Chapter 6
Seeing Synestine coming in like nothing happened in the past few days was weird. I don't want to make a big deal about it and make it about me, but since that kiss—which I wasn't aware of happened, everything suddenly changed.
"Hi, Pocholo," nakangiti nitong pagbati sa akin. Her smiles always got me. I don't know what it's called, but it made me feel like I was on cloud nine. She went closer to the counter to where I was standing.
"Hi, Sy," I greeted her with a smile. I tried not to think that we kissed. I couldn't remember that so why would I bother? "What can I get for you?"
She giggled before she responded. "Uhm. . . I didn't come here to get a drink."
"Oh. . ." Namilog ang bibig ko kasabay nang pag-angat ng kilay. "Okay. . . What can I do for you?"
"I actually want to apply," she said. "But I don't have a CV. I can go back tomorrow if that's a requirement. Where can I submit it though?"
"Do you really want to work here?" I questioned.
She nodded. "Why, Mister de Amos? Do you think I'm not the person who would work here?"
I quickly shook my head. "No, no. That's not what I meant—" I couldn't say anything else. "Alright. . . Don't worry about your CV. I can work it out for you. Could you find an empty table and wait for me there?"
"Oh, sure! No problem. . ."
"Thank you."
Umalis siya sa harap ng counter at pumunta sa isang bakanteng table. May isang customer na pumasok sa shop at inutusan ko muna ang isang staff na siya muna ang mag-asikaso ng order nito. Before I get to Synestine's table, I grabbed her a piece of blueberry cheesecake. I took the papers for an applicant interview and the dessert.
As I got to the table, I gave her the cheesecake which she was surprised about because she said I didn't need to do that. Napangiti na lang din ako sa kanya. Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko. This is too nerve-wracking for me. Synestine was the only one who could make me feel like this.
"Alright. . . Miss St. Clair. Tell me something about yourself," I asked her, looking straight into her eyes as if those would enchant me.
She fixed her posture and gave me a sweeter smile than I could ever see. "I'm Synestine St. Clair. I'm 20 years old. I'm the eldest of our siblings, and most of them are ten below so quite the difference in ages there. To tell you about my work experience, I've worked in a fast food chain before. I was stationed at the counter, kitchen, and drive-thru. I was able to enhance my customer service skills from that experience and I'm interested in applying as one of the baristas here because I find it amusing and I miss working in this industry, so if you will give me a chance to work here, I would appreciate it so much."
"Thanks, Sy. That's just what I needed to hear."
"Oh, are we done?" she asked, somehow confused as I closed the applicant document form.
Tumango naman ako. "Yes. How soon can you start?"
"Tomorrow, I guess? Yes, I can do it tomorrow."
"Then, congrats, Sy!"
Kinamayan ko siya at tinanggap naman niya iyon. Mas lumawak ang ngiti niya sa labi at hindi makapaniwala na gano'n lang kabilis ang lahat. I don't it's necessary pa for me to make another round of interviews or make her do anything as I've already seen her do that work. She would be a good addition to the shop, and I just have to talk this one out to my father since we're not currently looking for a new staff, but perhaps my father couldn't resist me.
