Chapter 32

Ellie woke up with an itchy throat. She remembered drinking soft drinks yesterday. She recalled if she had drank water afterwards or if she had enough water to wash out the sugar from her throat. Whichever the case was, it looks like she’d be nursing her tonsillitis in the coming days.

She went to the kitchen to brew some ginger tea, then rummaged through her medicine kit for some paracetamol. The ginger tea and a buttered toast served as her breakfast. She popped a paracetamol after finishing her food, then took a shower.

She sent Ryo a quick message while she was drying her hair with a towel. If he’s awake, they could have a small talk while she bakes otherwise she’d wait for him to message her when he’s free. His secretary said they had an early shoot for his movie. Looks like he’s not free since he did not respond right away.

Despite feeling a little under the weather, she continued to bake the cakes she had lined up for the day. Ever the workaholic, a fever never stopped Ellie from working. She hated being sick because she needed to wear a face mask while working, which she found cumbersome.

It’s almost time to open the shop when Ryo’s call came in. He’s still in costume when his video popped up on her phone screen. She had only spoken a single word and Ryo already noticed her raspy voice. She assured him she’s fine and had already taken her medicine, but he insists on her taking a day off. They agreed to compromise. Instead of closing the shop for the day, Ryo had one of his men help with the deliveries and errands. This way, Ellie could take a rest.

She made last-minute instructions to Beth and Maya. She also gave one of Ryo’s men named Haru the details of the day’s deliveries. “I’m sorry to trouble you, Haru.” If there’s one thing Ellie hates, it’s asking people to do something she knew she could do.

“No trouble, madam.” Haru gave Ellie a bow. His gut tells him that the woman before him is no ordinary woman in their master’s life. If he’s right, she could be the Clan’s future matriarch. So running a small errand like doing deliveries is no big deal for him. He could bury a body for her if she’d ask him to.

“Thank you again. I know this is not what you signed up for. Anyway, I have labeled each box with the client’s details.” She smiled at him.

Haru nodded his agreement and bid goodbye. When everything was in order, she went upstairs to sleep. Ryo was right. Her body demanded the rest. As soon as her back touched the bed, she felt her eyelids become heavy and sleep overcame her.

It was already past lunchtime when she got up from her sleep. Feeling better from her rest, Ellie went down to the shop. Haru had just completed the deliveries and was talking to Beth.

“How are you feeling, Ms. Ellie?” Asked Beth.

“Better. The rest and the meds did wonders. I thought I’d be nursing tonsillitis this weekend. Thankfully, my throat feels better now. Thank you for checking, Beth.” She smiled. “Haru, thank you again for taking care of the deliveries.”

“No problem, Madam.”

“Please call me Ellie. Madam makes me feel old.”

“I’m afraid, I could not do that, Madam.”

“What about Miss Ellie? Like what Beth and Maya call me?”

“Miss Ellie.” He said and gave her a bow before going out of the store.

Haru stopped in his tracks when he was already at the door. Ellie saw him holding out the door, but he’s been holding the door for almost a minute, yet no one has come in. Curious, Ellie approached Haru.

Outside the door was an old couple. They did not look like beggars. They wore simple yet clean clothes. They did not look like locals. Judging by their facial expressions, they seemed lost. Ellie felt a tiny tug in her heartstrings by looking at them. She remembered her grandma. The couple looked the same age as her grandmother.

“Is everything OK, Ma’am, Sir?” she asked in a soft voice.

The couple looked at each other, then to Haru, and finally to her. The old lady looked like she’s going to burst out crying while the old man held her by her elbows.

“It’s out hot there. Why don’t you two come inside the shop?” she offered. The couple once again looked at each other, then followed her inside the shop. Haru, meanwhile, gave her a tiny nod, then left the shop.

“Please take a seat and make yourselves comfortable. I’ll get you water and something to eat.” she smiled at them after she got them settled. After a couple of minutes, Ellie came out with a pitcher of cold lemon water and a plate of sandwich.

“I’m sorry. We do not have any cooked meals on the menu. I hope these sandwiches will do.” She placed the food on the table and gestured for Maya to give the couple some plates and silverware.

The couple looked at the food in front of them but did not touch it. Ellie saw their hesitation. She smiled at them and took a sandwich and ate it. “By the way, my name is Ellie. This is my shop. Please eat something or at least drink water. You look like you’ve been out in the sun for some time.” The couple continued to look at her but did not bother touching any of the things served before them. “Don’t worry. This is my treat for you. You don’t have to pay for it.”

The older woman took the glass of water in front of her and had a sip. She then spoke to the old man and encouraged him to at least have some water. The old man did what the woman told him.

Ellie observed the two. They looked like a couple. The old man is a little more reserved than the woman. The woman looked warm and gentle. She seemed to be a cheerful person, judging from the creases around her eyes.

“Ma’am, Sir, do you have any relatives we can contact?” Ellie asked, looking at the couple with her concerned eyes.

The old woman looked at her and shook her head then looked down. “We’re part of a tourist group but our group left without us. Our closest kin are in Japan.”

“I see.” Ellie nodded her understanding. “I can let you use my phone so you can contact your group,” she offered.

The old man shook his head. “I am afraid that won’t be much help. We joined that group on their last tour day. They’re probably on their way to the airport now.”

“I see. Do you have a place to stay for the night?” Ellie asked, her unfiltered facial expressions displayed her concern. She couldn’t help pitying the couple before her.

A couple of years ago, when they were in Manila, her grandma got lost. They were strolling through a crowded shopping bazaar and her grandmother got lost in the crowd. They were at their wits’ end, trying to look for her. Thankfully, a young couple found her. They brought her to a restaurant and paid for her meal. They also helped their grandma locate them.

Her family was already a helpful bunch of people. They’re generous with their time and with what they have. But this incident made them more helpful to others. They jumped on every opportunity to pay forward the kindness they received from that couple.

And so, when she saw this old couple who looked lost, hungry, and troubled, her chest felt constricted. She pitied them. It’s tough for anyone to get lost so much more in a foreign country. The couple both looked down at the sandwiches on their plate and shook their heads.

“To be honest, young lady. We have little money left to rent a hotel room or take a bus back to Manila. All we have are our passports and plane tickets,” the old man explained. His voice getting lower and lower with each word he uttered.

“I see.” Ellie nodded her understanding. “I’ll just make a phone call and see what I can do,” she said, then got up from her chair and dialed a number from her phone.

From a distance, the couple saw her nodding her head and looking in their direction twice. After a while, she smiled and put the phone back in her pocket.

“I was talking to my dad,” she explained. “You can stay the night at my parents’ house. Then in the morning, I can drive you to the airport.”

The couple’s faces brighten at her words. The smiles on their faces almost reached their ears and kept thanking Ellie.

“I hope you don’t mind waiting. We’ll just close up the shop so I can bring you to the old house.”

“Not at all.”

The couple sat in the store’s corner and ate their sandwich in peace. Ellie also asked Maya to give them cakes as they waited. The couple observed Ellie and how she worked in the store. True enough, after she and the girls were done for the day, Ellie guided the couple to her car.

“Do you mind if I call you uncle and auntie?” she asked, looking at them from the rear-view mirror.

“What about grandma and grandpa?” the old lady responded.

“Ok. grandma and grandpa it is.”