Damien's attraction

Chapter 40

"Excuse me?" October scoffed as she stared at Damien.

"You heard me." Damien said as he walked past her to get something from his drawer.

"What is wrong with you?" October asked him.

"You don't want to know." Damien faked a smile and scoffed.

"If you have something to say, say it now." October was annoyed with his attitude.
"You're acting like...."

"A mean conceited person? That's how I want to be." He shrugged and picked up his jacket from Uyi's bed.

"We were cool before. We were getting along before this reunion."October said.

"That's what you thought, October. There won't be any 'getting along' with you."

"Do you have a problem with me?" October asked.

"I don't have a problem with you. You are my problem." Damien said before he walked out. October just stood there, confused to even think about anything else.

*****************

Makiti Business Central was busy as usual. Sharmaine had made sure some of the girls followed her shopping for supplies. 'Some of the girls' included October, Majesty, Amaka, Joan and Jessica.

"Oh my gosh. I love that bag." October said to Joan, pointing at a black leather bag beside her. Joan picked it up and looked at the price tag.

"It's worth a lot of pisos." Joan said.

October turned to Sharmaine.
"Could we get it?" October asked.

"We didn't come to buy this kind of stuff, but of course, it's what makes you happy so," Sharmaine shrugged and handed October her second credit card.

"Thank you. I'll pay back later. I haven't converted my money to this currency yet."October said.

"As if." Jessica muttered in a way everyone could hear. She laughed under her breath but they pretended like they didn't hear her.

"You know what?" Amaka smirked. "October, chill." She stopped October from buying the bag as she stared at Jessica. She smiled widely and turns ed to the woman selling the bags.
"We'll have ten of this same bag with mixed colours, that's if you understand English, please."

The woman smiled and nodded her head in comprehension. She ducked behind her goods to get them. Amaka dropped a bundle of Philippine currency on the counter for her.

"Why ten? What are you up to?" Sharmaine asked her.

"We're about nine to ten ladies at the resort. We should have at least one thing similar." Amaka smiled when the woman emerged with the bags and put them in a big
bag.

"Jessica, I guess you don't usually like free stuff. I paid for three, so you can pay for others. Just so you know, they cost quite a lot. But I know it's not a problem for you. It would be cool to have you spend money for once since you got here." Amaka smiled.

Jessica faked a smile and brought out her purse. She only had a few  Philippine notes inside.
She looked at them.

"I'll just let Sharmaine pay." She walked towards another stall and  didn't turn back.

"I'll pay for all." Amaka chuckled as she handed the woman a credit card. "I came prepared."

"Thank you." October said as Sharmaine and Joan walked to another spot to buy food stuffs.

"You're welcome. Buy other stuff. I'll just put this in the car." Amaka picked up the big bag and left.

"Magandang hapon." Sharmaine greeted a man selling vegetables. She picked up some carrots. "Magkano?" She enquired about the price.

Joan picked up some carrots.
"Take these instead. They're fresher. At your age, you don't know how to buy vegetables." She shook her head.

October moved towards another spot to buy meat. She was with Sharmaine's credit card still. She had to convert her money later because she would still need to buy things.
She pointed to some cuts of beef.

"How much?" She asked the man who was grilling meat.

"Let me handle this." Jessica nudged her a little as she cut in, making October move. It was then that Majesty looked up from her phone. October scoffed and walked away, not wanting any trouble. She walked towards a spot where drinks were sold.

"Gusto ko ito." She pointed at a pack of drinks that looked like coke. 

"Three thousand pisos." The seller said.

That was when she realised that she did not know Sharmaine's credit card password.
She laughed sarcastically and then put her hands on her waist.

She suddenly smelt rich perfume. It took over her senses so much that she didn't hear that the owner of it had been talking for some seconds now.

"Give her the best of  what you have."
October had never heard the voice before; But the way the seller's eyes widened told her he had to be a person of influence, and so she turned.

Standing before her now was a face she was not familiar with but he was gorgeous, she had to admit. He was the most handsome Filipino she had seen, and she had seen a lot in movies. He was wearing a grey Chanel suit.

He smiled at her and October coughed rolled her eyes. As if he had not caught her staring already.

"Salamat po, pero...." October thought on her words carefully. She had taken Filipino classes in secondary school when she had to learn four languages, but her Filipino was rusty.

He laughed, which made her feel stupid.
"I'm Louis Verano." He stretched his hand for a shake. October hesitantly took it.

"You can speak English since you're not fluent in Filipino."