I lingered outside my unit for a few more minutes, utterly baffled by that man's behavior. My brow furrowed as I replayed the scene, wondering what he might have said if he hadn't suddenly changed his mind. It was as if he were hesitant, teetering on the edge of speaking words that would go against his better judgment. Taking a few deep breaths, I finally decided to head back inside.
Upon entering, I found my friends looking equally perplexed. They were gathered around one of our companions, who was already standing and packing her things. I had expected them to interrogate me about what happened earlier, but their focus was entirely on the woman who looked ready to bolt at any second.
"Where are you going, Penelope?" I asked as I approached the group.
The two friends I hadn't addressed looked at me before turning back to Penelope, who was already walking toward the door. She paused, her hand gripping the handle as she glanced back at us.
"I'm sorry, Sera. I've been called into work. An emergency meeting." She held up her phone, which was currently dark. She offered a sheepish grin, as if embarrassed by the sudden intrusion of her professional life.
I couldn't blame her. When work calls, especially in her field, you answer. As a CPA, being "missing in action" wasn't an option. It was a high-pressure role that demanded a constant presence—much like being a lawyer.
Lawyer.
I shook my head, trying to dispel thoughts I shouldn't be entertaining. I told her it was fine and that she didn't need to feel guilty about leaving. I understood perfectly. Work always comes before leisure.
Strangely enough, it seemed the universe had decided we all needed to be busy. I realized I had an appointment with someone who had supposedly helped me establish my bar. His name was Ranzel, though I had never met him in person or even heard his name mentioned before. He had sent a message asking when I was free to meet.
Since I needed to restock the pantry in my unit anyway, I suggested we meet at the mall.
I glanced at Felisse, who was busy texting, while Stacey was preoccupied with a phone call. From what I could gather, a flight attendant had called out of a night flight, and they needed Stacey to fill in. She paced back and forth, looking stressed; she hadn't been prepared to work, having assumed she had a three-day break.
We headed down to the basement parking lot together. They agreed to drop me off at the mall since my car was still parked back at the bar—a problem I'd have to solve later.
The ride was filled with the hum of their separate phone conversations. Fortunately, they were both in the front, leaving me to my thoughts in the backseat of Felisse's car. My phone buzzed.
From: Ranzel Mariano
I'll be late by a few minutes. Feel free to go around the mall before we meet.
I quickly typed a reply, telling him I'd be doing some grocery shopping near the restaurant where we were supposed to meet. He replied that he could just find me at the hypermarket so we wouldn't have to wait for each other if he finished early or if my shopping took longer than expected.
They dropped me off at the entrance, and I stepped out of the car.
The mall was teeming with people, a typical weekend crowd. Families were out enjoying meals and bonding. A pang of envy hit me as I watched them. My family couldn't afford that kind of closeness. I would give anything to experience that—I'd even foot the bill myself just to have them all together.
Saddened by the sight, I turned back to my friends. Stacey was frowning, her eyes scanning my outfit with blatant disapproval.
"Really, Sera? That's what you're wearing? A loose plain white shirt, high-waisted shorts, and Converse? You're going to a business meeting, for Pete's sake." Stacey massaged her temples with one hand while keeping the other on the steering wheel. In moments like this, her bossy side really came out.
I stayed silent, letting her vent. I figured her irritability was probably due to the sudden work call; she didn't usually snap over small things like this.
"Oh, come on, Stacey. What do you want her to wear? A corporate suit to the mall?" Felisse defended me, rolling her eyes as she watched the crowd. "Don't worry about it, Sera. You're just meeting my cousin anyway, there's no need for formal attire," she added before waving goodbye and pulling back into traffic.
I watched them drive off before heading inside. I was momentarily taken aback by the sheer scale of the place; it was far larger and more vibrant than the malls I usually frequented in my reality.
Once the initial awe faded, I realized I was a bit lost. I had asked Felisse if there was a hypermarket nearby, but once they mentioned the restaurant, I'd assumed I could find my way. I wandered for a bit, trying to locate it without having to ask the staff.
My phone buzzed again.
From: Ranzel Mariano
My errand got cancelled. I'm on my way. Where are you?
I realized I hadn't told him I was already inside. So I started typing my message without looking at whoever was walking in front of me. I stepped to the side of the hallway to avoid blocking the flow of people, and started with my business.
To: Ranzel Mariano
Already inside. Just trying to find the hypermarket.
As I sent the message, I spotted a black structure near a waiting station. Curiosity got the better of me, so I walked over to get a better view as to what it is. It was a small directory. I snapped a photo of the map so I wouldn't have to keep looking for one.
I navigated through the corridors, eyes darting between my phone and the storefronts, trying to stay alert. I wondered why I'd decided to do this alone. If I had waited, Penelope or Felisse would have surely joined me.
My eyes lit up when I finally saw the hypermarket entrance. A small smile played on my lips as I hurried toward it. I needed to be quick; I still had to deal with my car and the liquor inventory discussion with Ranzel.
Before entering, I messaged him to let him know I was at the hypermarket. Since I didn't know what he looked like, it was easier for him to find me.
I grabbed a cart near the entrance, giving it a quick test push to make sure the wheels weren't wonky. I hated dealing with carts that seemed to have a mind of their own.
Just as I was about to head inside, a hand touched my shoulder. I jumped slightly at the sudden contact. I turned to see a man dressed in formal business attire.
Is this Ranzel?
I studied him. The first thing I noticed was his tan skin, which perfectly matched his deep brown eyes. He straightened his posture, licked his thin, reddish lips, and offered his hand.
"I'm glad I caught you at the entrance. It would have been much harder to find you inside," he said, waiting for me to take his hand.
I shook it and gave him a polite smile. It looked like he was going to join me while I shopped. The thought made me slightly uncomfortable; we weren't close enough for this to feel natural. It felt a bit embarrassing.
"Shall we?"
I nodded, and he took over the cart, leading the way.
What if someone saw us? I didn't know all of the other Ensley's acquaintances. For all I knew, she was more famous than I thought. And here I was, shopping for condo supplies with a man I'd just met.
Ranzel glanced back when he noticed I wasn't walking beside him. I offered a small nod and quickened my pace to catch up.
I began tossing items into the cart—hygiene products, kitchen essentials, things I realized the unit lacked. Up until now, I'd mostly been living on microwavable meals.
Ranzel followed quietly, occasionally asking about my work. I learned that he had recently returned from abroad and felt guilty about not helping me manage the bar. He mentioned he wanted to make it up to me by helping with the liquor renewals.
"I didn't know this brand was available here already. Especially in this kind of market."
I turned to see him holding a box—the perfect size for a bottle. We had wandered into the premium spirits section. I tilted my head, not quite following him.
"This liquor is called Highness," he explained, holding the box up so I could get a better look.
I was about to respond when I spotted a familiar figure in the distance. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the woman with him.
Penelope!
In a panic, I shushed Ranzel. I could see the man she was with—Kieffer—gesturing animatedly as if complaining about something.
I pulled Ranzel toward a nearby shelf, pretending to be deeply interested in the bottles there. It was the perfect vantage point to eavesdrop. Ranzel looked at me, confused by my sudden change in behavior. I gave him an apologetic look before turning my attention back to the pair across the aisle.
"Remind me again, Penelope. Why am I doing this?" Kieffer grumbled, scratching his head as he surveyed the rows of bottles. He tugged his cart along, his eyes never leaving the selection.
What were they doing here? And how did they know each other? It seemed unlikely they met through me; I wasn't even that close to Kiefer. So how were they on "running errands together" terms?
And wait—I thought Penelope had a work meeting? Why was she here?
"You were ordered to do this, Mr. Carson," Penelope replied formally, her expression as stoic as a robot's.
I glanced at Ranzel, who was now occupied with looking at the bottles himself. At least he wasn't bored while I played spy.
"And why is that?" Kieffer asked, beginning to load various colored boxes into his cart. They looked expensive, adorned with intricate designs. He didn't even look at what he was grabbing; his eyes were fixed on Penelope.
Who were they talking about? Did they work together? They seemed far too comfortable for a casual professional relationship.
"He has the right to do so," Penelope replied, helping him arrange the boxes.
"On what basis?" Kieffer challenged, hands on his hips, clearly irritated.
Are they going to fight?
"Do you want me to cite the ranking of our—" Penelope began, but Kieffer cut her off.
"Fine, fine! But why did I have to be the one?!" He muttered a curse under his breath before checking the contents of the cart. He seemed to be counting the bottles before taking out his phone to snap a photo of the nearly full cart.
I panicked as he angled the phone, fearing I might be caught in the shot.
"As I said. He has the right to do so, given that he's Patrinus. The one entitled to the first rank," Penelope stated.
Kieffer ignored her as his phone chimed. He read the message, his eyes widening as if he was shocked about what he just read. Then he scanned the area while his eyebrows were touching each other. He even has the energy to put his index finger on my friend's lips just to make her quiet.
I froze when his gaze landed on me.
A grin spread across his face as he started walking toward us. I instinctively tugged on Ranzel's sleeve, looking back and forth between him and the approaching Kieffer.
Ranzel raised an eyebrow, watching the man close the distance.
"Ms. Dela Merced! What a coincidence!" Kieffer exclaimed, reaching out to shake my hand. I saw the flash of surprise on Penelope's face when she spotted me.
"Hey," I managed, straightening up. I leaned in to give Penelope a quick peck on the cheek, which she returned.
"And you're with someone? Your boyfriend?" Kieffer asked, pointing at Ranzel. I frantically denied it while looking at my companion. I just met this person and they are already accusing me of having a relationship with him?
Did we really look like a couple?
"I thought you were. You look like one, from the way you're standing," Kieffer said, his eyes darting between me, the cart, and Ranzel. "Good thing you're not, or else the 'ship' would have sunk before it even sailed."
What on earth did he mean by that?
"If we were, it's none of your business."
We both turned to Ranzel, surprised by the edge in his voice. Kiefer looked equally annoyed at him. He even has the audacity to look Ranzel from head to toe, as if the man beside me is nothing but a bunch of jokes!
"Anyway, are you going to ask for a favor? Mister?" Ranzel added, drawing out the last word as a prompt for a name.
"Carson. Kieffer Bryce Carson, bro. The son of my grandfather, who is a neighbor of your cousin's second mother from planet Namek. Look it up on the internet; you might win a raffle." Kieffer nodded, pointedly not offering his hand, unlike what he did to me earlier. "I just wanted to ask her about the liquors here. Our boss is kind a choosy. Apparently, he needs a 'special' touch for the selection." He smirked and began typing on his phone.
Kieffer seemed different—sarcastic I must say. He was usually the joker, but this felt different. He's sharper.
"What does he want?" Ranzel asked, his brow furrowed. He took the cart from me, insisting on pushing it. I was about to protest, but Kieffer was already leading the way to another section.
"A branded whiskey that's new to his palate." Kieffer directed his answer to me, ignoring Ranzel entirely.
Was Penelope not sensing the tension? They were practically at each other's throats!
"Whiskey, huh? Remember what I said earlier, Sera?" Ranzel leaned in and tapped my shoulder before facing the man that's leading the way.
Penelope and Kieffer both frowned at the gesture. Kiefer shook his head as if trying to ignore it while my friend here was trying to get my attention. It just gave her an "I do not know" look.
"H-huh?" I stammered, caught off guard by the silent warfare unfolding in front of me. Is this how adults fight? I was an adult, but I didn't do this "silent battle" thing. That was for couples!
"Highness," Ranzel said simply, smiling as he held out a black box. He had apparently grabbed several earlier; there were three in my cart now.
Was I supposed to pay for these, or was he just showing them to me?
"Why do you have a call sign like that?" Kieffer asked, sounding genuinely confused. He stepped closer and asked if he could see the box. I nodded and let him take it.
"Oh, it's not—" I began, but Ranzel cut me off.
I shook my head in annoyance. Had no one taught him it was rude to interrupt?
"That's the brand name of the whiskey you're looking for. Don't jump to conclusions," Ranzel said.
"Why are you the one answering? I wasn't talking to you," Kiefer muttered while rolling his eyes.
He had a point. Kieffer had asked me, so why was Ranzel being so defensive? To break the tension, I brought the conversation back to the whiskey.
"I'm sure your boss will like it. It's a new brand here—a new arrival." I smiled, noticing Kieffer was back to typing on his phone. He looked like someone texting a girlfriend, scared to make a minute delay-reply.
"Where is it from?" he asked, looking up. He kept the phone in his hand; it looked tiny in his large palm.
I think his friend's phone is even bigger.
Wait, what?
"Where is it from, Ranzel?" I asked, trying to clear my head. Why was I thinking about him? My heart started racing. If his friend found out I was thinking about him, I'd be mortified.
"Don't you remember? We tried it for the first time in Spain, where it originated. After the first sip, you said it was your favorite—even though we both know you have many favorites," Ranzel said proudly.
I just nodded even though I actually did not remember that, given that I am not really the one he's with at that time. I smiled at him, playing along to avoid a barrage of questions.
"I just asked where it was from, and he gave a whole speech," the latter man remarked, catching us both off guard.
Ranzel looked ready to step toward Kieffer, but I grabbed the hem of his shirt to hold him back. This was not the place for a fight. Aren't they both adults?
"What—" Ranzel started, but Penelope cut him off. She was the only one who seemed calm, as if this childish bickering didn't bother her at all.
"Do you have plans after this, Sera?" Penelope asked, her fingers flying across her phone screen.
Why were they both so glued to their phones while talking? Penelope wasn't usually like this, so I assumed it was work-related. That must be why they were here—buying liquor on orders.
"I'm having a meeting with Ranzel, and then I'm heading to the bar to pick up my car," I replied, hoping to steer the conversation away from the conflict.
"Are you commuting there?" she asked.
"That was the plan," I said with a shrug, reaching for my cart, which had started to roll away.
Kieffer was smiling as he typed. Both he and Penelope were in full corporate attire. Guess Felisse was wrong about them. I couldn't help but wonder who Kieffer was texting. My gut told me it was someone important.
"I can give you a ride if you—" Ranzel began.
"I'll have my driver escort you, Ms. Dela Merced. Consider it a token of my appreciation for the help," Kieffer interrupted, smirking at Ranzel, imposing that he'll win this offer-war.
Ranzel sighed, clearly trying to keep his cool. I could see that, he even looked away will trying to slow his breathing.
"Oh, that's not necessary. I can handle it," I said, trying to diffuse the tension. Why was I feeling so nervous?
"Go on, Sera. You'll just have a hard time once you get there, especially since your car might have issues after being left overnight," Penelope said, massaging her temples before whispering something to her companion.
Kieffer nodded, then approached me and handed me a thick, square card with gold embossed lettering. A business card.
"Contact me, Ms. Dela Merced," he said, stepping close enough that Ranzel had to move away. "Sorry, buddy. Just following orders," he added with a grin, holding up his expensive-looking phone.
He told me to smile and step closer for a photo. I was surprised to find myself in the middle—Ranzel on my left, Kiefer on my right. I thought he was going to exclude Ranzel.
"Thanks, Ms. Dela Merced," he said, sending another message before pocketing the phone.
I shook my head and managed a smile. "Just call me Sera. My surname is a mouthful."
"Yes, ma'am." He gave a playful salute before he turned to my friend. "Oh, and by the way, be careful, you might bump into a madman," he added before him and Penelope turned to leave.
"Patrinus is going to be furious. He's texted me a dozen times. That's not like him," I heard Penelope say as they walked away.
"Don't worry. That's why I was 'textmates' with him earlier—keeping him updated so he doesn't explode," Kieffer laughed, pushing the heavy cart with one hand while patting Penelope's back with the other. "Which aisle had the most Highness?" he asked as they disappeared around a corner.
Who was this Patrinus? From what I gathered, he was their high-ranking boss. They both seemed terrified of him. Was he the one they had been texting this whole time? He must be someone truly important.
Patrinus...