Eponine started to prepare herself for her work in the coffee shop, not waiting for Grantaire to wake up as he snuggled close to Jehan in the bed. She just smiled to the both of her friends, not wanting to disturb the two of them. She knows that there's something between them, she just didn't want to ruin their privacy.
After she was finished taking a bath, she quickly ironed her work clothes, not wanting to be late for her shift. Even though she was working in her friend's coffee shop, she did not want to disappoint Chetta, knowing Eponine, she really does her best to sustain the three of them. As she went out of their apartment, she saw her neighbor exit their apartment as well, greeting her with a frowning face.
"Don't say it Eponine, don't say it Eponine," she thought to herself.
"Good morning blondie!" Eponine greet him cheerily, it was his nickname to her. Not waiting for his response, she quickly walked down the stairs. She just remembered that she insulted him two days ago, making her giggle on her thought.
As Eponine was walking downstairs, she did not notice that blondie was also walking behind her. It took her five to realize that he was there. However, the blonde man did not mind her since he can't even hear her as he listens on his earphones. The brunette just snickered and proceeded to walk briskly just to avoid her neighbor.
It was not unusual for Eponine on loathing someone she just met. She always equips her smiling face whenever she talks to their neighbors back in her old house. Well, it's kinda different. Back when she was still living in her abusive father, smiling was only her way of easing her pain. After her mother divorced her father, the only thing he does in his daily routine was to drink and hurt them. Whenever her father comes back from his group of drunk friends, he only sees her as an animal. Her own father won't even give them proper food to eat. It's a relief for Eponine that she was free from his grasp with the help of social workers. However, it was a tough childhood for her and her siblings after being separated. She promised to herself that she will do her best to be with them once again.
Perishing the thought, it was not long after that they arrived at the train station, where it was just a five-minute walk from their apartment. The train station was flooded with passengers despite it was only eight in the morning.
She did not mind that blondie was still there but still, it was too awkward for Eponine after that loud speaker incident. Boarding the train station, she suddenly looked for him, but unfortunately, he was gone. "It was for good, Ep. Nothing to worry about," she muttered to herself. Clutching her bag, she made sure that she's safe for pickpockets, as Jehan reminded her. "Be safe around trains," Jehan spoke in the back of her mind. She smiled as she remembered him mimicking a popular quote from a mobile game.
The train was full of passengers, so she has no choice but to stand and grab the hand rail. Not long after a few minutes, she felt something touching her thighs. She just brushed it off. However, it didn't stop until it reaches the back of her ass. She silently sobbed, as she didn't know what to do. As much as she wanted it to stop, her mind suddenly turned blank. Her heart was raising too fast. She really wanted it to stop. She mustered up her courage as she swats the hand of the pervert.
"Do you have any decency, you mindless fuck?" she shakily confronts the culprit. She knows that it should be done, despite making a commotion in the public transportation. "I'm just standing here, minding my own business, and you have the audacity to touch my ass?" She looked up on the old man, who looks like he was working in a business firm. "How can you explain it to your mom, or your wife or even in your daughters when they knew what you've been doing in your life?" The people started staring at them. Most of them are just silently watching Eponine's agitation towards the man.
Suddenly, her hand landed on the man's cheek. Despite making Eponine's hand numb for a while, at least she has done what a woman must do despite knowing that most women don't have the courage especially in public transportations. It happened to fast. Her heart is still beating too fast. She raised her middle finger on the man, "Fuck you," she said as she squeezed her way on the passengers, not wanting any more of the humiliation. She did not know what could happen to the man but all she wanted is just peace for a while, not wanting to see the man once again. She was given a seat by a passenger, seeing her tired face
As soon she arrives at her destination, she can't hide the shaking feeling from earlier. Even though he confronted the man, she was still scared of what happened earlier. She noticed a familiar face, once again. It was blondie again. He was not that far away but as she squints, she saw that he was with the man. They were heading towards the security office. Judging by the man's face, he looked guilty. "Sheesh, good for him," she said to herself.
She was welcomed by Musichetta, as cheery as she was, her smile was washed away as she saw Eponine noticed that her hands were very cold despite having a hot, sunny weather.
"Oh, my lords, Ep?" she holds Eponine's hands. "What happened to you?" she motioned them to sit in a nearby chair.
Eponine doesn't want to tell her the whole truth, but she really trusts Chetta. She can never hide anything from the girl who helped her back when they were in college. She hesitated but, eventually, she told what happened in the train.
Chetta was agitated after hearing Eponine's experience in the train. She signaled one of the baristas to bring coffees to their table.
"Have you reported them?" she places her hand on Eponine's shoulders.
Eponine just remembered that she just went out of the train quickly, not realizing that she did not report the man. However, she did not know that blondie was there in the same train. She just realized after Musichetta asked her.
"I did not, but someone went out to help me," she said. "I did not know his name, but he was the guy that I told you," she adds.
"Wait, what?" Chetta was slightly confused. "Is that the same guy that you've disturbed from two days ago?" she asks, as Eponine just shrugged at her friend's question.
"Well, yeah. I mean, I think I should thank him for that," she casually says. "But, hey at least the man was reported?" she smiles sadly. She mentally listed in her mind that she will thank blondie soon. It was just a simple thing, but it eased her a little bit.
Musichetta rubbed Eponine's shoulders. "Babe, I will give you some coffee break for a while," she smiles as she went to the coffee counter to get the coffees prepared for them.
Eponine realized that she was really lucky to find someone like Musichetta to be one of her most trusted friends aside from Jehan and Grantaire. She thanked God, despite being slightly unreligious, that she was blessed to have a lady friend like Chetta.
Earlier from train station
Enjolras heard an upset woman confronting someone. The woman was talking about "touching her ass" against the man who just looks like a fine man, but he really has an ill intention to do that thing. "Fucking pig," he thought.
The commotion was not really far from his distance despite having numerous passengers boarding the train. People were staring at her. And he knows, that as a citizen, you must not interfere with these scenarios especially in public transportations. You did not want to get viral in the social media after doing these horrible things.
He shakes his head from disappointment as some men really do this thing. "Men are really trash," he thought. A few minutes has passed, they heard a slap. It startled a few passengers.
Enjolras was staring intently at the woman, they were too familiar. Alas, it was that annoying neighbor from the apartment. He just sighed since he can't believe he was cheering for Jondrette. "But still, she's done the right thing," he thought. After that, he witnessed her raising her middle finger to the man, walking away from the scene.
He realized that the train stopped, and arrived at his destination. He saw the man getting away quickly out of the train, but he grabbed his arms so hard, the man flinched.
"Hey, stop," he suddenly raised his voice, which is so uncommon for him. "I saw what you did earlier," he said. The man snickered but it didn't hide his guilt when Enjolras pulled him towards the security office of the train station. Things got too fast, and he felt his heart beating so fast, he did not know why. But, all he knows, is that he is doing the right thing.