Chapter 15: Chapter 15

Ingrid's POV

“Hello? Where are you?" I asked from the other line to Indigo.

"I'm already near, Lods," he said to me. I will return his cell phone now. He hadn't taken it in the past weeks. He also let my siblings use it. The two were really happy when he was in our house.

He said that only his best friend called him then which I didn't believe. Although he doesn't seem to be lying because they said they don't have a female and male best friend. I was thinking that maybe their relationship is just lowkey.

"Hi!" He gave me a wide smile when he saw me. I couldn't help but give him back his sky-high smile.

"Here it is, thanks for letting me borrow it." I just handed him his cellphone but he did not accept it.

“Use it for a while. So I know who to call when I go to your house,” he told me so I frowned at him.

"I'm already at our house even if you go straight away," I said but he just shrugged.

"It's all right, I'll chat with you first so it won't be a hassle," he said to me so my forehead furrowed even more.

“Then why are you did we meet up here if you won't pick me up the phone? Also, I don't want to touch your phone, I might lose it. I don't have money to pay for it. ” I still reach out his phone even if he doesn’t want to take it.

"Fine, then use this one," he said, handing over the older model he have. I wanted to tell him not to but he spoke immediately.

"You are the one who is talking to those who want to buy our product, you can borrow it. I don't really use it that much," he said so in the end I also agreed.

"Let's go," he said as he took my bag from me. I was surprised when I looked at him.

"Why?" I ask.

"Let's go to school together," he said with a smile. It's our first day going to college today but we didn't really say that we're going together. I shrugged in the end and followed him.

"What do you want?" he asked as we passed the jelexie to buy bread. I just shook my head because I ate at home earlier. I also don't want to use any money now.

When he came out he just handed me the ensaymada.

"I'm still full," I said so he shrugged. He put it in my bag so I frowned at him.

"What are you doing?" I asked, still looking badly at him.

"Bring it for me for a while," he said.

"You have a bag," I said, so he was upset.

“Just eat it later.” I just shook my head at him as we walked. He won't really let me win when it comes to this.

When we got in the jeep, we were just side by side.

"Thank you, be careful," I said to Indigo before he waved at me. He's now going to his department.

"You too," he said, smiling at me as well. Before he left he faced me again so I looked at him in surprise.

"I'll wait for you here later," he said to me before I can tell him not to, he was already leaving with a wide smile and waving at me.

I felt sorry for him because of that. He doesn't have to do that anymore. He can go straight home. He also said he would call me if I was home. But at the same time, I was really thankful to him. I'm happy that he's someone I can completely feel safe and secure. Someone who I wanted to keep.

I just searched for my building. I just quietly entered the education room.

"Oh, here she is," Steffanie said when she saw me. I'm also aware of the course she's going to take, I just didn't expect that she'll be studying at UP as well. I thought everything would end in senior high school but now? I do not know.

"She was my friend in my school last year," she introduced me to some of her new acquaintances. I just smiled a little before walking away from them. I even heard Steffanie whisper to her new friends. I didn't pay attention to that anymore. I just kept quiet while waiting for the professor but because it was the first day, they didn't attend class.

My other blockmates were already making friends with each other while I was really quiet on one side. I don't really like to be friends with anyone anymore. I don't want to be disappointed after this. I'm scared that I'll be treated differently if we get to know each other.

There are some who approach and try to be friends with me but we just had small talk. I just don't know what to say to them.

"Hi, I'm June," A man told me with a smile before handing out his hand. I just smiled at him a little.

"Ingrid," I said, taking his hand for a moment.

"When you're a man, it's easy to make friends with her." I don't know if one of my classmates was telling me but I realized it was me they are talking about when I saw them looking at me. Steffanie was also smirking at me. I just didn't pay attention to them either.

I was busy listing the ingredients I would buy for the snacks we will sell later when I felt Indigo's cellphone vibrate.

I saw a text from him. I smiled slightly because of his message.

Indigo:

We didn't have a class ajujuju we wasted time

I couldn’t help but hold back a laugh because of its ‘ajujuju’. He looks crazy.

Me:

It's the first day of school. That's only natural. So are we.

Less than a few seconds after I sent it, he was calling. I don't know how to answer this because I'm a little confused but in the end, I just ask why he called.

"Hey," I greeted him from the other line.

“I still have classes. Why did you call?" I ask.

"You said you don't have one?" he asked.

"I mean there's nothing to do but our professor just entered right now," I whispered.

“Oh, sorry. I'm really bored,” he said from the other line.

"And do I supposed to entertain you?" I laughed at him.

"Hmm, I'm already entertained just by talking to you," he said so I can feel my heartbeat beating like a crazy madman who wanted to get out of his prison.

“I don’t know about you. You're friendly, I'm sure you can talk with a lot of people there,” I said. The call between the two of us was not interrupted either. I really feel like I'm more entertained by him because I'm not that friendly.

We were still talking but I turned off the call when I saw Steffanie looking at me and the phone I was holding.

“Oh, you have a new cellphone, Ingrid. Is that from your job?” she tried to sound curious but an insult from her voice still prevailed.

“Did you buy a cell phone before paying off your debt? No offense, I'm not charging you because I really want to help you but I hope you don't just put yourself first. I hope you could take pity on your brothers and sisters,” she said in a pitiful voice.

"I'm just concerned," she said, so I just stared at her for a moment. I wanted to laugh at her but just kept my face serious while looking at her face.

“It’s not mine, Steffanie. Thank you for your concern. Don't worry, I'll pay you,” I said in a small voice and smiled at him. I could see her eyebrows rising. She still doesn't seem to believe me so I just smiled at her slightly. I am also saving money for my debt to her. She doesn't need to insult me that way. But I know that she's right too, I can't really put myself first then my siblings.

That day ended with us doing almost nothing. I don’t know what Steffanie spread but when I look at some of blockmates, I can see their judgmental looks. I just ignored them. In fact, I'm really used to the way people look at me. It was always like that in high school. Maybe I was just too hopeful that something would change.

"Ingrid!" Steffanie called me when I was out of school. I didn't want to talk to her but eventually, I turned around too.

"It's Jayvee, oh!" She smiled while pointing at Jayvee. They are studying at Ateneo so I can't understand why they are here now. I just smiled slightly at them. I don't have an intention to talk to them.

“Ingrid,” Brian called me, one of Jayvee's friends.

"You're going home? Come with us!” he said. Jayvee even smiled at me there.

"I'll go home now," I said. It was true. I already saw Indigo standing on the other side. He looks like he's waiting for me. Some students are looking at him. That person's face is really distracting. He was really attracting attention.

“You treat us like others, Ingrid. It seems like you're not treating us as friends, huh?” they said. Not really. They didn’t consider me as one.

"I have someone with me. I'm sorry," I said. Indigo's eyes landed on me. A smile immediately formed on his lips before waving at me. I just smiled a little at him too.

"I'm going first," I said goodbye to them.

"Omg, it's only been a few months since you two separated, she already has someone new right away," Jayvee's friend said to Jayvee while he was smirking. I smiled slightly before facing them again.

"We haven't separated yet, but he already has one." I smiled slightly at them before walking straight towards Indigo who was approaching me.

“Hi.” I smiled at him.

"There's your ex again," he commented so I just laugh at him.

"He's not here for me. They just passed by to see Steffanie, I think,” I said with a shrug.

"If it's not for you, why does your ex look like he's going to cry?" he laughed so I frowned at him before trying to look back at Jayvee but Indigo pulled me away.

"Let him, let's just go. Your idiot ex doesn't deserve your attention." He laughed.

"What do you want to eat? I'll treat you,” he said to me.

"Just don't try to take it," he immediately added, so I laughed at him.

“No need, I still have extra money. Let's just pay for ourselves," I said because he always want to do that.

We bought a kikiam and a fishball but instead of paying for myself, he immediately said that he'll be the one to do that.

"You're saving, aren't you?" he asked with another smile.

"I have an extra, I haven't eaten yet," I complained so he immediately turned to me.

"Are you making yourself hungry?" he asked, frowning.

“I mean I didn't spend it earlier. I ate what you gave me,” I said so he shrugged his shoulders. We just continued talking but he kept on saying that I should never forget to eat. He really has a lot of things to say.

"How's your day?" he asked.

"Nothing unusual," I said with a shrug.

"How about you?" I asked.

"It's kind of boring," he said. We just chatted while eating groceries. When we finished, we rode in a jeepney. He squeezed me next to him because it was already crowded inside.

"So you're going to start working tomorrow?" I asked him. He nodded. He will also be part-time. It's close to the convenience store.

I looked at him as he put his bag on my lap.

"It's a bit heavy, hold it for me," he said so I just looked at him with narrowed eyes. He shrugged his shoulders before he slightly smile.

"Manong, two." He even handed over the payment for the two of us. I turned to him because of that.

“I have money. What do you think of me? A beggar?” I asked, still glaring at him.

"You're going to pay for our fare tomorrow," he said because he knew we would still argue about it.

After a while, we went down the alley and walk to our house.

"Wait," he said so I turned to him. I frowned as he sat across from me to tie my shoelace. I stopped because of that. I felt like I was a statue while looking at him.

"I will also remove it at home! Stupid!" I said walking towards the house first. For no apparent reason, my heartbeat was no longer normal.