Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 47 Free Hug

OTTILIE VIRSES POV 
 
 
Unang araw pa lang ng Enchantment day, pero ang pagod ko abot na hanggang kinabukasan. Paano ba naman, umagang-umaga pa lang, busy na agad kaming apat na asikasuhin ang booth ng klase namin, na nakatirik sa sports field.

Actually, I was surprised to see our sports field who looks so dull, was now transformed into a colorful, lively fairground. It was packed with students moving between various booths and stalls.

Of course, our class booth was no exception, it was swamped with students lining up to buy our Magic Pretzel Wands. Our class had come up with the idea to sell these pretzel rods dipped in chocolate or colored icing, decorated with sprinkles, glitter, and candy stars. And with all five groups taking turns every hour and a half, it was our group’s turn now to manage the booth.
 
"Okay, let's do this, guys!" I said, grinning. "Ang dami na agad nating customers!"
 
Dylan, in charge of melting and preparing the chocolate, grunted in response. "Don’t worry, Ottilie. I’ve got the chocolate under control. Although, seriously, I’ve melted enough chocolate today to fill a swimming pool."
 
Napapa-iling na lang ako kay Dylan. Maya't maya kasi ang panaka-naka nitong pagpapak sa chocolate bar habang nagtutunaw. 
 
"Ayusin mo lang, mukhang sayo pa lang, mauubusan na tayo ng dipping sauce," pabirong turan ko sa kan'ya na sinuklian niya ng isang kindat.
 
Katabi naman nito si Jenna, na naka-toka sa dipping and decoration station. She dipped each pretzel, adding sprinkles, stars, and glitter with flair, making each one unique and eye catching.
 
"Kita mo nga naman," Jenna beamed, holding up a sparkly, star-studded pretzel wand. "It’s so pretty. Dapat doble bayad dito, eh!" 
 
"No need," I chuckled while handling the cashier. "Thanks to our genius marketing twist, we don’t need to."
 
I couldn’t help but smirk as I glanced over at Plutus, who was frowning behind the display. He was grumpier than ever, but that wasn’t stopping the crowd. In fact, most of the students lining up weren’t even interested in the pretzels, they just wanted to take advantage of the "Buy a Pretzel, Get a Free Hug from Plutus" deal we’d set up.
 
"This is absurd," Plutus muttered, arranging the wrapped pretzels while glaring at us. "You should all be ashamed, exploiting me like this."
 
"Asus, kunwari pa," pang-aasar ko. "You’re practically a celebrity around here. Besides, you should be flattered. Look how many people want to hug you."
 
Plutus narrowed his eyes at me. "Flattered? I feel like an animal in a petting zoo."
 
"Sa gwapo mong 'yan?" Natatawang dagdag ni Jenna. "Saka naka-ilang proposal kana ba na ni-turn down ngayong araw para sa ball?" 
 
"Whatever," Plutus exclaimed. "They're all bunch of fools." 
 
"Kalmahan mo lang, pre... mahina galawan ng manok ko eh," pa-mysterious na singit ni Dylan sabay tingin sa'kin. 
 
Ano na naman kaya pinagsasabi ng nerd na 'to? Magtatanong na sana ako ng may dumating na naman na grupo ng mga estudyante para bumili. 
 
"Two pretzels, please, and… I’ll take that hug with Plutus," she said as she placed the money down.
 
I held back a laugh as I passed them the pretzel, while Plutus, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else, leaned forward and gave them a half-hearted hug.
 
Tila kiti-kiti naman ito sa tuwa, hindi alintana ang pagka-irita sa mukha ni Plutus. "Kyaaaa! Ang bango-bango! Thank you!" 
 
Nang makuha nila ang puri ng maarteng si Plutus, pasimple akong siniko ni Jenna habang natatawa. "It’s working, Ottilie! We’re making so much off of him!"
 
"Oo nga, mabenta talaga ang lahi ni Plutus," I said, grinning mischievously.
 
Plutus shot us both a glare. "You two are enjoying this way too much."
 
"Oh, absolutely," Jenna replied, not even pretending to deny it. "And think of all the revenue we’re bringing in for the booth! We’re going to have the highest sales in class."
 
Dylan wiped a bit of chocolate off his hands, laughing. "Yeah, keep the hugs coming, man. It’s great for business."
 
With another deep, defeated sigh, Plutus leaned against the display table, muttering under his breath, "The things I endure for you people..."
 
And in that moment, may panibagong grupo na naman ng mga estudyante ang nagdatingan. Pare-parehas na naka-ngisi ang mga ito habang nag-uumpukan sa harap ng booth namin.
 
"Is it true we get a hug from Plutus if we buy a pretzel?" Tanong ng isa sa kanila habang mahigpit ang pagkakahawak sa pera nito.
 
Mabilis naman na napatingin sa'kin si Plutus na may nagmamaka-awang tingin. Ngayon ko lang siya nakita na magmaka-awa sa'kin ang isang mayabang at aroganteng prinsipe.

Alright, it's pay back time!
 
I shrugged, giving him a sympathetic yet playful smile.

"Sorry, can't help you."
 
He shook his head, and as he leaned in for yet another hug, I stifled a laugh, watching as more students started lining up. Jenna, Dylan, and I exchanged grins, quietly congratulating ourselves on the best, and possibly most entertaining, booth on the field.
 
Just as our shift was winding down, Slate and his bandmates strolled up to our booth, looking amused. Ngayon ko na lang ulit nakita itong si Slate. Gano'n pa din naman, poging-pogi pa din. 
 
"Oh, so it’s true!" Slate grinned, eyeing the sign outside the booth.

"A hug from Plutus with every pretzel? This I gotta see." He smirked, glancing at Plutus, who was busy shooting him a death glare whilw his fists are clenched.
 
"Don’t even think about it, Slate," Plutus grumbled, holding up his fist. 
 
Slate and his bandmates burst into laughter, halatang hindi natinag sa pagbabanta nito.

"Relax, man. Actually, I didn’t come here for your hug," Slate said with a mischievous grin. "I would liks to have Ottilie's hug."
 
"H-huh?" Gulat na turan ko habang mabilis na kumukurap ang mga mata.
 
"Ayiee!" Pang-aasar ni Jenna sabay siko sa'kin. "Namamahagi din ako ng free hugs, baka gusto mo din? Hahaha!"
 
"Sure, sure. Two hugs? I’m all in!" Slate exclaimed. 
 
Meanwhile. I saw Plutus’s gaze burned into me, dark and unyielding, making my heart pound. Naalala ko bigla ang binilin sa'kin nito noon nang minsan niyang patigilin ang oras.

I gulped, giving him a nervous glance, but his glare only sharpened. Then Slate stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me, giving me a warm, tight hug.

"I really hope you'll come and watch our performance. It's one of the best." He invited, his voice was close to my ear.
 
"Uh… oo, manonood kami," alanganing sagot ko sa kan'ya. 
 
Kahit naman hindi ako sabihan ni Slate, manonood talaga ako. Ikaw ba naman pagbantaan ng isang Plutus, hindi ka ba matatakot?
 
"Great!" Slate finally let go, and Jenna practically dove in, throwing her arms around him as he chuckled.
 
Habang busy si Jenna na kiligin kay Slate, bumili ang dalawang kasama ni Slate ng pretzel para asarin itong si Plutus. 
 
"Guess we’ll take our free hugs, dude. You know…as advertised," Jeff teased, barely containing his laughter.
 
Plutus’s jaw tightened as he glared at each of them, "Very funny."
 
I couldn’t help but laugh, letting out a sigh of relief as Plutus’s attention shifted toward his bandmates.
 
"Ridiculous… Absolutely ridiculous," he muttered under his breath while shooting me one last glare before grudgingly offering a side-hug to one to Stephen.
 

Kailangan ba matatapos 'to? Gusto ko ng mag ikot-ikot at i-try ang ibang booths.

 
To be continued...