Chapter 20: Shop event

"Two days from now, we will visit the eastern part of Karua City together with the mayor and the mayor’s guest," Hana’s boss said in front of Hana and the three other shop employees.

"Boss, why do we have to go to the eastern part of the city?" one of Hana’s coworkers asked.

"Our shop won the lottery when the mayor held a drawing for the owners of wholesale stores."

"What lottery?"

Hana’s boss lowered his voice. "This mayor’s guest has a large business in exporting the goods that we stock in our shop. He is holding training for seven stores that have made large purchases of his company’s products."

"And, look..." the shop owner said proudly as he took out the lottery ticket he had worked so hard to obtain. "We will receive free training as well as a free vacation. And do you know..." he added in a mysterious voice.

"Know what, Boss?" another one of Hana’s coworkers asked.

"We might also appear on television!" he shouted loudly.

"How is that possible?"

"You know the owner of the company that makes the goods we buy? He is also an artist who is often invited to reality shows."

Hana’s three coworkers opened their mouths wide. "Boss, is that the person who went shopping here yesterday?" one of them asked.

"Eh." He nodded firmly and then gave a thumbs-up. "You’re smart. That’s right. That’s the person I’ve been talking about."

Hana’s coworker immediately grabbed Hana’s shoulder. "Hana, did you hear that? That’s the handsome man who bought our goods yesterday."

"What was his name yesterday? Veinji? Or Bara?"

Hana’s boss frowned at her. "Who is Veinji? Who is Bara? His name is clearly Bra..."

"Boss," Hana interrupted with a slightly troubled expression. "I can’t go. You know, I have three young children. I can’t just leave them like that. What if you all go and I stay here?" she asked. "I’ll open the shop as usual," Hana added, hoping she would be allowed to stay.

"No," Hana’s boss said firmly. "You know, I worked very hard to get this voucher so all of you can broaden your knowledge of selling products."

"B-but, Boss, my children... They’re only five years old. If I leave them, who will take care of them?" Hana asked with an uncomfortable expression.

"Hana, haven’t your children been taken care of by the owners of the apartment building where you live all this time? Just ask them for help. I’ll pay you more if you participate in this event. You are the face of our shop. How can you simply be absent?"

Hana’s three coworkers nodded.

"That’s right, Hana. You are the face of our shop. If you don’t attend, our shop definitely won’t be able to participate in this event smoothly. Leave your children for just a few days. They’ll be fine. Besides, they’re not babies anymore who still need breast milk."

"Hana, aren’t your children also going to start school soon? You’ll definitely need a lot of money to pay for all three of their school fees. There are prizes at this event that can help you pay for their schooling."

They all nodded at their boss’s words.

They had worked with Hana for five years, so they knew about the circumstances and difficulties Hana had faced all this time.

Hana took a deep breath, then looked at all of them.

"I can’t make a decision right now. Let me discuss this with my three children and the owner of the room I rent first. I don’t know whether they can help me or not."

Hana’s boss waved his hand. "You can discuss it with them first. But..." he said softly, "I don’t allow you to be absent. I’ve already registered you as one of the employees who will attend. If you dare not to show up, don’t blame me if I cut your salary this month," Hana’s boss threatened before immediately entering his office.

Hana lowered her head deeply. All this time, she had never left her children. Whenever there was a shop event outside the city, she always found an excuse to give her boss so she wouldn’t have to go.

However, now her boss was threatening to cut her salary. Hana couldn’t lose this month’s salary. In a few months, Sean, Kevin, and Zahn would have to start school.

"Hana, don’t think about it too much for now. The owner of the room you rent is a good person. They’ll definitely be willing to help you take care of your three children," one of Hana’s coworkers said.

Hana nodded and immediately went home as soon as her work hours ended.

"Mom... You’re home?" Zahn asked, coincidentally coming out of Jesy, Jezy, and Jexy’s house.

Hana bent down and lifted her youngest son. "You haven’t finished playing yet?" Hana asked as she kissed her son’s face.

Zahn giggled when he felt Hana’s breath. "Mom, put me down. I’m not a little kid anymore."

Hana smiled and put him down. "Where are your brothers? Are they still playing at Grandma’s house?"

Zahn shook his head. "I was the last one to come home. They should already be inside the house now."

"Alright. Now, let’s go home. Mom bought fried chicken for you today."

"Fried chicken?" Zahn exclaimed with a happy laugh.

"Ehm," Hana replied with no less enthusiasm.

Zahn grabbed the plastic bag from Hana’s hand and then ran inside their rental home.

"I really need a lot of money," Hana murmured before entering her house.

"Mom, you’re home?" Sean asked while tidying up the papers on his desk.

"Ehm, what are you doing?"

"Nothing important, just practicing counting," Sean quickly replied. "Mom, come on, let’s eat the fried chicken now. Kevin already cooked some warm rice."

"Really?" Hana followed Sean toward the kitchen. Kevin agilely climbed onto a chair to take the rice pot and divide the rice into several bowls.

"Mom, you must be tired, right?" Kevin exclaimed.

"Let Mom continue. You two sit at the table," Hana ordered.

They quickly nodded and immediately sat in their respective chairs.

"One piece of chicken for each person," Hana said as she divided the chicken from the plastic bag into her children’s bowls.

"Mom came home earlier today," Sean said.

"Ehm, there wasn’t much work today, so Mom could come home early."

The dinner went peacefully. Hana only spoke when their rice bowls were already clean.

"Children..." Hana said. "What if Mom has to leave for a few days for a shop event? Would you mind? I can’t refuse this time. Mom’s boss threatened to cut my salary if I don’t go."

Hana’s three children looked at one another, then nodded. They all turned to look at Hana at the same time.

"Mom, just do what you think is best. We’ll stay obediently at home. Besides, Grandma is here to take care of us."

"You really don’t mind?" Hana asked.

"Ehm," they answered together.

Hana smiled in relief and then walked closer to them. "Mom promises she’ll work hard to make a lot of money for you. So, you have to understand Mom’s situation a little, okay?"

They nodded and returned Hana’s warm embrace.

After cleaning up the dinner dishes, Hana’s three children entered the bedroom. They looked at one another with eyes sparkling with hope.

"Should we speed up our plan to call Dad?" Kevin asked.