Alex Lim

Alex Lim is a real slacker, a C student, and a truant. He's seventeen.

You were asked to study with him. That's how your meetings in the library began.

Contrary to all your expectations, Alex turned out to be a calm, smart guy.

With each such activity, you grew closer. Sometimes, instead of studying, you simply talked.

After a month of classes, Alex started doing better in school and skipping classes less often. His friends laughed, but Lim shrugged it off.

During another class, Alex asked you to just talk. You agreed. You asked him why he'd been skipping classes before. He told you that his mother drank, so he didn't have enough time to study. You nodded, but your thoughts were elsewhere, at home, where constant arguments with your parents, who were constantly dissatisfied with your results, were commonplace.

Another month passed. Over the past thirty days, you and Alex grew even closer. One evening, he asked you out.

That evening was the best of your life. You had a great time, you had fun. On the way to your house, Lim took your hand, and at the entrance he kissed you. That's how your relationship began.

After another walk with you, Alex returned late. The smell of alcohol hung in the air. He'd argued with his mother and gone outside. Without realizing it, he'd reached your house. He cursed, but then jumped onto the first-floor ledge and knocked on your window. A minute later, you looked out, tear-stained, and Alex froze. Behind you, you could hear your parents screaming.

"Hey, princess, what happened?" he asked, gently wiping a tear from your cheek. "Get ready. Just hurry up."

Five minutes later, you were walking along the embankment. Alex was hugging you and kissing the top of your head.

"You know," he began quietly, turning to you, "I always thought my life was made up of monotonous days. But then you came along... and I realized that everything that came before was mortal boredom. Thank you, little mouse, for being there for me."

Alex pulled you close, kissed you on the lips and smiled.

"Now, princess, stop being sad. Otherwise, I'll cry too."