Chapter 78 - X Friend
The sound of very festive applause accompanied the steps of a man whom Anne knew very well, a man who had caused a huge wound inside her three years ago. While everyone applauded enthusiastically, especially the girls, Anne only folded her hands on the table, which made Linda, who was sitting next to her feel uncomfortable. She repeatedly elbowed Anne's ribs, giving her a code to clap her hands too. But Anne ignored the code given by Linda. She still glared at Leon, who was standing in front of them all with a friendly smile on his face.
From his seat, Edward, who saw Anne had been silent for a long time, put a faint smile on his handsome face. He was happy because Anne was not tempted by the three-day vacation to Ireland which he thought was normal.
"Okay kids, calm down, let Mr. Leonardo Ganke speak," said Professor Gilbert in a loud voice as he raised his hands in the air trying to calm the students.
"Just leave them, Professor," Leon whispered softly to the professor.
"Don't get used to it, sir, these children must know good manners," replied Professor Gilbert again.
Clap
Clap
Clap
The sound of applause from Professor Gilbert finally dampened all the noise that occurred in the classroom. The students stopped their screams and sat back quietly, looking at Leonardo Ganke, whom they considered to be a hero for giving them a free trip to Ireland for three days.
"Thank you everyone for being calm. Now let's listen to the explanation from Mr. Leonardo Ganke for this pleasant trip," said Professor Gilbert again as he gavde Leon the opportunity to speak.
"Thanks Professor," Leon whispered softly.
"Your welcome, sir," replied Professor Gilbert quietly with a smile.
Leon then seated himself in front of the students, next to Professor Gilbert who was folding his arms across his chest. He was still silent for a while as he looked at the students in front of him. He smiled as he looked at Anne, who had not taken her eyes off Leon at all.
"As Professor Gilbert said before, I would like to give a little gift to all of you who had worked hard for yesterday's performance. Honestly I am very impressed by your performance, that I would like to give you a small gift in the form of a trip to Ireland for three days. I know this is not a great gift for you, but I hope that this trip can at least make you even more excited to go through the day and do your best like you did yesterday when doing that extraordinary performance, "said Leon at length.
"Thank you, sir, for the trip."
"This is already very cool, sir."
"We are very happy, sir"
"You are the best Mr. Ganke."
There were answers from the students who loudly responded to Leon's words, accompanied by applause again. Receiving such a welcome response made Leon happy. But he felt a little disappointed when he looked at Anne, who was expressionless, while the other students looked very enthusiastic.
After talking at length, Leon then went with Professor Gilbert to the Professor's private room, to collect data on students who were going to Ireland, based on the data of students who had contributed to the performance yesterday. He had to calculate in detail how many tickets he had to prepare for the three-day vacation. For Leon, whose company was currently growing very rapidly, providing sixty plane tickets and accommodations for three days for students was not difficult.
"That person must be very rich, Anne," Linda whispered softly.
"Do you think?" asked Anne lazily.
"He must be, look, he gives us a fancy vacation, Anne," Linda replied excitedly.
Anne only smiled forcefully at Linda's words. She wasn't at all interested in Leon's vacation. For her, all things related to Leon were very unattractive. Even when Leon spoke earlier, Anne remembered the scene of betrayal carried out by Leon and Steffi the night she left Leon's mansion, where with her own eyes, she saw Leon made love to Steffie, in the room that should have been her room as Mrs. Ganke.
While the other students were busy submitting their personal data as a condition for their participation in going to Ireland, Anne tidied up her book on the table. Today there were no other courses, because they were closed. It turned out that they were asked to come to campus today only to get this shocking information from Leonardo Ganke, which according to Anne wasn't at all important.
"You're not submitting your data like the others, Anne?" Edward asked quietly to Anne, who was putting a book in her bag.
"I don't think I'm going to go," said Anne quickly.
"Why? Even though the other students look very enthusiastic about going to Ireland, we rarely get a free vacation like this. Especially for three days abroad too," said Edward again.
"Yes, you're right, but it's more fun if we can take a vacation with our own hard work. Besides, I have to work, so there's no way I'll leave my job," said Anne softly, with a smile.
Edward was silent to hear Anne's words. He couldn't find other things to say, because what Anne said made perfect sense.
"Linda, I'm going home," whispered Anne softly, patting Linda's shoulder who was staring at her cell phone with teary eyes.
"I'm with you, Anne," Linda replied softly.
"Are you crying, Linda?" Asked Anne, surprised, when she saw Linda's teary eyes.
"Let's just talk outside, Anne, I don't want anyone to hear it," said Linda, sobbing. She tried to hold back her tears from falling.
After saying that, Linda then got up from her chair and walked towards the door while looking down. Seeing her left like that, Anne was speechless. She was sure something had happened to her best friend.
"I have to catch up with Linda, bye Edward," said Anne quietly, saying goodbye to Edward, who was still sitting next to her.
"Okay," replied Edward slowly, letting Anne out of the classroom. Watching Anne leave, he no longer had the enthusiasm to be in the classroom.
Not long after that, Edward invited his men to leave the classroom. He finally decided not to go to Ireland. For him, if Anne didn't go on this vacation, there was no other reason for him to go.
Anne quickly followed Linda, who was walking towards the cafeteria. When she got to the cafeteria, Anne sat back and relaxed, waiting for Linda to open her mouth to tell her story.
"I can't take the free vacation, Anne," said Linda, opening the conversation.
"Why? Weren't you so happy when you found out that we got a free vacation to Ireland?" Asked Anne, surprised.
"I have to work, Anne. It turns out that when I look at the work schedule for the next two weeks, I have to work. I don't have any more holidays, Anne," Linda replied sadly.
"Let me ask you, do you prefer your job or this free vacation?" asked Anne again.
"Of course I prefer my job, Anne. I have to keep working to live in London. Living costs in London are very expensive, so I have to keep working. I can't possibly ask my parents for my living expenses. I don't want to be seen as a child who can't afford to live independently. I have to prove to my parents that I can realize my dreams without their help. As you know, since I decided to leave home and get an education in London, I was determined not to depend on my family. Therefore, I have to work, Anne. No matter how, I have to have money to continue my life, even though I get an allowance from college, but believe me that pocket money is not as big as you imagine. That money is only enough for me to eat for two weeks, then what do I eat for the remaining two weeks, if I'm not working? Not to mention the rent that I have to pay every six months, it seems impossible to sacrifice my job for this wonderful vacation," Linda replied at length.
Without a word, Anne immediately hugged Linda tightly. She was proud that Linda could think far ahead.
"Your choice is right, Linda, I'm proud of you. Believe me, after all your sacrifices, there will be a beautiful rainbow that will come to you," said Anne quietly.
"Amen, but I'm sad," said Linda quickly.
"Sad? Why are you sad?" asked Anne, confused, as she released her embrace from Linda.
"I'll be the only student busy at work, while the others go on vacation, including you," Linda replied sadly.
Anne laughed when she heard Linda. She didn't think that her friend would be sad because she thought she was going to Ireland too. Seeing Anne laughing like that made Linda pause for a while. She felt annoyed at Anne who had laughed over her suffering.
"Oh never mind, I don't want to talk to you," said Linda sulking.
"Why else, what else makes you angry, Linda? You're so funny," answered Anne slowly, trying to end her laughter.
"Just keep on laughing, Anne, I know you're happy. I know you're happy to be on vacation in Ireland, but don't show off your happiness in front of me like this ... awwww!" Linda couldn't finish her words because Anne had hit her forehead with a blow strong enough to make her cry out in pain.
"Anne, that hurts!!!" Linda protested even more angrily.
"So be it! That's a punishment for people who accuse randomly like you did. If I can't accept that and sue you, then you can go to jail Linda," said Anne curtly with a raised tone.
"What do you mean?" Linda asked a little afraid when she heard that Anne was going to sue her.
"The point is that I won't go on vacation to Ireland like the other kids, because I also have to work like you. So don't accuse me like that," said Anne coldly, glaring at Linda.
"Aghhhh, Anne, I love you," Linda screamed loudly as she hugged Anne tightly.
"I thought I was going to be alone in London, apparently you didn't go either. I'm so glad to hear that," Linda added, who became excited again as she hugged Anne.
"Oh, it hurts, Linda, are you going to kill me?" asked Anne softly, because Linda's hug made her uncomfortable.
Linda immediately let go of her hug when Anne moaned in pain. She had lost control when she heard Anne say that she wouldn't come to Ireland.
"You're a silly girl, Lin ..."
Anne couldn't finish her words when she saw a beautiful figure wearing branded goods just got out of a car. She was seen walking gracefully towards the campus area. Seeing the woman suddenly made Anne get up from her chair and walk unconsciously towards the woman.
"Where are you going, Anne?" Linda asked quickly. She was surprised when she saw Anne just walk away.
"I want to welcome an old friend, Linda. Wait a minute," said Anne quietly, smiling at a woman whom she knew very well.
To be continued.
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