Chapter Nine

Chapter 9:

The Rosella Bridge

Francis Ashton's POV:

It's the last day of school. Rei seemed to be ignoring us for a few days now. That Oliver did told us it would happen and we should let her be. Not that I should care.

"Francis, you going home?" Chloe asked.

I shake my head no. "I'm heading to work."

"Jewel left again. I missed her." Gwen pouted.

"Well, Oliver said that we should wait for her to approach us herself. She's just embarrassed." Chloe explained.

I grab my things. "I'm going."

I went to the cafe.

—later that evening

We're about to close the cafe in half an hour when a woman dressed in a classy business attire entered. Isn't she Gwen's mom?

"Francis~!" Gwen greeted as she followed her mom.

Wow. I didn't know, I would guess that right.

"Gwyneth, inside voice, please." her mom scolded her.

I look at Gwen and she's wearing a lacy shiny kind of dress with a huge ass ribbon in front. I mean, she's usually princess-like but not to this extent. It doesn't look or feel like her at all. Talk about suffocating parents.

"Are you a regular here? You even know the staffs." Her mom said. "One whole cream fruit cake and one strawberry and peach roll."

"We're actually classmates." Gwen smiled at me weakly.

I left the counter to put their order in their boxes. While I was doing that, I could hear them talking.

"Classmates? Rozu accepts delinquent? That might be a good school for you." Her mom whispered but loud enough for me to hear, like intentionally.

"Mom, he's my friend! And he's not a bad person." Gwen complained.

"Dear, why are you talking back to me like that? Is that what you get from befriending a guy like that? Look at his face. Those wounds and scars. He beats people. You shouldn't involve yourself from those kinds of people."

"MOM! You don't even know him, why are you judging him like that." Gwen protested

"I know how the minds of people who grew up in poverty works. They would do everything to crush and take advantage of you. They're barbaric savages."

I clenched my fist and bit my lower lip. How can that sweet Gwen came from that kind of person?

I put the boxes on top of the counter. "Here's your cakes ma'am. That's gonna be 1,560."

She gave me her card and I swiped it; returning it right away.

"Thank you. Please come again." I said with no emotions at all.

"See how rude he is. I want you to stop befriending such thug." Gwen's mom rolled her eyes on me.

"How can those words came out of an educated woman? Is that how you educate your daughter?" A man in a suit interfered.

He looks so intimidating and powerful.

And I guessed that right once again. Gwen's mom looked so surprised.

"Mr. Tuazon! S-sir *coughs* Good evening sir." Gwen's mom sounded formal.

Tuazon? Rei is a Tuazon... Is he?

"A dozen bottle of strawberry milk, a box of strawberry omelet bread and a whole strawberry cream cake, please." The man said with a smile.

"That's a lot of strawberries..." Gwen gasped which made me chuckle a little.

The man smiled. "It's my daughter's favorite."

No way. He might really be Reina's dad. Why am I encountering these people's parents. Gwen and her mom left after a word with that man. He, on the hand, sat at one of the seats waiting for his order. Our manager turned the sign into closed since he's our last customer for the day.

"Here's your order sir." I said and he gave me his card and just the process.

"It's nice to see kids working hard these days. I would like someone like you to work at my company. Here." He said and handed me a business card.

"Thank you sir, please come again." I smiled and accepted the business card.

He left with his orders. I stared at him and his car is a black convertible Lambo. It's rare to see that in here... Julian Rayver Tuazon, Polaris Inc...

Julian Rayver Tuazon, Polaris Inc

Such a powerful man. His company is at Lalea City and this is Rozu... What is he doing here? It's like 2 hours away. I put his card inside my wallet and start cleaning the cafe.

After taking care of everything, I went inside the personnel's room to change my clothes and get my things. I took my phone from my bag and put it on my pocket.

"I'm going home, sir." I said to the manager and left the cafe.

While walking home, I have this habit of looking at a certain bridge. You know, that one I call as our bridge, mine and Reina's.

Speaking of... I can see a girl standing and looking down at the river... eating ice pops? I can't help but to chuckle, she tends to eat ice pops when she's upset, how predictable. I walk towards her.

"Hey. What did the ice pops did to you this time?" I greeted as I stand beside her.

I heard her sigh. "Why do you always appear at times like this?"

"What happened now?" I asked again.

"My dad is here..." She said in a muffled way without letting go of the ice pops in her mouth.

"And?"

"I just wanted to be alone..." She replied.

"No, you don't... No one wants that."

"Well, I deserve to be." Rei sighed again and checked her phone. "Oliver's coming to get me."

I scoffed. "See? You don't want to be alone. You called someone to get you."

"I didn't... He just... knew. That's how he is. He knows me more than I know myself."

"I'll go when he comes. I don't want you to wait alone. It's already pretty late." I said as I stare at her.

She just nodded. It looks like she wants peace of mind so, I didn't tried to open up another conversation.

I just stared at her as she eats that ice pops. Poor ice pops...

"You know, next time... snap it in half. You keep squeezing the poor ice pops." I laughed.

"But it'll become two... It's sad to see, me eating without anyone to share with." She replied.

"How about Oliver?" I said and scoffed to myself.

She glanced at me and smiled. "He doesn't really like sweets."

Thinking about it, they seem to have such mature relationship. I'm not that against that guy anymore.

I heard a motorcycle which stopped in front of us. Speaking of...

"Hey Nana!" Oliver said.

He took off his helmet, put it on his motorcycle and walk towards Rei. He puts his arms around her for a hug.

"Oh. Hey." Oliver greeted.

"I was just passing by. I didn't want to leave her waiting here alone. So... I'll be going now." I explained as I was about to leave.

"Wait." He called.

I stopped and looked back at them. "Yeah?"

"Thanks." He smiled weakly and offered his hand.

I nodded and accepted his hand. "No problem."

"Ash, do you wanna eat at my place? I'm sure you're not gonna go home yet." Rei asked.

I checked Oliver's expression and it's just the same. Looks like they trust each other pretty well.

"You should come with us." He smiled, probably because he noticed me checking him.

"I can't catch up with a motorcycle." I tried making another excuse.

"The three of us can ride the motorcycle. It's not like any police are around." Oliver smirked at Rei.

"Or... You could call Skye and ask him to come here so, Ash could ride his bike." Rei replied.

"Fine, Nana. Don't get so worked up." Oliver chuckled and took out his phone.

He called Skye and there goes another waiting.

"Why do you always wait in this bridge? If you fall, you don't know how to swim." Oliver said while looking at the view.

"Standing here... It reminds that I'm alive and that I should bear with it as much as I could." She replied.

The one person she opens up to is him... Of course, it would be him. I just hope he wouldn't break her.

"This is a special bridge for me too." I joined their conversation.

"Really?" Rei asked.

"I quit the varsity team when I started high school to have time for part-time jobs. Below, there..." I pointed at the place where me and Rei talked all night. "Someone made me realize that I wanted to continue my dreams."

Rei smiled at me. "That must be a great person."

I nodded. "I met that person again one time. Funny 'coz she came the exact moment I needed someone's presence. It was raining and she gave me an umbrella and a drink. She's an incredible person."

"Do you like her?" Rei asked while looking at me intently.

I laughed. "Who knows?"

It took another 5 minutes before Skye arrived. He looked... sleepy?

"Were you sleeping?" Rei asked looking quite guilty.

Skye smiled. "It's okay Queenie. I'd even pick up the phone even if I'm taking a shower if you or Oli are calling."

"How would you even know if we're calling if you're taking a shower?" Oli scoffed.

"Well... You two have a different ringtone on my phone. So, let's go?" Skye asked.

He handed me a helmet.

"Thanks." I said and accepted the helmet.

"I quite like you. You can make Oliver feel insecure and jealous. That's rare." He laughed.

"Shut up." Oliver playfully punched him on his arm before handing Rei a helmet.

Then we're on our way to Rei's house.

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