I hang up the phone, feeling a mixture of frustration and resignation. I know I have no choice but to face the consequences of my actions, but I don't relish the thought of having to go to the office and apologize.
I turn to Sophia, Prescott, and Olive, who have been watching me intently throughout the entire phone call. "Well, that didn't go well. My dad wants me to go and apologize to the brand that I criticized in my review, and I can't put it off any longer."
Their faces show expressions of concern and surprise. Olive looked at me in surprise, eyes wide open. "You have to apologize? But your review was harsh."
I sighed and took a sip of my iced coffee. "Yeah, I know. But my dad's pretty angry, and he wants me to take responsibility for it."
Sophia nearly dropped her fork, and Prescott choked on his pizza. "You have to apologize? No way!" Sophia exclaimed. Prescott cleared his throat. "Yeah, that's ridiculous. You were just being honest."
I shrugged and fidgeted with the straw in my drink. "I know, I know. But my dad is a pretty strict guy, and he doesn't take kindly to negativity, especially when it's about one of his friends."
"So you have to grovel and kiss ass just because you were honest?" Prescott asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
"Yep, that's about the gist of it," I replied, trying to sound casual but the thought of having to grovel was already making me cringe.
Sophia chimed in, her expression reflecting her concern. "This is so unfair. Your dad should understand that you were just giving your honest opinion."
I nodded, appreciating their support. "Yeah, I guess Dad does have a point too. I could've been a bit more tactful with my words, but I just couldn't help being honest."
"You're always too honest sometimes," Prescott teased, nudging me playfully. Sophia chimed in, a smirk on her lips. "Yeah, you need a filter, babe."
We continued eating our meals, the conversation shifting to lighter topics. However, in the back of my mind, I couldn't help but worry about the confrontation I would have to face with the make-up company.
"I just can't believe I'm going to have to apologize to this company," I said, poking at my salad.
"Well, you know what they say - honesty isn't always the best policy," Prescott chimed in, taking a large bite out of his burger.
We all walked out of the mall together, Sophia and Prescott walking in front of us. I had my arms linked with Olive's, walking a few steps behind. I could tell she was deep in thought.
We all said our goodbyes to Prescott and Sophia as we reached the car. They waved and walked away, leaving Olive and me alone. "Thanks for being here for me, Olive," I said, turning to her.
As we got in the car, Olive took the driver's seat. I buckled up, taking a deep breath and mentally preparing myself for what's coming next.
I turned to Olive and broke the silence in the car. "Olive, I'll be going to the office of that make-up company tomorrow to apologize. Wish me luck." Olive gave me a reassuring smile. "Hey, I'll go with you tomorrow if you want. Moral support and all that."
I looked at Olive and asked, "But don't you have lab classes tomorrow?" Olive shook her head. "Nope, I don't have any classes tomorrow. So you're stuck with me, buddy." I chuckled at her reply. "Great, I guess I'll have someone to hold my hand through this awkward experience."
We arrived at the apartment and Olive found a parking spot. As we got out of the car, I couldn't help but feel a mix of dread and anticipation for the day ahead. We walked into the building, took the elevator and entered our apartment. Once inside, I kicked off my shoes and flopped onto the couch, letting out a deep sigh.
