Chapter 12 - XII (1/2)
TRUE TO WHAT LAIA EXPECTED, THE ASSHAT DID SEND HIS PLAN TO THE GROUP CHAT later in the evening, just a few minutes after Laia finally finished her shift at Brewing.
She volunteered prior to double-check everything and lock the doors but Niel reassured her that she can go home ahead and rest. The girl's coworker was quick to notice how Laia didn't seem to be in a good mood and even gave her a free cupcake in hopes of improving her mood.
Laia thanked him profusely, and at first even tried to refuse it as it was quite expensive. Nevertheless, Niel insisted and Laia could no longer refuse as the boy threatened to shove it down her throat.
The ride back home was silent. The houses she passed had their lights already turned off and nobody else was strolling around. Laia also missed the stray cat she often fed and talked to as well. Maybe it was already sleeping somewhere.
As she arrived at her house, the turned-off lights meant that her mother still wasn't home. Laia hopes she would at least rest for a day, but bringing up that topic would only cause another argument and the girl doesn't want another unnecessary fight.
Not with the argument earlier that almost cost her her crystal-clear reputation. God, she can only hope that the new rumors her classmates had already spread by now wouldn't reach any of the staff. But knowing how much of a chatterbox her adviser is, Laia can just kiss her reputation of being a kindhearted and helpful girl goodbye.
She slumped on the couch, exhausted both physically and mentally. Despite her phone continuously vibrating at the messages being sent to the group chat, she didn't want to look and watch how enthusiastic the asshat was. However, she had no choice.
[Samuel Vincent Laurie: Since there are three of us, let's divide the workload. I can do the research as I did propose the topic. Shane, you make the PowerPoint and make sure that all the content would be presented well. You can also help in the research when you're done. Lopez, you do the presenting.]
Of course, the asshat doesn't even bother asking his groupmates if they were okay with the roles he gave. Laia scoffs and was tempted to just throw her phone in frustration as the humiliation and anger she felt earlier resurfaced again.
But she knew throwing the phone would do her no good so she screamed at one of the couch pillows instead. Regardless of the fury she felt inside her, she still grabs her phone that she placed on the coffee table and read Shane's response.
[Shane Victoria Miles: dats alrite with me! juust send me the deets xD]
He's literally not asking, Laia thinks as she frowns. Is Shane acting like an airhead on purpose or is she really one?
[Samuel Vincent Laurie: Great. Lopez, stop leaving the messages at seen and respond. This is a group project after all.]
Fucking asshole, Laia thinks as she felt her jaw clench. Can anyone invent being able to punch a person through your phone?
As much as Laia wanted to spite the asshole by continuing to leave the messages at seen, she knew that he may give her a low grade at their peer evaluation that occurs after their reporting and will be done individually, which makes Laia unable to see what grade will the asshole give her.
[Laia Racquelle Lopez: i was cooking dinner.]
She was currently lying down on the couch.
[Laia Racquelle Lopez: anyway just let me see the pptx so im ready b4 the report]
[Shane Victoria Miles: noted <3333 i'll just PM it to u laiaaaa]
[Samuel Vincent Laurie: Don't send it to her privately. Send it here.]
[Laia Racquelle Lopez: as long as you're certain that u did ur research part well, u wouldn't worry abt the pptx's content. it's okay to send it to be privately shane.]
Laia laughs out loud when the asshat leaves the message on seen. Look who's speechless now!
[Shane Victoria Miles: alrite as u say so!]
[Laia Racquelle Lopez: ????]
The conversation ended there and Laia lets out a huff, standing up from the couch and making her way to her bedroom.
She ended up deciding for a solid ten minutes whether to study in advance or just go to sleep. But upon hearing the front door open with a loud creak, Laia immediately jumped to her bed and pulled the covers up until they covered her face.
Laia closed her eyes and feigned sleep. Her mother entered her room a few moments later, and Laia can smell the sweat on the older woman's clothes and the lingering smoke from grilling all sorts of meat all day.
She felt her mother kiss her gently on the forehead before leaving, closing the door as quietly as she could behind her.
Laia immediately fell asleep after.
The next day was just chaos. Not only was the girl awakened by her phone vibrating loudly due to all the texts Brie bombarded her with and even called her more than ten times, but Laia also woke up to another rainy today.
She frowns and lets out a grunt. A rainy day meant having to wear a raincoat and having to ride slower than usual to avoid her bike from slipping or from any other terrible accident happening.
True that the girl knew that riding her bike slowly is the right thing to do, but it may result in her first late attendance since her first year.