Commensalism

Forgiven...? Once Again...?

The blaring sound of revved engine filled the shop…. Mechanics busy with their motors as Freddy who was busy tuning the engine when one of the admins at the shop comes and called him

“Fred…. Boss wanted to see you….”

“What is it..?” Asked Freddy, as he tuned of the engine…

“I don’t know, but you are asked to see him at his office…. Well maybe it’s a new client….” Said the admin and left….

Wondering why the boss summoned him, Freddy washes his hand off the oil and greases, then went into the shop owner’s office…. The very office that both he and Febri once interred in… The very place that he finally becomes his permanent workplace….

*****

“Come in….!” Ordered the owner when he hears the knocking on his door….

“You want to see, me, boss…?” Asked Freddy as he enters the office of the owner of the shop who asked him to sit and then started the conversation…

“Fred, we make a collaboration with a new custom shop at the eastern part of this island…. And they need someone to run the place…” He said that makes Freddy frowned….

He couldn’t possibly mean him…. He thought, knowing that there were more senior and experienced mechanics that work in that shop, that is more than capable to run the new shop….

Maybe he wanted to discuss the possible candidate… Thought Freddy, trying to keep a positive thinking….

“We have some candidates, but our partner specifically wanted you to run the shop…. They said that they knew you, and we thought that you are a good candidate to lead there….” Said the owner which makes Freddy stunned….

“But, Boss…. I never…. We have more experienced….” He stammered….

“Well, that’s a fact, but we, here, believe that you have the potential to run the new shop…. It’s not that we wanted to get rid of you…. Not at all…. You are one of our finest workers around, that is why we are all agree that you should be given the opportunity….” Said the owner of the shop, that still unable to lift the uneasiness in him….

“What is it, Fred… you look worried….” Asked one of the senior mechanics at the shop….

“I… I don’t know, bro…. The boss…. He wanted me to run a new shop with his new partner…. I… I feel that it’s not supposed to be me….” He said reluctantly to the mechanic that chuckled, tap and shake the young man shoulder….

“It’s our decision, man…. Boss, and all the rest of the team decided that it will be best for you to run the shop, there….”

Freddy stunned, surprised for the news from the mechanic…

“All…? But when…? How…?” Freddy stammered….

The mechanic chuckled again and said…

“Bro, like it or not, you are still a newbie, here…. We have circles in circles here…. But no need to worry, we all tight…. And we all have decided…. So, I suggest you get your head on the game…. Because it was a big responsibility that you will have to carry….” Explains the mechanic, that makes Freddy realise that the real world still has its mysteries he has to face and encounter…..

****

The next day, Freddy started to look for an accommodation for him to stay because it will take a long time to get from where he recently stayed, to the eastern part of the island….

And then at the appointed day, he went to the shop…

“Um…. I’m Freddy, I’m here to see….”

“Ah, yes, come on…. You’ve been expected….” Said the front office before ushering the young man to the office where the owner has been waiting for him….

And as he entered the room….

“Tina…? Ryan…?”

Freddy was surprised to know that the couple were the owner of the shop….

“Ah, the man…” said Ryan, welcoming and shake hands with the confused young man, as he saw the sister of the missing girl, looked at him from behind the table, and nod to the young man….

“We want you to supervise this shop…. Not because of pity or as a compensation… We want you to lead, purely because your capability….” Said Agustina, to the young man who still cannot believe the what is really going on to the situation he was in…. “And we are rarely wrong in our judgement…. So, we want you to consider our offer….”

****

In his new office, Freddy was carefully checking on the cashflow report on the shop, which over his two years of supervising, shows a good profit…

His phone buzzing, he looked at the caller ID, and he quickly put the paperwork in front of him, and answered the phone….

“Yes…? What can I do, Tina…?” He asked, politely

A bike needs your handling; the owner hears about your reputation and specifically wanted you to handle the bike….

“No problem, Tina…. When we expect the bike to arrive…?” He asked….

Tomorrow, around one o’clock…. Remember, take a good care of the bike, it was one of the kinds…. Said Agustina, and her emphasis, makes Freddy take more precautions for the bike….

“I will, Tina…. I will personally handle the bike….” Said Freddy gave assurance to his boss, and then back on focusing to his administrative works on the computer in front of him…

****

Freddy had check and recheck all the tools on the special work station that they use for special guests of the shop…

It was almost one o’clock when garage rolling door was opened and he hears the sound of the bike as it was driven to the garage by the owner…

Freddy’s jaw was dropped as the torque wrench that slipped of his hand and clang to the floor as he saw the person who rode the bike….

“Hi, d**k…. How are you doing…?”

****

It’s like a déjà vu for them, where the man sitting, with his right index fingers scribbled on the table, with his head tilted down a bit, and his eyes looked down

Freddy can feel his heart pounding hard, like a beating drum and he feels like his heart was about to burst out of his chest….

After all these years, he once again sits with his eyes looking at the food that completely untouched at the table before him….

****

“Now you know everything, d**k…. And I am ready if you can’t forgive me…. But please…. Don’t take it on my sister and her business… Please take care of my sister’s custom shop… Please…. If you still have a feeling for me….” Said Febri as she stands up, and about to leave the young man

“Babe…” Called the young man with soft voice, but enough to make the girl turned back and looked at the young man who extended his right hand, and his palm opened….

A custom-made platinum ring at the centre of his palm….

And for the first time on his life, he was a trail of tears run on the cheek of the girl he misses sod early….