The Devil's Good Girl-Chapter 204: Putting the friendship to the test

[Minutes ago]

"You’re going home now?" Kenzo inquired as he and Fil walked out of the building. "Want to grab something to eat?"

"Nope." Fil shook her head. "Marcus will pick me up."

Kenzo stopped and faced her, which made her also stop. "You agreed to see him?"

"No."

"Then why is he picking you up?"

"Because... he is Marcus." She shrugged. "He is known to be patient, but last night tells he is running out of patience."

Kenzo hissed in dismay. "If he is running out of patience, doesn’t that mean you shouldn’t meet him more?"

"Then it’s like putting gas on the fire."

"Tch."

"It’s okay, Ken," Fil reassured, nodding at him. "I know Marcus and like I said, three months is a long time for me to clear my head. I’m not acting out of vengeance or pain anymore. I’ve gone past that. I’m meeting him because I need him to extend his patience."

"Still sounds dangerous," he grumbled as they started walking again. He glanced at her and, for some reason, he felt reassured. Unlike before, Fil carried this confidence which she used to have back then. She seemed more clear-headed than when she told him about her plans three months ago.

"Picking you up in the office right after Elise introduced him as her boyfriend..." he muttered as they walked out of the building. "That’s... I’d give that to him. The guy really is a piece of trash."

"He is cruel," she agreed, stopping when she noticed the person at the bus stop. Her abrupt stop made Kenzo stop as well, following the direction she was looking with his gaze.

There, at the bus stop, was Elise. Although they couldn’t see her face, they knew it was her... and she was crying.

"That bastard..." Kenzo ground his teeth as he balled his hands into a tight fist. "Damn. I should have told her about it gently — firmly, but gently."

"Do you think the tone has anything to do with it?" Fil sighed, feeling deeply sorry for Elise. "But Ken, that is only a preview of Elise once we didn’t deal with Marcus."

Kenzo and Fil looked at each other and nodded in understanding. But before she could look away, she caught a familiar car approaching.

"Marcus is here," she said with a smile. "See you tomorrow."

"Wait. What do you want me to do?"

Her smile stretched. "Take her home."

With that being said, Fil pranced away from him and walked on the sidewalk. Instead of hailing a cab, she calculatingly approached the bus stop. But before she could even come close, Marcus stopped in front of her. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

Fil coldly watched Marcus come out of the driver’s seat after asking her to get in. He opened the door for her, sighing as he enticed her more.

’I’m not sure if she’s seeing this,’ she thought as she reluctantly got into the car. ’But I hope she does.’

*****

[PRESENT TIME]

"Hey," Fil spoke as soon as Kenzo picked up the call. "How was she?"

"She’s fine... at least, that’s what she said," Kenzo stood under the shed, waiting for the bus to get home as he had already taken Elise home.

"Did she see us?"

"She didn’t say anything about you or Marcus. She also avoided any talk about Marcus or her. That’s the only thing she asked that we shouldn’t talk about if I’m going to take her home." Kenzo let out a shallow breath, snapping his eyes at the incoming bus. "But I think she saw you two. Is that okay?"

"Mhm."

"Fil, I trust you that this time, you know what you’re doing. But what are you exactly planning?"

"I’ll let you in once I confirm something," said Fil. "If she saw us, that’s good for us."

"I don’t understand." Kenzo shook his head, hopping onto the bus timely. "Are you trying to jeopardize your relationship with Elise? This might not end well for the two of you, and I’m worried."

"I’m not trying to jeopardize it, but rather, I trust my friendship with Elise. If it’s deep enough just like how I thought it was, then it won’t be a problem for the two of us. However, if she blamed me for it or accused me of any nonsense, then that’s my cue to reconsider our friendship." Fil’s answer was direct and firm. "Ken, like I said, I’m not going to be the Fil I once was. At least, not that version where I hate myself more than anyone. Friendship had always cost me so much. I have to know if this friendship is worth fighting for or simply a waste of my time."

"Anyway, thank you for taking her home. You take care on your way too," she added before ending the line.

Kenzo couldn’t even say another word, putting down his phone and gazing at it again. "And there she goes," he muttered, shaking his head.

’But then again, I can’t blame her,’ he thought, gazing at the window quietly. ’Dealing with Marcus... how is she going to make him stop?’

******

"Anyway, thank you for taking her home. You take care on your way too."

The moment Fil ended the call, she let out a deep exhale. Slowly, she turned her head in the window as she recalled what she told Kenzo.

’I didn’t want to put my friendship with Elise to the test, but I can’t also retract my steps just for her or anyone.’ She thought, thinking if Elise was truly her friend, Elise wouldn’t want her friend to do that for her. ’Although I know I’m the reason Marcus approached her, I’m being careful enough to not hurt her so much in the process.’

After all, if Fil truly deeply wanted this to stop, she could always ask for Jackson’s help. The man would happily oblige. However, she didn’t because she was afraid Marcus would hurt Elise in retaliation. Therefore, Fil had to know if this matter was worthy of approaching with carefulness or if she should choose the easier path.

"Uhm, can you drive me somewhere else?" Fil cleared her throat as she turned her head to the driver. "Please take me to Regal Haven Residences."

******

[REGAL HAVEN RESIDENCES]

"Ugh..." Michael massaged his head as he grumpily marched to the front door. The doorbell continuously rang, annoying him with every passing second. "I’m going — damn it!"

He glared at the front as the bell wasn’t helping his headache. He didn’t bother checking who it was, as he already had a guess. There were only a few individuals who would come to his place unannounced. But when Michael opened the door, his squinting eyes parted wider.

The person was someone he least expected.

"Fil?" he blurted out in surprise. "The hell are you doing here?"