Chapter 21 - XX (1/2)

”YOU HAVE A PART-TIME JOB?!”

Laia wasn't able to keep her part-time job a secret from her friend.

Well, more like she wasn't able to keep it from everyone else who stayed behind in the gymnasium.

Brie did scream out loud after Laia revealed to her the details regarding her part-time job that she recently started.

The short-haired girl couldn't help herself from rolling her eyes in annoyance. Way to go, Brie. Not only was it technically not allowed for students to get part-time jobs, her friend literally just screamed it out loud for everyone to hear.

Fantasic.

Luckily for Laia, as luck seems to be on her side for the day, most of those who were around didn't care much about the new thing they learned. True that it was technically prohibited to get a part-time job, but a lot of other students also have one too.

Not just Laia, thankfully.

Jake was the only one whose eyes didn't leave Laia and Brie immediately. However, he quickly averted his gaze when Brie looked at his direction.

Laia can't honestly understand what's going on between the two.

But apparently, she had other things to worry about. Like Brie currently pouting in front of her, adamant on knowing why can't she just lend her friend some money or offer her friend a job at one of their hotel or resorts.

”I can stand on my own, Brie,” was what Laia told her friend as they (finally) made their way outside the gymnasium, intending to reach Brie's convertible quickly. ”You don't have to help me--”

Brie blocks her friend by standing in front of her with her hands on her hips. ”I want to! You help me everything! It's the least I can do for you! Besides, money is never an issue for me anyway--”

Laia fights the urge to just scream at her friend in frustration. Typical, she doesn't understand what the short-haired girl feels. She's never probably had any problem when it comes to their finances, as she's an only child and the sole heiress to a huge chain of hotels and resorts.

Sometimes Laia couldn't help but wish that she was rich instead. Maybe not as rich as her friend is, but rich enough to not think about their finances every other minute, worrying about not having enough money for the next days or weeks or months to come.

What an amazing life it must be.

Laia sighs heavily and looks straight into her friend's eyes. ”I appreciate it,” She even pats her friend in the shoulder before bluntly saying, ”But I am not a charity case, Brie.”

Brie's eyes widened in shock as she deflates. ”I didn't mean to offend you, Laia--”

”I know you mean well,” Laia reassures her friend with a smile. They have already reached the parking spot where Brie parked her convertible. ”And I want you to know that I do appreciate it,”

”But?”

Laia opens the door to the passenger's seat and sits down the moment Brie sits down as well, the long-haired girl's hands already on the wheel.

”But as I said earlier, I need to stand on my own. I can handle it.”

Brie looked like she wanted to argue further but doesn't say anything else. She drives more slowly than usual as if she didn't want to reach their destination as quickly as possible.

Laia didn't mind, but she did have a lingering feeling that Niel might tease her about being late again.

The moment they reached the coffee shop, Laia immediately spots Niel sweeping the area in front of the coffee shop's entrance. The boy was quick to see her too, and even waves at her.

Brie turns to her friend with a teasing smile. ”Did you make him bisexual?”

Laia gave her a deadpanned stare. ”You do realize it doesn't work like that right? Besides, what's wrong with his sexual orientation?”

The long-haired girl raises her hands in surrender but quickly places them back on the steering wheel when Laia frowns at her. ”I'm sorry! I was just teasing. I actually have a gay uncle, mind you!”

”You know that's not the point here,” Laia said in a serious tone. ”Anyway, just don't say those kinds of words when you talk to him or any one of the same sexual orientation. You might, no, you would possibly really offend them.”

”Fine, fine,”

Brie parks her car in a spot that offers a shade. Laia was quick to open the door to her side, and made her way to Niel who greets her with a grin.

”Hey, good to see you!”

Laia smiles back. ”Good to see you too. Not many customers?”

The boy holding a broom and a dustpan shook his head. ”Not much. But they were quite a lot earlier before you arrived,”

”Oh,” Laia immediately felt guilty at the thought of the boy singlehandedly having to attend to all the customers and the meals and drinks they ordered. ”I'm sorry--”

Niel laughs and waves her apology off. ”Don't worry about it. We did get a new part-timer,”

”A new one?”

”Yep,” Niel replies, popping the 'p' as he usually does. ”He's currently inside cleaning the tables. I think he goes to that all-boy school that's far from here? I'm not that certain though,”

Laia was about to reply when Brie arrives out of nowhere and interrupts their conversation.

”Hi! I'm Brie, I believe we already met before briefly?” She even offers her hand to the boy in front of her.