Chapter 10 - Sorry

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Sinagtala Grocery Store - Candelaria, Quezon

It only took Benji and Sunshine to reach Sinagtala Grocery store in less than ten minutes.  Sunshine was stunned upon seing how big their business is.  When she left their small store build beside their house which is now their garage got only few items to sell. She recalls that after her Mom died, it was almost an empty store, where even the basic commodities she and her father had a hard time to buy.  Today, the store that she grew up with has transferred to a larger location and can now be compared to those big supermarkets in Manila.  With all honesty, never in her wildest dream that she sees their small store to grow this big because she know how conservative her father was when it comes to managing their small business.         

“Are you happy about the change?”  Benji asked her

“I am more of an overwhelmed, to think Tatay only decided on exploring the store two years ago” Sunshine sincerely replied.  “Tatay only dreamt of a small grocery store, that is actually what I have in mind.  How did you do this?” she asked Benji

“Let’s get inside, I’ll tell you when we get into your office” Benji said

“Office?  Tatay has his own office here?” Sunshine surprisedly asked while she and Benji walks going to the store’s administration office.

“Of course, yung kalahati ng second floor, opisina ni Tito teddy at administration office then the other half is the stock room” Benji explained

Sinag got more overwhelmed when she sees large number of familiar faces.  Some of them were their schoolmate in SCHS, others are her parent’s long time friends.  People who are all smile upon seeing her.  

“Sir Benji” someone calls

“Hector, mabuti naman at nandito ka pa” Benji said

“Nagpalit kami ng shift ni Ruel ngayong linggo, may kailangan daw po kasing asikasuhin sa school” Hector replied

“Magandang gabi Ma’am Sinag, natatandaan nyo pa po ba ako?” Hector asked

“Syempre naman” Sunshine briefly replied

“Si Hector ang store manager at si Ruel naman ang assistant nya, shifting ang schedule nila.  Do you still remember Ruel?” Benji said

“Yung kapitbahay nating laging nadidisgrasya dahil sa sobrang kalikutan?” Sunshine replied smiling which made Benji got surprised for a while. Since last night, this is the first time that she saw her smiles.

“Sya na nga po yun Ma’am” Hector replied chuckling

“Sino naman ang makakalimot sa batang yun?  Natutuwa ako na mga mapagkakatiwalaang tao ang kasama ng tatay ko sa pag-aasikaso ng tindahan” Sunshine sincerely uttered

“Maraming salamat po Ma’am Sinag” Hector replied.  “Excuse me po, asikasuhin ko lang yung pila, sweldo po kasi ngayon kaya mahaba ang pila kahit pasara na tayo” Hector said

“Sige Hector maraming salamat” Benji said. “Tara nang umakyat” Benji uttered and attempted to assist Sunshine going up the stairs but she discreetly avoided it.

“May tao pa ba sa opisina?” Sunshine asked

“Meron pa naman, ten o’clock ang last shift mostly in Cash Department for the closing. All cashiers are under that department” Benji said

When they reach the second floor, Sunshine saw few employees busy working at almost eight in the evening.  Benji introduces them to Sinag.

“We suggested a shifting schedule para hindi ma-drain ang mga tao.  And with that scheme we don’t need to pay extra for their overtime.” Benji explained as he opens the door of Teddy Obispo’s office.  “This is not a big office for Tito Teddy, he does not like to have one before but we insisted kahit maliit na room for him to have some privacy specially if he needs to discuss some confidential issues with the supplier of potential big clients” he explained further while pulling out chair for Sunshine.

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