The Michelin Hottie

Chapter 17

Napadpad sila ni Sage sa isang tindahan. Pick 'n Pay ang pangalan niyon. Matatagpuan sa loob ng tindahang iyon ang iba't-ibang anik-anik. Flowers, souvenirs, food and drinks, clothings and others.

"Hi! Welcome to Pick 'n Pay. Anong sa inyo?" Magiliw na bati ng babaeng naka-toka sa tindahang 'yon.

Sage gave something to the girl. It's a rectangular shaped black plastic card with 'Sultan Greens' engraved on it's front following with Sage's name under in gold color.

"Ikaw na bahala, Jilien. Give her what she wants."

Malaki ang ngising tumango-tango ang huli. "Of course."

Hinarap siya ng binata. "Go pick what you want. Anything. Jilien's there to assist you." may nakita itong kakilala at tinanguan iyon. "Excuse me. Call me if you're done, okay?"

"But-" gusto sana niyang magprotesta ngunit naka-alis na ito. Nilapitan nito ang kakilalang lalaki at masinsinang nakipag-usap dito.

"Hi! My name's Jilien San Jose and I'm the owner of this shop. How may I help you miss..?"

"Lexa, Lexa Vicencia."

"Nice meeting you, Lexa." tinanggap niya ang pakikipagkamay nito. "You too."

"So.. You're Sage's girlfriend, huh?"

"H-ha? No!"

Ngumisi ito. "Don't worry, what anyone knows here, stays here. You don't have to be in denial." tila hindi naniniwalang wika nito. "Wow! I must congratulate you. Alam mo bang ikaw ang kauna-unahang babaeng dinala niya sa lugar na 'to?"

"I-uh.. I'm sorry but you're mistaken."

"Oh?" takang wika nito at nagkibit-balikat. "Anyway, I heard you needed something from my humble shop?"

"Uh.." Alexandria took in her surroundings. The place was cute. There were actually a lot of interesting souvenirs she was intersted to see upclose.

"Don't worry, anything you purchase will be charged directly to the one who brought you here-Sage. He already gave me his SG card anyway so you're good to go." Dagdag pa nito at kinindatan sya.

"Well, I just needed clothes good enough for.. err.. two weeks I guess..?"

Sinipat siya ni Jilien mula ulo hanggang paa. "Huh."

Napatingin na rin siya sa sarili. Oo nga pala, naka t-shirt at boxers lang siya ni Sage. "Yeah, about this.."

"Ito talagang si Sage, oo." napailing nalang ito. "Look what he's done to you. Poor thing!"

She just gave Jilien an awkward smile. "Follow me. I might just have the things you needed."

Sinundan niya ito sa isang kwarto. Isang napakalaking walk-in closet iyon na napapalibutan ng wall-to-ceiling mirror. She spotted many amazing shoes and dresses with different designer labels on it.

"Wow. This place looks like women's version of heaven." manghang wika niya habang inilibot ang mga mata sa paligid. Walang katapusang damit at sapatos ang nakikita ng mga mata niya.

"Indeed." nakangiting sagot nito at ikiniskis ang mga palad. "Now, shall we?" Jilien offered her elbow and wiggled her eyebrows.

"We shall." nakangiti na ring tugon niya at ikinawit ang kamay sa braso nito. Sa pagtatapos ng araw na iyon, siguradong mamumulubi ang binata. Ni pisong duling ay wala siyang ititira rito.