LOVING A MANNEQUIN

Chapter 19: Praise from Her Bully's Manager

*BARBIE HEAVENWARD*

"Wow, Barbie, how could you think of these? They all look great. Excellent." Anica kept turning around and traced her gaze to every clothes the mannequins wore while her hand was caressing their bodies. 

As Anica reached Angelo and about to touch him, I unexpectedly stopped her. "Hey hey stop. Stop right there." I rushly walked towards her and tugged her away. 

"What are you doing?" Anica looked at me with her scanning eyes. "Why are you weird today? Why don't you allow me to touch your favorite mannequin? Look, you're even blushing." Anica pointed my cheek. 

I covered my hands on my cheeks and it was indeed a bit hot. "Am I?" 

"Look at you? Barbie, are you in love? Who? Just when it happens? How about introducing him to us?" 

"Stop it." I gently pushed her. "I am not in love. How would I fall in love if I am not seeing anyone?" I pretended arranging the hangers but the truth was, my eyes peeking towards Angelo's direction. 

"Don't try to deny it." Anica walked around me and crossed her arms. "Well, even if you don't tell me, I have my ways to know it. Just wait." She said and left laughing. 

Not long had passed, the shop was besieged by a lot of customers. Girls, boys and even old women wanted to buy the similar set of clothes the mannequins wore. 

We almost didn't know how to cater to them. Even Ma'am Denice helped us staff assist the customers and satisfied their wants. And it continued until the twilight came and slowly the customers lessened. The thing that we thanked for because we were already worn out for running here and there to give and bring the customers' requests.

Jess sat down on the floor like a lazy duck. "My God, what just happened to the world? Why were people harassing us today? I am so tired."

"It's Barbie's all fault. If she hadn't dressed the mannequins well, we wouldn't have been so tired." Kris said. Well, she was  just actually joking. Soon after, her stomach grumbled. 

Grrrk. Grrrk. Grrrk. 

Everyone laughed. Kris looked at her tummy and said rubbing it, "I am hungry."

"Hello guys, come over here and let's have an early dinner." Ma'am happily yelled from the door. Each of her hands were carrying 4 boxes of fried chicken and cola drinks. 

"What is going on? The cold tiger had just bought a meal for all of us?" Nelia almost whispered it but we still heard it clearly. 

"What are you mumbling Nelia? Come over here now before my mind changes." Ma'am Denice brought out the food from the boxes. 

"Hey, what are you waiting for?" Anica shouted. "Come here now. This is a free meal."

After seeing Anica start to take a bite of the drumstick, everybody finally walked over to the counter hastily and picked their part. 

"Today, everyone was working hard and tired. On behalf of UNiQ, I would like to thank all of you for your cooperation. Today, our shop earned double the quota and we should thank Barbie for her excellent ideas because the majority of the items sold were the set of clothes she displayed to the customers. Barbie, good job."

I scratched my head. I was embarrassed, really, because it wasn't my work. If not with Angelo's help, I might be starving until now in the store room.

I smiled in an awkward manner at them and bowed my head. "Thank you for your praise Ma'am but I can't take all the credit because it was everybody's teamwork. It was everybody's achievement. Thank you everyone."

"Whooah, Barbie, you are not just beautiful, you are also humble. Two thumbs up for you." Anica said, showing a thumbs on me as she winked. 

"Thank you." I shyly replied and bit my drumstick with my head down. 

Denice clapped her hands, "Okay ladies, continue eating. I will take good care of these three customers first. If there's no more customers before six, we will close early. 

"Really?" Celine was thrilled, inserting a few of her fingers inside her mouth. 

Denice laughed. "Don't put your fingers inside your mouth, or else your mouth would expand bigger." 

I silently drank my cola. Inadvertently my eyes travelled towards Angelo, we could see him from the counter because the counter was only in front of the door, and I couldn't hold my giggle as he suddenly turned around, winked at me  and smiled. 

"Barbie!" Yelled by Jess at me. "Are you listening to us or not?" 

I was startled by her loud voice, the cola in my hands almost fell. "What did you just say?" I asked like a fool, still sniggering. 

"This is bad. Look at her, she is like being possessed by a strange spirit. She didn't listen to us but she blushed. What is wrong with her?" Jess frowned. 

Anica sighed loud purposely. "Aiya, don't bother taking her. She is going to date someone else. Right Barbie?" 

"I am not, really." I raised my hand and even swore. "But--where are you guys going?" 

Nelia quickly replied. "At the disco bar."

Barbie exclaimed, expanding her cute small eyes. "Disco Bar? No way, I can't go."

"Forget it Barbie. Just have fun with your man." Anica teased again. 

"I really don't have a man. Why don8you all believe me?" I pouted. 

"Look at her?" Jess pointed at me. "She still looks blushing and cute when pouting."

Anica pulled a tissue and dabbed her mouth. "Because she is in love."

I sighed. This would only won't end if I would mind them. So I chose to ignore them.