TCOTRB: The Case of The Red Bubble

✌️Chapter XII: Irene

Chapter XII: Irene

With her arms crossed and eyebrows raised with spite, Rina gracefully approached the group.

"W-Wah ... Whoa, whoa, whoa! You're not gonna ruin our exhibit, young lady," Mrs. Ferrari steps in, "If you have some concerns with my daughter or her friends, why don't you save that for later?"

This only pissed off Rina. "Why can't this poor hag mind her own business?" she thought.
    She is here to tell everybody about what Irene did to Jun, who was once a popular painter until a nasty incident impeded his chance in topping the annual art contest a couple of years ago.
    Irene stood there idly with both of her fists clenched and trying to avoid eye contact with her. She was being accused of stealing the spotlight as well as the whole cash prize to herself.

"That's ridiculous! You're just making Irene seem like someone she is not," Milo argued.

"Oh, buzz off!" Rina grabbed him by the collar and threw him across the other side.

"Shouldn't Jun be the one confronting us? Why isn't he with you?" Irene asked.

"That's none of your concern, sweetie! Admit that you fought with Jun and broke his arm a month before The Int'l Maestro Confest in Cairo!" the older girl yelled.

She began pointing out how Irene's expressions already made her guilty. The media is confused by how this wasn't on the news at all. Now it's set to be the next scoop of the century!

"I'm sorry if you felt that way! I just thought we could move on from that event and not drag this on," Irene sighed.

"It still doesn't change the fact that you hurt our friend and soiled the Liu family name," Rina added, "It's a shame that you'd use your black belt in Taekwondo for trouble!"

Irene's mom had to interfere and reprimand her. She wasn't going to let some rich folk's daughter talk to her child like that. She knows that Irene actually has a heart of gold.
    She then looks at President Marbles and Mr. Castillo. "How 'bout you? You just stand there as you watch this spoiled brat antagonize my daughter," she pointed at them, "Oh, that's right ... You'd rather save face and let a member of the Escobar family scot-free!"

Like mother, like daughter ...

"Miss Ferrari, that's enough!" Mr. Castillo was already losing his patience. He started fixing his tie, cleared his throat before continuing to send them off. "If what Miss Rina said was true, then I refused to buy any of your paintings! Good day!"
  Jonathan and his friends couldn't help but marvel at the sight of Irene and her mother suffering. Before the group left, they all circled around Milo as they looked down on him.
  He slowly bent down and said, "You know, nothing angers me more than a nosy brat who keeps getting himself involved. Why not do yourself a favor and sit by the trash?"
     He then pushed Milo's head with his hand. The crowds all watched the group leave as a white limousine was seen waiting in front of the entrance. Milo slowly got up and went to ask Irene what just happened.

"Let's talk about it later, ok?" Irene then quickly turned away and trudged towards the exit.

"Oh-ok! I'll go get the car," Mrs. Ferrari pulled out her car keys and lo! Their grey vehicle has arrived in a flash.

[At the Ferrari household.]

Irene has been staring quietly at her latte for half a minute. Her strong facade was replaced by meekness. "I bet it's time we tell you everything," Mrs. Ferrari sighed.
    According to her, the Liu family was a household name within the art community. Jun's father, Liu Feng, popularized the use of golden peacocks in other paintings. It was their brand.
    As for Jun, he won every art contest since middle school and had his first masterpiece bought by Mr. Castillo's wife. He was always described to have "divine hands" because of how quick and mesmerizing his works are. However, that would soon change when Irene tried entering the Int'l Maestro Confest in Cairo and won first place.

"This was already her fifth time to enter a contest and it's her first time to win," Mrs. Ferrari explained.

She slowly drank her mug of cappuccino before continuing on with the story. "Jun wasn't able to make it to the Top 3 finalists. He could not believe that a twelve-year-old like Irene could take his place as the best one there is."

    She also told them that Jun was unable to paint as his fractured arm takes time to heal. "Irene was not just an artist, but once a blackbelt in Taekwondo. The rivalry between the two started as Jun used to bully her on the way to school," she looked at Irene, "He also knew her on social media and would often leave insensitive comments whenever she posted anything. He always finds something to insult her and her works."
   The young Irene then could not take the bullying anymore so fueled by her anger and frustration, it caused her to do the unimaginable. As they were both kids, no news dared to reveal their identities and instead credited it as another childish squabble.
    The guilt and trauma was so great that she ultimately quit Taekwondo. "It finally took her two years before she could heal and finish the painting in honor of Jun! It's a shame that he wasn't there to see it," Mrs. Ferrari sniffed as she began crying. Irene remained quiet and kept her head down.

"No matter how many times I apologize to people, they still see me as a monster who likes to hurt people," she stood up and headed upstairs.

It was just Mrs. Ferrari and her friends now. The yellow light casting harsh shadows in the kitchen dining gives off an unsettling mood. "Should I follow her?" Kaira asked.
Irene's mom laid a hand on her, suggesting they give her daughter some time alone.