4. Secret Attention
1168 Words
After a day of crying and contemplating her fate, Zea begins to pick herself up again. While her friends are relaxing in their dorm, she goes to the campus to explore books in the library once more.
One thing to be grateful for in her life is that she can still endure when all the problems hit her hard. Her mental state is shaken, her finances are strained, and her health is slightly deteriorating. But it's okay, Zea will face it all, even if it means shedding a few tears.
“You're something else, Ze! You're so strong. Even a thesis this good still needs revision. What about mine? Maybe they'll ask me to change the whole title?” her friend babbled.
Her name is Carol. The only close friend who has been with Zea since the beginning of college until now.
Zea let out a long sigh. “What else can I do? Life is not fair. Just being sane is already a blessing from God,” she said.
“If I were you, I’d have thrown a tantrum.”
“I throw a tantrum every day, Ca. Many people think I'm crazy, but I'm just venting my emotions.”
“Mr. Andrei is really something. Is it because he's not married yet? That's why he's always sensitive.”
“I don't know. Go marry him.”
“You do it.”
“If I marry him, he wouldn't last a month before he's six feet under.”
Carol burst into laughter. Sometimes Zea's words can be a bit terrifying.
“Don't hate too much, Ze. You might end up with him,” Carol teased, making Zea glare at her sharply.
“There are plenty of sane guys in this world. Why would I marry a fussy old man? I could die young,” she retorted irritably.
“You never know, right? It's called fate. Just like death, it can't be avoided.”
Zea clicked her tongue in annoyance. She didn't respond to her friend's words anymore, focusing on the laptop that had been idle in front of her.
“Have you eaten?” Carol asked.
“Yes. I ate instant noodles,” she replied.
“INSTANT NOODLES AGAIN?!” Carol shrieked.
“What else besides instant noodles? I don't have money to buy rice. The money sent by Scott yesterday was just enough to pay for the dorm.”
Carol sighed sympathetically while looking at Zea. “Do you even consider me a friend anymore?” she asked. But Zea ignored it, as she already knew where Carol's conversation was heading.
"I've offered you rice many times, but you never want to come over to my place to get it. How long are you going to keep living like this? Take care of yourself, Ze. You're still young," said Carol.
"I don't want to be a bother, Ca. As long as I have something to eat, I'll be fine. Besides, my rice cooker's broken, so I can't cook rice anymore."
"As fellow students living away from home, I know how tough it is to live in a boarding house. I'm not rich either, but when it comes to food, God willing, I always have enough. So later, after we leave campus, grab some rice from my place, and I'll take you to buy a new rice cooker."
Unbeknownst to them, someone hiding behind a library bookshelf overheard their conversation.
***
Zea and Carol left the library at eleven in the morning. They planned to go to the cafeteria for lunch. However, a chubby man blocked their way.
"Ze, Mr. Andrei wants to see you in his office," said the man.
Zea's face immediately showed her bad mood. She was about to walk away, but the man stopped her.
"He says it's very important. It's about your thesis."
Zea clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Tell him I'm human too! I need to eat, drink, and rest. I don't live to serve him," she said passionately. Her emotions were already out of control. Even when she was hungry, the man still bothered her.
"For God's sake, Ze... this is really important. If you don't go, I'll get scolded." The man continued to plead with the most pitiful face, eventually making Zea relent.
Zea then walked towards Andrei's office with a sulky face and muttering lips.
When she reached Andrei's office, she walked in without knocking, startling him as he was focused on typing.
"Can't you just leave me alone for a day, sir? I'm tired of thinking about my thesis every day, sir. Give me a chance to rest for just one day. I'm human too. I could go crazy if I was constantly pressured like this," she ranted, letting out all her frustrations without fear of being scolded by Andrei.
Andrei's influence was indeed extraordinary. Before entering the thesis phase, Zea would never have dared to act like this. She used to speak gently even with her friends, not to mention her lecturers. Unfortunately, she had changed. Now she is more emotional and harsh when speaking, due to her unstable mental condition.
"Sit," ordered Andrei with a very flat expression.
Even though she was angry, Zea still obeyed his command. She sat in front of the man with a face still sulky.
"Here, eat this," he ordered, while pushing a box of food in front of Zea. Not only that, he also gave a bag of fruit and a bottle of mineral water.
Zea furrowed her brow in confusion. It was unusual for him to act so kindly.
"I ordered the wrong thing earlier. I meant to buy chicken, but they sent beef. Since I'm allergic to beef, you might as well eat it rather than let it go to waste. Take the fruit too. They were given by Mrs. Rizza," he said again, with a still-expressionless face.
"Why are you suddenly being nice to me? Are you planning to give me an even bigger burden after this?" It was natural for Zea to be suspicious, as the Andrei she knew was a very stingy person who never cared about others.
"I have no bad intentions. If you don't want it, just throw it in the trash," Andrei snapped.
Zea's eyes widened. So easily he told her to throw away food? Didn't he know that many people go hungry every day?
Swallowing her pride, Zea took the food and said curtly, "Fine, thanks."
"Hmm," Andrei responded indifferently without taking his eyes off the laptop screen.
Right after Zea left the room, a security guard entered carrying a large bag whose contents were unknown.
"Sir, here's the change from the fruits earlier. And here are the groceries," the man said, placing some money and the large bag on Andrei's desk.
"Yeah, thanks. Please send the groceries to this address."
Andrei handed over a slip of white paper with an address on it. The man just nodded, then took the bag and carried it out of the room.
- Writer
