Fit the Puzzle (Azcona Cousins #3)

06

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Chapter 06

Natapos na ang paghihirap namin sa big book. We've successfully completed and gracefully delivered our very own story. Lumipad na ang isang semestre at ngayon naman ay dadako kami sa isa pang core subject.

'Di ko lubos na maisip kung bakit pati kaming nasa STEM strand ay kailangan ding pag-aralan ang Entrepreneurship. Not gonna lie, it's a tough subject to deal with! Laging blanko ang utak ko sa tuwing nagtuturo ang teacher namin. At heto naman kami ngayon, kailangan naming gumawa ng business plan. We're also required to market our product mas maganda raw kung pagkain para mabilis mabenta.

Nasa ibang grupo na 'ko ngayon. Wala naman akong problema sa kanila. They're actually approachable. Hinihiling ko na lamang na maging maayos 'yung product namin.

We're currently having an informal group meeting in a milk tea shop near our school. Isang kilometro ang layo. Everyone's voicing out their opinions except me. I am busy sipping on my refreshing drink that gives a caffeine kick. Hindi ko naman sinasadyang maging tahimik, 'di lang talaga ako magaling sa ganito.

"Ikaw ba, Croozian? Ano sa tingin mo ang magandang maging product natin?"

Bigla akong napa-ayos ng upo. Ang kaninang namumungay na mata dahil sa tinatagong antok ay bilugan na ngayon. I masked a very interesting facade.

"Cashier na lang ako," ngiwi ko.

They all laughed which made me a bit uneasy.

May mali ba sa sinabi ko? O nakakatawa lang talaga ako ngayon?

"We should focus on the product first... before proceeding to the assigned workforce."

"Ah," I smiled. I moistened my lips and looked at the shop's ceiling animatedly. Kunwari nag-iisip talaga nang sobrang makabuluhan. "How about... potato balls?"

'Yun lang talaga ang nasa isip ko. I got nervous when I didn't get any response from them.

"Sorry, lame ba masyado? Just don't consider my suggestion if you don't like it."

Umiling ang kaklase ko. "It wasn't lame. I am already thinking of the meat fillers and flavors for the product. Maganda naman ang suggestion mo, Croozian."

"Talaga?" baka kasi napipilitan lang siyang i-consider.

She nodded. "Yes, but the ingredients would surely be pricey."

My groupmates still flooded the meeting with overflowing ideas and suggestions. Lagi akong tumatango 'pag may nagsasalita sa'min. But our group eventually picked my suggestion, 'yung potato balls.

Our group leader assigned me to do some research. Wala naman akong angal sa utos niya, challenging para sa akin pero ayaw ko namang ipahiya ang sarili ko. And since my group's very competitive, we've decided to make a draft for our business plan. Nag-conceptualize na rin sila ng design para sa magiging menu namin.

It's a gloomy Saturday today and I regret purchasing a cold drink for myself. The sky was kind of gray until it gained a heavier dark color. I could barely see the people walking outside since the glass was carpeted with mist and fog.

Sumimangot ako nang matantong white sneakers ang suot ko.

We were all focused on our tasks. Tahimik lang ang buong grupo sa isang parihabang lamesa. Nakakarinig lamang kami ng ingay sa tuwing tumutunog ang glass door ng shop. Halos papatak na ng gabi nang mapagpasiyahan ng lahat na umuwi na.

Napukaw ng maingay na bell ang atensyon ko. My mouth dropped open when I saw Brent Iverson in his casual tee and signature cold aura. May dala siyang laptop na naka ipit sa kanyang bising. I blushed profusely as I thought of his protruding veins in his arms.