Amidst the tragedy

CHAPTER 6

“Here’s your order ma’am, enjoy!” dagdag pa nito.
Akmang maglalakad na ito papunta sa table niya ng magsalita si Engr.

“Stop!” he commanded.

Napatigil naman ang matanda sa kaniya.

“Yes?”

Lumingon si Engr at suminghap.

“I am the manager of this restaurant, and you just bullied my staff, yet, you don’t have any valid reason, why did you do that?” ani Engr.

Medyo nagulat naman ang matanda at maging ako. He just told us to the lady that he’s our manager na hindi naman.

“Oh really? You’re a handsome manager,” aba malandi pala itong matandang ito.

“Bagay kayo ng anak ko,” dagdag pa nito.

“In your dream,” sumbat naman ng Engr.

“Oh, anyway, pagsabihan mo yang staff mo. Kung ano-ano ang sinasabe,” ani matanda.

I tried to calm myself. Eto na naman siya.

“Is it really? Or it is your own fault?” sabi ni Engr.
“What do you mean?” tanong ng matanda.

Engr. smirked. “My brother is a lawyer, and I can sue you with bullying. I have here a recording device as my evidence.

“You –”

“And nonetheless, many witness are here, how about that?” Engr. gestured the customers who are eating. 

Nanonood lang ako sa harap nila. Trying to calm myself.

Magsasalita pa sana ang matanda ng wala na siyang maibuga sa kaniyang bibig. She stormed out and proceeded to her table.

Lumapit naman sa akin si Engr. His eyes look worried.

“Are you okay?” tanong nito.

“I am okay Engr.” ani ko.

He smiled and gently held my hand. He then sighed. “How could Prince let you bullied by customers, I will talk to that scumbag owner of yours later,” aniya.

I chuckled softly. “Di bale na Engr. Hindi naman po serious, tsaka it is okay for her to react like that since she’s hungry at all. And…” Lumingon ako sa kaniya at Ngumiti. “Thank you for standing with me,”

He smiled. “That’s good to hear. I like your mindset. You’re so understanding. Suwerte ang boyfriend mo kung ganon. Pero, anyway, how did you find out that I am an engineer?” dere-deretsahan niyang saad.

Napatigil ako sa sinabi niya. Not the question. The statement, boyfriend.

“Ah…eh… nalaman ko lang po sa isang customer na classmate niyo daw ho nong high school. At wala po akong boyfriend,” sagot ko naman.

Napa-O siya sa sagot ko.

“Oh really? Pero, just drop the formalities. Just call me Drice. Engr. Drice Jaden Del Fiero,” he smiled.

His smile vanished that my reaction didn’t reciprocate his.

Jaden? Drice Jaden Del Fiero.

“Hey, what happened?” tanong niya.

“Nothing Engr, I mean Drice,” saad ko.

“Hoy babaita, anyare?” tanong ni Fiona nang makapasok ako sa kusina.

Kinuwento ko naman sa kaniya ang nangyari kanina sa amin ng matanda maging ang conversation namin ni Drice.

I just can’t believe it. He has a name ‘Jaden,’ pero sana naman ay mali ang iniisip kong ito. Impossible.