Kabanata 11
1303 Words
The woman stood up para sana sundan ang nakita ng makita nito ang boyfriend na papalapit sa kanya.
“Where are you going, babe?” the man asked with a sly smirk.
“Oh! Hi Tylor!” bati ng kaibigan ng babae.
“Wala. Akala ko may nakita akong pamilyar na tao. Baka nagkamali lang ako,” sagot ni Merideth at ngumiti sa boyfriend.
Taylor kissed her cheeks before sitting down on her side.
“Ano’ng plano niyo ngayon?” tanong ni Taylor. Inilagay nito ang braso sa likod ng girlfriend.
“Nothing. We just wanted to shop for a while,” sagot ng kaibigan nito.
“Well, why don’t you hang out with us later? Bar tayo?” he suggested and rubbed the other hand on Merideth’s legs.
“Sure! Why not?”
“I’m in!”
Then, Taylor looked at his girlfriend.
“How about you, babe.”
Merideth smiles seductively. Alam niya kasi ang pinaplano ng kasintahan.
“Of course. Ako pa ba?"
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Leonardo narrowed his eyes when he saw some man approaching Ocean. Halata naman kasi na may balak. Siy ang kasama ngayon ng dalaga sa loob ng isang clothing brand habang sina Glenn at Kyro ay nasa labas. Si Brandon naman ay pinuntahan ang control room.
“Hi, Miss.” Tinalikuran ito ni Ocean. Her face frowned in annoyance.
“Aba! Ang arte, ah? Kilala mo ba ako? Be thankful na nilapitan kita,” mayabang na saad ng lalaki. The employee in the shop clearly know this man dahil isa ito sa regular customer nila na naging VIP member. Kaya hinayaan nila ito.
Ocean never bothered to took a glance at him kaya nainis ito at pwersahang nilagay ang kamay sa balikat ng dalaga para iharap ito sa kanya when suddenly another arm grabbed it and twisted it.
“Ah!”
The man saw another man in black staring deadly at him. Parang gusto nitong putulin ang braso niya.
“Kung walang interes sa’yo ang babae, huwag nang i-insist pa,” malamig na usal ni Leonardo saka binitawan ang braso nito. The man winced in pain while rubbing his arm.
“Who the f*ck are you?!” singhal nito. Walang sino man ang nangahas na kalabanin siya.
“You don’t deserve to know our name,” sagot ni Leonardo. He felt someone tapping his shoulder so he turned around and faced Ocean.
“Do not bother with him. We’ll just meet the manager and we will leave,” pag-compromise ng dalaga. Ayaw na ayaw niya ng atensyon lalo na kung gulo ang pinagmulan nito.
“Leave?” The man chuckled. “You think you can leave like that?! I’ll tell you now, apologize to me!”
Natakot naman ang mga empleyadi sa nangyayari kaya isang babae ang naglakas loob na pagsabihan si Ocean.
“Miss, please leave. Mananagot po kami sa management lalo pa at VIP si Sir. Kami na po ang nakikiusap.”
The management?
“Why would we leave? Clear naman sa inyo kung sino ang nagsimula, hindi ba?” mahinahong reply ng dalaga. Tama nga ang Grandpa Jeffrey niya. Kailangan n’yang i-check ang performance and standards ng business dahil mukhang napapabayaan na.
“Oo nga naman. Binabastos ng lalaking ‘yan ang babaeng ‘to!” segunda ng isang customer.
The man gritted his teeth in annoyance. Mga hampas lupa!
“Where’s your manager?!” sigaw nito sa isang sales lady.
“P-parating na po,” the employee stuttered.
Ngumisi ang lalaki at mayabang na tiningnan sina Ocean at Leonardo.
“Let’s see kung sino ang mapapahiya ngayon sa maraming tao. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Leonardo stand on guard at Ocean’s front. Tsk. Isang sipa niya lang ‘to siguradong tulog na ang mayabang na lalaki.
In a while, the manager showed up, anxiousness was visible on her face hindi dahil sa VIP bilang member kundi sa babaeng biglang bumisita sa shop nila. Ang owner ng mall na ‘to!
“Mabuti at nandito ka na. Bakit ba nagpapapasok kayo ng ganitong customer?”
The manager didn’t bother looking at the man and walked straight to Ocean.
“President, I’m sorry for greeting you late,” paumanhin nito. The people watching at the scene were shocked when the manager addressed the woman.
President?!
What does it mean?!
President ng ano?!
Ang lalaki naman na nangahas sa dalaga ay nabura ang ngiti sa labi nanag marinig din ang sinabi ng manager. She- she’s a President?! May kutob siya na hindi magiging maganda ang mangyayari ngayon lalo na kung nakarating ito sa ama niya at kung sino ang babaeng binangga niya.
“Is this how your performance lately? Mukhang hindi na nasusunod ang standard and policy ng shop,” diretsahang usal ni Ocean habang tumitingin sa mga damit. Nakasunod lamang sa kanya si Leonardo na hawak hawak ang bag nito. Hindi tuloy ito nagmukhang guard dahil para itong boyfriend ng dalaga.
Pinagpawisan ang manager. Nervousness creep out in his body.
“I’m sorry, President. I’ll give them orientation again.”
Ocean stopped and tilted her head.
“Again?”
From the very start before the employee work na-orient na sila kung ano ang gagawin at ng mga rules and regulations ng shop. Isinawalangbahala lang ba nila ang itinuro?
“I didn’t know na nay bias palang nangyayari. Don’t we have the policy of whether whoever went inside the shop the management will treat them equally? Kawalan ba sa inyo kapag nawala ang isang VIP?” The VIP members have the privilege to have a ten percent discount from any products that they will purchase and also they have the privilege to be invited to some events held by the shop but it’s not a reason for them to treat others poorly.
Napayuko naman ang mga empleyad dahil natamaan sila.
Ocean looks fragile and soft but she is strict when it comes to her people lalo na sa klase ng behavior nito. She won’t tolerate a bad attitude.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am President. I will make sure to teach them in the proper way.”
Ocean wanted to refute but stopped herself.
Napahinga siya ng malalim.
“Hmm. Then, I will leave.”
She walked out with Leonardo following. Ngayon lang niya nakita kung paano i-handle ang isang sitwasyon na kalmado. She didn’t even got angry with the shop’s team. Kakaiba talaga. Ano kaya ang pinagdaanan nito upang mabuo siya ng ganito ngayon? Surely, experience is the best teacher.
“Oh? Tapos na?”
Tumango si Leonardo kay Kyro. “Medyo may nangyari lang but we already took care of it.”
“Mabuti kung gano’n. Priority natin ang kaligtasan ni Ma’am.”
Ocean suddenly stopped and looked at them.
“Nagugutom na ba kayo?”
Glenn quickly said, “Ay, ako Ma’am medyo gutom na pero kaya pa naman.” Pagkatapos ay tumawa ito.
“We’ll eat, then. Call Brandon,” utos nito.
“Okay, Ma’am.” Dali-daling tinawagan ni Glenn ang kasama. They went to a fast food restaurant with less crowd. Mga lima lang ata ang naroon.
One staff member went towards them and got their orders. Bali ang table nila ay pang-anim-an. Ocean was seated in the first chair followed by Leonardo and Kyro. Sa harap naman nito ay sina Brandon at Glenn.
Suddenly a voice was heard behind them.
“Ocean? Is that you?” The voice sounded shocked and a little disgusted.
Ocean tensed.
- Writer
