Chapter 12: Apologize

Jade's POV

I was in the middle of a deep sleep when someone shamelessly banging on my door. I furrowed my brows thinking who the hell would that be but when my soul finally came to my body, realization hits me.

"Open this and pay your shit, you slut!"

It's none other than the fucking annoying owner of this whole apartment who was always on my door knocking--no it's more like breaking the hell out of it at five in the morning. I've been cursing since I opened my eyes because she did ruined my beautiful sleep and now I'm on a bad mood.

"Fucking slut! Pay your shit now!" I breathe in and out trying to calm myself before I went on to open the door.

"Oh, I thought you're dead as fuck inside or you became deaf." She rolled her eyes and opened her palm infront of me.

"Now, pay me."

It's not even the time of the month to pay our monthly rent. What's with her? She's always doing this, two weeks early before the date of the payment.

"I'm sorry Miss Chantel but I have two more weeks to earn my monthly salary, same as the day I have to pay the rent."

"Aish! This slut, I'm the owner of this building so I'll decide when I need your fucking payment." She hissed and slammed the door. If I can just shout at her I will definitely do now. My patience is nearly losing.

"Hey, Jade. Good morning Ms. Chantel." We both turned our heads towards the owner of the voice.

"Good morning Hugo. Did I disturb your sleep?" This witch! She's now smiling like idiot. I mentally rolled my eyes.

"It doesn't matter Ms. Chantel, I'm glad to see you. If you're free we can have breakfast together." Hugo beamed at her and the old hag jumped on his arms.

"Sure sure! I have nothing to do, let's go!" She clung her arms on him and dragged him outside but before Hugo could turn around he winked at me.

I don't know what he meant but I'm thankful that he averts her attention to him. Chantel hates me, really hates me. She started calling me slut the time she saw her ex husband talked to me before and I tried to avoid that old man. Then time comes, guys tried to pursue me and I all rejected them. Chantel likes those guys and she's envious that's why she hates me to hell. But ironically she's the one who sleep with half of the guy tenants here.

After I took a bath and changed my clothes, I rummage my kitchen to eat something before going to school but unluckily my stove didn't want to work early in the morning. I felt my stomach growled, and it made me really irritated. I grabbed some apple on the fridge and bit on it before I walked out of my house.

When I checked the time, I have one more hour to kill. Where would I go? Should I eat? But I don't have enough money to buy breakfast. Should I go to school this early?

"You look really hungry."

"Oh my goodness!" My heart jumped when someone spoke. I looked at my side and saw the culprit.

"You scared me Lauren!" She laughed while we walked side by side.

"You spaced out while munching that apple like there's no tomorrow. What are you thinking?"

"Bad morning. By the way, why are you here?" I said before I bit the apple again.

"Uhm I was looking for a good food because I'm hungry. Then I saw you." She answered but she's looking infront of us.

"And you? Why are you out this early? Your class will start at eight right?" She then looked at me and I nodded.

"I told you, bad morning. Don't ask me because I'm not in the mood to explain."

"Okay, but you're going with me. Let's eat. You still have fifty minutes." She smiled after she looked at her phone and pulled me to a near diner that serves breakfast like fried foods.

I didn't tried to argue because my stomach is really mad at me right now, I hope it stops growling because it's embarrassing if someone hear it. Lauren went to the counter and ordered us something. She came back with a tray of fried rice, sausages, her favorite half fried eggs and two cups of coffee.

"Let's eat." She smiled at me before started shoving a spoonful of fried rice in her mouth.

I sipped on my cup of coffee, and my curiosity kicks in.

"Lauren, why are you so different from your siblings? I mean, they really looked like children of a rich man then here you are being the simplest." She stopped eating and smiled at me.

"Money is not important. Friends are."

Yeah she has a point but I remembered myself.

"I have no money, no friends, and no family. I'm all alone." I was at the verge of crying but she spoke.

"You have me." I looked at her I'm surprised by her words.

"As friend." She smiled and gestured me to eat. I smiled back at her before I devour the breakfast she ordered. It feels weird, awhile ago I was really in a bad mood and thought that no one can change that but Lauren did, she made that irritation fade away on my system.

After we ate, I bid good bye to her but she insisted that she will walk me to school.

"You'll be tired."

"But it's fine. Someone said that walking is good for people. And walking with a sexy creature like me is a blessing." I laughed loud for the first time in history because of Lauren Campbell.

"A very cocky young woman." I shook my head with a smile plastered on my lips.

"It's true! See, later on everything will be good to you." She defended while we walk to school.

That morning with Lauren is the nicest morning ever. She's surrounded by positive energy and it radiates me. I felt like I'm fully recharged to face the whole day.

It was lunch time when I decided to look for Leon. I think it's my favorite thing to do, to spend my lunch with her. When I passed on the hallway I saw her exited the library with books in her arms. She struggled with closing the door, so I walked to her but a girl helped her. She said thanks and the girl just smile and tap her shoulder before she went away.

Who's that girl? Did she know her? Are they friends or what?

"Leon, let me help you." I offered and she beamed at me.

"Hi Jade. Why are you here?"

"Let's eat lunch together?" I asked and her smile dropped.

"I really wanted to but, I have a project to finish."

"Can't it wait?" I pouted. Oh my god! What am I doing? I can't believe myself acting cute infront of her. She then chuckled from what I did.

"Unfortunately, it can't. Tomorrow is the deadline and I'm halfway done. I only need this day to finish. Don't worry, after this we'll eat together anytime you want Jade."

"Okay. But Leon, who's the girl awhile ago? I saw that she helped you, do you know her?" I'm too curious about that girl. It didn't mean anything. I just want to know who is she to her.

"Ah! It's Fanella, she's a friend of my sister Leah. So she's nice to me." She explained while smiling at me. That smile, I love that smile.

"I see." I nodded. It's just a friend Jade, okay?

She bid good bye to me and enter a computer laboratory. She told me that she needs to talk to her professor. I left the school and walked to the convenience store, I plan on taking a rice meal there because I don't want to eat alone in our school canteen.

"Woa, you're early." Chichi said when I entered the back room. She's eating her favorite chicken rice meal again.

"Oh, come here and join me." She tapped the table beside her and I immediately put the paper bag I was holding.

"So? You and the weird gal have a lovers quarrel?" She questioned that made me turned my head to her with shocked expression.

"What are you talking about? We are not lovers, and don't call her weird." I rolled my eyes and start unwrapping my lunch.

"Not yet? You know Jade, I can see it. She likes you."

"We're just friends Chichi."

"Then care to explain why she always treat you lunch and gave you ride? Oh yeah I know because you never ate here since I saw her outside with you and it happens often." Sometimes, I want to be afraid of Chichi. She's a human security camera.

"She's just being nice and friendly. It's different with the thought of liking me." I defended. She will never like me or feel something for me, a someone who's poor and a simple girl who doesn't know how to make herself beautiful. I can go to school without using anything like lipstick or blush on. I can go on a day without combing my hair and style it like the trendy hairstyles. Yeah, she will never like me.

But...

"But you like her." I snapped out of my thoughts when Chichi told me the words I'm about to say.

"We are just friends." I lied. I won't confess to her what I feel. She will never stop teasing me.

I felt my phone buzzed on my pocket, so I pulled it out and saw someone messaged me.

Leon 🤓💙

Hi Jade. Just wanna share

something, I'm doing alot

of typing and reading today.

I'm busy, really. But,

something's missing and

you know what--no it's

not what, it's who.

I immediately typed 'Who then?' and hit the send button. Seconds after, my phone buzzed again.

It's you. Jade Kim. I

miss you already. I hope

we could bond but

studies are more

important. So, yeah!

Gotta go now. Take care

always and eat a lot. 💙

I can't restrain the smile that crept into my lips. The giddy feelings invaded my insides again. Aish! This Leon is really sweet.

"Oh friends, yeah sure. I believe you now." My moment was ruined by someone peeking on my phone, I immediately locked the screen and face her. But before I could utter a word she speaks.

"I missed you already. Take care always eat alot." She mimicked the text of Leon and it made my cheeks heat.

"Stop it Chichi!"

"Aish. This baby is finally having her lovelife soon." She teased me and stood up patting my head. I glare at her but she just chuckled and left me.

She teased me over and over the whole working hours, telling me that Leon is outside but when I looked out there's no Leon, so she laughed hard. Then another one, she said that Leon texted me and when I checked my phone and she burst out laughing again because I received none.

"A whipped ass Jade Kim." She's having a good time annoying me when her phone rang. She looked at it and her face fell.

"Take over here, I'll just answer this." She said and I took care on the counter. Two days ago, Yvette told us that she's now in charge here. Her old man went overseas to take care of their other business and being the only child, she will manage their stores he left. She let us use our phones when there's no customers around or emergencies occur. She has no other rules than keep customers satisfied and make sure that the shelves are clean and full of items. Other than that we are free to do everything.

"Jade, are you okay here alone for the rest of our shift?" Chichi came back but her face looks stressed.

"Why?"

"My mom was sent to the hospital. I need to check on her." Her jaw clenched, I can see her fighting over her tears.

"Yeah! Sure. Go now and be safe." I shooed her then she smiled and mumbled a soft thank you before she obliged.

My shift ended and now I'm walking back to my apartment alone. I was battling if I slept on the convenience store the night or walk alone, but my mind told me to go home. I walked as silent as I could be, I hugged my bag and I keep my senses active because there's a possibility that someone is in the dark waiting to stab me.

I stopped when I heard a cracking sound behind me. Someone might be there and accidentally stepped on the dried leaves on the ground. My knees tremble by the thought that someone is following me. I want to look over but I'm scared. I tried to keep on walking again but later on I felt a presence near me, I quickly held my bag tighter and hit the guy vigorously.

"Ouch! Ouch! Stop it witch!" He shouted while shielding his body.

"Stay away from me! I don't want to die!" I shouted back still hitting him with my bag.

"Ouch! You fucking violent woman!" He grabbed my bag and pulled me closer to him. My eyes went wide when our face became closer to each other.

"Pervert!" I pushed him. What is he doing in here?!

"What the hell do you want from me?!" He stood there awkwardly and averted his eyes.

"I uh. I--"

"Are you stalking me?!" I said with disbelief in my voice.

"No! I don't do stalking. I just I wanted to talk to you." He was tapping his shoe on the ground while looking shy. I bit my lower lip to suppress a smile because he looked cute being shy infront of me. Wait! No! He looked stupid not cute!

"Why?" My brow raised and I crossed my arms. He looked at me with furrowed brows.

"Can we walk already? Or are you planning to offer our bodies to the murderer living in here?"

"Oh yeah." I started to walk passed him and I heard him jogged to reach me again.

"So, uhm. I'm sorry." I looked at him confused.

"I'm sorry for what I've said last night we saw each other."

"Wow. Finally came to your senses?"

"Can you atleast let me speak first? You know, it's hard for me to bring down my pride so, be glad that I'm asking for forgiveness." He rolled his eyes. What the! The nerve of this guy!

I shut my mouth and rolled my eyes too. He's so annoying. I hate being around him.

"So, as I was saying. I'm sorry. I thought you are the one who stalked me for a month now. It made me paranoid and it scares me. I'm not used to it. I don't want someone looking at every move I made. That night, after we argued. I saw her, and luckily I captured her and it's not you. That time I knew I fucked up. So here, I'm apologizing for what I've said and for accusing you."

Wow.

I was speechless honestly, I don't know what or how will I respond to him. I didn't expect him to be like this, someone who thinks he's higher than anyone, now asking for forgiveness? It's weird.

"I don't know what to say."

"Say sorry to me too. You choked me and kicked my buddy!" And it ring a bell. I punch his chest like what I promised to do when I met him again.

"Ouch! What was that for?!"

"You pervert! You cupped my breasts!" I glared at him and tried to punch him again but he caught it.

"You choked me and kicked me, it's fair." He defended.

"Aish! Pervert." I pulled my hand and walked faster. I'm irritated by him, I can't stand being with the first person who held my private part without my consent--I mean he's not my lover no--aish! Nevermind. I want to kill him!

"Wait. I'm gonna walk you home, it's too dangerous."

"I'm in danger with you."

"There's alot more danger than I am. I only did that because I'm near on passing out, okay." I rolled my eyes again and stayed silent.

We reached the building but he tailed me to my door.

"Is this where you live?" He can't believe what he is seeing right now. His eyes looked around witnessing how worst this apartment is.

"Yeah, don't try to insult me or I'll kick you again."

"I'm not that type of person. What I'm thinking right now is, are you safe here? Is there anything that can guarantee your safety? Oh, maybe your parents are inside right?" He bombarded me with questions.

"My parents are dead. I'm alone here. Now, I'm gonna go inside. You go home." I gestured him to go but he stayed still. Shoving his hands on his pants pockets while I opened my front door.

"Sorry. But can I come in?"

"What the! You're really a pervert. No way you can enter my house."

"Hey, if I am Leah. Can I enter?" This guy is annoying. Really! Really!

And why so sudden does Leah became involved here?

"What are you saying?"

"You know them right? My sisters?" I nodded. He leaned as a cool guy on the wall infront of my unit.

"So, If I am her. Would you let me?" He asked again. Leah? She's a girl. So why not?

"Absolutely yes. She's a girl. She looks harmless."

"And I'm not?" He was shocked pointing his finger to himself.

"Yeah."

"Aish! Okay, if Lauren? Could she come in also?"

Lauren? She's a she, and she already came inside my house and we're friends so my answer will be automatic.

"Of course, your sisters are girls. You dumb." He hissed and glared at me.

"Leon? She's not a pure she. So, are you allowing her?"

I breathed in. His sister Leon? Yes!

"Definitely yes."

"Why? You know her condition aren't you? She has a dick between her legs." His furrowed brows while explaining.

"Yeah, and I don't care. You know her as sweet and soft kind of person. She won't violate me." I'm confident about it. She's too nice and gentle.

"You should let me in too." I rolled my eyes, he's being childish. Gosh!

"If you're just whining like a little kid infront of my front door, you may go. Because I'm tired! I don't want any arguments right now." I held the door knob and readied myself to shut the door but he gestured me to stop.

"Okay, I'll stop. Just open your door and I'll stay here."

"Why would I do that?"

"Let's just talk for awhile."

"I don't want."

"Please?" His pleading face is like a puppy. Oh my goodness! This is my weakness. A cute face pleading.

But no I won't let it happ--oh!

"'Kay."

Fuck! He pouted and it's fucking cute!

I hate myself!

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