Sarang

Chapter 21

"May parcel ka raw!" Aeris shouted from the living room. I immediately went down then hurried to the gate.

"Si Ma'am Alessia Mackenzie po?" he politely asked when I opened the gate.

"That's me!" I said like a kid, I even raised my left hand before getting na parcel.

"Paki-pirmahan nalang po ito, Ma'am," he handed me a paper. I was smiling widely while signing the paper. "Thank you, po."

I closed the gate before heading back inside.

"What's that?" Aeris asked me. I immediately went to the kitchen to wash my hands before opening it.

"What else? It's a bag!" I told her. I feel like my eyes turned into a heart shape when I saw the bag. I only ordered this yesterday and was surprised that it was shipped immediately. This is so pretty!

"Saan Ate mo?" I heard Asher's voice so my smiled faded. I put the bag on the table before waiting for him to come to the kitchen.

"Hi," he greeted me. I just raised my brow on him. "Galit ka pa ba? Sorry na, hindi naman kita sinisisi kahapon. Sinasabi ko lang na---"

"Na dapat hindi ako maging rude, yeah, I know," I cut him off before crossing my arms.

"Sorry na nga, huwag ka ng magalit," he said softly. He one of my hands so I just rolled my eyes.

"Fine. Be thankful that I'm in the mood right now," I told him before looking at my new bag again.

"Did you buy a new one again?" his soft voice earlier was replaced by annoyance. "Binilhan na kita diba?"

"It was because I'm pissed yesterday and I need to do something to bring back my mood!"

"Kaya bumili ka? Kaya gumastos ka nanaman ng pera?" he raised a brow on me.

"Yes!" I said. "And what ba? it's my money naman!"

"Dapat nagtitipid ka lalo na at sunod-sunod ang nagiging problema ng mga kumpanya mo," he said in calm voice. "Give me all your cards."

"What?!" I shouted. "Why would I do that? Who are you to do that?!"

"Ako?" he asked me while pointing himself. "Ako tutulong sa 'yo para hindi kawawa ang mga empleyado mo. Ibigay mo sa akin," he told me.

"No way!"

"Ano nanamang pinag-aawayan niyo?" Aeris asked us while leaning on the wall, looking at us with her crossed arms.

"Etong Ate mo, ang gastadora," Asher answered him.

"Excuse me? What is the purpose of money if hindi mo naman gagamitin?! Aeris! He's asking me to surrender all my cards. He has no right to do that!"

Aeris sighed. "Ibigay mo nalang. Huwag ka kasi munang gastos ng gastos lalo na ngayon," she said.

"Akin na," he said again. "Kapag hindi mo binigay, kahit candy hindi mo na pabibili," he threatened me.

I pouted before going to my room to get all my cards before going to the living room, not wanting what is happening right now. I mean, that's my money! My cards!

"Dapat matuto ka sa mga basics na ginagawa rin ng mga empleyado mo," he said.

"And why?!"

"Kasi gusto ko," he shut me off. "You'll work at my Restaurant for a day---"

"No!" I instantly disagreed. "There's no way I'll be working at your Restaurant as a waitress!"

"Dali na, Ate. Kapag pumayag ka, malay mo sumahod ka pa."

"Give me a reason why should I do that," I told them.

"Kasi nga sinabi ko," Asher said in a dismissive voice. Kahit na labag sa kalooban ko, I just agreed to them. What else can I do?! I need to get back all my credit cards.

"Abutan niyo nga ako ng apron," Asher commanded them. Hannah immediately handed him an apron before looking at me cluelessly. I saw how her mouth formed an 'o' when Asher gave me the apron.

"Hala, kailangan din ng trabaho ni Ma'am Sia?" Mashi asked him.

"Si Ma'am Sia? Weh?" I heard Vince's voice before going out from the kitchen to check.

"Oo, wala na siyang pera, eh."

"Excuse me?!" kumunot ang noo ko. "Take it back!"

He chuckles. "Ngayong araw lang. Huwag kayong mahiyang utusan. Kapag tinakot kayo, isumbong niyo kaagad sa akin," he said before leaving us.

"Ano pong gusto niyong gawin?" Hannah asked me. "Sa counter po, gusto niyo? Kukuhanin niyo lang naman po ang order tapos 'yung bayad. Pwede naman pong kayo ang mag-serve sa mga order."

"Counter nalang," I simply told her. She nodded before we went to the counter. She taught me everything about it. She even showed me how so I instantly get it. Wow, she's a good teacher. Instead of staying at the counter which is her suppose job, she became the waitress.

"Hi, I would like to order the Classic pancake, 3 pcs," she smiled genuinely at me.

"Your drinks?" I asked her.

"Uh, Caramel Macchiato in large size."

"1 order of 3 pieces Classic pancake and 1 order of Large Caramel Macchiato a total of 494 pesos," I told her. She immediately gave me her money. "I received 500. Please take a seat and wait for your order. Here's your change."

I wrote down how much I sold in the notebook to show to Asher. "Yes, Ma'am? What's your order?" I asked the next customer while still writing on the book.

"Kaibigan po."

I immediately look up and saw Jiara smilingly wide at me. "Jiara!"

She giggles. "I was surprised to see you here! What are you doing here?"

"Long story," I told her.

"May oorder pa sa likod. Mamaya na sana ang kwentuhan."

Our smile faded when we both heard what the lady said. I look at her before simply raising my eyebrow.

"Okay, uh, Special Salisbury steak, 1 order of premium pancakes, Chocolate Marble waffles and large Iced Coffee," she said.

"Alright. 1 order of Special Salisbury steak, 1 order of premium pancakes, 1 order of chocolate marble waffles, and 1 order of Iced Coffee in large size for a total of 933 pesos. I received 1,000, you can now take a seat and wait for your order. Here's your change," I told her. she mouthed thank you before finding a table.

My smile faded when the lady steps forward. I was lazily looking at her, waiting for her order. "Oorder ka ba?" I asked her. She's been looking at the menu for almost 3 minutes now!

"Teka lang naman," masungit na sagot niya.

"Excuse me? You're not the only customer here. Kung sana kanina mo pa pinag-isipan kung anong oorderin mo habang nakapila ka ba para hindi tayo nagsasayang oras dito," I said.

"What? How dare a cashier girl talk to me like that?" her eyes widened.

"Cashier girl?" I asked her. "Do you know who you are talking to now?"

"I don't. Where's your manager? I want to talk to him. Sobrang bastos ng empleyado akala mo kung sino."

"Sorry, Ma'am but our manager is busy right now. Let's just fix---"

"Then I will talk to the owner to fire this girl!" she pointed her finger at me.

"What's happening here?" I felt Asher's presence behind me.

"Itong babaeng 'to, napakabastos ng bunganga. Hindi marunong kumausap ng maayos!"

"What? I was just telling you na sana inisip mo na 'yong oorderin mo kasi there's also someone behind you. You've been standing in front of me for almost three minutes, what do you expect me to do, huh? Tanga ka ba?!"

"Aba, bastos---"

"We're very sorry for this. Let my other staff assist you with your order. I'll talk to her myself," he calmly said before excusing us. He pulled me inside his office.

"What? If you drag me here to blame me again then---"

"I'm not saying anything," he calmly said. He leaned against his desk before placing both hands in his pockets. "What happened?"

"I already said earlier what happened. I just told her na she should've thought of what she'll order. There's a lot of customers behind her!"

"Really?"

"Yes!"

He smiled at me before nodding his head. "You're doing a fantastic job," he told me.

My face lightened when I heard that. "Right. So can I have my card back now?" I tried to act cute.

His smile faded. "Do you think it was a compliment?"

I rolled my eyes at him. He's annoying!

"Tanggalin mo na 'yang apron mo. May pupuntahan tayo."

"Talaga?" I smiled. "Tapos na ako? Hindi ko na kailangang magtrabaho? Saan tayo pupunta?" I asked him.

"Wow. That's a straight Tagalog, Miss," he said, teasing me. "We're going to pay a visit at AM Law Firm."

"Oh," I said and my eyes immediately widened when I realized what he just said. "Wait, AM Law Firm? That's mine, right?"

He nodded. "Kailangan mo ring magpakita sa mga empleyado mo hindi 'yong sa picture ka lang nila kilala."

"Then let me change!" I told him. "I need to go home first."

"Hindi na. May binili akong damit. Hintayin kita sa labas," he said before going outside. I get the paper bag to see what's inside of it. It's a black cut-out velvet mini dress and stiletto. He also got me accessories which made me smile.

When I walk outside, I saw him talking to Vince. He immediately excuses himself before going outside with me. I tried to look for Jiara but she wasn't there now.

"Sakto lang ba?" he asked me while scanning my whole body.

"Yes, it got the exact size, same with the heels. How did you know my size?"

He shrugged. "Alam ko lang."

"Alam mo lang? Just tell me that you're used to it when it comes to buying stuff for you girls."

"Girls?" he look at me confused. "Ikaw palang ang una kong binilhan ng ganiyan, Sia," he said in a low tone of voice.

I smiled. "Okay."

When we arrived at the law firm, I was shocked when the card immediately recognized me. It's my first time going here, I swear. Of all my companies, I haven't had to go and pay a visit once. I always make Kaito do it for me.

"Hindi! Huwag mong ipasa sa akin ang kasalanan mo! Huwag mong gawing rason ang pagtatrabaho ko ng halos buong araw dahil lang sa kababuyan mo!"

As soon as we step out of the elevator, I heard someone shouting. We both stopped walking and from where I was standing, I saw a woman being calmed down by some lawyers.

"Tama naman ang ginawa ko. Hindi mo ako kailangang sigawan, pinapahiya mo lang lalo ang sarili mo."

"Ano?! Ang kapal ng mukha mo!" she was about to throw hands but luckily, the lawyers got the chance to hold her.

"Ma'am, let's calm down so we can talk about this matter." A man, on his black suit calmly said. Unlike the other members, he was standing there seems not happy with what is happening.

"Hindi ako magiging kalmado hangga't kaharap ko ang babaerong 'to!"

The man's forehead creased. "Ano pa bang pinaglalaban mo?! Pumayag ka nalang na maghiwalay na tayo para tapos na!"

The woman pushed hard the other lawyers restraining her before approaching her husband and started giving him a hard punch. "Hayop ka! Hindi ka na nahiya sa sarili mo! Ikaw pa ang may ganang makipaghiwalay pagkatapos ng kawalang-hiyang ginawa mo sa akin! Babaero ka!"

I just felt that Asher was no longer beside me. I looked to the front again and saw that he was helping to stop them from fighting. He chose to hold the man instead.

"Kaya nga maghiwalay na tayo kung hindi mo na kaya ang pambabaeng ginagawa ko!"

"At inamin mo rin na nangbababae ka?! Gago ka! May anak kang babae! Sana inisip mo man lang 'yon!" she punched him again and before I could speak, nakita kong si Asher ang nasuntok niya which made him fall on the floor.

I immediately walk towards them. "Let them go," I said. They all look at me and some of the lawyers were shock when they saw me. "Is my Law Firm a boxing ring for the both of you? What kind of bastard let someone doing nonsense here. Is this your way of welcoming me?" I look at them one by one and saw them slowly bowed their head including the guy I saw earlier.

"I know this is a Law Firm but you aren't allowed to do such things like fighting here. You're already an adult. Hindi niyo ba naisip na nakakaabala na kayo sa ibang abogado rito dahil lang sa problema niyong mag-asawa? Get a grip and don't make a fuss here."

"We're sorry, Miss Markle," they said in chorus.

"I know fighting is a way of releasing resentment but this is not a place for you. If you wish to kill yourself, find another location and don't smear my law firm with your blood."

There were secutiry who arrived before taking the two away. Nanatili pa rin silang nakayuko at hindi makatingin sa akin.

"Lift your chin, is that your way of welcoming me?" I asked them again.

"No, Miss Markle," they said before looking at me.

"Welcome, Ma'am. I'm sorry about that," a boy in his specs told me.

I just nodded before approaching Asher to see if he was okay. "Don't try to stop someone from fighting if you're not strong enough," I told him. Some lawyers assist me to my office before giving me something to eat.

"Alam kong maganda siya sa picture pero hindi ko akalain na mas maganda siya lalo sa personal," I heard someone whispers.

"Thank you," I said before looking at her. She gave me a shy smile before her face turned red. I just introduced myself and told them that I may pay a visit once a week. We stayed there, talking to them before I already bid goodbye.

When we got home, we saw Aeris and Kaito in the living room while facing the laptop so I assumed that Kaito was teaching Aeris about business. I immediately sat on the couch while looking at Aeris. She looks so serious while listening to Kaito.

"Do you already know why he resigned?" Ashed asked me in a whisper.

"No. He just can't... tell me."

"I think I already know the reason why he chose to resign instead of staying at one of your companies here in the Philippines," he said before leaning his back on the sofa.

I looked at him. "Really? What is it? What do you think?"

"What can you say about him?" he asked out of nowhere.

"About him?" I looked at Kaito for a while before looking at him again. "Well, he's nothing but an annoying stupid jerk. Why?"

"Nothing," he shook his head. "I wonder, what does he think about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You were friends, right?"

"Yes," I quickly answered, still confused. "What are you trying to say?"

"Nothing," he said again. "I just knew that keeping you as a friend is a hard thing to do, especially if it's a boy."