Another Fight ?
The next day, Mapi woke with a pounding headache, a reminder of the chaos from the night before. She got ready for work thinking about how she was going to ask Ingrid to be her girlfriend. It had to be perfect.
Ingrid, across town, couldn’t shake the feeling of warmth that spread through her when she woke up thinking about Mapi’s fierce protectiveness. It was a side of Mapi she hadn’t seen before, and it made her heart race.
After work, Mapi kept her promise and pulled up to the library. Walking in, she saw Ingrid restocking books, so she walked up behind her, covering her eyes. “ Guess who?”
Laughing, Ingrid answered, “ Well, if I had to guess, it is Patri.”
“ No better,” Mapi jokes, turning Ingrid around, holding her by the waist, smiling when Ingrid wrapped her arms around her neck. “ Hey, princess.”
“ Hey,” she replied happily, remembering her promise. “ How are you feeling today?” She asked, moving her hand up to hold Mapi’s cheek, looking at her black eye that looked worse than yesterday.
“ I’m fine. It looks worse than it is,” Mapi reassured her, leaning in for a quick kiss. “ So when are you off? Because I was hoping to take you out for dinner.”
“ I just have to finish restocking these books, then I’m all yours,” Ingrid responded before turning around and getting back to work, smiling. When Mapi did not attempt to let go, she just moved her head to lay on her shoulder.
The cute moment was ruined by Ingrid's friends coming in and making Ingrid pull away, getting a weird look from Mapi.
“ Oh hey Mapi,” Ana said, catching sight of Mapi’s eye. “ Oh my god, what happened to you?” She yelled, making the other girls look.
Laughing, Mapi answered, “ I’m fine, just a little bar fight,” shrugging like it was nothing.
Vicky jumped in. “ That sounds so cool. What happened?”
“ Well, it was dumb. Ingrid and I were hanging out at the bar when someone got a little too touchy with her, so I got involved,” she said, getting weird looks from the group as they heard her thinking about why Ingrid and her were hanging out.
“ You and Ingrid were hanging out again?”Aitana asked, “ Is there something going on between you two?”
Before Mapi could say yes, Ingrid jumped in. “ No, we. She just fixed my car, so I bought her a drink as a thank you,” she answered, getting another weird look from Mapi, who was so confused.
Ana smiles, thinking nothing is happening, taking this as her chance. “ You fix cars too? Because my car has been acting up for a while.”
Still confused, Mapi looks at Ana. “ Yes, I do. I can take a look at it for you if you want.”
“ Thank you; it's just outside,” she said, leading Mapi outside. The girls followed, except Ingrid and Frido, who stayed behind.
When the door shut, Frido looked at Ingrid. “ Ok, so what's going on ?”
Ingrid knew Frido could tell when she was lying. “ Find me and Mapi have been seeing each other for a while.”
“That's amazing. Why are you hiding it ?”
“ I'm scared they will hate me, and I don't want to make them mad,” Ingrid says like it was so obvious.
“ So you're willing to mess up something good to please them?” Frido left, not waiting for her answer
Ingrid didn’t know what to do. She knew Mapi would get suspicious soon, and she would have to lie. In the end, she would hurt one of them.
When she walked outside, she was stunned to see Mapi had taken off her jacket, leaving her in a black tank top that showed off her tattoos and muscles. She was working on Ana's car. Ingrid never thought someone could look that beautiful covered in oil, but she was wrong.
“Oh hey, Ingrid,” Ana said as she saw Ingrid walk up. “ Isn't Mapi the nicest ?” she said, grabbing on to Mapi’s arm as Mapi was finishing up and wiping her hands off.
Seeing Ana all over Mapi made her sick. “ Yes, she is the nicest,” Ingrid said, walking over to Mapi, wrapping her arm around her shoulder, smiling when Mapi wrapped her arm around her waist, pulling her in.
The smile on all the girls' faces disappeared as Mapi pulled her in and kissed her cheek. “ Are you ready to go?” Mapi asked Ingrid.
“Yes, are we taking my car or your bike?” she questioned, trying to not make eye contact with Ana or the other girls who probably looked pissed.
Before Mapi could answer, Vicky jumped in. “ Where are you guys going ?”
“ Oh, I'm taking Ingrid to dinner,” Mapi shrugged, still not noticing the tension in the air.
“ Can we come ?” Aitana asked
Mapi looked over at Ingrid for an answer, and when she got nothing, she answered, “ Not tonight, guys, but we definitely need to make plans for another day.”
“Oh, ok, another day for sure,” Aitana replied, disappointed.
With that, Mapi grabbed Ingrid's hand, walking her to the car and asking for the keys, wanting to drive.
When they finally arrived at the small restaurant and sat down, Mapi asked her, “ Ok, so what was that about? And don’t play dumb.”
“ I don’t want to hurt my friend's feelings,” Ingrid said, getting a confused look from Mapi.
“ Why would being with me hurt their feelings?” She asked, confused.
“ Are you that oblivious? They all have a crush on you. How can you tell?” Ingrid asked, a little mad that she hadn't noticed.
“Maybe because I don’t care,” Mapi said, leaning across the table and taking Ingrid's hand. “ I only have eyes for you.”
Ingrid’s heart sank.“I know, but you don’t understand how much they mean to me. I can’t just hurt them. Can’t we just hide this for a little while?”
“Why should I have to hide who I am or who I like? You’re special to me, and I want everyone to know,” Mapi said, frustration lacing her voice.
Ingrid felt tears prick her eyes.“You don’t get it! They’ll be hurt. They’ll think I betrayed them.”
“They’re not the ones in this relationship! We are ! Why can’t you see that?” Mapi exclaimed, her tone rising.
Ingrid, overwhelmed with emotions, snapped back, “Maybe I’m not ready for this kind of relationship! Maybe I’m scared!”
With that, Mapi’s heart shattered.“You’re scared of love? Or scared of being with me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ingrid looked away, unable to answer. Mapi stood, her heart heavy with disappointment.“I can’t do this anymore, Ingrid. If you’re not ready to stand by me, then maybe we should take a break.”
As Mapi walked out, the door clicked shut behind her, leaving Ingrid in a whirlwind of confusion and regret, alone in the restaurant.
As Mapi walked down the street, all she could feel was sadness. She knew she had overreacted, but she was hurt. Ingrid has been lying to her for weeks, trying to hide her from her friends just to protect their feelings about her. She finally pulled out her phone, calling Patri to come pick her up.
“ Hey, girls, what are you doing out here?” Patri asked the moment she arrived.
“ It's a long story. Can I get a ride to the library?” She asked to get on Patri's bike, putting on her extra helmet.
“I see you want to see your girlfriend,” Patri tried joking to lighten the mood, but it had the opposite effect.
“No to pick up my bike” was all she said, and Patri didn’t pry.
At the restaurant, Ingrid didn’t know what to do, so she called Frido and asked to meet. When she pulled up to the restaurant, she saw a distraught Ingrid waiting.
“Hey, what's wrong?” Frido asked, catching Ingrid as she fell into her arms, crying.
All Ingrid could say was “ Me and Mapi got in a fight.” and that's all Frido needed to hear.
Days turned into weeks, and the silence between Mapi and Ingrid was deafening. Mapi immersed herself in her motorcycle club, trying to drown out the pain of losing Ingrid. Meanwhile, Ingrid struggled to concentrate on her work at the library, her heart aching for the girl she had grown to love.
Ingrid’s friends noticed her change in demeanor, and one evening, they confronted her.“What’s going on, Ingrid? You’ve been distant,” Vicky said, concern etched on her face.
Ingrid hesitated, biting her lip.“I… I’ve been dealing with some personal stuff.”
Ana raised an eyebrow, sensing something was off.“Is it about Mapi?”
The mention of Mapi’s name sent a pang of guilt through Ingrid.“No!I mean, yes. But it’s complicated.”
Just then, Mapi entered the library, looking for a book. The atmosphere shifted, and all eyes turned to her. Mapi’s gaze locked with Ingrid’s, and for a brief moment, the world around them faded away.
Ingrid’s friends exchanged glances, sensing the tension. Mapi approached, her arms crossed defensively.“I didn’t know you were here. I thought Thursdays were your day off,” she said coolly.
Ingrid swallowed hard.“I came to get some books.”
The silence was palpable, and Ingrid’s friends awkwardly tried to lighten the mood.“Hey Mapi!We were just talking about you and how cool your bike is,” Ana said, smiling.
Mapi’s eyes narrowed.“Great. Glad to hear,” she replied, her voice tinged with sarcasm.
Ingrid felt her heart race as she watched the two worlds collide.“Mapi, can we talk?” she asked, desperation lacing her words.
“Not now, Ingrid. I’m busy,” Mapi replied, turning on her heel.
Ingrid’s heart sank as Mapi walked away, and her friends turned to her with questioning eyes.“What’s going on?” Vicky pressed.
Ingrid knew she had to come clean.“I was seeing Mapi. We were seeing each other for a while now before we got into a fight.”
The room fell silent, and shock registered on their faces.“Wait, what?” Aitana exclaimed.“You didn’t tell us?”
“I was scared! I didn’t want to hurt any of you,” Ingrid admitted, tears welling up in her eyes.
“You should have told us, Ingrid. We could have figured it out together,” Vicky said, her voice softening.
Ingrid felt the weight of her friends’ disappointment.“I know I messed up. But I love her, and I don’t want to lose either of you. I know you guys like her.”
“ I just need some time to think,” Ana said, walking away as Vicky and Aitana did too, looking disappointed too.
“ Don’t worry about them, Ingrid. They will come around,” Frido tried to reassure her.
“ I don't care about them anymore, I just miss Mapi.” she sighed, looking down.
Frido just hugged her, not knowing what to say.
After the confrontation at the library, Ingrid knew she had to make things right. She reached out to Mapi, hoping to mend the rift between them.
But Mapi didn’t want to see her. She knew she was being petty, but she was upset and hurt.
As another week passed, Ingrid's friends started to get over their anger and comfort Ingrid. After a long day feeling particularly lonely and restless, Ingrid decided to go out with her friends to a local bar. She needed a distraction, a few drinks, and some laughter to take her mind off Mapi. Little did she know that Mapi would be there too, trying to drown her sorrows in the company of her fellow bikers.
As Ingrid entered the bar, she felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. The music was loud, and the atmosphere was buzzing with energy. She spotted her friends at a table and tried to shake off the unease. But as she made her way through the crowd, she caught a glimpse of Mapi across the room. Her heart skipped a beat, a mix of excitement and dread flooding her senses.
As she got to the table, Frido apologized, “I'm so sorry. I didn’t know she was going to be here.”
“ It's ok, let's just try to have a good night,” Ingrid said, ordering a drink.
While hanging out with her friends at the bar, Mapi noticed Ingrid walking in. Her heart skipped a beat, but she also saw Ana, Aitana, and Vicky's jealous glares directed at her.
Patri also spotted Ingrid. “ Oh no, is that Ingrid?” she said.
Nodding, Mapi answered, “ Great, I just wanted to have a goodnight.” She sighed down the rest of her drink before getting another one.
Both girls tried to ignore each other, the tension between them palpable. Mapi took a swig of her drink, forcing herself to look away, while Ingrid pretended to engage in conversation with her friends, all the while stealing glances at the biker she still loved.
As the night wore on, Ingrid's friends encouraged her to relax and enjoy herself. She found herself laughing, but every time she looked at Mapi, her heart twisted painfully.
Just when she thought she could push the feelings aside, a man approached their table. He was tall, with a cocky grin and an air of arrogance that made Ingrid uncomfortable.
“Hey there, beautiful.Mind if I join you?” he slurred, leaning closer than she liked . Ingrid shifted uncomfortably in her seat, trying to brush him off politely. But the guy was persistent, invading her personal space and making her feel cornered. Flashbacks of the last time when Mapi defended her came back, making her sadder.
At the same moment, Mapi had noticed the scene unfolding. Her heart raced as she watched the guy get too close for comfort. Her protective instincts kicked in again.
“It's not worth it, Mapi, leave it alone,” Kika said, making her look back for a second.
She's right, Mapi thought, turning back to her drink, till she saw Frido try to get in between the guy and Ingrid. Noticing the way he grabbed her leg and how Ingrid's body moved away.
Mapi couldn't stand by any longer. She marched over, her gaze fierce and unyielding.
“Hey!Back off!” Mapi shouted, her voice cutting through the music and chatter, grabbing the guy's arm and pulling it off Ingrid, putting herself between them. Ingrid’s eyes lit up with surprise, an unexpected wave of relief washing over her at Mapi's presence.
But the guy only laughed, sizing Mapi up.“And who are you? Her bodyguard?”
Mapi stepped closer, her fists clenched, ready to defend Ingrid at any cost.“I suggest you walk away before things get ugly.”
Mapi felt Ingrid grab her arm. “He's not worth it; let it go, please,” she begged.
Mapi looked back, seeing Ingrid's puppy dog eyes, so she unclenched her fist. “ Fine,” she said, giving in.
The man scoffed. “ Yeah, that's right listen to your little bitc…” Before he could finish. Mapi launched herself at him, fists flying, and the bar erupted into chaos.
Mapi’s friends jumped in as the guys got involved. The fight was messy, drinks spilled, and people scrambled to get out of the way. Mapi’s adrenaline surged as she defended Ingrid, fueled by a mix of anger and the need to protect the girl she loved. She used all the pain from the last few weeks to fight.
Ingrid watched , her heart pounding not just from fear but also from admiration. Till Frido and the others grabbed he,r dragging her out of the bar with the other people running away.
“ Wait, we have to go back for Mapi,” she pleaded.
Frido shook her head. “ She will be fine.”They could only get Ingrid outside, but she refused to leave till she made sure Mapi was ok.
The fight was finally broken up, and people were coming out bruised and bloody. But still no Mapi and Ingrid was getting worried.
Then she saw her getting helped outside by Alexia; her face was covered in blood.
“ Mapi!” Ingrid yelled, running over and pushing people out of her way.
“Hey baby, look at me” she tried but Mapi was out.
“ We need to get her to the hospital,” Alexia said as Patri appeared in front of them with her car, helping Mapi in the backseat. Ingrid jumped in the car too, holding Mapi’s head in her lap, not caring about the blood staining her clothes.
As they drove to the hospital, she tried to talk to Mapi: “ Hey, you're going to be ok” “ Can you hear me” “ I love you please wake up” But she got nothing in return.
When they finally pulled up, the staff rushed out, grabbing her and rushing her in. Ingrid tried to follow her, but the staff got in the way, telling her she had to wait in the waiting room. She collapsed to the ground, crying. Mapi is hurt in the hospital after standing up for her, and she doesn’t know if Mapi knows just how much she cares. As she cries, Mapis' friends pick her up and take her to the waiting room where her friends are waiting too. They all sat there, worried about Mapi.