of talking back with harsh words, Maxi lets a deep breathe out and takes a step to walk slowly closer. "I'm sorry," was what he actually says. Viola could feel this gently touch on her forhead. She moves her look back up, eyeing back at Maxi who is suddenly trying her body temper. "I tried to wake you up, but there was no respond. I couldn't actually leave you there either so I selfishly act as I did." Guy moves his hand down.
That was really not how this should have been going. Clearly it was Viola who had troubled him. Why he was the one apologizing?? "No.. I.."
"You have all the right to be mad," Maxi keeps, without giving her a change to complain more. At least not yet. Prepared now there might be coming some soon, he makes a proper gap between them, taking steps back toward the front door, not lowing his eyes. "I indeed answered your phone without a permission. I also came in here without your permission. Just before that I indeed searched your pockets to find your keys. Without your permission.. And I also grope your ass a little while I carry you. But just slightly.. I almost drop you twice.."
"What?!" Violas face turns red the very moment she realized this guy has touched her body while she was sleeping! That's harashment! That's..!
To that reaction Maxi answers with a wide smile. "I made you some honey tea. Please drink it and calm yourself," he states surely, knowing exactly how his words would make this girl react. It didn't need much to realize Viola is indeed a city girl from a wealthy family. Nice behaving. Innocent. Raised without radical worries what so ever, like. This girl is a total opposite of Maxi. "I will go now. Bring my car," he adds. "When you are ready, you will come with me."
"Ha..?"
"Give me ten minutes."
Then Maxi leaves. Just like that. Viola was still standing on the same spot, staring unbelieving the guy who steps out the house, walking toward his own front door. She will go where? Does she have a word to talk back here??
Viola looks at the blue tea cup on the level next to the sink. Indeed there is some hot tea waiting her. After seeing that she drops her mood and sighs out. Maxi clearly provoke her earlier. To make her angry even when she wasn't planning to be.
Now that she think about it, Maxi didn't feel like a person to actually 'grope' her like some pervert. He was only carrying her. Maybe it was Maxis way try to make it easier Viola to take. Since this kind of thing is quite unusual.. And indeed Viola felt so embarrassed, once again!!
But, wait..
Go with him exactly where?
- - -
To that Viola found an answer while they were driving toward the side city. Now she was standing at the entry of Maxis usual store to go.
"A grocery store?" Viola clears to herself out loud.
"You know energy drinks are not a good substitute. You need food in your fridge," Maxi smiles to her and grabs a basket with him. "I was about to head here anyway so now you got a free ride too. You can afford real food, right?"
"Of course. I have my monthly allowance and have my own money..," Viola clears silently while walking slowly behind the guy. She couldn't drop her embarrassment. Because she hadn't paid attention to her condition lately, her neigbor she hardly knew needed to escort her like this to actually go and buy herself some food. This or what made Viola feel she indeed was quite immature. Words Maxi said while talking with Kina on the phone call haunt her still.
"Monthly allowance..," Maxi turns his look toward Viola unbelieving. Showing a mocking smirk. "Oh, it must be nice to be rich. Anyway, todays meal is on me, so think what you need later, next week too." He turns his face forward again, walking ahead. "Is there anything you can't eat? Or don't like to eat?"
"Not really.."
"Then, simple meat with veges? Will that be okay? Or something more various? I can cook what ever you want."
Viola hums. "Meat and veges sounds good," she clears, smiling. Now that they already were here and Maxi doesn't seem to mind doing this all, she should at least try change her mood. Rather than sulking here she should show some gratefulness.
"Okay," Maxi calls, without looking back. His eyes started immediately search ingredients he will need.
"Thank you," Viola finally says. This wasn't how she planned to spend her day, but she wasn't actually that sorry either. At least the guy with her was very nice. Seem very honest with his words. It was kind of easy to be around him.
Maxi turns his surprised look back on her. Then gives this gently smile. "You are welcome. I recommend fruits. Something easy and fast for your 'busy weeks' "
Once again Viola hums, not dropping her smile which was now turning more shyer.
"You got your spirit back?" Maxi asks smirking. "Keep that. Suits you better." Then he keeps filling his basket.
To that, Viola could only hum. She also liked herself better while she feels smiling..
- - - -
"Go back to rest. I will bring your share when it's done," Maxi states after dropping Viola in front of her house. He himself needed to park the car properly, at the parking area.
"We are not going to eat together?" Viola blurts her guestion out when she was just about to close the car door. Instead she opens it wider again.
Maxi snorts. "You wanna eat together?"
What she is supposed to answer? Of course it wouldn't be polite just accept the free meal and say bye. "Why would I want to eat alone.. if you are cooking for me..?" Wait, is she the clueless one here? Maxi just tried to be polite and help out here! Viola drop to the conclusion they will eat together all on her own!
"Ah, sorry! I have already disturbed you too much. Why would you wa-" "Stop there," Maxi suddenly speaks out loud, waving his hand to support his words. Viola indeed stops. Staring the guy behind the wheel, who now lows his hand, smiling.
"That's not what I meant," young man clears. Clearing his throat. "Eating together, that's totally fine. But do you really wanna eat with the guy who broke against your self-determination? Or let him in your house? Go to his? Should we eat outside? You clearly do not have any survival instincts.."
That vomit of words made Viola only confused. "Who talks like that difficultly..? Can't you just say you are a scumbag and I am the victim here?" she laughs and actually sits back in the car, closing the door.
"..What are you doing?"
"I can carry my part with you. Do you know kung wu?" Viola suddenly asks, smiling to Maxi, who shows very honestly that even he could sometimes look this confused. This girls act was close to make him speechless.
"No.. I don't.."
"Me neither. So why should I worry? I don't need kung wu if my opponent doesn't know it either."
Maxi sniffs. "Are you stupid..?"
"There are many kinds of being smart..," Viola keeps, defending her words. "I know a good person when I see one. You wouldn't go this far just to hurt me later, would you?"
"You must have a very high fever right now.. to be able to speak such nonsense out of that cute mouth..," guy grins unbelieving, but finally turns his look forward, making the car move. He has lost this battle here. Or, more like, surrenders here. This girl is one damn airhead..
- - - -
"This is actually pretty good," Viola awes when she carefully tastes the food on her plate.
"It's nothing special. It's normal," Maxi notes while he sits down across this small table, sharing the slices of bread for them. "Have you been eating only in the cafeteria so far? After that any food must taste great.."
They were sitting in Violas living area, finally taking their shared meal together. Since Maxi had state his place is quite messy after the last summer break, they agreed to eat in Violas place. While Maxi was preparing the meal in his own place, Viola had taken her rest, while watching TV.
The TV was still on, some random show running in. But that show had steal part of Maxis attention now. It's been a while he watched anything from the bigger screen than his phone.
"Might be so..," Viola has to admit. Since, indeed, she has eat only in the school building, bringing just evening snacks in. "But I still think this is better than normal. Where did you learn to cook? Your parents taught you?"
"I'm living alone. Of course I should at least know how to cook," guy points out, without looking at her first.
But Viola totally took that as nagging. She tsihs loudly and takes another bite. "And now I was trying to be nice here.."
Maxi looks at her. And sighs out. That might have been too harsh now. What he said. Not everyone were able to cook as he did. Everyone have their own strengths and weaknesses. Maxi should know better. He was definitely just pushing his own stress out here. "Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you," young man puts his fork down, making Viola raise her look on him. Their eyes met. "Let me start over. Thank you for your praise. I have actually took my time to learn how to do different dishes. It's something I wasn't good at first, so I really battled with it. Now I can say I am a great cook. You were right, it's not normal. So be free to feel honored to get a taste of my efforts."
Viola laughs. "Now I don't know anymore are you really a nice guy or just a selfish show up," she smirks, but is now visibly more relaxed. Trying to still figure out what kind of person Maxi really was. After all, he is kind, deep down.
"If you want, I can cook for you again," Maxi takes his fork back to his hand and eats.
"Really??"
Since Viola sounded suddenly so excited, looking at him like he was some kind of saint here, Maxi rushes to explain. "Don't get me wrong! That would benefit me too. I sometimes make too much.. But you need to pay your share then.."
"I can do that!" Viola clears right away. She was slowly starting to get a hold of Maxis defiant personality. Guy was acting like he wouldn't care, but definitely likes to hear about his own good sides. Maxi is definitely pretty egoistic. But quite not in a bad way. "How much you need? If you cook daily?"
Maxi is staring at her. Now this idea was proceeding too fastly. "Daily..?"
"What, you said you are a great cook. There must be a prize of 'getting a taste of your efforts'," girl leans closer, smirking. "I have a huge monthly allowance. And it is indeed nice. I bet I can afford to pay you. Don't worry."
Damn, his neigbor found suddenly too much spirit in her! Maxi has clearly cornered himself, while acting like a jerk before. He got what he deserved. It was his lost to underestimate this city girl. Calling her a pain in the ass.. a piece of art.. mocking her 'cause she was from a rich family..
Viola was silently eyeing Maxi when guy takes a deep breathe in and out, closing his eyes. "Aren't you one spicy girl down that airhead of yours..," he whispers. Then straightens his back, opens his eyes to look again toward Viola. "You got yourself a deal."
"Really?!" Viola shows even wider smile, letting it clearly show out how happy she was suddenly feeling. She totally won this battle.
"I promised your friend I will take care of you," Maxi tsihs, looking annoyed, taking his focus back to eating and watching TV. "How I could refuse.."
Viola hums. That sounded a shitty excuse to her. But she will take it. Maxi could be quite straight and harsh with his words, but wasn't so honest with his true feelings. Like?
- - - -
"What time your classes end?" Maxi asks from Viola right after their morning greetings. It was monday morning, both were leaving to school at the same time, so they agreed to walk together.
"At three," Viola answers while walking next to Maxi who was waiting for her in front of his door.
"I thought so," guy holds his hand up and gives Viola a leather key holder. After figuring out what she just received, Viola turns her asking look back to Maxi. "It's the spare key to my house. I will come back here a little earlier than usual to make our dinner. But I won't be here anymore when you get back. Use this to get in. I will leave your share in the fridge."
Viola nods smiling. "Wait a second," she actually goes back in her house, takes her time and finally steps out again, closing the door carefully behind her. When she is once again standing next to Maxi, she hands a key chain toward him. "Here."
Maxi sighs back. "What is this..?"
"My spare key," Viola clears and puts it in Maxi's pocket. Wasn't it obvious. "Isn't it convenient you to have my keys too?"
"Here is a helpful tip for you; don't give your spare key to just anyone..," guy tsihs, trying to give the chain back.
But Viola refuses. "I'm not giving it to 'just anyone'.."
"Viola. You are a girl," Maxi continues while flicking her forehead. "Can't you take a hint. Don't trust every guy you have just met and do things thoughtlessly."
But Viola doesn't let his words provoke her. Instead she just smirks and takes a step ahead, showing she's ready to leave. "Maxi. You are a boy. Don't lose my key or you will have to pay the repayment," she raises the key holder to show it to Maxi, waving it a little. "I will take good care of this in turn. Thank you beforehand for the meal. I know it will be tasty."
It was incredible how Viola has balls to speak back like that. She wasn't thinking Maxi would be any kind of danger at all. Trusting him so blindly.
Maxi really hate that kind of clueless people the most. Naive people were bond to cry after. World isn't so pure how this girl was seeing it. She will learn her lesson sooner or later.
Instead of trying to lector her more, Maxi takes this new key chain, binds it with his own keys. Then he puts the whole thing save in his pocket while walking after Viola.
Indeed, it was a waste of time Maxi trying to pretend he was suddenly some dangerous guy here. Viola has seen through him already. Through his cold act which was going hand in hand with his gently smile.
Maxi wasn't 'just anyone'. Knowing that Viola could feel easy when she was with him.