Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Ingrid's POV

I fell silent as I watched him. I was analyzing if he was angry but to be more sure I had already spoken.

"Are you mad? I'm sorry if I left you suddenly, ” I said as I talk to him because I had been feeling guilty all week.

"It's fine, I understand that he's still your friend," he said, just smiling a little at me. His smile was out of sight so I think he was angry.

"You are mad." That's not a question. I'm sure this time. He raised an eyebrow at me before shaking and smiling.

"I'm just a little upset," he said with a smirk.

"I'm sorry," I said so he smiled before messing up my hair.

“It's okay, it's already over. Now that I've seen you, I can't stand being upset,” he said, shaking his head.

“Is that why you didn't come here for a few weeks? Because you are mad or what? ” I asked him. He laughed before he answer me.

"No, it's not like that."

"I just came home for a week," he said so I looked at him.

"Aren't you living here?" I confusedly ask.

“No, I'm from Cavite. I just moved to manila for academic purposes,” he told me.

“Oh, I thought you are from here. Where are you studying though? ” I can’t help but be curious about him.

"Up film," he said so my lips immediately felt open as I looked at him.

"Wow, are you serious?" I asked so he smiled at me before nodding.

“Perhaps you want to become a director or something like that?” I ask.

"Producer," he said so my eyes immediately widened.

“Really? That's my dream too!” I couldn't help but be excited while looking at him. He smiles broadly at me because of that.

“Wow! We are really destined to be with each other!” he said so I couldn't help but laugh.

"Is UP good?" I ask.

"I don't really know, I'm just going to start studying this year," he laughed so my lips opened. I didn't ask him how old he was. I thought he was in his second year of college because he was really tall. I really thought that he was older than me.

"So you're going to enroll there?" he asked me so I just shook my head.

"I'll stop for a year," I said. He immediately turned to me.

“Huh? Why?" he asked.

"I can't afford it yet," I said with a small smile.

“What? You can apply for a scholarship,” he told me.

“I will but maybe I still can't afford to study film and if I study, I won't take filming, it's too expensive. I think I'll take educ for a while." There are too many pills and vitamins to buy for my family. I don’t know if my money will be enough in case I leave the job at the resto.

"Alas, it seems like you really like it," he said to me. I just smiled and shrugged. I'm not really sure what to do.

"If you ever need help, I can help you find a scholarship," he said and smiled at me. I just nodded at him.

"It's fine, thank you," I said before glancing at the buyer who was looking at us. I immediately tried to entertain it.

When the customer left, I just raised my eyebrows at Indigo when I saw that he was still there.

"There is a scholarship for education," he said. I just smiled before shrugging. He seems like he really wanted to help me so I just smiled at him. I appreciate it but I don't really have a plan yet. He let go of our topic for a while.

"How's your ex?" he asked so I just shrugged.

"Did he die?" he asked so I immediately slap his forehead. He just pouted because of it.

"Stupid," I said.

“He’s fine. He just really wants me to go into their house,” I said while frowning so I immediately heard his weak voice.

"Your ex is kinda manipulative," he told me.

"Don't let him manipulate you just like that," he told me so I laughed softly.

"I'm done with him. That won't happen now" I said.

"Is that true now?" he laughed so I couldn't help but look at him and scold him. It only took a while before he left with a customer, he also bought something to eat. For himself and for me.

I was talking with one of the customers when the guy I kept on seeing for the past few days appear again. For some unknown reason, I often see that guy waiting outside the convenience store and when I look, he will suddenly hide. When I went inside, there was a smirk on his lips and his frequent glance at my whole being. I couldn't help but be scared even though I shouldn't have. Maybe I was just overthinking.

I became anxious after hours because I could see him outside and still looking here inside. I was going home when someone spoke beside me.

"Hey, are you okay?" I almost hit Indigo when he grabbed my arm.

"It's okay, why are you trying to scare me?" I asked, still staring at the guy who slowly hides when he sees me glancing at his side.

“I’m not. I didn't know you would be so shocked.” He laughed at me. I was just forced to stay there. After that, I just distracted myself from working. I tried not to think about it but I can't help but be scared.

Even as I was about to close the shop, I still looked around. When I came out, I saw the guy in the dark was still looking at us. When he noticed I was looking, he immediately hid. I just tightened my grip on my pepper spray. I was still comfortable at first because Indigo and I were together but when our ways parted, I was so nervous.

I was about to die of nervousness when someone grabbed my wrist. I even slapped him with the bag I was holding and intended to spray the pepper spray on it but my eyes immediately widened when I looked at Indigo.

"Ouch, Ingrid," he complained, looking so worried about me.

“Why are you scaring the shit out of me? I almost had a heart attack!” I couldn’t help but shout while looking at him.

"You look tense, I just can't help but worry about you and I've been calling you for a while," he said, his forehead still furrowed while his eyes were on me.

"I also notice how anxious you are while you're looking outside earlier," he said.

"Why?" he asked me.

“It's nothing. I thought you wanted to go to sleep right away. Why haven't you come home yet?” I ask.

“I am worried about you. Can I take you home?” he asked me. I don't know why i trust him so much. As we walked, we were careful. Our walk became so comfortable because he randomly tell a story. I just laugh at him when he tried to bluff while walking beside me.

“I don't even have a peso here. Just try to steal and I can have instant money just in case! I was still in high school but I'm good at swordsmanship,” he said just in case someone tried to snatch something from us.

"Stupid, you don't have a sword," I laughed at him.

"What should it be then? A Boxer? Studied taekwondo?” he whispered so I couldn't help but laugh at him.

“I don't know about you, don't tell me until you get home you'll be going to be like that? You shouldn't have taken me home now,” I told him. He laughed before pricking me on my forehead.

"I was more scared if something bad happened while I was with you now," he said.

"Good night, Ingrid," he said when he finally take me home. He just told me to come inside but I watched him leave. I felt really grateful but I don't think I can sleep peacefully if I don't know if he's okay. I just called Indigo for a while and gave the cellphone number that I let Irah and Sandro use in case anything happened.

"Text me when you're home," I said so he nodded at me. He just waves his hands before he leaves.

When I entered the house, my siblings were asleep already. I just took a bath. When I finished with what needed to do, I went to bed before looking for Indigo's message Indigo. I just smiled when he said that he came home safely.

For the past few days that's just what happened, he would often take me and text me that he was home. In a few weeks, we became even closer to each other.

Over the past few weeks, I've been thinking of other ways to make money while studying and I think of online selling. I have little savings, but I think I can grow it and I can still work here because usually, my work is at night. Maybe I can handle selling too.

As I was walking in, someone held my arm, I was comfortable that it was Indigo but my eyes widened when I saw the man in the past few weeks. I couldn't help but be stunned because of him. He immediately covered my mouth.

“Don't make any noise, Miss. Hold-up, ” he told me so I fought back. I was about to punch his face when he suddenly told me that I was on a tv show called ‘Wow, something’s right’. They are producing a variety show. I can't help the resentment, variety shows that you will almost die of nervousness. They apologized but I couldn't help but be annoyed at their prank. I just eventually ignored them as well.

It's a big thank you that it's just for filming otherwise I might really have anxiety every day if I can get home safely or whatever.

"What happened?" Indigo ask when I entered. His smile still reaches the sky. I forgot what happened earlier, especially when I talked to

Indigo.

"Scholarship form." He handed me a paper. I can't help but stop because of that.

“I know filming is expensive and you probably have a plan in your mind. As of now, I can help you with a scholarship for education if you want to,” he said while smiling at me.

"You're really a living sign for me to continue studying." I laughed before accepting the form. All I said to myself was that if He give me a sign, I'll try it. And He really gave that to me, and a walking sign that I should continue.

"So what's your plan?" he asked me.

"I have a list here of what you can earn from," he said, handing the paper to me. I can't stop looking at him because of that.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask.

"Because I want to help you?" he asked too, confusingly looking at me.

"Why?" I asked again with my eyebrows still raised. He laughed a little at me because of that.

"What kind of question is that?" he asked me. I just looked at him for a moment before I turned to the paper. That's the amount listed here.

"As of now, online selling will be the best one for you," he told me.

"Hmm, I don't have a social media account and I don't have a cellphone," I said. I would have liked that too but there is also a lot to consider.

"I can be your business partner, you know," he said, smiling at me.

"I can use my social media account and just in case we can also create our own page if you want," he told me so I couldn't help but look at him. I even laughed a little when I imagined him selling online.

"What was that laugh for?" he asked with his eyes still on me. It's not like I'm laughing because he's a man. It's just that knowing Indigo? I'm sure there's a lot to say just to sell what we're going to sell and I find it really cute.

“Is it fine with you? Aren't you ashamed of your friends?” I ask.

“Why should I be ashamed? It's a respectful job,” he said with a shrug.

“So, now, are you in?” he asked me. I really think that it's a good decision too.

"It's a deal now, Ma'am," he said, shaking my hand.