Before the day ends, Isidore went to the Mall to buy food for him and his sister. As usual, with his ragged-looking clothes, everyone were talking about his appearance.
The security stopped him when he was about to pass through the entrance. “No beggars allowed.”
Isidore showed his ID. “I'm not a beggar. I will just buy food and some clothes.”
The security was suspicious to his words but still allowed him to enter the mall. He was used to it though. He was always dressed like this whenever he go out and everytime, everyone will mock and looked down on his appearance.
But what could he do? He barely earned 10,000 dollars every month from his in-law's. He is a researcher for herbal medicines.
And sometimes, if the team failed to produce another herbal product, only Isidore's salary was deducted while the others have maintained their own.
He is a Senior Researcher yet he has the lowest salary among them all. And his juniors has the guts to disrespect and insult him in every situation.
He has all the contributions in making effective and well-earned herbal product in the company but only his name is not shown to every acknowledgement.
Unfair life treatment it is.
He was a competent and an achiever since his University days. But since he had married into the White's family, life has deprived him from privilege and peace.
But now, he is sure he'll have those again in no time.
He surely will.
He went to the fruits section and without looking at the price he picked anything that seems delicious for Iris.
Some were looking at him for his impulsive shopping. But whenever they saw his clothes, they couldn't help but sour their face upon seeing his appearance.
He really looks like a homeless beggar trying to show off.
But they say, do not judge the book by its cover.
Isidore put another bag of bread to his basket when a sales lady suddenly approached him.
“Stop. What are you doing?” the Lady doubtfully asked as she gazed towards the food on his basket.
“What is it?” Isidore asked back, curious about her sudden temperament.
But he continued to put food on his basket, never minding the sense of conviction the Lady vested upon him.
“I said stop!” Other customers turned to them when the lady suddenly shout. “I asked you what are you doing?” Everyone started gossiping at the scene.
Isidore calmly shrugged. “I'm buying,” he briefly answered.
“Liar! I know these tricks! You will start to put foods in your basket so you could easily shoplift them later!” She pointed Isidore, accusing him for shoplifting.
“What?”
“Shut up! I saw you! Take back the chocolate you put inside your pocket!” The lady were persistently accusing him of something he did not do.
Isidore heave a sigh and calmed. “Excuse me, Miss. But I think you have hallucinated—”
“And now you are telling me I am crazy? Hah!”
“No. I didn't mean it that way,” Isidore abruptly defended himself.
The people around them were gossiping and started to judge the calm Isidore than the shouting lady.
“Guards! Guards!” The lady called for the guards and ordered them which they undoubtedly obeyed. “Check his clothes!”
When the guards checked his clothes, they found nothing but his ID and Credit Cards.
“There is nothing in his pockets, Miss. We checked everything but we found nothing,” the first security said.
“I told you.” Isidore couldn't help but get slightly annoyed from the sudden checking.
“Tsk! Why is there a beggar here anyway?” Someone suddenly shouts from the crowd.
“Yeah! Just let him out and those foods he touched shall be sanitized!” Everyone agreed to the last shout.
The lady smirked. “You heard them? Even rats will be ashamed. Now now now... Why don't you just put the chocolate back and get out from our sight? Hmm?”
“I told you I didn't steal anything. I have money. I can pay.” Isidore still composedly answered the accusation.
“Don't talk back! You worthless beggar! You don't have the right to talk back!” The one security kicked him in the back of his knee that made him kneel.
He grimace from the pain he felt. But still people are eager to punish him.
“Give it to me!” The lady shouts again.
Isidore stood with pain in his knee and faced the lady. “I told you, I didn't steal anything you crazy bitch.”
A slapped was heard when the lady's palm flew towards Isidore's cheeks.
“How dare you! You worthless asshole!” The saleslady was about to hit Isidore with the security's stick but was stopped mid-air by an angry and domineering voice.
“WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?!”
The saleslady suddenly froze upon hearing those voice. Her hands started shaking as she slowly turned to the woman in her late 40's.
“Leya, what is this commotion all about?” The woman turned and asked the saleslady.
'So Leya was your name,' Isidore said in himself.
He was in his own thought when his System has a new mission for him.
[New Mission!]
'Accept Mission'
Without hesitation, Isidore accepted the mission and read what it is all about.
[Buy something worth $100,000 and face slap everyone including the Manager. Or get jailed for conviction.]
There was no time given but the condition was worst to begin with.
“Leya!” The woman shouted. Isidore assumed she is the manager who the system was referring.
“M-M-Ma'am... H-He was stealing chocolates and he put it inside his pocket,” Leya said.
Isidore slightly rolled his eyes and heave a sigh. 'I can't believe this lady.' He was tired from listening to her bullshits.
“That's what Ms. Leya told us, ma'am. But we haven't found anything inside his pockets,” The guards said.
Isidore was amazed how truthful the security were although they kicked his popliteal earlier.
'Tss! That hurts though!'
“Or maybe he put it inside his ass so no one could check it, right Isidore?” Isidore stopped when he heard those menacing voice.
Everyone turned to the man who just talk behind the accused Isidore.
Everyone turned to the man who utter the words. It was no other than Jameson Roy!Mr. Jameson laughed sarcastically. “I mean, who would even dare to check or worst touch your dirty butt? Not even Doctors would try to do so.” Isidore clenched his fist after hearing his hypocritical logic. 'This asshole is here again,' Isidore thought to himself.The lady, named Leya, was suddenly satisfied upon hearing Mr. Jameson's words. She sweetly smiled to Mr. Jameson and asked with her puppy eyes. “Did you know him, sir?”Jameson scoff. “My Hospital shunned him and his sister for trying to scam us. Good for them though, they deserved it. His sister was ill and I suggest to not touch him since I believe their illness runs through their bloodline.”The security suddenly withdrew from touching him and they scurry away for fear. Everyone gasped upon hearing a twisted revelation. Twisted because none of it was true from what really happened. Jameson Roy, a cunning man he is.“I shouldn't be wastin
“Hah! And so what? It still doesn't change the fact that you're stealing!” Leya turned to her manager. “Ma'am, I think we still need to check him to guarantee things. After all, our management does not tolerate stealing, right?”“Yeah right! Check him once more and punish him if needed!”“True! I bet he's not a real researcher! He still stole something!”“Beggars these days are known for their tricks!”The manager was slightly convinced by the peoples temperament. She looked at Isidore and started to talk. “You heard them. If you haven't stolen anything, then justice will be served upon you and the management will be asking for your forgiveness. However the contrary we find, you will pay for the damages and chaos you caused,” the manager said and turned to the security. “Check everything on his body and the CCTV footage,” the manager continued.The security nod and started to check his body without his permission. He was slightly annoyed by their harassment. “Stop! Don't touch me
“Tsk! Obviously you are building your own hall of shame,” the manager sneered. But Isidore wasn't affected at all and instead remained calm. He knew very well that he is not building his hall of shame today. And if there is one, that would be the arrogant manager in front of him.“Why? Are you afraid that I might really be able to pay the said one-hundred thousand dollars and humiliate you?” The manager sour upon hearing Isidore's confidence. “Hah! Don't be too full of yourself!”“Okay. Then why don't you just give me all the chocolates available in this grocery?” Isidore shrugged. The manager glared at Isidore furiously. She was even angry about the fact that Isidore is pushing her to do what he want just to prove herself and to completely humiliate him. Why the hell should she comply in this situation? She just want this deadbeat loser to be humiliated and get out of her sight! Yet this nuts is really pushing her to her limits! The manager looked at the security before saying.
“Ma'am!” Leya approached the manager and supported her to stand up. “Are you alright? You seemed like who just saw a ghost and frightened.”“I-I'm alright, Leya...”She looked at Isidore with her horrified eyes. She couldn't believe the small paper on her hand. Because it is no other than the receipt of one hundred thousand dollars! Suddenly a group of people rushing down towards the cashier with confused and startled face.“Who is it?” the guy in black suit asked. He seems like the boss of them all.The junior manager felt fear upon seeing her boss in the scene.Jameson on Isidore's side chuckled as he said. “You're doom now. That's Deputy General Manager Greg. He will surely fracture your useless bone and drag you out away from this store.” As soon as the Deputy General Manager saw Jameson, he abruptly approached the Doctor and pushed aside Isidore who was standing on his way. “Doctor Jameson! It is an honor to have you here!” The General Manager held Jameson hand and repeatedly
Isidore was so shocked upon receiving the notification of 1 million dollars. He blinked, unable to process the surreal amount of numbers he received.'This mission will make me rich,' he thought to himself.“Uhm, s-sir? Should we proceed to the lounge? Or y-you'll settle your business first with my staff?”Isidore was pulled back to reality when Manager Greg talked. His brows furrowed, and coughed a little to calm himself, and he turned to the junior manager who gambled her job and her boyfriend's bank account.His head held high. Looking down, Isidore's condescending eyes met the arrogant manager who was kneeling in front of him. “So? The bet you risk, where is it now?”The junior manager trembled as she shook her head. Her palms were rubbing against each other as she was about to weep. "Please, please, please? I admit I was wrong. Spare me, please? I need this job. Please, I'm begging you.” She cried in front of everyone after she pleaded.Although she knew Isidore would hardly acc
“Quick! Move your lazy ass and get Mr. Isidore some ginger and lagundi leaves!” Greg ordered to his people, as he too was busy typing on his phone.After Isidore received another urgent mission from the unknown system in his head, he requested Greg for the certain herbal medicine he needed. Luckily, it's not hard to look for it because it's only common, including in the market. Or else he would probably be expecting death the moment he received the notification. Because who sane human being could prepare a medicine for 5 minutes without having the ingredients first? “Sir! We're out of stock for ginger.”Greg angrily glared at the man who reported to him. “You bastard! I will have you removed from the company if you can't find the ingredients within 3 minutes!”The man, who seems to be Greg's assistant, paled and nervously scurried away to look for the ingredients. He just witnessed the scene earlier, and he knew he too couldn't afford to lose his job. Because even though he saw Isi
Isidore was contemplating as he sat there on the sofa. He was silently meditating, and preparing himself for an unexpected urgent mission from the silly voice inside his head.Although he was very curious about the special gift, he still fears the thought of having another urgent mission that could result in death if not attended at the right time.If he die now, how would he get revenge? Who will then take care of his sister?Speaking of sister...It has been an hour since he left her in the apartment alone. Isidore quickly reached for his phone and gasped upon seeing the 30+ messages and 14+ missed calls from her. The drama earlier took his time, and now he has to deal with Iris' undending questions the moment he comes back.“Shi* I have to go,” he said, without taking a look at the people inside the lounge.Greg stood abruptly and went to Isidore. “Mr. Isidore! Are you going home now? H-How about the investment? How will I contact you? You're not backing out, right?” He was so ner
Isidore blinked from what he heard from the other line. He's not hearing it wrong, right? Divorce. For 5 years of marriage, he and his sister has not been able to enjoy life under that family's provision. He know he own them for the help they extended. But that doesn't give them the freedom to humiliate and belittle them. Also, it wasn't free. Isidore paid them very well from his hardwork in research. The White's family own a laboratory facility for researching herbal medicine. And Isidore contributed so much to these research. He knew he could earn more than his minimum wage from the Whites if he'll try to apply to other companies.Only if his sister was not ill. He would have quit his job from Whites family and hunt for another. But he could not afford to waste a day and wait for job interviews approval.And even if he would quit, he knew the White's will do everything to stop him from applying to other company. Therefore, for all the downgrade they received, a divorce would