“INTUITION is a gift bestowed upon many, yet possessing a keen and precise intuition is a rarity.”

Senthie Salvador was among those blessed with a remarkable intuition. In countless instances, she possessed insights beyond the grasp of the average person, foreseeing not only the subtle nuances of situations but also the true intentions of those around her as they unraveled.

 ***

Even after a fifteen-minute prayer, luck didn’t seem to be favoring Senthie.

“Good afternoon! Rychicken’s delivery for Senthie Salvador,” chimed the red-haired man with a samurai bun, now standing across the counter. His green polo shirt, adorned with the restaurant’s name (Rychicken’s Barbeque) on the left chest, sported a white collar and sleeve hems, identical to what he had worn on their previous encounter.

Senthie greeted him with a smile and reached for the brown paper bag bearing the restaurant’s name.

Rychie handed it over, mentioning that the order was already paid for. As he was about to leave, Cecilia tossed a question his way, “You handle deliveries too?”

He tilted his head slightly before responding, “Yes, ma’am. I left a flyer inside the paper bag so you can check our menu and order anytime between 7 AM and 10 PM.”

Senthie, puzzled by her question, muttered, “Why ask something with such an obvious answer? Or was it meant just for him?”

Cecilia whispered back, “Of course, it’s the latter! Why would I ask a senseless question otherwise?” She then redirected her attention to Rychie, offering a friendly smile. “No, that’s not what I meant. I was actually wondering why you’re handling deliveries. You’re the owner, right?”

“Uh, y--” Rychie began but was cut off.

“Oh, if you’re wondering how I knew, Kenzo told us. I’m sure you know him since he’s a regular customer of yours. He’s the one who placed this order,” Cecilia added, pointing at the brown paper bag.

He chuckled. “Yes, I know him. We’ve had a little chat before. And as for your question, I had a small errand to run here, so I figured I might as well handle the delivery since I was headed in this direction anyway.”

“I see. All right then, take care,” Cecilia replied with a nod and a smile.

Rychie reciprocated the gesture and wished them a pleasant lunch. As he disappeared from view, Cecilia playfully smacked Senthie’s shoulder, exclaiming, “Did you hear that chuckle? It was so charming; it melted my heart!”

Senthie shot her a glare. “You do realize you just hit me again, right?”

Cecilia gasped and immediately began rubbing Senthie’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry, bes! I got carried away!”

Senthie rolled her eyes, giving her left shoulder a slight shrug to gently nudge Cecilia’s hand away. “You always get carried away when handsome men are involved. It’s almost like a disease.”

Shaking her head, Cecilia held up a finger and wiggled it playfully. “Oh no, you’re mistaken. Not every time. I’m not like this when I see Kenzo.” She chuckled. “Honestly, if he weren’t your ex, I might’ve made a move on him.”

Senthie gasped. “Wait, do you have feelings for Kenzo?”

She chuckled, her eyes crinkling with amusement. “No, not at all! I’d never develop feelings for any of your exes; I can promise you that. But ex-crushes . . . well . . . I might consider it, then. You see, Sen . . . I have a crush on Rychie!”

Senthie’s eyes widened in surprise, her head instinctively shaking. “Wow, are you serious?”

“Yes, why? Are you upset with me?” Cecilia responded, her eyes adopting a puppy look that made Senthie burst into laughter.

“Of course, not! I’m genuinely happy for you, bes. It’s just that . . . ugh, never mind. But wait, aren’t you crushing on Mr. VP too?”

She sighed, reaching for Senthie’s hands. “Don’t worry, bes. I won’t bring up anything about Rychie, and I won’t spill the beans about your past. Trust me.”

Senthie smiled and nodded in appreciation. “Thanks, bes. Now, you can answer my question.”

Pulling her hands back, Cecilia folded her arms. “Mr. VP? He’s just eye candy, nothing more. Besides, I think you two look perfect togethe--”

“Perfect together? Are you blind, bes? He’s annoying as hell! I want to punch him!”

Cecilia’s eyes widened. “Why? What happened? Did something happen earlier?”

Senthie proceeded to recount the earlier events in full detail, from his accusation of her being a fraud to his unexpected dinner invitation.

“Wait, how did he even know that name? Did he dig into your background or something? I can’t tell if he was being an asshole or hitting on you. Why ask you out after acting that way? Is he trying to confuse you? Or does he genuinely want to have dinner with you? Could it be that he’s actually interested in you?” Her eyes widened. “Oh my, bes, what if he’s an asshole and this asshole likes you?”

Senthie laughed and then let out a heavy sigh. “I doubt it. Guess we’ll find out once the dinner is over.”

 ~

After processing the last order for the third customer, an unexpected visitor appeared. She patiently waited for the customer to depart before approaching the counter, her arms folded, wearing a resolute expression. “I’d like to apply as your part-timer. When can I start?”

Senthie and Cecilia exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions clearly asking what on earth she was talking about.

Senthie initially assumed the woman might be here to discuss a gown issue, even though a month had passed since she received it without giving any feedback. No one would have ever anticipated that Senthie’s very first customer was interested in becoming a part-time employee.

She offered a somewhat awkward smile. “Um, ma’am, did we understand you correctly? You want to work as a part-timer here at Fashion Sen’s?”

The woman nodded firmly. “Yes, you heard me correctly. So, when can I start?”

Cecilia intervened, clearing her throat. “Excuse me, ma’am. We have certain procedures to follow when hiring an applicant. You can either submit your resume online or provide a hard copy.”

Kassandra, the once-customer-now-applicant, chuckled and nodded. “All right, if that’s the way it’s done.” She retrieved her iPhone from her Louis Vuitton bag and spent a few minutes on it.

Once she placed her phone back in her bag, both Senthie and Cecilia’s phones emitted a notification sound. Retrieving their devices from their pockets, their eyes widened as they were greeted by an email from a sender named Kassandra Taylor, the message lighting up their screens.

Senthie promptly opened the email, revealing only a link. She clicked on it, leading her to a Wikipedia page, and her eyes widened as she absorbed the content. The page detailed Kassandra Taylor’s background: a runway model in Europe, of mixed British and Filipina heritage, standing at 5’9”, weighing 137 lbs., with vital statistics of 33, 24, 33, along with a plethora of other information about her journey in the modeling world.

Senthie gasped, and Cecilia mirrored her reaction. They exchanged surprised glances before turning their attention to Kassandra, who was now smirking with her arms folded. “Is that sufficient?”

“Wow, so I was right. You really are a model. That’s what I suspected the first time I saw you. But . . . why do you want to work here? You’ve already established a successful career, and judging by your attire and bag, you seem well-off. So, why?” Senthie inquired.

She chuckled. “I’m not asking for payment. You’ll have a part-timer for free.”

Cecilia laughed. “That’s even more suspicious. Why would an international model want to work as a part-timer here for free?”

“Can I ask who the designer is?”

Senthie answered, “I am.”

Kassandra turned her attention to her. “You see, I absolutely loved the gown you created. I never expected you could finish it in just three days; I was genuinely impressed. And since I work as a model, I want to wear more of your designs.”

Senthie furrowed her brows, puzzled. Kassandra continued, “I’ve known for a while that you’ve been looking for a part-timer. I’ve been thinking about how to get closer to you because I’d like us to be friends. So, when I saw the job posting was still up . . .” She motioned over her shoulder. “I thought this might be my chance.”

“So, you want to become a part-timer here just to befriend my best friend?” Cecilia interjected.

Senthie chuckled internally at Cecilia’s hint of jealousy. But, beneath it all, Senthie harbored doubts about Kassandra’s intentions. There seemed to be more to her proposal than met the eye.

Kassandra didn’t hesitate. “Yes, that’s part of it. But I understand that if I work here for free, it might not sit well with you, so I have some conditions.”

Senthie leaned in, intrigued. “What conditions are you suggesting?”

“Seriously, bes? Conditions from the applicant? Normally, the employer sets the terms, not the other way around!” Cecilia protested.

“Let’s hear what she has to say first.”

Letting out an audible sigh of resignation, Cecilia finally agreed to let Kassandra lay out her conditions.

As Kassandra began outlining her terms, Senthie listened attentively while Cecilia’s whining persisted. Eventually, she opted to keep her complaints to herself and simply listen until the discussion concluded, which only took less than ten minutes.

Senthie expressed her gratitude to Cecilia for her cooperation and sought her opinion since they were business partners.

Cecilia whispered back, “I think it’s fine. It’s a win-win. We should seize this opportunity, bes!”

Senthie raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? You mentioned not liking her, and just a little while ago, you were quite upset about hearing her out. Are you genuinely sure about hiring her?”

They exchanged hushed words, mindful that Kassandra was directly across the counter. Senthie considered taking the conversation to the VIP room but quickly dismissed the idea, realizing that leaving the counter unattended wasn’t a practical choice. This was a significant decision, and both of them needed to be present to make it.

Cecilia, sensing Senthie’s concerns, whispered reassuringly, “If you’re worried about us being in the same place, don’t be. I promise I’ll do my best to keep my temper in check.”

Appreciating Cecilia’s support, Senthie smiled and nodded. She then turned her attention to Kassandra, flashing a welcoming smile. “Welcome aboard, Kassandra Taylor. You’re hired. Please send us the necessary requirements by tomorrow, then you can start as soon as the official contract is drawn up and signed by both parties. Would you prefer to receive it via email or sign it here in person?”

“Please send it via email.”

Senthie felt that they might have struck gold by having her as their part-timer. Yet, a lingering suspicion persisted, a nagging feeling that Kassandra’s application was a smokescreen for some other motive. Still, she chose to push aside those doubts, deciding to keep a close watch on her.

 ~

As the day turned to night, Senthie aimed to maintain a positive outlook. However, her optimism waned when she received a text from an unfamiliar number. But the sender’s identity was clear from the message, and she felt a sense of foreboding. “Change of plans, let’s meet this Sunday at 4 PM sharp at the Enchanted City. Dress comfortably. You can bring Ms. Ramos along if you wish. It’s fine with me.”