Ako lang ba to o biglang lumamig ang paligid?

With that glare, I feel like I'm going to freeze to death! Oh, no. If I could only match that glare…

"Yes, I am Snow. It’s already written on my nametag. At bakit mo naman natanong?" I retorted.

Napangisi na sya. "The name isn't right for you; it should be something like Stupid."

My eyes widened at that comment. 'You-'

"What's your favorite here?" he interrupted me before I could even say anything else.

"What?" Tiningnan ko nalang sya nang hindi makapaniwala.

Nang hindi ako makasalita, napasinghap sya.

"I thought you were just stupid, turns out bingi ka rin pala." He scoffed. "Stupid, I'm asking which flavor you think is the best." Tinanong niya ulit.

I clenched my fists and smiled my phony smile. I have to endure it. He came here as a customer after all.

Hindi ko nalang pansinsin anong sinabi nya. I replied, "Chocolate chip ice cream, sir."

"Then I'll place an order for one. And one scoop of strawberry ice cream,” He spoke in a monotone tone. Pnasin ko lang, naka leather jacket sya with some black sunglasses on.

I shivered. Who in the world wears a jacket in the middle of the afternoon, let alone in the middle of summer? I shook my head at his fashion sense. Nagsimula na akong magtrabaho.

Nang mabigay ko na ang kanyang order, iniwan nya lang ang chocolate chip ice cream.

I was about to open my mouth but he said, "Accept it. Sayo na yan; consider it a treat from me."

Lakig gulat ko nlanag sa sinabi nya. Nilibre nya ako…Pumunta sya dito para mang away at manlibre?

I didn’t have a choice but to eat the one he paid for me.

Libre naman to. Hindi na ako pwedeng mag complain.

And with that days passed by with a strawberry guy going to the shop almost every day. Araw araw na talagay sya narito para magorder ng parehong flavor, which is strawberry ice cream. Walang toppings o ano man.

Emma even teased me for that, saying Eion comes here just to see me but I highly doubt that. If ever, pumunta sya para inisin lang ako.

It’s a bit strange though. I tried to brush it off, knowing that I couldn't offend him because he was a customer and would complain to my manager if I did something wrong.

However, hindi ko maiwasang mapaisip. Is he an ice-cream junkie of some kind? Is strawberry ice cream a cure-all for something?

I pushed the thoughts away, knowing it was none of my business. Binigay ko na sa anya ang kanyang order sa susunod na mga araw na pumunta sya, but my curiosity got the best of me, and I blurted out, "Ayaw mo bang magtry ng ibang flavor except strawberries?"

When I see his jaw clench in annoyance, glaring, and scowling at me, bigla akong nagsisi sa pagtanong.

Tinapos nya na ang kanyang pagkain at tinginnan ako before scanning the entire store with his eyes.

Tinuro niya ang pintuan, "So far, I notice that you have mo guards or security," tinuro nya rin ang mga upuan, "Poor facilities," then he grimaced at the ice cream machine behind me and said, "Outdated machines," and finally he looked at me, "Poor services."

I took in everything he had just said. Is he here to slander the shop? Is he directing it at me?

"Kung sisiraan nyo lang naan pala ang lugar namin, strawberry guy, I’m afraid I have to make you leave."

"And then what? Kung ayaw kong umalis?” He asked, daring me.

"Or....tatawag ako ng pulis." I gulped, realizing na tama sya.

We don't even have a guard stationed at the front door!

Mr. Tim, our manager and shop owner, arrived just in time. He was a forty-year-old man who had been treating me kindly ever since I started working here. I smirked at the strawberry guy, knowing that I now had the upper hand.

Lumakad ako ng mabilis papunta sa kanya, "When did you return, sir?"

“Ngayon lang rin. Kamusta ang benta?” Tanong nya pa. He has been away for a week due to some business meetings so I was left to manage the shop.

"Mayroon po tayong rude costumer these days,," I continued, saying it loudly for the Strawberry guy to hear.

However, instead of dragging the guy out, napasinghap si Mr. Tim habang nakatingin kay Strawberry guy.

"Hello, Mr. Hudson!" He greeted him.

Tumango nalang si Strawberry guy. Kilala ba nila ang isa’t isa? At anong pangalan nya? Mr. Hudson? That sounds extremely formal.

Mr. Tim then turned to me, “Bakit hindi mo sa akin sinabi na andito sya ngayon?”

I just raised my eyebrows, hindi alam anong nangyayari. Mr. Tim bowed at Strawberry guy apologetically,

"I'm sorry, Mr. Hudson; you should have told us you’ll come here! Please have a seat, I'll get the papers, so please bear with me. Snow, tulungan mo sya, bigyan mo sya ng pagkain or whatever you can think of!” Mr. Tim said in a hurry, clearly panicking.

Mr. Tim quickly dashed inside his office at iniwan na kaming dalawa. Strawberry guy sat at the table, with a satisfied expression on his face. I locked my gaze on him.

"What should I do now? Kilala ako ng boss mo." He mocked me, staring at me as if he was bored.

Tumahimik lang ako at hinintay si Mr. Tim. Nug bumalik na si Mr. Tim, I excused to talk with him, "Ano pong nangyayari, Mr. Tim. Pwede po pakiexplain?"

Mr. Tim just held my pat on my back, extending his arms, "Snow, tingnan mo ang shop. Anong napapansin mo?”

Ginawa ko ang sinabi nya, pero naguguluhan pa rin, “Uhm…ano po?”

He let out a sigh. "Tingnan mo ng maayos. Wala na tayong gaanong costumers …” he started to explain. “Pinabenta ko tong shop sa kay Mr. Hudson, at binigay nya ito sa anak nya, which is that guys sitting over there so please, treat him well.”

My mouth formed the letter 'o.' "Wait, what?" Siya ang bagong may ari?

Mr.Tim gave me a sad smile. "I'm so sorry nakalimutan kong sabihin sayo, sweetie."

He patted me on the back again, "But don't worry, ako pa rin ang manager for the time being dahil kailangna ko pa syang turuan sa mga bagay dito."

Oh…right. He should have told me about this sooner. I feel like my world just changed.

"Will I be fired, sir?" I inquired, saddened by the unexpected news. "Pano si Emma? Alam nya na po ba to?" I added, wondering if Emma was aware of it already. We are the only workers here. Is it just me who is missing out?

"Oh don’t worry, nasabihan ko na si Emma kanina..." Mr. Tim responded and left me.

Mr. Tim came to sit on the chair across from Strawberry guy.

"I'll be looking for new deserving employees, not slackers who play video games during their shift."
Strawberry guy, or who I now know as Mr. Hudson started to say. "So, consider today as your final day working here. Mag empake ka na.”

Napahinto ako. I looked at Mr. Tim for confirmation, but he only gave me a sad look.

Ano ng mangyayari sakin? Bago pa lang ako dito….at magsisimula na ang pasukan…. I’m still a bit tight on my budget for school fees.

I couldn't help but tear up and I swallowed the lump in my throat, fighting the urge not to cry.


Bakit ngayon lang to mangyari? If only I could have been aware earlier, then I could have found another job. Masyadong biglaan…

“Bring us some snacks, Snow," Uto ni Mr. Tim at bumalik na ako sa counter. Nakita kong nagpipirma ng mga papeles si Mr. Hudson at the moment na tapos na sila. tapos na rin ang shift ko.

“Thank you again for coming today, Mr. Hudson. Pag mayroon pang ibang balita, balik ka lang dito. We’ll be happy to welcome you.” Said Mr. Tim as he and the Strawberry guy shook hands.

Strawberry guy nodded, shaking his hand as well and Mr. Tim turned to face me.

"Then I have to get going now. Bye Mr. Hudson, bye Snow. I apologize again." Mr. Tim said at umalis na.

Strawberry guy was still sitting at the table and finalized something on his notebook. Naiwan kamig dalawa sa shop at sobrang tahimik. Aside from the motorbikes and cars honking outside here and there.

I must take action regarding my job! Hinding pwede na mapalayas ako sa trabahong to!

Hindi ngayon!

After a few minutes of thought, nakita kong tumayo nalang si Mr. Hudson na may dalang puting envelope from his pocket.

He handed me the envelope and said, "This is your salary for the month. You'll be replaced tomorrow." At nang makita nya hindi ko ito tinatanggap, iniwan nya lang ito sa mesa.

“Strawberry guy? I mean…Mr. Hudson?” I called out that made him stop in his tracks. I swallowed the pride I had left and continued.

"Please allow me to keep working here. Kailangan ko po itong trabahong to." My voice was shaking when I said this so I cleared my throat. It may not be a high-paying job, but it is better than nothing.

Tiningnan nya lang ako, his face holding the same emotionless expression.

Taking a deep breath, I said again, "I'll do anything you want….just let me keep working here. Kahit ano….sabihin nyo lang.” Pagmamakaawa ko pa.

Hearing this, his eyes changed, and he looked at me with a spark of interest in his eyes.

"Do you mean anything?" tanong nya pa.

Napalunok ako, "Yes...Anything. Anything is possible. Just please don’t fire me!"

He gave a sly grin at me, and that made my heartbeat quicken, nervous. Oh no. Ano bang plano nya?