Chapter 34 - Business is business!

Taking a step forward, I went closer to the madam for an audible conversation with my head held high while facing up to her.

Noticing her gestures, Mrs. Teresita was taking deep breaths and has crossed her gaze with mine afterwards.

"How have you been doing ma'am?" Wearing the same and usual serious face, I asked while still resisting myself.

"I'm just fine and still in the usual Hanzaki. I'm always at anyplace in anytime. I'm busy with my matters, my businesses, not to mention."

"Hooo? You're really quite the rich old lady, madam. It does give a vibe by just looking at you that you're someone who is expert in business even though I had already thought about it once. But I didn't expect that you had more of these business things."

"Is that a compliment? Why thank you then. So why have you come here then young man? Do you want to work again here?"

"Tsk. Thanks for the offer but I shall decline." I got pissed, resulting for my patience to go down bit by bit.

"Hmmmm? It would be a good thing for me if you would help me out again, Hanzaki. And besides, you're so comfortable and were enjoying your time when you stayed here just like before."

"YOU….." Making my voice roaring loud, I lost my composure uncontrollably. "WHAT"S WRONG WITH YOU? DID YOU NOT FEEL ANYTHING WITH WHAT HAPPENED HERE!?" I added as I yelled with my eyes filled with rage, and my closed right fist was slightly elevated high.

But despite my out burst, the madam has maintained her silent composure while giving a serious face in listening.

"DID YOU NOT FEEL ANYTHING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO JUST DIED HERE!?----- Rosalie, Bob, and the others worked very hard all day at the farm for you. More importantly, those people livened up my life when I came here. Every day they waited for me to come back from school. Every morning they always try to make breakfast before I could even help them. They made the place special to me. They helped me in every ways as they could. They believed and trusted me, and so to you MA'AM! They believed and trusted you yet, why don't you have any reactions or emotions towards them!? AREN"T THEY YOUR PRECIOUS WORKERS OVER HERE? Even just a little pity or concern for them, I don't see it on your face."

And again, hoping for a response, she was just idle at her place.

"Hey Madam, I just noticed it about something before… of why you haven't been coming back since the day you've brought me here."

Noticing her after delivering that phrase of mine, the madam was quite shocked, seeming to have caught her curiosity of what it was all about.

"It was because to work overload and in need of manpower, eh? And not to mention I was the last one needed for the place. Since then, you have not been coming back, and they say that you're on your other personal matters for the whole time. Mrs. Maria Teresita… You're a murderer."

After telling her of my conclusion about my observation, I heard a little giggle that came out from her.

"Pfffffttttt! HAHAHAHAHA! You are really something!" Not being able to hold herself, she suddenly burst into laughter. "Are you accusing me young man? You don't even have an evidence of it. Jeez, you're such a funny young man."

"You don't have to kill someone to be a murderer." Quickly I replied back.

"Hooooo?~" Then she stopped laughing, lending back her hears at me .

"At first, I really don't have any idea of who you are. At that time, I think of you as a good natured person because you really helped me a lot, but now I know. The reason why you haven't been coming here at this place is because… you had already anticipated that such a disaster might happen anytime sooner. I don't know where you got such information for you to be wary about it, but I know you're scared because if you've been here, you might end up just like them. Yet even so, you didn't try to tell or warn us about it. Even though you've greatly helped us in some parts of our lives, you're still a murderer, you old woman!" Finishing off with an exclamation mark, I pointed out towards the madam.

But despite of my slightly wild speech, the madam was still able to remain composed of herself, but unexpectedly after a few seconds of silence, she loudly let out a sigh in front of me, likely trying to get her cool.

She was breathing slowly through her nose and throughout her mouth, doing it a couple of times while not minding me who was waiting for a response the whole time.

"Yes, you are right." Hearing her honest, frank words, I became more furious, grinding my teeth from the frustration. "But at some point, you've been mistaken something." She added, showing full confidence about it "Yes, I need to guarantee my safety and that's my right. If I did tell you people about something like that, then there is a possibility that some, or maybe all of you would leave out the farm and the everyday operations would likely stop, and I would have nothing to gain from it. Besides, its work that I gave you people and you get to have your pay as for the things you've done for the farm. I know it benefited to you all, so it's a win-win situation for all of us."

"A win-win situation you say!? You freaking bastard---" I shot back, taking one step of my right foot forward, but then I was interrupted.

"AND! You're wrong of what you say that I didn't show even the tiniest concern to them. Don't you know how tiring it was to lend my helping hand and especially in giving some compensating goods to their families for the loss of their lives? *Sighs* It really was such a pain in the neck and a waste of time. If only I'd used those days for my other matters, it could've been a more progressive year for me." She exclaimed, inserting through my words.

"YOU----"

"ALSO! I really don't care what you think of me young man. It is my dream to become wealthy, and I did, and will continue to do everything what I can do to achieve it." She cut through my words again.

"You even sacrificed other people for just that kind of dream!? For that kind of goal!?"

"That is how the world really works for us, young man. If you're here to complain about it, then I believe there's nothing you can do to change it. Business is business! Now, if you've got nothing else to say or matters you have here, then please… Leave at once!"

Lowering my head and closing my shaking fists, I showed quite the frustrated face.

From planning this trip of mine ahead, I already knew of the likely possible results to happen. Knowing myself of not having the power to do something, to solve the situation, to make things right, and to bring justice, the fact was just pissing me off even more.

Realizing of my low capability as of the time, I accepted the truth as I don't have any other choice and yet still I was feeling down of it.

I then slowly turned around, beginning to walk forward towards the door to go outside while not even taking a glance of the madam who was just staring straight at me from behind.

As I was about to rotate the doorknob from grabbing it, I froze for a few seconds of my gesture. I then turned back around, trying to leave a last message for this old woman in front of me.

"Madam…" As I still got something to talk about, the madam showed quite the surprising face. "You're still wrong about one thing." Patiently waiting to hear my words, she put back her attention close. "You haven't helped us…"

"Hmm?"

"You just used us, for your own good." I then opened the door and have gone out, leaving the madam behind speechless.

From leaving the room, I was walking very fast in quickly getting out of the place. As I was nearing the gate, the worker I had met not a while ago has noticed and was on his way to approach me, probably to try ask me about the result of our conversation regarding of what he said a while ago.

But as that person got closed and has started to speak, I just ignored and passed by him while not giving a glance.

When I was already far from the place, I stopped as a bit of tears started to come out from my eyes.

Looking up while my lips were slightly trembling, the sky was orange in colour as of the moment.

I was standing at the same spot for several minutes, and I began to move again to go my way back to my place afterwards.

On the terminal, passengers were going out from a bus that has recently stopped by, and I went up the stairs as soon as there was no one left in front of me. Looking for a spot, I then sat down after I found one.

With my energy drained from the confrontation, I blankly and exhaustedly stared at my own reflection on the window to see and notice my face that was quite pale. My chest felt very heavy, my whole body was laden with troubling negative emotions. Furthermore, my eyes was looking like it was about to drop yet I was not sleepy as of the moment. Feeling dead drop, I didn't even notice myself of not having to breathe while I was inside the bus.

-----*-----

After an hour of travel, I arrived at my boarding place, entered my room, and quickly have dove onto my bed out of exhaustion with my face covered with my pillow.

Slowly I was rolling over the bed to shake out the tension from my body, and I took deep breaths as I faced up the ceiling.

Still, I was sad of not being able to do anything for the people I had been with. I realized the evil within such people.

I got scared, thinking of the possibility if I had been also a victim of the disaster during the time. I got scared, because right now, I wanted to live my life further, unlike before.

Back then, I just realized the importance of the people around me back at the farm when everyone was already gone. As I recalled again the memories of the past, I began to feel emotional about it.

"I'm sorry Bob, Rosalie, and everyone. I couldn't do much for you guys."

I wanted to give them justice, but it is just impossible for me right now.

The world is full of manipulative people whether in business, education, and to any other area. They could be also one of your relatives, friends, and the people you have known. You never know when such things started, or would start in one's life.

The feeling of greed that grew stronger throughout the years is one of the many reasons that the world is in chaos, despair, and sorrow. The greed of one is enough for the destruction of many.

The cultures and beliefs of the society and the environment are the potential causes of what makes a person's greed to dominate his other aspect as a human person, and it would become stronger as he lives throughout the years. If such kind of a system and thinking would not be stop, then there is no end to this devastating cycle.

Even though it is a part of the human nature, it brings chances of havoc, leading many unfortunate events around the world, and this is the price that we paid for of what happened a long time ago, starting from the beginning. So that is why being responsible and having to control yourself is very essential to every person, but the most important factor is, understanding, a good-intention of understanding.

-----*-----

It is another day and I was already out of bed early in the morning, doing my morning exercises in an extremely intense pace in trying to release my frustrations from yesterday.

After finishing, I went back with more sweats all over my body than usual, and somehow more exhausted.

When noon came, I arrived earlier than usual at the restaurant.

David, who has been very funny and humorous all the time, was struck when I ignored him with a very intimidating face as he tried doing his usual pranks.

David quickly backed away, probably thinking that something had happened to me, and the manager also noticed my mood as well while doing our job.

For the whole day, nobody talked to me except for the manager, but only when we went back home as he waived his goodbye, and in response, I just nodded to him.

On my way in walking the street, most of the people that I had passed by have gone wary as they have made a step back away from noticing my intimidating face.

"I'm so weak. I'm just so weak. I can't do anything right." I whispered to myself. "Stronger…. I need to get stronger. I need to have power, but… how?"