Martin Kyung!

“ Oh, hello there! Have you missed me?”

An unpleasant man walked inside the Esperanza Restaurant. Mrs. Evangelina and Sarah were displeased to see him as were Lucas and Princess Vanessa aka Jennifer as they recognized who the unpleasant man was way too well.

“ Martin, what are you doing here? I don’t think we have some kind of business going on, are we?” While speaking to him, Sarah showed him all the hatred she had towards him.

Martin Kyung couldn’t help himself but find the situation amusing. Although it was clear how much Sarah despised him, he still found the situation quite complacent.

“ You’re the cutest when you’re angry”. He couldn’t help himself but say that in response, angering the latter even more.

…

Princess Vanessa aka Jennifer, realizing that the customers were staring at the scene in front of them, sneakily approached Sarah and whispered through her ear: “ Calm down, Sarah! The customers are watching! Calm yourself down, please!”

Sarah glanced at the customers in dismay and realized Jennifer was right in her assertions. Princess Vanessa aka Jennifer whispered once more: “ I know it’s hard, but you have to treat him like a customer. Act like a professional”.

Sarah glared at Martin with her angered expression still on and suddenly, her expression changed, leaving place to a bright grin that came out of nowhere.

“ Sir, would you mind having a seat while I bring out the menu?” She acted very professionally towards him, hiding her emotions.

“ Don’t take too long! I’m starving!” Although confused at Sarah’s sudden change of attitude, he went to sit at one of the tables as he’s been asked to.

Sarah left to look for the menu while I went tending to other customers’ orders. Lucas who was several tables away from him glared at Martin with a menacing aura. They made eye contact and Martin happened to recognize him.

Five minutes later, Sarah came to Martin’s table with the menu and handed it to him. Martin stared at Sarah instead of looking at the menu to place his order. Sarah kept her business smile at all times although she wanted to lash at him.

( Keep it in! Keep it in!)

“ Sir, won’t you place your order?” Sarah’s sudden silence break brought Martin back to his original focus.

He brought his attention to the menu and chose a random dish. Sarah walked away from his table the minute after he had placed his order. As she went back to have his order taken care of, her mother approached her.

“ I’m so proud of you, Sarah”. Said her mother, praising her daughter for her courage.

“ Don’t address those praising words to me! If it hadn’t been for Jennifer, I would have lashed out at him. It was thanks to Jennifer that I was able to keep my composure”. Said her daughter in response.

…

“ You know, mother!”

???

“ When I look at Jennifer, I think of her as an elder sister. She always helped me out even though she knew nothing about me. She helped me when Martin harassed me upon our first encounter. Although it was ultimately Lucas who kicked his butt, the whole credit goes entirely to her. It was thanks to her good eyesight that Lucas was able to locate me and save me. Although we’ve been hiding the truth and our situation from them, they still went out of their way to help us out. She secretly investigated and found out where Louis had been held captive and that, in a short amount of time”. Sarah chanted her praises through and through.

“ You’re right about that! I couldn’t agree more with what you’ve said. These youngsters came to our town for a reason. God brought them to us to take us out of our misery”. Her mother said back.

Ten minutes later, Sarah got back to Martin’s table with his order. Martin said seductively as a way to provoke her so that she would lose her cool the following words: “ This dish looks as delicious as you”.

Sarah was about to snap after Martin’s comment but kept herself under control when she looked at the customers.

“ Sir, please stop joking around!” She remained professional and didn’t let Martin’s sarcasm faze him.

…

“ Is there anything else you would like, Sir?” She asked the latter genuinely.

“ No, thanks!”

“ In that case, I’ll leave you to your dish. Enjoy your dish, sir!” She walked away from his table.

( Sarah didn’t take on my provocation no matter how hard I tried to anger her. My purpose for coming here was to make them lose face by showing the customers the bad side of the restaurant but that had been ruined because of that girl. If it hadn’t been for her, I wouldn’t have failed. Who exactly is that girl and what did she whisper through her ear?)

Several hours later, the Esperanza Restaurant officially closed for the day. Mrs. Evangelina counted the sales for the day and to her amazement, realized that the sales had increased by 5% compared to the previous day.

Mrs. Evangelina and Lucas cleaned the restaurant while Sarah and Jennifer were in charge of washing the dishes.

“ Thank you for today!”

Jennifer asked dumbfoundedly to Sarah: “ Why are you thanking me?”

She said responsively: “ I’m thanking you for earlier. If you hadn’t made me take conscience of the customers, I would have committed a grave mistake that would have jeopardized our restaurant. Thank you, Jennifer!”

“ You shouldn’t thank me for that, Sarah! After all, how could I let you fall into that man’s trap so easily”.

“ I don’t understand what you mean”.

“ Martin Kyung planned the situation that would have taken place had I not stepped in very strategically. You might not have realized it due to your anger towards him, but his plan today was very magnanimous”. Jennifer told Sarah while looking very serious.

“ A plan?”

“ Martin Kyung’s purpose for coming to the restaurant today was to show the customers your unprofessionalism as to drive them away from the Esperanza Restaurant”.