Chapter 83
I chuckled: "So you still think Amelia is a good person?"
Liliana was at a loss for words and coughed a few times: "That was an accident. After all, I've known her since we were little. I just haven't seen her in so many years, I never expected she'd become such a two-faced person."
I didn't know Amelia at first either, and I was once fooled by her fragile appearance.
Looking at Liliana, who was also a victim like me, I unconsciously warmed up to her a bit.
She grabbed my hand: "Don't worry, now that I see her for who she really is, I'll never help her bully you again. I'll protect you and won't let her hurt you anymore."
I gently pulled away her hand from my wrist, my tone flat: "Thanks."
Liliana grabbed my hand again.
I glanced at it and thought, whatever, it's just holding hands.
Seeing that I didn't reject her touch again, she grinned and held my hand, her grip light and cautiously tentative.
"Are you free right now? Want to go out and have some fun with me?"
I thought about it—I didn't really have anything going on, but we'd only just chatted for a few minutes and weren't even friends yet. Going out to play together wasn't that a bit odd?
"Come on, if you don't come with me and I run into them again by myself, what then? Your rescue would've been for nothing, right?"
"Please, come play with me. I want to hang out with you, please."
Liliana clasped her hands together, softly begging me, insisting I go play with her.
I used to see Liliana acting all cool and thought she was a tough girl, but I never expected her to be so good at acting cute.
I looked into her sincere eyes and nodded.
She happily broke into a smile: "Let's go!"
I let her pull me forward, walking at a steady pace. Watching her navigate through the alleys behind the school as she knew them by heart, I couldn't help asking: "You've only been here a few days and you already know your way around?"
"Of course." She lifted her chin, her eyes still carrying that bold, rebellious energy, though the hostility from before was gone. "I just enjoy studying these interesting things."
"No matter where I am, I always make sure to find out where the good food and fun places are first."
"Just follow me today. You don't need to worry about anything—I guarantee I'll show you a great time and get you some delicious food."
The food stalls at the alley entrance were filled with rich aromas—grilled sausages, oden, takoyaki, all kinds of food everywhere you looked.
Liliana stopped and turned to ask me: "Want a grilled sausage? The sauce at this place is amazing; they have both spicy and non-spicy."
I shook my head: "No thanks, it doesn't look very..."
Clean.
I didn't finish saying this sentence in front of my boss.
"No fun." She pouted and bought one for herself, taking a big bite and mumbling with her mouth full, "You're so boring. Why worry about all that? As long as it tastes good, right?"
"I'm not in good health, I need to be extra careful," I replied flatly.
She stopped: "I'm sorry, I forgot that you..."
I had lost my baby before, and it damaged my health, so I needed to be careful with my diet.
I smiled: "No worries."
Her phone suddenly rang with a cute children's song as the ringtone, completely at odds with her bold personality—the contrast was striking.
Liliana looked at the caller ID and answered cheerfully: "Hello."
I didn't know what the person on the other end said, but I saw her eyebrows raise, then quickly fall. Her eyes quickly glanced at me, and she said quietly into the phone: "I'm out with a friend, I can't come back right now."
She paused, listened to what they said, and her tone softened a bit, though still reluctant: "Okay, okay, I'll be right there. Stop nagging, I'm hanging up."
After hanging up, she turned around with an apologetic look on her face.
"Sophia, my grandma needs me for something. She's at a café not far ahead. Can you come with me? Just for a few minutes."
Seeing the earnestness in her eyes, I didn't refuse and nodded: "Okay, let's go."
"Can you wait for me downstairs? I'll come find you really quick."
I agreed.
She ordered coffee and dessert for me before going to the private room.
The café's decoration is elegant and understated. I sat peacefully sipping my coffee, occasionally having a bite of dessert.
Liliana really was quick—I had just finished my coffee when she came down.
She pulled me toward the exit: "Let's go, let's go."
Like some beast was chasing her from behind.
Suddenly, my phone rang.
I stopped her: "Wait, let me take this call."
"Grandma?"
Liliana's grip on my hand instantly tightened. I frowned slightly.
What was wrong with her?
"Your health just got better; you just got out of the hospital not long ago. How can you go out for coffee by yourself?"
"I won't go. I just finished my coffee and was about to go play with a friend."
"Wait, you're also having coffee?" Something flashed through my mind, too quick for me to catch.
"What a coincidence. You want to hang out with us? Well..." I was a bit torn.
I covered the phone and asked Liliana, "Where are we going later? My grandma says she wants to join us. Do you mind?"
Liliana looked confused.
"What's wrong?"
"I, I'm fine..."
Liliana stammered: "Your grandma's not in good health, right? If she comes out to play with us, can her body handle it?"
"I can handle it."
Before I could answer, Indigo spoke first.
Helplessly, I looked at Liliana: "Is that okay?"
Liliana hesitated for a long time, biting her lip: "Fine!"
Her expression, like she was going to her death, made me laugh.
"What's with that look? If I didn't know better, I'd think you were going to die."
"No, I..." Liliana sighed. "Forget it, you don't understand. Actually, you'll understand soon enough."
She turned around, seemingly texting someone.
I asked Indigo where she was so I could pick her up, but surprisingly, we were in the same café. She told me her room number, and I went upstairs to find her.
After hanging up, I said with a smile, "What a coincidence, my grandma is also having coffee here."
"By the way, has your grandma left? Should we invite her to have coffee with us?"
Liliana immediately refused: "No need, she already left."
I nodded: "Then we'll have to arrange it for next time."
I led Liliana upstairs, found the room number Indigo gave me, and pushed open the door.
By the window, Indigo was slowly sipping a cup of hot coffee. Her hair at the temples was neatly combed, and her eyes sparkled with a smile.
Seeing me, Indigo's face immediately lit up with a gentle smile, and she quickly waved: "Sophia, you're here. Come sit down and try this coffee."
"Okay," I responded and sat beside her, taking the coffee she handed me.
Liliana turned her face to the side, even covering it with her hand. She stood next to me, her back straight, her face expressionless, but her eyes were evasive, not saying a word.
Indigo's gaze fell on her, her tone carrying some hesitation and confusion: "Your friend—why does she look so familiar?"