Project: LOVE [Chapter 4 - Edited]

You’d have figured from the amount of time we spent in the dressing room, that I’d come out with a fancy new hairstyle. Well, it definitely was something new, but fancy may be a relative term. What we both settled for was a fun looking bun, held up by a hair stick with flower ornaments to match the blue looking gem on the heels Kasey lent me. I was hesitant at first, since I didn’t know who the item belonged to, but Kasey reassured me it was fine to borrow it for the day and that I could just return it tomorrow. That in mind, we hung out for a while, leaving my clothes in her dressing room locker. We ate lunch early then headed to our individual classes. We made an agreement that we’d wait for each other at the S.S.E. café once we were through.

It was about 2:30 pm when we met again. I arrived there first, so when she came, I was still finishing my cup of mocha.

“Aw, you didn’t order for me?” Kasey frowned, setting her bag on the floor. “Not even some pastry, chief?”

I rolled my eyes as I dug my hand into my open backpack and got out a box of brownies. I slid that over to Kasey’s side. “No, not coffee or anything, but I did get you this from the bakery near the management department.”

For a second there, I thought I saw her drool for a quick moment. She had a thing for brownies after all. “Is that good enough for you?”

“You bet! You got the fudgy ones with the nuts too. Thanks, Lara.”

“You’re welcome.” I sipped the last of the mocha and closed my bag. “Should we get my stuff now and leave?”

“Ah, yeah, we should.” She nodded, placed the box of treats in her bag, and then stood up. “By the way, you’re coming with me, right?”

I blinked. I have my bike though, and I already told you about that.

She may have read my mind because she snickered at me. “What? You’re going to bike in that get up? I don’t think so, honey.”

She tapped on the table. “Your bike is foldable, isn’t it? We can put it in my car trunk and I’ll drive you home – or wherever else you need to be before going back to your house.”

Well, I was intending to go to the groceries earlier on.

I stood up and led the way to the elevator. “Would you mind if we drop by the grocery store near my place first then?”

“Nope,” she said, stretching her back. “Can I hang out at your house for a while before I go home later?”

“Sure.”

Once we got my clothes, we made our way to the parking lot. I was walking my bike while Kasey hummed a tune of a One Republic song. It sounded like “Good Life”.

“Well, here’s the car! Let’s get the bike in so we can drive away.”

She opened the trunk as I folded my bike. We were careful with how we placed it, so that neither trunk nor bike would sustain any damage, then closed it gently. Kasey then pressed a button on her remote key and we both took our positions – Kasey seated at the driver’s seat, whereas I was on the passenger’s.

“Careful when driving, Kase.” I buckled myself to the seat and looked out the window.

“I know. Trust me, even though you got your license before I did.”

She threw me another one of those winks when I glanced at her. Those aren’t going get old anytime soon, huh?

We drove off, braced some minor traffic in front of the university, but we didn’t mind. She had a pretty good playlist to keep us entertained. It had songs varying from Westlife to Maroon 5. I particularly liked “Wipe Your Eyes”.

“Today was a killer, wasn’t it? My professor barely kept me awake.” Kasey chuckled. “Debit this, credit that. I wouldn’t mind so much if he kept it interesting but… today really was just a slow run for him.”

“Not too bad. Mine was fine. Sure some students were playing around, but the distraction wasn’t as terrible as before.” I smiled. “You’d be surprised about how many guys secretly stares at… ‘green’ things in class.”

She gasped and I raised my brows. Kasey wasn’t expecting that and neither was I at first, but college mixed all our different personalities – some just happened to be slightly more perverted than the rest.

“Glad I’m not in your class. I wouldn’t be able to concentrate otherwise.”

“Heh, it isn’t as bad as it seems. Just keep your eyes away from their tablets and you’d be fine.”

She looked at me briefly, then turned her eyes back to the road. “Why were you looking at their tablets?”

“You’d get curious too if the guys in front of you were gawking at a particular tablet, though they had their own. Bad choice on my part.”

“Curiosity killed the cat?”

“The cat survived.” I grinned. “Can’t say the same thing for one of them.”

“Empty battery?”

“More like the professor caught one earlier. Let’s just say he’s going to expect a letter from the disciplinary office soon.”

“Yowch. Talk about major offense in the handbook.”

We chatted all the way to the grocery store. Kasey parked near the door and soon we were inside. We grabbed our cart (Kasey volunteered to push it) and went around from one aisle to the next. First, I led her to the personal hygiene area.

Let’s see. She was almost out of her shampoo earlier, as well as the conditioner. Better replace those…

I grabbed for a pink shampoo tube (the same as the one she let me use, but I chose a slightly bigger tube), placed it in the cart, and put plenty of conditioner sachets right after.

“Hey, Lara. These seem like the stuff in my kit. Did you like the smell that much to buy them?” Kasey blinked.

“Yeah, well of course they’d be the same. Those aren’t mine.” I bent down to get a box of the feminine wash I was running out of. “They’re for you. I noticed the ones you had in your kit barely had anything left inside, so I figured I might as well restock it.”

“I can buy these on my own, you don’t need to get these for me!” She was beginning to pull out the things I placed when I grabbed for her wrist.

“Hey, hands off.” I sighed, slapping away her hand. “It’s fine, really. You don’t need to pay me back. I just want to do this, okay?”

“Eh?” She stared at me. “That sounded a bit like –“

“Well, what do you expect?” I smiled at her. “I’m learning from the best, aren’t I? …That’s what you always say about yourself, anyway.”

I turned away and continued getting stuff that I mentally listed down. Kasey was silent all throughout, but somehow I felt like she was pleasantly happy. When I took glimpses at her, it was like she was satisfied with something, with that whacky smile on her face. Well, probably not whacky but it was definitely something else from the usual. It was kind of creepy though.

After a few rounds of going around and a cart of things I was shopping for (mixed with some snacks Kasey requested), we were finally in line at the register. It was still relatively long, since there were two carts before ours, so I went through everything again just to check I had all that I initially came here for.

Feminine wash, check. Napkins and tissues, check. Nate’s monthly gadget issue (yes, I buy those for him), check. Dishwashing and laundry soap –

Oh man. I forgot about those! Thankfully, there was still time so I asked Kasey to wait for me to get back. I briskly walked to those aisles, searched for the particular brands my mom asked me to find, then was on my way back when I saw an elderly woman trying to reach for a can of biscuits at the upper shelf. I walked over.

“Hi, excuse me for a bit.”

I stood on tiptoe and took the can she was trying to reach. I gave it to her. She looked at me, nodded, and smiled.

“Thank you so much, dear.”

“No problem.” I bowed a little, a thing I do out of habit, waved her good-bye, and went back to Kasey.

“Do you have the money to pay for all of these products with you?”

I stared as I saw an elegant looking, middle aged woman talk to a teenager. The teen looked right about my age, frantic and… pregnant. I tapped Kasey.

“What’s going on?” I whispered.

Kasey raised her hand towards me and whispered back. “That girl’s card just got declined, and it doesn’t seem she has any money to pay. She’s been pleading for the cashier to try her card over and over, like she can’t believe it. That lady looks like she’s the owner. She stepped up a few minutes ago.”

“Ma’am,” she said in a calm but strict manner. “I’m sorry, but you have to leave. You’re holding the line for the rest of the customers and –“

“No, please. One more time. I’m begging you, just…”

I saw tears form in her eyes. Something inside me ached at the moment. The lady looked at Kasey and me apologetically. Kasey nodded while I just continued to look at the situation.

“I’m sorry, but the card really isn’t registering. No matter how many times we go over and over this, it won’t change.” The cashier quietly slid her card back. The owner stared at the pregnant girl silently.

“Oh no… please. This can’t be happening… I-I need these stuff, for my family and…”

“Ma’am, you have to go.” The middle aged woman held her firmly on the shoulder and began walking her out.

I couldn’t help it anymore. That sense of helplessness I saw in her… I couldn’t let her get walked away like this. It’s my turn to step up.

I came over and put my hand over the owner’s shoulder. “Please, wait.”

Both of them turned around to look at me as I took the teenager’s wrist in my hand. “I’ll pay for her groceries.”

To say they were the only ones who were shocked was an understatement. Even Kasey, who was beginning to put our stuff on to the counter, looked at me in awe.

“I’ll pay for it. Please don’t let her leave just yet.”

Quietly, they looked at one another and the woman let her be. I slung my arm over the teen’s shoulders and walked her back. The cashier checked out each item again and showed me the price on her screen. I got out my debit card and handed it over, all the while patting the surprised girl’s arm.

“Here, try my card.”

The cashier took it and I let go of the girl for a while, so that I could input what was asked of me. I saw the tears that formed earlier slide down her face.

“Here,” I said, handing back the card reader.

Thank God for ATM cards. I don’t think I could have paid for hers and mine if it was just based on the money I have on me right now.

The transaction was successful and the groceries were carefully packed into plastic bags. I got the heavier one of the two and gave her the other. “Come on, I’ll walk you out.”

I looked back at Kasey and she gave me a thumbs up. I smiled to myself.

“Do you have a car?” I asked the teenager once we were outside. She shook her head.

“I walked to get here,” she said. “My house is about twenty minutes away by foot.”

She walked? But she’s pregnant! She shouldn’t strain herself that much, especially with these bags.

“Wait here.” I instructed her. She looked at me confusedly.

I walked a little further away to the edge of the road, and hailed her a taxi. I told the cabbie to wait for a while and made my way back to the girl.

“A taxi’s waiting for you,” I told her. “How much do you think it fares for him to drop you off directly in front of your house?”

“I-I couldn’t possibly –“

“There’s no use turning down my actions now.” I smiled. “Don’t worry about it. Just tell me.”

She was silent for a while, but then whispered the amount. I nodded then led her to the taxi. I helped her get inside, opening the door for her so she could get in, then placed the bag I was holding beside her. I gave the cabbie the fare, told him to drop her off right outside her place, then turned to her. She was still crying.

Well… it’s better that she’s crying over this than being led away with nothing in hand.

I rolled up some bills and shook her hand, leaving the bills with her. She opened her palm when she felt I slid something there.

“Just a bit of help I can give.” I grinned. “Take care of yourself now – and your baby. Bye.”

Without anything else being said, the taxi drove off. I stared for a while, then realized I had to go back inside the store to pay my own dues. When I got inside, everything was packed and they were waiting for me.

“Sorry if I took long. Can you swipe the card again?” I handed over the debit card I used earlier.

The cashier nodded and did as I requested. It was successful, and soon enough, Kasey and I were headed out to the car.

“That was something, chief,” Kasey said. “I wouldn’t have had the guts to do what you did.”

“Well, I’m pretty gutsy, so there.”

We got to the car and began loading up the groceries. Kasey turned to me. “Why did you help her though? I’m just curious. I saw the price and it was pretty big…”

I sighed. I’d rather pay for her that than let her be taken away.

“Lara?” She stared straight into my eyes. I looked away.

“Let’s just…”

Crap.

“It’s okay. If you’re uncomfortable about the issue, I can just drop it.” She smiled, then closed the door. Just before she got back in to the driver’s seat, I placed my hand on the hood. Kasey stood there, door open, looking at me.

“Let just say I know how she felt.” I said. “I think that’s the most I can say for now.”

“Lara…”

I didn’t pay heed to her words anymore. My mind was beginning to wander elsewhere, to a time when I was younger, to before I met Kasey and the others. I subconsciously got into the passenger’s seat and let myself reminisce some memories.