Once There Was A Twist

VAUGHNN

We are born for love. It is the principle of existence, and it's only end.

-Benjamin Disraeli

"ANO BA? Hindi mo kasi ginagawa nang maayos ang trabaho mo. Ang tanga-tanga mo alam mo?"

A loud voice captured everyone's attention. Isang babaeng nasa edad kuwarenta na siguro ang sumisigaw. Her drinks was spilled on the floor.

"Sorry po ma'am," the crew replied with her shivering voice. Her downcast gaze implies to the embarrassment she was feeling.

"Sorry? What will I do with your sorry, ha? Ba't ba kasi hindi ka nag-iingat? Hindi ka ba na-orient? 'Di mo alam ang job description mo?"

No one stopped the humiliation. Some just turned blind and deaf.  The crew could no longer take it, she didn't try to lift her face and stayed still.

"You want me to talk to your manager?"

The lady have no plans to stop. I stood up with the intent to meddle with the commotion.

Pero may mas nauna sa akin doon. A woman.

"Excuse me po. Ano po bang nangyari?" tanong niya. The voice, I think I heard that somewhere. Hindi ko makita ang mukha niya dahil nakatalikod siya mula sa akin.

"Hindi mo ba nakita? She spilled my drink!" inis na sagot ng babae.

"Ay 'yon lang pala? Ako na ho ang magbabayad sa natapon n'yong inumin ma'am," malumanay na saad ng babae.

But the lady to whom she was talking with was not ready to drop it yet. Now, it became interesting.

"Huh? 'Yon lang? Just who do you think you are? Kakilala mo itong tanga-tanga na 'to?"

Pilit kong inaaninag ang hitsura ng babae. I have no choice but to cross our distance to find a better view.

"Oh. We're not related. Just a concerned citizen. Isa pa, gusto ko lang ipaalala sa'yo na nasa publiko tayo. Lahat ng tao rito may cellphone baka gusto n'yo po mag-viral at makasuhan? You are exactly degrading her," she replied.

Half of her face was now visible, and I immediately recognized who she was.

The girl at the bar. Such a coincidence!

"Gha, 'ito na 'yong singkuwenta pambayad sa inumin niyang ale. Intindihin mo na lang 'yan. Menopause na siguro," she added. And before the lady could respond she was out of the store.

Tumalikod na rin ang crew nang nakangiti samantalang ang babae naman ay naupo na sa kanyang puwesto.

I'm sure she feel bad right now. That was an insult, to accurate to disregard.

"Dude? Have you seen that?" salubong sa'kin ni Lance. I'm quite relieved that not only bad things occur with his decision. His insistence to eat here bore a productive result.

"That was Hanaiah Virellares."

"How did you know her?" I asked, making it sound less enthusiastic, fearing he might perceive my eagerness.

"I know all the pretty ladies, dude. Nagtratrabaho siya doon sa kompanyang matagal ng nanliligaw sa'yo."

Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya.I see, what a small world.

****

"WHAT the? Ano bang nakain mo at pina-unlakan mo ang imbitasyon nila? I thought you see their products lousy?" complained Lance.