Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Ingrid's POV

"What's your problem?" I asked him when I saw him with his face down on the table. He messed up his hair, that's why I stared at him.

"It's dirty," I said, still making him stand. I can see that he just frowned before he looked at me.

"What's the problem?" I asked while wondering.

“You know the film that I made?” he asked me. I nodded to him because of that. That short film of his is so good. All I know is they will pass that on one subject.

"They said that it's not good enough… I'm not good enough," he whispered, still feeling upset.

“I don’t think they said that for you to know that you’re not good. They said that for you to improve,” I said, smiling at him slightly. He looked at me because of that.

“Don't you have self-confidence? It's already good, just make it better and I know how wild your imagination is. You can do it, Loads,” I told him with a smile.

"I trust you," I said.

He stared at me because of that. Soon a smile curved on his lips.

"You really are the best, my Lodicakes." He pinched my nose so I hit him lightly. He laughed at me, that's why my smile widened.

“You look like a fool. You are always confident in your work so I don't get why you are discouraged now.” I laughed. He was upset because of that.

"Well, I just realized that I'm just good but not that better." He laughed.

"What about me then?" I also laughed questioning him. He's so good! I know someday he'll be big. I wouldn't be surprised if that's the case.

He also often taught me about what they were studying because he knew I was interested in it. I don't even know how he manages to put it all together.

“Don't come to us tomorrow, I know you will finish something. I will take care of our business,” I said. He nodded. That's what we're used to when I have projects, he will take care of our small business and vice versa. It's good that we are able to get used to it now even though it's really tiring because we go to school then after that we handle business and work.

"I can do it, just finished your work," I said. He was an hour earlier than his part-time at a café outside. He’s the closing one and I know there’s a lot going on there.

"For fast work," he laughed. Eventually, the two of us fixed it. We were busy talking with each other when we saw someone enter the convenience store.

I would have welcomed them but I also immediately saw Steffanie and our friend from senior high. I don't know why they want to mess with it so much. They're too obsessed. I can’t understand why they even waste time on people they don’t like. Can't we just focus on ourselves? Isn't it possible for a person to just help himself to grow instead of wasting time? I don't really get it.

"Hi, Ingrid," they greeted as if we were good friends. They are just like that when they see Indigo here.

It is not unknown to me that Steffanie likes Indigo.

“Hey, Hi, Indigo! Like what I thought you are here again!” They smiled at Indigo.

“Do you want to come with us? Just a shot for a moment. It's my treat,” Steffanie told him but Indigo just shrugged his shoulders.

“Hard pass, Miss. I'm a good boy,” he said, turning to me. I couldn't help but smile at him and even laughed softly.

"I'll help you, Ingrid," Jayvee said who was also with them. Their male troops are also here. I don't know why it's a routine to go here before going to their party or what.

"No, I can do it." I just smiled at him slightly.

I also went to the counter after. I just silently watched them. Steffanie was talking to Indigo until he excused himself to go to me.

“Is this the last one? Shall we go home then?” he asked me.

"Yup, I'm going to close the store too," I said. I noticed how my former friends looked at me. I just ignored it.

Steffanie approached us. At first, she looked at Indigo tenderly but when she looked at me, I can see the familiar emotion in her eyes before she tried smirking at me.

"Come with us. Let's just take a shot, Ingrid," she said to me. Indigo looked at me. He knew my answer already.

"We're going home," he said so I could see Steffanie's slightly frown because of that.

"We just rarely go to a party, Ingrid!" she said but I just shook my head. I don't really have any intention to join them. If it was just me I would want to cut my connection with them but I know I will have a hard time doing that too.

"How KJ," she said, laughing and still looking at me. I didn't pay any attention to that and just continued to get the change for her blue bill.

"Keep the change," she said, smiling broadly at me. I shook my head and tried to give it back to her because I knew she would criticize it again just in case I won't give it back. I haven't paid my debt and I do not want to add. I know that she will only make me feel bad about it.

"Come on, you're not others to me." she laughed at me. No matter how hard she tried, I didn't accept it.

"You can take this, Ingrid," Jayvee said to me.

"It's okay, I don't like coffee anymore," I told him.

Indigo looked at me because of that. I pouted because of how he looked at me. Well, that's just an excuse.

"Oh," Jayvee said, nodding at me.

“We are going first. Don't you really want to come with us?” he asked. I just shook my head.

"We're going home," Indigo answered and I could still see his proud look at Jayvee. Jayvee gave him a glare before they left the convenience store.

"I'll just throw it away and let's go home," I said so he nodded at me. I just left him for a while. I also closed Aling Gloria's convenience store.

I was on my way to the garbage dump when I saw Steffanie smoking on the side. I had no intention of talking to them but they were the ones who managed to call me.

"Ingrid," Steffanie called. I wish I could go home peacefully but it doesn't seem to happen now.

"Are you embarrassing me?" she asked me arrogantly. My lips parted. What is she talking about?

"Embarrassing?" I asked, frowning at her.

“Don't look at me as if you don't know what I'm talking about, Ingrid! That's obviously what you want to do. I'm the only one who's kind enough to invite you to drink and give you money, but you refuse, you think highly of yourself! You think you didn't owe me now, huh?” she shouted angrily. I just bite my lips while looking at her.

"I'm sorry, Steffanie," I said.

“You just paid off a little debt but you are acting as if you're above us! That's not even the whole thing!” she said. I can't help but frown.

“It is not even on the fingertips of those things I give to you freely! Then just a simple favor but you keep on turning down?!” she asked me angrily.

Is she stupid? I thought those things were free but it seems like it's not.

As if, I will pay for them for the rest of my life. I was annoyed with them but I didn't want to talk either. I just chose to keep myself from what I wanted to say to them. But maybe I shouldn't have received anything from them in the first place.

“I'm sorry, Steffanie, don't worry I'm saving to pay you,” I said with a frugal smile. I was about to leave but my ear seems to tingle when something came out of her mouth.

“When will you be able to pay for that? Why don't you pray for her to die so you won't have any problems anymore?” she laughs while asking me that. I turned to her because of that. I don't care if I receive an insult but I can't accept it if it's for Mama.

“What right do you have to say that, Steffanie, when you yourself are a burden to your family? Why? Where does your money come from? Only in your parent's pocket. Apart from being a burden at home, you are also a burden on society— ” Before I could continue, she was already pulling my hair. I don't really speak if it is not necessary but what she said is just too much. I didn't give her what she wants and was even able to pull her hair. I'm not a violent person but I can't take what she said.

I was really irritated and my emotion feels like a volcano erupting now.

"Wait! Wait!" Someone even intervened between the two of us. I saw Indigo immediately. I glared at him because of that.

"Can you fight?" he asked, looking at me. I nodded there.

He also left immediately so we went back to pulling each other's hair. I also felt that some old friends were also ready to hurt me but in an instant, they were blocked by Indigo.

“Just one by one, my girl is strong but when there are a lot of scratches I won't stay still—” I didn't even hear what Indigo is saying because Steffanie even tried to give me the scar. My nails weren't long so I pull her hair before pushing her in the trash.

I was supposed to be sorry for this, but for no apparent reason, I was satisfied with what I did.

"That's enough, Ingrid," a voice said before pulling me away from Steffanie who gave me a glare. I pull Jayvee's hand away from me and threw away the trash that was left behind. Steffanie was just next to the trash that I throe so she looked at me angrily.

His troops also arrived wondering what was happening.

"Don't you dare interfere with our fight, Jayvee!" Steffanie shouted angrily and want to pull my hair again but Jayvee stopped her.

"I've become a part of her life, of course, I have a right to intervene." I heard Jayvee say.

“Really? But to her you're just an asshole cheater who throws away everything you have,” Indigo said arrogantly as he approached me. I pinched him on his side. He pouted because of that.

I saw Jayvee clench his fist. It also looks like they are ready to fight Indigo but I have already involved myself. I gave them a glare.

"Try it," I challenged, holding Indigo by the wrist. I'm already ready to run away from here with him. I also know that Jayvee likes to brawl with anyone that step on his ego so I really don't want to see Indigo beaten here.

“Don't even try to fight with them. When he's the only one, blow a punch. When there are many of them, run,” I whispered to Indigo who still wanted to fight with Jayvee's troops who looked ready to beat Indigo. He immediately frowned at me because of that. Eventually, he just followed me as we went out of the alley.

“Your ex is really slut, Jayvee. She really does flirt with everyone who's available. Immoral. ” I heard one of Jayvee's friends say. Indigo stopped walking because of that. I also look at them because of that. I held Indigo tightly because he looks like he wants to fight with them right now.

"I don't take someone who tolerates their cheating friend's opinion," I said coldly. If I now really irritated now, they probably wouldn’t have heard anything from me.

“When a man cheats, you all think that it's normal but when a woman did, there is no morality with them? Can't it be equally immoral? I just want to tell you one thing, fuck you." I curse at them before I tried to pull Indigo but he was too fast because he really did hit Clark's face before he pulled me to run.