A Night With You

Chapter 8: Grand Opening

The next days were spent to make the business to be operational. Kira secured everything from the smallest details such as stocks and designs until the big details such as goals and lists of promos that the customer can avail on the first day that they are going to buy from their store.

She arranged the last products on the gondola when her Mom tapped her shoulder.

"Good job sweetheart. I like how the store look like now. I couldn't have done that without your help. I was really right when I entrusted you this task."

"It's an easy task Mom. I just wish that the store's first day will be a blast. I don't want the first day to be sad and dull," she said as she kept on putting the price tags on the items. Her mother smiled knowingly. She really know that her daughter is a responsible one.

***

The next day, the store was finally opened. Customers come and go as the time passes by. The constant beeping of the price scanner and the busy people's movements were the things that can invade one's ears.

"Good morning Madam. Welcome to MC. Please enjoy your shopping." That was the constant greeting that they say in every customer that comes inside.

"Madam, your order costs seven hundred sixty five pesos." The lady gave a one thousand bill and get the shopping bag.

"Thank you for buying at MC. Please come again." Kira smiled at every customer. It was just 8 in the morning yet the people who buys there were already crowding the place.

At noon, the store started to be vacant again. Kira and her mother sat on the stool in the counter.

"It was tiring but fun. My back and legs hurt Mommy," she whined. Her mother chuckled.

"Well, this is still the first day. There are still lot of days to come."

"I didn't know that this will be successful. I mean, we just started our business yet the people come and go as if we were already operating for a decade or two."

"Well, the lower the price, the more that people will buy. Basic economics baby. And before we started I actually told my friends that I will open a grocery store so the word spread like a wildfire. Don't get to shocked."

"You and your mouth really."

"Why? What's wrong with that? I just want this business to rise so I made a move. Remember three persons make a tiger."

"What?" Kira was puzzled by the words that were spoken by her mother.

"Three persons make a tiger. Meaning, three persons telling a story will be powerful as a tiger. The people will acknowledge the word because they will accept that it is true."

"Where did you get those vocabularies?"

"Trust me sweetheart. I lived for a long time here on Earth and I love reading that's why I know. There are a lot of things that life will teach you. You just need to accept the fact that you need to learn and start to embrace the thought of learning by experience." Kira just nodded even though she can't clearly decipher her mother's words.

"Hi Karina!" Her mother stood up and greeted a woman that just arrived at MC. The woman was tanned, has a short straight hair where grey ones peeks at the base of her scalp.

"Oh Louisa! I heard about the opening that's why I came here. You made a breakthrough ah? In fairness, you still look gorgeous as ever. And my goddaughter looks really beautiful. Extra advertisement and promotion." The two oldies laughed.

"Karina you don't need to say that. Anyway, yes. I opened the store with Kira's help. She's a responsible child though she's not a child now. Anyway, we should chat sometime soon. I missed you and the gang. It's been years since I came here in the Philippines. It was when Kira was born and now she's passed her 20 and something yet I just saw you."

"Yes surely. You are the only one who is missing in every occasion that we have. By the way, remember Lilian?"

"Yes your second daughter."

"Hmm! She's having her birthday next week so let's set my place as a reunion place of the gang."

"Brilliant idea you got there Karina. I would love to go there and see the rest of us bond again. I can entrust the store to my daughter anyway."

"You should bring your daughter too."

"She's a bit timid and shy. She's easily suffocated with the crowd. And for sure her seat will not even heat up and she'll pull me to go home."

"Hahaha! This daughter of yours is really amazing. I wish I have same daughter too but I still love them despite they love partying most of the time."

"Do you need to buy something Karina?"

"Ah yes! That too. Thanks for reminding me. I'd be needing a table napkin and a loaf bread. Do you have whole wheat bread?"

"Yes! Third gondola."

Karina started her way towards the said spot and started to get the items she wants to buy. She went to the counter to have it paid.

"Here is it Kira darling. How much will I need to pay."

"Wait Ninang I still need to check this," Kira answered. Ninang means godmother in Filipino.

After Kira checked, she told Karina how much will she pay and do the rest of the task.

"You really have grown into a very beautiful woman my dear. I can still remember your day of christening and I was really right about my prediction that you are an amazing kid."

"Salamat po Ninang. I am a bit flushed now. Ay! Mano po." Kira thanked her godmother by saying Salamat which is a Filipino term that means thank you. She held Karina's hand and placed the back of it on her forehead by saying Mano po which means a sign of respect for elders.

"May God bless you Kira dear. Oh! By the way, I will get going now. Tell your Mom that I already left. It's getting late anyway. I hope you visit me to my house if you are nit that busy."

"I will try to Ninang Karina. I jist need to settle things here first. Remember that we just migrated and I am still trying my very best to learn a lot about the culture here and slowly I am adapting from the drastic change."

"Yeah yeah. It must be hard on your part but you can do it. Bye." Thay bade each other's goodbyes and soon Karina was no longer in her vision and mind.

It was already eight thirty at night when Kira started to count the money that was their income for the first day and she was shocked at the same time happy with the result.

"Ten thousand, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fifteen, seventeen thousand eight hundred twenty. Wow! The first day was a blast. Mom! The first sale was 7,820," she happily announced.

"That's good. I hope that this will continue. So that soon enough, we will have an extension towards the back for the dry goods and ready to wear things such as slippers, shoes and clothes."

"Hmm... Let's add that to goals."