Chapter 37 - Through Rose-Colored Glasses

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I didn't mean for things to spiral like this. One minute, I was apologizing, and the next... Madoka was standing between me and the manager like a shield. "Young lady, you can't talk to me that way!" The manager's voice cracked in a way I really don't want to experiance.

"That doesn't grant you the right to speak to her however you want."

My breath catches in my throat, and my voice feels weak when I finally speak. I hate how fragile I sound. "Madoka, please, stop. "S-She's right. I should've been more careful. Let's just leave... Please."

But Madoka, she doesn't budge. ''...'' Ignored every single word I just said. Her gaze remains fixed on the manager with such cold that it sends a chill down my spine. She takes one step forward, placing herself fully between the woman and me. "I expect your apology.''

"Who the hell do you think you are?" The woman growls, her composure cracking at the edges. "I don't have to apologize to anyone. I worked hard to keep this place in order, and the media's coverage of such a scandal will be terrifying."

Madoka doesn't say anything back. ''...'' Instead, she calmly reaches into her shoulder bag. Even the police standing nearby seem to sense the shift in atmosphere, their eyes narrowing as they watch her closely. Most of the crowd has dispersed, but I still feel their shadows lingering, watching from the edges of my vision.

Without a word, Madoka pulls something out and tosses it to the ground in front of the manager. It lands with a soft slap of plastic against concrete.

Ah, I see.

That's her ID card.

Wait...

HER ID card! Oh shit...

''I hate disrespectful people, especially like you.'' The manager narrows her eyes, muttering angrily under her breath as she bends to retrieve it. ''When we're done here, you—?!'' When the manager looks at the card, all the colors on her face fade away, as if her soul has been sucked out. Her pupils shrink, her hands start to sweat, and her breathing becomes heavy and loud. Her mouth loses her ability to choose words; the only sounds coming out are incoherent syllables.

A senior police officer approaches the manager to find out about the woman's strange behaviors. ''Miss Manager? Are you okay?'' The officer took Madoka's ID card from the manager's shaking hand. His eyes widened in shock once he read it. "Oh my..."

Wait, is she protecting me? When my tears stopped and my blurry vision fixed, the first thing I saw was the police officer ordering his men to leave the area immediately, with terror in his eyes. The manager was on her knees once the police left, staring at Madoka in fright as if an angel of death itself had arrived.

''Apologize. Now. Otherwise this place won't see tomorrow, I'll make sure of that personally myself.

In a heartbeat, the woman drops into a full dogeza, forehead to concrete right in front of my feet

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In a heartbeat, the woman drops into a full dogeza, forehead to concrete right in front of my feet. "I—I a-apologize on behalf of our e-establishment and myself, m-miss! P-Please come again, and t-this park will never c-charge you any fees in the f-f-future!"

I can only stare. I don't feel satisfaction. I don't feel vindicated. I feel... disgusted. I don't feel like a victor. "...Madoka." I whisper, unsure of what I even mean to say. ''A-Are you ok—''

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