Chapter 8: Groceries

Lauren's POV

"Ouch." My knee bumped on my shopping cart and it hurts! Aish, until now my knees are still in pain. It has bruises and small red marks because the rock salt cut my skin and I promise not to eat anything with it since that day. The punishment lasted for one hour but it feels like we've been there for a whole day.

Three days had passed and now I'm at the supermarket and doing some groceries. I put vegetables, meat, fruits, biscuits, breads, spreads and snacks. It should be healthy for a person who's studying and when I passed by a chocolate shelves, I stopped.

"It is good for reviewing. I should get some." I mumbled and grab a handful of chocolates.

After I bought it all I went to her house to dropped these bags. But how can I do that without her knowing? What if I'll just leave it on her front door? But someone will see and grab all of it. It's a wrong idea. What if I sneak inside? But how could I do that if I doesn't have a key? What if I left it there and knock then sprinted away before she opened the door? What if she's not inside? Aish! This is frustrating. Why did I end up buying her groceries? Tell me why!

'You saw her broke down in tears last time when she has nothing to cook for you and for herself, you felt guilt because you first saw it before she wakes up that there's nothing in her fridge but you're an idiot reminding her how life became unfair to her.'

Okay! Okay! I remembered already. Now I'm at her front door battling between to knock or just leave it here.

You should knock Lauren! Just give it to her, act nice and leave.

I raised my fist then ready myself to knock but to my surprise, she opened the door that made her eyes wide.

"L-lauren?"

"Uhm, hi? Good morning." I smiled awkwardly to her and I bet she's thinking why am I here infront of her house this early.

"Can I come in?" I asked when she's still shocked with my unexpected arrival.

"Ah-I'll be late in school if I stay longer." She said before she furrowed her brows.

"Why are you here? And why you have a lot of groceries?" When she came back to her senses she asked that.

"My thank you offering--"

"Thank you offering for what? For the bruises I caused you and a bump on your forehead?" She folded her arms infront of her looking pissed.

"No. But for letting me stay here and keep me safe from Hugo." I answered sincerely and I see a glimpse of softness in her eyes.

It's the cue.

"Okay Jade. Let me put this in your kitchen first and we'll go together." I pushed her inside and walked to her kitchen.

"Hey! I told you I'm late."

"I borrowed my friend's motorcycle, so we could reach school in no time." I assured her but she seems not pleased.

"I won't ride it. Now, let's go and I don't want that groceries." Her firm voice made me stop for a second but it didn't scare me. I sat the bags on the kitchen counter and start putting the meat and vegetables in her fridge.

"Hey! Don't you hear me? I said I don't want that." Jade stomped her feet towards me.

"It will only took five minutes. Calm down mad cat. It's a thank you gift, accept it or not I'll leave it here. So, sit over there and wait for me to be done." The glaring kitten rolled her eyes and sat on the wooden chair.

"You know what." I glanced at her to only find out she's glaring at me with her arms crossed. It's a bit scary but overtaken by her cuteness.

"I hate you." I smiled when she said that words. She's really cute!

"Hate me but don't stop me." I winked at her but she averted her eyes on the dining table with her angry face.

I chuckled at her cute childishness. I wonder why she's alone in here. Where's her parents? I will remind myself to ask her some other time. And she's a student living alone, without enough resources to provide her needs. Then a convenience store cashier said by Leah, this girl is tired but she won't admit it.

After I put the snacks in her kitchen cabinet I went to the kitten who's watching the clock, she noticed me and she turned her head.

"It's 7:50 now. Do you think I can attend my eight o'clock class?" She asked sarcastically with that murderous look she has.

"I told you, you can. Come on!" I pat her head before I walk towards her front door. I heard her hissed and I can't stop a snort.

She tailed me until we're outside the old building but when I stopped infront the motorcycle that Mark lend me, I heard her groan.

"I told you I won't ride that."

"Are you scared?" I teased her. Her eyes widen and shook her head.

"I'm not! I just... don't want." She denied and averted her eyes to look anywhere but me. I didn't mind her and rode the motorcycle, I started the engine before I look at her still standing at the side.

"Let's go Jade. It's fun!" I smiled at her for the assurance that it really is. But she's frozen in her place. Since she's not that far, I reached her wrist and dragged her forward, now she's inches away from me.

"It's fun Jade. Trust me." I said softly and beamed at her.

"Aish! Stop smilling, it's creepy." I chuckled at her comment while she's having trouble to sit at the back.

"You should put your hands on my waist for your security Jade." I instructed her but she just put her hands on my shoulder trying to grip harder and it made me winced.

"It's too tight, your nails will soon dig on my shoulders."

"Bear with it, you wished for this! Now bring me to school immediately." Wow! Just wow! This girl really aish!

"Yes ma'am." Then I started to run the motorcycle, I felt her nails digging on to my shoulders. Jade's really a violent girl, I need to punish her. I put more speed and I smiled, it's fun but the girl in my back squeaks and I thought she fell because her hands let go of my shoulders for a millisecond but I felt a sudden hug to my torso.

"Laureeeeeeeen! Slower! Slower! Go slower!" She shouted at my ear. Geez! I'll be deaf later.

And a weird feeling crept into my heart? What is this?

"You won't fall. Open your eyes and enjoy the refreshing air." I know her eyes are closed because I saw it on the side mirror.

"No! I'm scared!"

"Come on Jade. I'm here! Don't be scared." I assured her, hoping that she won't be a stubborn girl. She's silent and for a minute before her hug loosen a bit and when I checked my side mirror, her eyes still closed but she's slowly smiling and it radiates me.

When we reached the gate of the school, I stopped the motorcycle but she didn't went down.

"Why you stopped? You said you'll be late?" She asked with confusion. Aha! She thought I'm still studying here.

"Yes Jade. But not here. I'm not a student anymore."

"What?" She jumped out of the motorcycle and faced me with a frown.

"I dropped out last month. I'm a construction worker now. I'll explain next time we'll see each other, now go to your class because you'll be late when you still argue with me."

"Oh my gosh! Thank you Lauren! Drive safe." She said and dashed away.

"She's more faster than this motorcycle." I mumbled looking at the gate she went in. I started the engine again and drive to work.

"Laurie!" Max lunged on me like a little kid when he saw me walking towards them.

"How's your girl?" Mark smirked.

"Hey! She's not my girl." I threw harshly his motorcycle keys to him but luckily he caught it.

"Chill man!" He cackled and I rolled my eyes.

"Maxie, I'm not going anywhere, release me now." I patted his head but he just tightened the hug.

"No. Mark told me that you'll get a girlfriend now. I'm not your baby anymore." This adult-like baby Max pouted.

"You're my baby aside from Leon, Maxie. And don't ever listen to Mark. The girl I visited is not my girlfriend." I explained and he slowly loosen his hug.

"Let's go now. Mr. Thomas will scold us." Mark went in first, I and Max followed.

"Laurie, if you ever get a girlfriend or boyfriend promise me that you'll let me meet him or her okay?" Maxie cutely asked.

"Why?"

"I'll scare him or her that whenever he or she hurt you, I'll beat them." I laughed but the baby beside me pouted.

"You're a cutie, and it won't scare anyone." I patted his head again, it's my favorite hobby when we are talking. Max became my friend since I started to work as a construction worker here last month. He and Mark guided me, sometimes when it's too heavy for me to lift, Maxie would be the one to do it. He acts like a baby every time but he's a strong guy. It's just that being a baby suits him very well.

After the working hours, I declined Mark's invitation and went home as early as I can because I'm very tired right now and my joints are in pain. Sometimes I regret having this job, but it makes me feel happy to meet people like Mark and Max.

"You're home early. Do you want to eat? I'll prepare some sandwiches." Ava is watching her favorite romcom series when I went inside our house.

"I'm not hungry just so tired right now." I walk like a zombie towards my bedroom door.

"Why? Do you feel discomfort in your tummy again?" She eyed me and furrowed her brows when I met her eyes. I shook my head.

"Hey! You have bruises!" She stood up and hastily went near me, lifting my arms side by side.

"Aish! I'll repeat again for a hundred times Ava, I'm a construction worker. So yeah, bruises are normal." I smiled at her and went in to my room.

I'm very very tired right now. I need a proper rest because the furious cat never leave my mind since the day we met.

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