“PATIENCE is the capacity to tolerate shits.”

Senthie Salvador had a remarkable ability to tolerate things that others might find intolerable. She firmly believed that a bad temper could invariably lead to unfavorable situations, as exemplified by the events of her very first day in business.

 ***

Walter, with a puzzled expression, asked, “Huh? Where is that coming from?”

Senthie’s daydream had momentarily made her forget Walter’s presence, until his remark snapped her back to reality. She shifted her gaze toward him, noticing him sitting on the sofa near the front counter.

“It came from me, obviously,” she replied, rolling her eyes at his sarcastic tone. “Just don’t open your mouth, okay? You’re starting to ruin my mood!”

However, Walter’s attention was fixed on something outside the store. She glanced outside to see nothing unusual but empty hallways and neighboring shops. “Whatever. Just keep your eyes there.”

Checking the clock, Senthie noted that it was already 10 AM, and her nervousness had reached its peak. Her heart pounded with excitement, like a dream on the verge of becoming reality.

Amidst her racing heart, Walter suddenly exclaimed, “Hey, Sen! Your lucky charm is coming!”

“Finally, a customer!” She swiftly rose from her stool, smoothing down her hair and adjusting her turquoise dress. She moved beyond the counter, taking a few steps toward the store’s center, ready to greet the customer. “Good mo--” But her words trailed off in surprise. “Kenzo?”

“Hi, Sen,” he greeted with a shy smile, his hand finding its way to the back of his neck.

“Bro!” Walter called out, leaping up from his seat and inviting him to share a fist bump and a friendly hug. It had been nearly a year since they’d last seen each other. Kenzo’s bright smile in response hinted at newfound happiness.

“I never thought you’d be here so early!” Walter remarked, slinging an arm around his best friend’s neck.

“Ken, uh, why are you here?” Senthie inquired, puzzled by his unexpected appearance. He couldn’t be my lucky charm; he’s not a customer, she thought.

“I asked him to meet me here, but isn’t it weird that he had no idea about your store opening here?” Walter chimed in, his gaze shifting between Kenzo and Senthie. “Why didn’t you tell him?”

“The thing is . . .” Kenzo began, placing a hand on the back of his neck.

“The thing is what?” Walter pressed; his impatience palpable.

Senthie sensed Kenzo’s discomfort and knew she had to intervene. He seemed lost and distant, not even making eye contact with anyone. His hand dropped to his side, his hair falling to partially obscure his jawline. He licked his lips, preparing to speak once more. However, before he could continue, Senthie decided to take a bold approach. She clapped her hands as forcefully and loudly as she could, aiming for the kind of stunt she’d seen in Assassination Classroom, one of her favorite anime series.

She marveled at the effectiveness of her impromptu stunt. Both appeared thoroughly stunned, and seizing this brief moment of bewilderment, she subtly guided their shoulders, urging them to turn and gently pushing them toward the exit. “Bystanders aren’t allowed here, so move your butts out!”

She caught a glimpse of Walter’s furrowed brows as if he were silently questioning what just happened. She smiled at her little victory, continuing to push them toward the exit. “Go on, move it!”

“But wait, Kenzo just got here!”

“Yeah, and I’m doing you a favor here. Spend some time with Ken; you haven’t seen him in ages!”

Kenzo turned his gaze to him. “It’s okay, bro.”

Once the two of them were finally outside her store, Senthie released a relieved sigh. She was thankful that Kenzo didn’t have to answer Walter’s question while she was present, and she was equally grateful that she didn’t have to confront him and rekindle her feelings of guilt.

The reason for her silence regarding her store’s opening at Grand Mall was rooted in a desire not to burden him. She had worried that he might feel obligated to visit just to show support, even if he wasn’t ready to see her again yet. Se had aimed to spare him any discomfort, but now, guilt welled up within her, stronger than before. She scolded herself, raising a finger and pointing it at her face. “Hey, you! Yes, you! Are you crazy? Why did you do that? Now, Kenzo will think that you’re avoiding him!”

“Then why do something you’ll regret later?” a voice questioned her.

Senthie heaved an audible sigh and rested her hands on her hips. “That’s what I’d like to ask myself too.”

However, she soon realized that she wasn’t engaged in a soliloquy any longer when she heard a familiar chuckle emanating from behind her.

“Was that also a habit of yours?” As she turned around to face this familiar voice, her forehead abruptly collided with something solid. It was his chest!

Startled, she hastily stepped back, her gaze rising to meet his one-sided smile. He looked so irresistibly attractive that she could feel the heat radiating from her flushed cheeks. The thought of him witnessing her earlier conversation with her index finger only intensified her embarrassment.

“Huh? Uh, yes. Uh, sorry about that,” she stuttered, her hand on her bumped forehead. “W-what brings you here, sir?”

He flashed a charming smile. “Just checking you out.”

“Sorry?” She couldn’t believe her ears.

He narrowed his eyes, their alluring intensity making it hard for her to look away. “I mean, just checking if my business partners are all set,” he clarified, his gaze wandering around the store.

“Is it common for the Vice President to personally visit all GMC business partners?”

Jimhuesh flashed his one-sided smile again and shrugged. “No, I visit only selected stores.”

“So, I’m one of those lucky business partners! Thank you for visiting my store, sir. It’s an honor.” Senthie beamed, placing her right hand over her heart and offering a slight bow.

“My pleasure,” he responded. “See you around, Ms. Salvador.”

 ~

An hour had passed since Jimhuesh had departed for his next destination - the jewelry store across from Fashion Sen’s.

As time ticked by, Senthie noticed that all the people entering her store were men: Walter, Kenzo, and Jimhuesh.

“Okay, let’s see who will be my first customer. I’m so excited! I’ll be meeting you soon, my lucky charm!” she muttered to herself.

To say that her first customer would be a woman was an understatement. After all, her store exclusively sold women’s clothing, so her lucky charm had to be a woman. Speaking of her soon-to-be lucky charm, her gaze shifted to the woman who had just entered the store.

“I like the designs on the mannequins,” the customer remarked while glancing around. “Do you also do customizations?”

“Y-yes!” she stuttered; her mind momentarily distracted by the customer’s remarkable beauty. Her eyes resembled the color of the ocean, though Senthie wondered if they were contact lenses, just like the ones she wore. Long lashes framed her eyes, and her brows were slightly arched. Her nose was petite and pointed, while the shape of her upper lip formed a delicate cupid’s bow. Her fair skin looked soft and bouncy.

She possessed the aura of a model, standing tall around 5’9 compared to Senthie’s 5’5. The sky-blue high heels she wore accentuated her height, perfectly matching her sky-blue outfit. Her fitted crop top, with see-through balloon sleeves, and a snug short skirt revealed her flawless thighs. She was the living proof of the saying: Flaunt what you have.

“Uh, by the way, ma’am, I know it’s a bit late, but I still want to wish you a good morning,” Senthie greeted with a warm smile. “Are you interested in a customized dress?”

The customer gracefully brushed aside a strand of her blonde hair. She adjusted the chained strap of her bag on her shoulder before responding with a smile. “A gown, to be precise. It’s for my upcoming birthday party.”

“That’s wonderful! I’d like to extend my early birthday wishes to you, ma’am!” Senthie beamed. “Would you like to take a look at my portfolio?”

The woman shook her head. “No need. Just write down my instructions.” She examined her newly polished nails. Perhaps, she was proudly displaying her freshly done nail art or merely ensuring that the glitter was still intact.

“Oh, I see. Sure,” Senthie agreed, committed to delivering exceptional customer service, even if the customer sounded somewhat demanding. Senthie reached into the counter drawer and retrieved a pen and paper, ready to take notes.

“I want a gown that would make me look like a princess, but with a touch of fierceness. You know, like a seductive princess. Make it red,” the customer instructed. “And I absolutely adore furs, so please incorporate them into the design.”

Senthie focused on jotting down keywords: princess, fierce, seductive, red, and fur. “Okay, ma’am, anything else?”

“Oh, I almost forgot, I don’t want a balloon-style gown.”

“Noted, ma’am.”

“And a see-through element would be fantastic!”

Senthie resisted the urge to sigh heavily. “Anything else you’d like to add, ma’am?” Please, no more.

“No, that would be all.”

Senthie turned to the customer with a smile. “Then please, let me take your measurements.”

Suddenly, a loud voice shattered the moment, causing both Senthie and the customer to shift their gazes toward the source. “Bes, Sen!”

“Cecile?” she muttered, her eyes widening in surprise. She glanced at the customer, whose expression had morphed into a frown.

Cecilia was now rushing toward her, ready to unleash a massive hug attack. Senthie took a step back as her best friend pounced on her.

“Excuse me? I’m still here. Can’t you save those petty little greetings for after you’ve finished with your customer?”

Senthie gently pulled away from the hug and turned toward the customer, offering an apology, while Cecilia shot her a glaring look. Her temper was clearly rising.

“Are you serious? How dare you glare at me!” the customer snorted, but Cecilia appeared unfazed. With a challenging demeanor, she stepped closer to Cecilia. “Woah! How brave of you.”

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing? Stop that!” Senthie murmured to Cecilia, her tone urging her to relent, but she remained unyielding. Sensing the situation could escalate further, she stepped forward and firmly pulled her best friend behind her. “My apologies for her rude behavior, ma’am.” She covertly squeezed Cecilia’s hand from behind as a warning. “Cecile, apologize to her, now!”

She remained obstinate; her lips pursed in a pout. Senthie shot her a stern glare.

“Fine!” Cecilia grumbled, then turned her attention to the customer. “I’m sorry.”

“Good, I’ll accept your apology, provided that my gown is finished in three days,” the customer demanded with a smirk.

Senthie froze at the ultimatum, her mind racing with thoughts of the grueling three days ahead. The prospect of working without sleep for three straight days made her contemplate jumping off the building instead.

“That’s impossible! Can we at least have a week?” Cecilia protested, her tone coming across as rather rude. Senthie shot her a withering glare, surprised by her best friend’s lack of tact.

The customer crossed her arms over her chest. “Oh, I see. . . . So, you’re business partners. Is being rude to customers your standard practice?”

Cecilia didn’t hold back. “Well, were you always rude to everyone?”

Senthie had to fight the strong urge to smack some sense into her best friend.

“You don’t seem to grasp the basics, do you? What kind of customer service do you provide here? This is unacceptable,” the customer remarked calmly, though her underlying tension was palpable.

Senthie stepped in, attempting to salvage the situation. “I’m truly sorry for this inconvenience we’ve caused, ma’am. Rest assured; this won’t happen again. Your gown will be completed on time,” she uttered with sincerity, hoping to mend the frayed customer-business relationship.

Did I truly say that? Senthie couldn’t believe her own words. How could she possibly complete a gown in just three days? It sounded like madness, even to her.

Cecilia turned her wide-eyed gaze toward her. “Are you insane?”

“Can you please just be quiet?”

The customer wore a triumphant smirk. “Good! I’ll be looking forward to it.”