Wrong Ring Finger [On Hold]

Chapter 3

Lea

"Is this all, Sir, Ma'am?"

I smiled and nodded to the waiter who took our order. "Also, can I talk to your manager?" I asked.

We are here at the restaurant where I found the ring. I am with Vice since we're having our lunch, si Regine naman susunod pa lang.

"Why, Ma'am? May problema po ba?"

"Ah, no. May itatanong lang ako. Is that all right?"

"Ah, sige po, Ma'am. I'll call her," he said then walked away.

I looked at Vice who's on his phone. I chuckled because he looked serious chatting with someone. "Ano'ng mayroon, Jose Marie?" I asked then sipped from my glass of water.

He rolled his eyes then put down his phone on the table. "'Yung crush ko noong high school ikakasal na!"

"Who? Kevin? Charles? King? Donny?" I asked because he had bunch of crushes when we were in high school, dinaig pa nga kami ni Regine na loyal sa mga crush namin.

"Duh! Ang papangit ng mga 'yan. 'Yung ultimate crush ko noong grade ten, si France!" Litanya niya na ikinatawa ko.

Kailangan bang mandiri at kilabutan kapag inaalala mo 'yung mga naging crush mo noon?

"Eh ano naman? Para namang mag-ex kayo," I teased him.

"Wala akong problema kung ikakasal na siya, eh aba sa akin nag-request magpa-customize ng isusuot ng entourage niya. Like—would you at least respect my feeling? Ugh!" He rolled his eyes and straight the wine that's in his glass.

I laughed and looked at my right side when I saw someone walking towards our table. I assumed she's the manager so I prepared myself.

She smiled at Vice first before she looked at me. "Ma'am, did you ask for me?"

"Ah, yes." I stood up from my seat then glanced at Vice so he nodded and started using his phone again. "Can we talk somewhere else?"

She led me to the part of the restaurant na kaunti lang ang tao. I looked at her then smiled because I am thinking of how I should start it.

"Ahm, I just want to ask if someone is looking for a ring here?" I asked.

She creased her forehead trying to find in her memory the answer to my question. "A ring. I don't know but there's no one looking for a ring here as far as I know. Perhaps I'll ask the other staff, Ma'am. May nakita ho ba kayong singsing?"

I inhaled first before I answered her question. "Yeah!" I glanced at Vice whom I can still see from a far. "My friend found a ring here the day before yesterday." I smiled and looked at the manager again in front of me. "Unfortunately, he hasn't had a chance to look for the owner because he was in a rush that day. So, we're here right now para sana malaman kung may naghahanap or may naghanap ba kahapon o noong isang araw ng singsing?"

"Ooh, okay. But I was the one who's in charge here yesterday even noong isang araw, Ma'am, and wala naman pong naghahanap ng singsing. I'd know for sure kung mayroon, pero wala ho talaga eh," she explained so I nodded.

"Oh, I understand. Maybe I should give you my calling card na lang so that you can contact me anytime in case na may maghanap?" I asked a favor.

"Yes! For sure, Ma'am," she responded with a smile.

I thanked her after I gave her my calling card, nakabalik na rin ako sa table namin dahil sa bag ko kinuha ang calling card ko. Sakto rin na sine-serve na ang pagkain at dumating na si Regine.

"Kumusta?" Regine asked and pulled her chair nearer the table.

"Well, wala raw naghahanap." I grabbed the napkin and placed it on my lap.