Rainy Season in Manila

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

"Nasa'n ang manager niyo?" galit na utos ng customer sa akin.

Nanatili naman akong kalmado as I should be. Pinipilit ko namang ngitian ang warfreak kong customer ngayon.

"Bakit ayaw mong tawagin ang manager niyo? I have the right to complain! Go get your manager!"

Calm down your horse, Marites.

"Excuse me." Paglapit ng manager ko sa eksena. Tiningnan naman niya ako and with only an eye contact, he knew what's already happening here and we have to deal again with this angry customer. "May I know what's happening here?"

"Are you the manager?!" the mad lady asked. "Do you really have this kind of employee? So much incompetency."

"No, ma'am. We don't, but may I know what this is all about?" my manager asked her so calm so I hope she'll tone her voice down. Mahinahon din naman ang pakikipag-usap ng manager ko sa customer because we don't wanna get this situation erupted more.

"Kanina pa ako naghihintay ng order ko. Nang ipa-check ko ang order ko at tiningnan niya ang resibo ko, hindi niya pala isinama ang order ko. She even gave me an order number. Nakapupunyeta naman 'to!"

"Ma'am, sorry po," pagpauumanhin ko.

Napaatras na lamang ako dahil ibinigay ko na sa manager ko ang sitwasyon.

"We apologize for the inconvenience, ma'am. Would you still like to get your order?"

"Oo naman!" Galit na usal ng babae at nakuha pa nitong pumaywang.

Bahagya naman akong tiningnan ng manager ko at nginitian niya ako. Senyales na iyon na tumungo muna ako sa ibang station. As I left my manager with the angry customer, napabitaw na lamang ako ng malalim na buntonghininga. This could affect my performance. Sa loob ng apat na taon ko bilang isang crew rito sa fast food place na 'to, I've only encountered a few, but I guess she's the worst of them. Lakas maka-attack on titan si ate girl.

Tumulong naman muna ako sa drive-thru at ako ang nag-aabot ng mga take-away meals ng mga customer. As of today, mas maraming drive-thru customers kaya pila-pila rin ang order na pine-prepare ko. Kahit ang utak ko ay nasa paghahanda ng mga order, hindi ko pa rin naman maialis ang isipan ko sa nangyari kanina.

In that case, mapagsasabihan ako ng manager ko, but I also have the right to explain myself. They say the customers are always right, but there are times that they stepped into the line too much that it causes wildfire. Ayoko ng gano'n pero hindi maiiwasan sa nature ng trabaho ko.

People would do what they would like to do, kahit na nakasisira na ito ng confidence o kaya naman ng dignidad ng ibang tao. People don't mind if they weren't on that position. They'll just laugh it off. At kami itong uuwing luhaan.

"Isel, ayan na 'yong next car," paalala sa akin ng kasamahan ko.

"Yup! On it!" Pagkompirma ko sa kanya at agad kong itinuon ang sarili ko sa window kung saan papalapit ang next car. Hinanda ko na rin naman ang orders nito para i-aabot ko na lamang.

As soon as the car stopped right in front of the window, I plastered a smile on my face and ready to face another customer.

"Good afternoon, sir," I greeted as soon the man turned to face me. Pero biglang nanigas ang buo kong katawan nang ma-realize kong pamilyar—sobrang pamilyar ang lalaking nasa harapan ko ngayon. "I—good afternoon, sir."

He bob his head. "Yes, good afternoon."

My mind literally fell out of coordination. Biglang hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko. Bigla akong na-blanko. Hindi ako makapaniwala na ang lalaking kaharap ko ay ang taong hindi ko inaasahang makahaharap ko ngayon. I wasn't expecting to see him today—as I thought, ever again.