Love Survival (Hunk Omega Society 2)

KABANATA 17

KABANATA 17: Quarrel

SLOAN

After I bought pasalubong for Yaya Basya and Ate Beeba here in Nepo Mall, I looked for a restaurant because I plan to bring lunch to Dominic at the factory.

I don't know the exact address of the VMC factory here, but there's Google Maps naman and the company Dominic works for is well-known, so I know I won't have a hard time finding it.

Tumigil ang paa ko sa harap ng Yankee Bites, isang American restaurant na nadito pa rin sa loob ng Nepo Mall.

Pagpasok ko sa restaurant ay medyo maraming tao. Most of them are Americans who probably missed eating the American foods that they're used to.

I walked toward the counter. Dadamihan ko na lang siguro ang order ko para sabay na kaming mag-lunch ni Dominic.

"Good noon! What do you want to have, Ma'am?" nakangiting tanong ng babae sa counter.

I looked at the countertop menu and read the available dishes.

"C-Can I have Jambalaya, California Roll Sushi, and Mississippi Mud Pie, please?" I said and took my wallet from my bag.

"1,200 pesos po. Cash or card, Ma'am?"

"C-Card." I took my Mastercard black card from my wallet, which I always carry with me just in case of emergency.

Marami akong bank accounts dahil si Mommy ang naghanda no'n para sa akin no'ng nabubuhay pa siya. Before she died, she made a will and testament indicating that she will leave all her assets under my name like cash equivalents, investments, personal property and business interest. Alam iyon ni daddy dahil nakalagay rin sa will na si daddy muna ang hahawak ng mga iyon hanggang sa tumungtong ako ng edad na 20.

Pero hindi ako pwedeng umasa lang sa pera ni Mommy habang buhay. Kailangan ko ring magtrabaho at maghirap dahil ang pera ay nauubos. I need to prepare my finances for the future.

Since I love arts, I wanted to start an art gallery where I could sell my canvas. Marami na akong naipita na nakatago lang lahat sa mansion. Hopefully, one of these days, if I am not busy anymore, I can go back to the mansion to get my artwork.

"Here, Ma'am," inabot sa akin ng staff ang dalawang paper bag na naglalaman ng order ko.

"T-Thank you."

I've already left Nepo Mall carrying two big and three small paper bags. Pumara kaagad ako ng taxi.

"Velasco Metal Corporation factory, Manong," I said while putting on my seatbelt.

Manong driver just nodded and didn't ask any further questions. See? VMC is really popular!

Huminto ang sasakyan sa malaking pulang gate. Walang ibang katabing building ang lugar na ito. Kapansin-pansin ang mga ilang mga taong nakaupo sa harap ng gate na tila pagod at gutom habang ang iba naman ay nagpapaypay ng kanilang hawak na karton. Tirik ang araw at wala silang panangga doon!

"Ano kaya ang nangyaring sa kumpanyang iyan? Masyado nang naging sakim ang namamahala at hindi na iniisip na may pamilya ring binubuhay ang mga nagtatrabaho sa kanila," kumento ni Manong driver habang nakatingin din sa mga taong nasa harap ng gate.

I pursed my lips and looked at them too. I didn't expect na ganito ang maabutan ko rito.

"I-Ito na po ang bayad ko, Manong. Just keep the change po. Thank you," I said and opened the door.

Pagkababa ko pa lang taxi ay nagsilingunan na kaagad sa akin ang mga nandoon. Some of them were looking at me from head to toe, while others were whispering to each other as they looked at me. I gulped. Are they judging me?