"sorry hindi ko nasagot tawag mo kahapon" anna apologized, ngumiti lang si brent.
"okay lang, we enjoyed our day with tita elle diba basti?" brent said, looking at basti who was smiling and reaching for anna, anna held out her hand para mahawakan ito ni basti from his high chair.
"elle? Elle as in yung partner mo na elle?" cj asked, tumango si brent.
"Nag yaya ka na? Akala ko ayaw ni grace?" ricci asked while pouring iced tea into his glass.
"hindi yaya si elle" sagot ni cj, alliana furrowed her eyebrows in confusion
"eh ano?" ricci asked "nililigawan mo?"
"hindi baliw." sagot ni brent, cj nodded.
"sino nga kasi?" tanong ni renzo, ngumiti si brent.
"Classmate ko si elle, tapos kahapon, magluluto dapat ako, eh di ako marunong tas wala na kami makain ni basti wawa naman kami" he said pouting "so diba ang dami kong tinatawagan, wala naman sumasagot, tas si elle sumagot kaya pumunta siya sa unit, pinagluto niya kami ng tinola ni basti" brent said, at sinubuan si basti ng soup na may rice.
"pinapalitan mo na si grace" Bulong ni renzo, umiling si brent.
"Mahal ko si grace, but she's not here, alangan naman take out sa fast food ipakain ko kay basti diba?" brent asked. Tumango tango naman si ricci,
"may order pa po kayo?" a woman came, holding a note pad, nagtama ang mga mata nila ni brent and the girl gasped.
"Boss BP!" elle said, ngumiti at kumaway naman siya kay cj.
"you know her?" Ricci asked brent, brent nodded.
"hi bebe!" elle said, at nakipag high five kay basti. Basti giggled and renzo looked at brent.
"Nagwowork ka rin dito?" cj asked, tumango si elle.
"Pag week ends lang or kapag wala akong shift sa starbucks." she replied, fixing basti's hair "yung reviewer mo, dadalhin ko na bukas okay lang?" She asked cj, cj nodded and smiled.
"wala na po kayong order?" Elle asked looking at everyone, nang walang sumagot ay tumango siya,
"Sige po, babalik na lang ako if meron kayong order." Elle smiled and waved at basti, sinundan naman ng tingin ni brent si elle na lumapit sa ibang table para kuhain ang order nila.
"sino siya babe?" Alliana asked her boyfriend.
"siya si elle, yung classmate namin ni brent, scholar siya, tapos nagbebenta siya ng reviewer na sobrang helpful daw according to rhenz" cj replied, alliana nodded and smiled.
"ilan kaya work niya?" tanong ni ricci, nagkibit balikat si brent at cj.
"Weird ha" anna said, lahat sila ay napatingin kay anna "basti doesn't like strangers, pero kay elle okay siya?"
"I think it's because kaboses niya si grace" Sagot ni renzo, lahat sila at tumango except brent.
"Walang katulad si grace." he simply answered, halata na nawalan na siya sa mood when they talked about grace.
"Maglalaro ka na ba this season?" renzo asked, he nodded lang.
"Paano si basti?" Anna asked, slowly cutting her steak.
"baka kay mommy muna." he replied, looking at basti.
"kaya mo?" ricci asked, nagkibit balikat si brent.
They were eating in peace when they heard a shout coming from the other table, it was another employee with her head down and elle who was frowning, nakahawak ang kamay ni elle sa balikat ng katrabaho niya who was sobbing.
"eh kayo nga po nagsabi na ayan yung order niyo, hindi mo mali ni sam yun." Elle fought back, tumayo ang lalaki who was furious.
"Sumasagot ka ba, the customer is always right." the man said, elle fought the urge to roll her eyes.
"Sir, I can show you the paper, ayan po yung inorder niyo, kayo po yung mali" Elle fought, the man clenched his fist in anger at akmang sasampalin na si elle, pumikit si elle to wait for the impact but it didn't come, she slowly opened her eyes, someone was holding his arm.
"you can't hurt her." sabi ni brent, the man furrowed his eyebrows.
"at bakit?"
"kasi babae siya." Brent replied casually and pulled elle away from the man nung dumating na yung manager.
"Mag resign ka na dito." brent demanded, everyone around the table looked at brent, nanlaki ang mata ni elle at umiling.
"we'll find another job basta hindi rito" brent said, unconsciously getting another plate and putting rice and steak, he pushed it towards elle.
"eat."
