Chapter 5 - Stranger danger

Quite uptight from the sudden appearance, but at first glance, the lady who looked like some celebrity has gotten me awed due to her who was wearing fabulous clothes together with her jewelleries that were glittering all over around her ears, wrists and neck--- and oh! Her tiny shoes were also shining shimmering from below, and I can tell that she's a bit shorter than I am by just seeing her slim figure.

Her hair was tied and fixed perfectly from behind, leaving some of its small traces of short hair to hang down. Her face has a little foundation on it with lips tinted red while also having a long pointed nose, and her blue-yellow dress together with flower designs on it have made her look even better.

On the other hand, I really thought that she was some model or something… but she was NOT one when I noticed.

She was just an ordinary old woman, whose skin was showing a bit of the result from aging, and one would realize it after looking closely at her for seconds in which I have done recently.

But in the end, I felt bad for criticizing her appearance, yet it was a natural reaction for anyone to have.

Who in the world would feel great when a stranger has suddenly appeared in front of them? Well, if it's some legit celebrity, or other famous people, then that's acceptable, but I'm not that kind of a person, though I would still have my respect to them, or rather to anyone who doesn't do harm to or attack me.

"Oh my, what are you doing here at this side of the road young man?"

Yeah, this is really suspicious alright. A question out of nowhere, and not to mention she somehow made me cringed due to it.

"Hmm? It's just nothing Ma'am. If you'll excuse----."

"Do you have a place to stay?"

I stood up and was just about to walk away when out of the blue those words have come out from her mouth. I stopped, confusedly looking back at her with my body slightly facing away.

"If you don't mind, I know a place where you can."

I, who was surprisingly being helped, am fully suspicious of this woman, and at the same time was thinking to back away as maybe it is a possible scam.

"Is there really a place ma'am?" I questioned in order to assure my safety.

Although my instincts were saying to ignore the old lady, my desperate situation led me in curiosity and in which it had forced me into this decision.

"Yes! And of course-----"

ZOOOOOOOOOOM!

As she was about to say something maybe important, a car with great speed has passed by her, who was very near to the road.

The unknown lady was pushed away by a strong passing wind, making her lose her balance for seconds.

I then instinctively reacted to help her, however, she had managed on her own at the end, and the small incident got me speechless while looking at her who has likely gotten embarrassed with her eyes staring down from a side to another and with her face turning a bit red, avoiding a direct contact with mine.

It is a good thing nothing serious has happened to her, and my heart almost burst out from watching her seemingly tripped down. Good grief.

"Well, before anything else... let's go somewhere safe shall we?"

Without even having a careful thought of it, I nodded.

Being with a stranger, suddenly being helped, and going with them is not what one should normally do, and this is not highly recommendable to anyone, but my needs are more important, so risking my own safety for it might show progress or a good result for me at the end.

Moreover, this awkward and questionable situation has struck me in silence while following this unknown person who's leading the way, my attention fixed towards her as she has been walking firmly in front while carrying her bag on her side.

Most likely she got wary of what has happened not a while ago, but somehow for an old woman like her, she is surely walking fast since we headed off just recently.

"Oh, we could find a place over there. It should be good enough."

From minutes of walking, she turned towards me while pointing out a huge structure, and so I nodded in response while panting with a bit of sweat that dropped down as she probably saw something over at the opposite side of the road.

Good grief, now I got tired from always matching up with her speed.

And even though when crossing, she was ridiculously walking fast across the street and manoeuvring the people around us with ease, but her sudden happy face has got me wondering about it.

Hmmm… I wonder why--- GUUHH!? Wait a minute.

Realizing of where we are, it seems I haven't noticed that we were already walking in front of a supermall called SM Downtown. Jeez, it's all because I was catching up to her the whole time.

After we got to the other side of the mall, we directly entered a certain shop, and there were quite a number of people inside the spacious room.

This person seems to be rich for choosing such a fancy, expensive place like this, and once again without noticing at first, we're inside a Starbucks branch.

Hmmm... It looks like that her whole appearance weren't a bluff either.

Our heads have turned around the area, and a table and chair perfect for two was just from a short distance. Coincidently we both noticed it at the same time and have gone closer to the unoccupied space.

"Please have a seat first young man. Uhm, I'll be right back in a second, okay?"

"Oh, sure."

She went towards the people in line, and I took my chance to sit and put my bags down while being completely physically drained. On the other hand, my doubt still remained in which made my eyes to have started wandering around the area with crazy scenarios starting to pop out inside my imagination.

"Shit… Is this the part where she leaves me and will never come back? Or maybe she got some people out there waiting and trying to make a move and kidnap me. Then they would held me as a hostage and ask a ransom from the police, and things would go crazy and I'm going to be popular in the news. And worst, in the process they would just kill me for no reason. Or maybe they would just do it for fun actually? But more importantly, do I stink right now? Goodness. I hope she won't notice my odor."

I looked around of my surroundings.

I looked at my right, left, front, and back as I was getting tense up of the situation that I have gotten into, but still I have decided to wait for a little longer in the end.

"Young man!" She called to me while carrying some dishes.

Her unanticipated come round has startled me despite her joyful aura, and she came back with food on her side coming from the long line at the counter.

"I'm so sorry, I never thought that the line would took quite long. Here, this is for you, my treat."

"Eh!? Ma'am, you shouldn't have bothered!"

Another unforeseen act, and this time around her generosity was a surprise, yet everything was still unsure so rejecting the offer would be wise but.... the food sure looked quite delicious when I took a glance of it.

"Hmm? But after all that line that I've been through."

"Uh- Uhm- I-- Very well. I'll accept this.Thank you for the treat ma'am." Sighing at mid-way, I gave up.

In the end, I was forced to accept the treat despite being wary of her and also because of her who was mumbling about her effort in front of me.

It was a little irritating since no one asked for it in the first place, but it's bad to reject a blessing that has been offered, so I'll just be helping myself with this.

*Nom nom nom*. I took a bite of the cake, and it sure taste good as it looks.

Yet on the other hand, maybe I was just being wary too much, she seems really nice.

This guilty feeling inside me is beginning to rouse for being too suspicious towards her, but it was unavoidable back then.

She sits down, and the perfect time has come to break this awkward mood.

"Pardon me Ma'am"

"Hmm?" She tilted her head a little, wondering while my eyes were fixed at her.

"Why are you so nice to a stranger? You even treated me and, also you wanted to help me find a place."

"You ask why? Let's just say that I for one love to really help people. Or you can say that it is already in my personality to do so, but mainly you can also say that I am doing it for a purpose other than trying to help. When I said I know a place, I really do so."

Her words were a little confusing, making my jaw to drop a bit, but the gist was clear.

"I see… but it really surprised me when you said that if I had a place to stay. Did you just say it on a whim?"

"Oh no. Because of the conditions I had to consider, I had to specifically say those words."

"Oh."

"Judging from the flow of our conversation I guess, you really do not have."

Damn right if only she'd known, but telling my personal matters to anyone would be a 'no no'. This has to be kept secret as much as possible.

After hearing those frank words from her, it got me down, feeling the guilt.

"I'm so sorry. I don't mean it in a way… but don't worry, I won't ask for details."

Gladly this old woman is being considerate.

Bit by bit my bad impressions of her are fading away.

"Well going back to the main--- oh my how rude of me… we still haven't introduced each other." She slightly put the tip of her fingers on her mouth from realizing.

Oh yeah, I haven't noticed it too since I was so tensed the whole time.

And who could this person be anyway?

Is she an employee in the first place and was tasked to scout?

But with all the things that I've seen, she probably isn't.

I'll just have to find out for the better, or maybe for the worse.

"Very well. I am Maria Teresita, and you are?"

Her very way of introducing was just enough to reset the mood.

She was like a queen of a certain country who was accompanying her guest.

"I am Hanuzuki Hanzaki, please to meet you."

I responded in a casual way.

The hell do I care about ways of introductions.

"Hmm? Quite a unique name you have there."

"Thanks. My family name is Hanuzuki. My father's side comes from a foreign family. My mother is a natural citizen here. Well taking that aside, about the place that you were talking earlier."

"Ah yes! Actually, the reason why I first told you, that if you have a place to stay is that I am in need of someone who can stay and safeguard my farm."

"Oh, so you have a farm ma'am."

Her physical appearance doesn't seem to support what she said, but her clothes and accessories do so, and not to mention the place we are currently dining in.

"Yes, and also you're not the only one I have found. I already hired some people to do that work, but unfortunately I still need one. Truthfully speaking I thought it would be enough but the people have complained about work overload."

It sounds like this farm of hers is quite the size.

"Lately, I am not doing well of finding for the last person that I can get to hire, until I stumbled upon you young man!"

"Seems like a fairy tale huh. By the way, I know this would sound desperate but, what would be the benefits that I can get from this?"

"Don't worry, as promised you would get to stay at the place as for working there. Meals for every day are free and supported by me, and it should not be a problem for everybody too. You would also be given compensation although it does not reach the average for daily wages."

It's not a bad deal. Free meals and a place to stay, and there is compensation, but my doubt has been preventing me from making a decision.

She hasn't told its location yet which is making the situation still risky.

Since it is a farm, it could probably be somewhere at 'Bukidnon'.

But that place is so far from my school, and not to mention I'm not familiar with the area, yet on the other hand, it is such a waste to reject this offer.

My legs were quickly stomping up and down for being extremely confused, making the Madam to just patiently wait for my response while enjoying her meal as I was trying to make up my mind.

Hesitating now won't do any good, and there isn't any assurance for another opportunity to come, so I surprisingly stood up and bowed in front of her.

It's quite embarrassing with the people around, but I've got to show some will to earn her respect.

"Mrs. Teresita Ma'am. With all due respect, please hire me!" I plead with a low gentle voice, not disturbing the other people around.

"Hehehe, I've come a long way and so I shouldn't be picky about this right? Yes, you are hired."

It wasn't the reply that I was expecting, but gladly it went well.

My heart was filled with joy of the good news while Madam Teresita has also let out a bright smile.

I guess it is a success for her as well, but a thought has suddenly come up in my mind.

"Oh yeah, come to think of it."

"What is it?"

"I still need to go to school."

And having said that, she confusedly stared at me and has become silent all of a sudden.

Oh crap… I think it was a wrong move.

But it was inevitable since it is a fact. Perhaps it doesn't fit into her conditions?

For all of that talk that we had, I guess this is the end of it, and I continued to look at her with a shaking worried, plain face.

"Oh is that so? Then you can just adjust the shared works at the farm. It would be up to you and your co-workers over there to discuss it."

Holy momma Mia! That was really unexpected coming from her. What a life saver.

"I see, Okay!" I commented without showing a bit of my worried reaction back then.

It was a success to my part, though the 'adjusting' thing was a bit confusing.

When we were done with our meals, we start to head outside to begin the trip on going to this farm of hers and without her giving any further details.

With these heavy bags of mine and not having to keep in mind about a certain fact, the madam has left me behind again with her quick pace.

Catching up would only be a waste of energy, so I'll just take my time.

Struggling in carrying my loads, I opened the door and walked down the stairs to see the madam who was standing at the side of the road while having a phone call.

Most likely she has a reason for being in a hurry.

"Oh! So you're just over the crossing now?"

Her conversation has gotten me curious when she looked towards at a certain point on the road.

It looks like she was waiting for someone.

Yes, that must be it. No doubt of it.

"Ah! It's here"

She pointed at a vehicle from a distance which is heading towards our direction.

A white pick-up car was speeding, slowed down as it was closing in, and has eventually stopped in front of us.

Life is really different for the rich, or rather to say to the ones who have higher capabilities.

We then started walking towards it, and my very own image was reflecting on this glimmering vehicle as I got closed; it was neat and spotless.

One would be amaze when they get to ride an expensive-looking car--- or it may be is, yet that wasn't the case now.

Without having any solid idea of what could happen afterwards, I headed inside the car while still struggling to carry my bags.