Ayisha adjusted her shirt, pushed the door open wide, and stepped in with a grin.
"Hello, mga people!"
Maria looked up from the counter. "Girl, akala ko hindi ka na papasok."
"Hindi puwede," Ayisha said, already tying her apron. "Kailangan ko ng pera."
"Same," Beth chimed in.
"Yeah, yeah," Ayisha muttered, grabbing a cloth and wiping down the counter.
Maria leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Kamusta kayo ng boyfriend mo?" She wiggled her brows, smirking.
"Boyfriend?" Ayisha snorted. "Wala akong boyfriend, ulol." She walked away before Maria could say more.
Maria just laughed, clearly not planning to stop teasing anytime soon.
Ayisha ignored it, focused on work. She glanced at Josh, who was sweeping near the door.
"Hanggang anong oras tayo ngayon?"
"Ten p.m.," Josh answered.
She nodded. "Kumusta ka na?"
"Okay naman," he said, then smiled wider. "I just passed an exam."
"Nice one, Joshua," Ayisha said. "Celebration?"
"Yeah. With my family."
"Good." She smiled at him. "Hard work paid off."
Josh's ears turned a little red. "Thank you."
Ayisha patted his shoulder lightly. "Keep it up."
Suddenly, Mark appeared behind Josh and slung an arm around his shoulders.
"Ayisha, alam mo ba may crush 'to sa'yo."
Josh stiffened. "Uy, hindi—"
"He even wanted to invite you to celebrate," Mark added, laughing. "Malungkot siya nung hindi ka pumasok."
"Lying," Josh muttered, looking away.
Mark laughed harder. "Aww, our baby boy got shy."
"Oooh," Maria chimed in. "Baby is embarrassed."
Laughter filled the room until the bell above the door rang.
A customer walked in.
Everyone snapped back into work mode.
--
3:56 p.m.
Ayisha waited by the school gate, squatting near the fence, scratching her head as the minutes passed. The bag she'd packed for Samantha rested beside her.
A shadow fell over her.
She looked up.
Samantha stood in front of her, blocking the sunlight.
"Aga mo, ate."
Ayisha stood, swung the bag over her shoulder. "Kailangan ko din kasing bumalik agad sa work."
"Let's go."
They started walking.
"How was school?" Ayisha asked.
"Okay lang po." Samantha hesitated, then added, "Ate, bigayan pala ng card sa Monday."
"Sige," Ayisha said. "Kukunin ko." She patted Samantha's head. "Gusto mo ice scramble?"
Samantha's face brightened. "Opo."
They stopped by the vendor. Ayisha pulled out her wallet.
"Dalawa pong bente."
"Bakit mo po ako niyaya?" Samantha asked.
"Wala lang." Ayisha shrugged. "Ayaw mo ba?"
Samantha slipped an arm around Ayisha's shoulder. "Gusto," she said, laughing softly.
The vendor handed them the cups.
"Thank you po."
They ate quietly, plastic spoons scraping against ice, the sweetness melting on their tongues. Ayisha watched her sister eat, smiling to herself.