CHAPTER 2: The strongest woman, Jennifer Andrea

Sunday 6th January. 13.35 P.M - Shopping Center, London, UK.

"Let's just eat here." Invite a woman to the other two women. She pointed to a Japanese restaurant in the corner.

"It's all because of you, Jennifer. I shouldn't be here with you right now." One of the women grumbled to the woman who invited her to eat, Ruby.

Jennifer herself only pursed her lips like a child. "Come on, Ruby, you are my manager. Here you also have to take care of me, right? It would be impossible if I brought my 2 bodyguards." Jennifer put her hand on her manager's arm and invited her to walk together.

"Hey, hey. I'm still here if you guys forget." A woman followed from behind. Feeling left behind by Jennifer and her manager.

"Hahaha, yes. Come on, Britt." Now, Jennifer embraces the two women whom she has eaten with while humming. Ruby, the manager, just shook her head looking at Jennifer who was very excited all this time. Meanwhile, Brittany, her friend, was humming along with Jennifer.

The three of them had entered a Japanese restaurant of Jennifer's choice. Jennifer chose a corner room with a large window beside it. A waiter came inside and handed them the food menu. He waited for these three beautiful women to order their food. He knows one of them is Jennifer Andrea, a beautiful model who is on the rise. Initially, the waiter wanted to ask for an autograph as a fan, but he wanted to do his job professionally.

The waiter left the room when the three women had ordered some food. While waiting, the three of them chat about work, men, and other women's issues. Jennifer was speechless, feeling reminded of something if she should talk about this to them.

"I met them again."

Ruby and Brittany raised their eyebrows, not knowing who Jennifer was referring to at the moment. Jennifer sighed in resignation.

"Them. Last night I saw them again. At the club." Jennifer said with difficulty. Well, actually Jennifer wanted to keep this to herself. But, what power when all she has now is them and their family.

"WHAT ?! I warned you not to go to that damn club alone! I know they won't just sit there, right? What did they do to you? Why are you there?" Brittany looked annoyed. Jennifer understands, because she knows her friend is very worried about Jennifer at this time.

Ruby herself sighed. "Calm down, Britt. Let's hear what Jennifer has to say first." Ruby comforted Brittany with her motherly nature. Ah, this is what Jennifer likes about Ruby. Always calm.

"Actually, I didn't mean to go there alone. But, ah, I just didn't think they were there either. You know, that club has become my regular place. Usually they aren't there either. I don't know why they are there myself." Jennifer replied with a sigh. She glanced doubtfully at Brittany who was folding her arms across her chest.

"Then?" asked Ruby. She felt that Jennifer had not finished her story.

"Hm, they... they are, yes, you know, right. As Brittany said,"

“Stop. Don't continue. We already know what they are doing.” Brittany interrupted Jennifer's explanation and sighed before continuing to speak, “Come on, Jen. I know you're not weak in front of them. We know you will always fight back. But, we don't want your energies to be drained just to serve them. If you see them again, don't wait for them. Just leave them. Let them do what they want. Gossip you, knock you down. Because we know, you are not a weak woman. Save your energy for other important things. Just focus on your current job. Okay? "

Jennifer just nodded her head listening to Brittany's long explanation. Meanwhile Ruby continued to rub the back of Jennifer's hand with affection.

"You'll be fine. Maybe not now, but eventually. Trust me, you are a strong woman. You can beat them all." Said Ruby. Jennifer nodded her head excitedly.

"There's no need to tell any more. I know what cruel things they did to you." Brittany snorted.

Jennifer laughed at the annoyed Brittany herself. In fact, Jennifer felt very ignorant of the gang of gossip women. Jennifer did not know why they hated Jennifer so much. They viciously beat her with their branded bags without caring if their bags were damaged. Jeez, Jennifer shuddered with horror as last night she nearly threw the bartender's chair at them. But, she also regretted why she didn't just do it. That way, they will definitely be deterred and will not bother her anymore. Maybe?

Two waiters entered the third room, the women brought trays of their ordered food. Jennifer, who saw that the food had been placed on the table, felt excited again. She really likes Japanese food, especially ramen which is very common among these teenagers.

"Oh, yeah. Where's your male friend?" asked Ruby while taking raw salmon. While Jennifer is still eating her ramen heartily.

"Ah, yeah. Why didn't you just go with him last night?" asked Brittany then.

"Hmmm," Jennifer's mouth was still full of ramen before she finally answered their question. "I'm avoiding him."

Jennifer's to the point answer made Ruby and Brittany stop eating and stare at each other.

"What does that mean? Avoiding?" asked Brittany. Jennifer nodded her head without turning to Brittany.

"Is there something between you that we don't know yet, Jeny?" asked Ruby, using a nickname that Ruby used often.

Brittany and Ruby waited for Jennifer to chew the food until it ran out. Come on, why are these two friends so curious about that guy? Jennifer could not understand that this problem made her two friends wait for her to eat up like this. However, finally Jennifer stopped eating and put the chopsticks down.

"Well, I'll tell you the truth."

Ruby and Brittany leaned forward so they could hear Jennifer's voice intently. Jennifer looked at the two friends in turn.

"I'm disgusted by him." Jennifer shrugged and continued her delayed eating.

Ruby and Brittany were still silent. One second. Two seconds. Finally, the two of them sighed in resignation at the same time. Jennifer was too direct when she said it. In fact, Brittany and Ruby had hoped for more. Finally, the two of them helped finish their meal in silence.

*

15.45 P.M - Jennifer's House, London, UK.

Jennifer is already in her house at this time. After lunch, her manager drove Brittany home and now she is unloading the things they both bought from the trunk of her car.

"When it comes to fashion thing like this, you don't even think about how much money has been spent just to buy new arrival goods." Ruby grumbled who then sat on the single sofa across from Jennifer.

"Hehe, I'm sorry." Jennifer showed a grin typical of her little child who only got the shaking head from Ruby.

"Well, I'll go back to the apartment first." Ruby said goodbye to Jennifer and Jennifer drove Ruby to the front.

Jennifer went back into the house and lay her tired body on the long sofa. She sighed, thinking of the series of events that had made her tired. Tired of being a strong woman. She regretted her decision to stay alone like this. But, it can't be helped, since deciding to become a model in college, she intends to move out of her family's mansion because she doesn't want to bother her parents who always have reporters outside the mansion. Very annoying.

Just as Jennifer was about to close her eyes, her doorbell rang. Jennifer woke up from sleep, walked to the door with unstable steps and opened the door. Jennifer found two middle-aged men and women who were turning their backs to Jennifer. Of course Jennifer recognized who they were.

"Momm! Dad!" exclaimed Jennifer while hugging the two middle-aged people who are both parents. Just now she was thinking about her parents, and they had appeared like this to make Jennifer hugged them tightly and let go of longing.

"Oh? Miss us so badly, hem?" asked her father.

Jennifer took her embrace.

"Of course. Who doesn't miss my talkative daddy." Jennifer hugged her father spoiled while he laughed and rubbed the top of Jennifer's head fondly.

"Ehm! Ehm! So, my child who is self-reliant does not miss the mother who gave birth to her, is that right?"

Jennifer and her father looked at each other and laughed before releasing her arms. "Of course I miss you too, mom. I've always missed you two." This time Jennifer hugged her mother tightly. As if the burden of her life was lifted just by hugging her mother like this.

"Wait," her mother let go of their arms suddenly making Jennifer stare at her mother confused. "Hmm, something's not right. You're unusually exaggerated, J." his mother squinted.

Jennifer was made nervous. "We haven't seen each other in, hmmm, let me count. 3 months? Ah, 6 months. Heheh." Said Jennifer carelessly with a grin typical of her little child. However, a mother is not mother if she is unable to feel strange things about her own daughter.

"Come on, let's go in first. It's bad talking in here. We'll talk inside. And, Jennifer. You can't escape. Your mommy always knows she has the right hunch, and you know that, right?" her father invited them into the house and sat together in the living room.

Jennifer just nodded and immediately entered with her parents. Not to forget, she asked for help from one of her maids to make drinks for the three of them. Now, the three of them sit together in a family gathering room. Nobody started the conversation. Her father just sat crossed his arms in front of his chest. As for her mother, she looked gently at Jennifer who was still bowing her head.

"So?" asked her mother after the maid put the drink on the table and left the three of them to talk.

"Well, just the usual trouble." Jennifer replied casually as if she was used to the problems she was facing. But, it is true. All the problems she was facing at this time made her used to it.

Her mother sighed. "They're again, huh?" Jennifer nodded her head and smiled.

"Don't worry, mom. I can handle it."

"It's not like that, honey. They are going way too far. What kind of parents allow their children to bully other people like this." Annoyed her father.

"Jennifer, how many years has it been? And they still do things like that to you. Slander you to the news? You don't think we're worried? So far, we've only listened to you because that's what you asked. But, I'm not sure mom and dad can still just listen to you. " Her mother explained while Jennifer looked at her parents in turn.

"Mom, dad. You know, I only have you, my brother, and my friends. Yes, even though it's only Ruby and Brittany. But, I've had enough of you guys who can still encourage me. I just need you. That's all. The rest, let me handle it. Trust me, okay? " Jennifer wore a pleading face begging for more trust from her parents.

Even though she still didn't have the heart, there was nothing Erica could do other than believe in her daughter. Likewise with Darius. Jennifer is indeed the only daughter for Darius and Erica. Even so, jennifer is a strong and brave boy Jennifer must have always complained to them. But, still as parents, Erica and Darius are still worried about Jennifer.

After having lunch together and spending the afternoon together, Erica and Darius say goodbye to Jennifer. Jennifer again at home alone. She gets bored quickly when it's like this. So, she decided to go to the club another night. Before that, she had called the bartender — who was the person she trusted at the club to make sure those damn women weren't there tonight.