Emma glanced at the bald man again. Yes, he does look scary. But Emma didn't think to be afraid of him. The member of her father's mafia group looked much scarier than that person. They often carried Emma in their arms when she was a child. They were good uncles who used to buy her ice cream when she was a cute little girl.
"I'm too worried about my friend. Let me take her home first, then I'll transfer the compensation money." Emma explained to the man.
"Wait.. I think I've seen you before," The man who vomited earlier narrowed his eyes.
"Oh.. My friend said you were PB. Could it be that you two know each other?" asked Emma.
The man seemed to think for a moment, "PB? Yes, that's my name.. on campus. Do we study at the same place? At Jardin University."
Emma nodded with relief, "You're right. We are studying at the same university. You don't have to worry. My name is Emma Hilland. I promise will pay the compensation. You could find me on campus If I'm not sending the money." She said fast. "Now, let us go." She smiled forcefully.
"Emma Hillland?" muttered the man. He stood up and took off his brown coat which was stained with vomit.
"Help her carry her friend," PB ordered his two men while handing the coat to one of them.
"Okay, Boss!"
Emma frowned, but she didn't refuse the help. They put Kathy in a chair pushed together so the girl could lie down.
"I happen to know the owner of this tavern. He will give your friend a hangover drink." Said PB.
Emma nodded, "Thank you. Oh.. How much does your coat cost? I'll pay it back."
"No need. It just needs to be taken to the laundry." He answered. Then, he turned to Emma, "Aren't you Calvin Lee's girlfriend?"
Emma's forehead furrowed and her eyes blinked in surprise. She cleared her throat somewhat annoyed, "I don't know what the rumours are going around on campus. But I'm not Calvin Lee's girlfriend." The answer was emphatic.
"Oh, It was actually from the girls. I just heard. I'm sorry if it turns out to be untrue."
"Hmm..." Emma replied. "By the way, thanks for helping us and for understanding my friend's behaviour. She's not a good drinker."
"Looks like you haven't known her for long." Said PB.
Emma then turned her face towards the shop owner man who came to bring a glass of turbid water.
"This is a hangover drink." He put the glass on the table.
"Thank you, sir. Sorry to mess up your tavern." Emma said uncomfortably.
The old man laughed shyly, "Ah.. It's okay. You are Boss Marcel's friend. So, you are also the special guest here. Haha.."
"Boss Marcel?" Emma repeated in a mumble.
"You'd better give that drink to your friend now. It's getting late. Shouldn't you girls go home?" Said PB to break Emma's mind. He hinted at the owner of the shop to leave immediately.
"You are right," Emma said. She immediately went to Kathy and forcefully woke her up.
After the girl's consciousness had awakened a little, Emma immediately gave her the hangover drink. After about fifteen minutes, Kathy finally woke up from her severe hangover.
Kathy's vision was still blurry and wobbly. She looked at a tall man in a black long-sleeved shirt with a high collar standing in front of her. Then she turned her head to the left, just to find Emma who was crouching, looking at her worriedly.
"Are you feeling any better?" Emma asked her friend.
Kathy nodded then clutched her head, "My head hurts so bad."
"I'll call you a taxi. How about it?" The man asked as he crouched down beside Emma.
Kathy, who finally realized that the man was Prince Bold a.k.a PB, the handsome guy from the fashion design class, couldn't help but gape. She suddenly felt so ashamed of her drunken state that she had to fall asleep on the combined chairs.
Emma nodded, "Please. Thank you so much."
PB nodded, then stood up. He approached one of his men who had straight hair to ask him to call a taxi. It wasn't long before he returned to Emma and Kathy.
"The taxi is right out front. I'll help you." He said by carrying Kathy with him.
PB opened the passenger car door and Kathy went inside. Emma, who was still standing outside, refused to join her in the car.
"Thanks for helping us. I'm really going to change your coat. Or at least.. let me pay for the laundry." She took a small notebook and a pen from her bag. "This is my phone number. Please send me your bank account number later. I don't like being indebted to someone."
PB received a piece of paper that Emma tore from the notebook, "I see. Be careful on the way. Good evening." He said as Emma got into the car.
After that the taxi left, leaving PB who was still standing on the side of the road in front of the tavern, the two men approached.
"Boss, The new boys we're about to recruit are already at the main base. Should we go there now?" Asked one of them.
"Have you finished your work?" PB asked, keeping the piece of paper he was holding in the front pocket of his pants.
"Of course, Boss. We've collected deposits at all the shops down this street." Answered the men with straight hair.
"Okay then. Let's go now."
***
"EMMA!! I AM SO SORRY!!" Kathy whined as she hugged the girl.
"It's all right, Kathy. I understand you're drunk." Answered Emma.
"But what I did was really embarrassing. You don't know, PB is one of the campus princes? Your name will definitely get ugly because of me. Just wait until PB tells the popular girl group who likes to gossip. Gosh! They are always envious of you. This must be an opportunity for them to make you look bad!" Her crying was too much.
"That's not a problem, Kathy. Take it easy. Besides, that guy named PB doesn't seem too bad either. He's nice and polite." Answered Emma.
"Emma.. You are my best friend. I love you, Emma." Kathy took her best friend's hands and held them in front of her face.
Emma chuckled, "Thanks for thinking that. By the way, is your house still far?"
Kathy nodded, "My house is near to our university. It's too late if you have to go back to your house. Do you want to stay at my house? Don't worry.. my room is quite spacious and clean."
The tavern they were going to was located quite far from campus. Emma and Kathy had to take several buses to get there. Emma herself had never crossed the street which had quite a few small shops and taverns.
"Okay, if you don't mind," Emma answered.
Kathy grinned, "Of course not, Emma. I'd be so happy you wanted to stay!"
***
Arriving at Kathy's house, they immediately went into the girl's room because it was very late. They didn't want to disturb Kathy's sleeping family.
"Welcome to my room, Emma," Kathy said as she opened the door to her room. "Please come in."
Emma stepped inside and looked around. Her heart fluttered because this was the first time she had stayed at her friend's house. Just imagine, sleeping together with fellow women of the same age. They could talk about many things throughout the night, even until morning came. Try each other's body care products, show off beautiful clothes, and more. It must be so much fun!
"I'm going to take a shower first, Emma. Then you can borrow my pyjama. Make yourself at home. You can mess with my things, as long as not with my computer." Kathy said by opening her wardrobe.
Emma chuckled, "Of course I'm not going to rattle your stuff, Kathy. What are you talking about?"
Kathy laughed too, then she went into the small bathroom in her room.
Suddenly, Emma's phone rang. It was a text message from an unknown number. So far, Emma's mailbox is only full of messages from Jonas or prepaid card operators. Even in Emma's contacts, there were only the numbers of Jonas and her family. So far, she had no phone number of her friends.
"I'll get Kathy's number later." Emma thought.
Then she returned to the incoming message earlier and read it.
'Good evening, Emma. It's me PB. This is my account number xxxxx in the name of xxxx. I understand you don't like being in debt. But I seriously don't mind it. And if you persist, I will speak no more.'
Emma read the message with a mocking mouth. Even though PB had said so, but of course Emma still stood her ground, which was to replace the damage to the guy's clothes. Then Emma went into her online bank account and transferred some money.