A Bad Day

At the small cabbage store, I meticulously arranged the cabbages by their size, my thoughts consumed by the doctor's unsettling news. My grandmother's life hung in the balance, and I felt an overwhelming responsibility to ensure she kept living. The prospect of facing this harsh world on my own seemed unbearable.

Though tears threatened to escape, I steeled myself, determined to stand strong. Taking a deep breath, I sighed, sitting on the worn wooden chair my mind kept returning to the image of my grandmother waiting for me at home, and the weight of the situation intensified.

Scanning the surroundings, I kept a keen eye out for potential customers, hoping to sell the fresh and delicious cabbages and earn much-needed income.

After numerous sighs, a woman approached, her face beaming with a bright smile, and a sense of relief washed over me.

"Good day, ma'am," I greeted warmly, standing to welcome her.

"Good day, get me a bigger size of the cabbages," she ordered almost yelling.

I knew there was no use protesting; I had to do it for the sake of my grandmother. Though I disliked being yelled at, I maintained my composure. "Ma'am, the biggest size costs 50 bucks."

Her smile faded, her face a blank slate, leaving me uncertain of her intentions.

"I have 30 bucks, can't I afford it?" Her tone shifted, challenging.

Calmly, I explained, "No ma'am. This particular size costs 50 bucks. Your money is enough for the smaller size."

Her frustration seemed to grow, and she scanned the store, searching for my grandmother.

"They are not expensive, ma'am. We need to earn an income as well. Please don't address my grandmother like that," I replied politely, though her attitude was testing my patience.

A retort came from her, but I stood my ground, unwilling to back down. Finally, she presented 50 bucks as if to prove a point.

I cleared my throat, speaking diplomatically, "I'm sorry, ma'am. But that's the market price, and besides, these cabbages are fresh and tasty."

Her gaze lingered on the cabbage, seemingly convinced. "I'm gonna take this one. It indeed looks fresh and tasty. Bring me a wrapper," she said, a mischievous glint in her eye.

I retrieved a black polythene bag for her, but when I turned back to give it to her, she was gone.

"Frustrating!" I threw the polythene bag aside and sank onto the cold ground, the loss of 50 bucks hitting hard. This unfortunate encounter tainted what could have been my first successful sale of the day. "What am I going to tell grandma?"

This situation felt absurd, and the day had turned into a series of unfortunate events.

As my phone rang in my pocket, I hesitated. I wasn't ready to hear anyone's voice at the moment. But, I knew I had to answer the call.

Wiping my tears, I answered after seeing the caller ID.

"Theia!" My grandmother's strong voice echoed in my ears, a reminder of her resilience.

"Grandma, what's the occasion?" I tried to sound cheerful, despite the sadness inside.

"Theia, we've run out of foodstuffs. Can you please go to the grocery store after you're done with the sales?"

"Of course, no problem." I nodded even though she couldn't see me. Her voice warmed my heart, providing a moment of comfort amidst the sorrow. As soon as she hung up, the tears resumed.

Before I could collect myself, I heard a masculine voice calling out, "Hey! Cabbage girl."

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't immediately realize the words were directed at me. But when I looked up, a man dressed in a sleek black suit stood before me, exuding a commanding presence.

Rubbing my teary eyes in disbelief, I tried to compose myself. He looked like an angel, a guardian sent to guide me through this trying time. His golden eyes held a calm and reassuring gaze that instantly put me at ease.

"Cabbage girl!?" he called again, snapping his fingers to bring me back to reality.

Embarrassed, I quickly stood up from the floor, attempting to regain my composure.

"Yes, sir. How can I help you? I mean, what size of cabbage do you want?" I stammered, feeling my cheeks flush.

His cool and collected voice further convinced me that he was my guardian angel.

"I'm sorry about that, sir. What size of cabbage do you want?" I managed to steady my voice, though I still felt flustered.

"Wrap them all," he ordered, his tone decisive.

"All the cabbages?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yes. The old lady knows that I buy all the cabbages, so why are you surprised?" he raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued.

"I didn't know, and grandma hadn't mentioned anyone buying all the cabbages."

"Okay. Hurry up, please."

Without a second thought, I dashed inside the store, grabbing a large polythene bag. As I packed up the cabbages, I couldn't help but sneak glances at the handsome figure, who seemed fixated on his wristwatch.

"He is indeed my guardian angel," I whispered to myself happily, momentarily forgetting the earlier unpleasant encounter.

Once I finished packing the cabbages, I handed them over to him, preparing to request payment. However, before I could speak, he handed me double the amount.

"Extend my greetings to the old lady," he said with a wink before leaving, making me feel as if I could crawl on my knees in gratitude.

I watched him walk away, a sense of joy washing over me. It seemed the woman from before wouldn't be able to eat the stolen cabbage in peace.

But as he opened the sleek black limousine, my gaze met that of a red-eyed man sitting comfortably inside the luxurious car. To top it all, my guardian angel addressed him as "boss."