The shop assistant threw some suspicious glances onto Helen and Fabian.
“What do you mean if I can afford anything? It’s just two pieces of clothing.” Helen pressed her lips in annoyance.
She did notice that this mall was larger than the one she had always shopped at. But how much could two blouses possibly sum up to?
“Hah! Do you think this is one of your favorite thrift shops? Let’s see if you can afford it.” Shania was persistently putting Helen down. They went to the same school, and Shania had never seen Helen worn or carried anything branded. The former highly doubted if the latter could pay for the clothes.
As for Fabian, he was totally ignored. Shania assumed that he feared her since he didn’t defend Helen during the squabble.
Helen gave Shania a sidelong glance, took a step forward, and picked out a blouse. She drew it close to her torso to gauge the size. “I’d like to have this in a small,” she requested while passing the garment to the shop assistant.
Hmph! I need to stand tall. It’s only going to be a couple of thousands. I can work to earn that money back, but there’s no way I’m going to lose face. I’m so going to shatter your haughtiness, Shania. Who do you think you’re looking down on?
The shop assistant stood still like a coat rack. “Hey, didn’t you hear what I said?” Helen was upset.
It wasn’t that the lady didn’t hear her, but she was convinced that Helen didn’t have the money. Helen was in a white shirt and distressed jeans, whereas Fabian donned an average stoic black suit. That didn’t shout rich. On top of that, Shania was a regular there. It’d only be wise to go according to her will.
“Do have a look at the price,” the shop assistant uttered indifferently.
That got on Helen’s nerves. What’s wrong with you people? It’s just a blouse!
She took the blouse back, and the price tagged jolted her eyes as wide as two magnifying glasses placed side by side. What! Twenty-five thousand! This is daylight robbery!
Even committing a robbery would take more effort…
Shania was delighted to see Helen in shock. “See? You’re as poor as a church mouse. This is certainly not your place.”
The shop assistant went with the flow and started to deride them as well. “Just admit that you’re broke. Why act like you are someone wealthy? Do you know where you should go shopping? Definitely not here.”
Smack!
Fabian gave the lady a tight slap on the face. “What a snob!”
“Argh!” she howled in pain and glared at Fabian. “How dare you!”
The rest of the shop assistants scurried to help her up, but no one made a sound. No one dared to risk their being slapped on their cheeks.
Shania stalled in stupefaction. Never had she imagined that he would fight back. In her opinion, he was nothing but a scaredy-cat who wasn’t even capable of defending Helen in a quarrel.
It wasn’t only Shania who was shocked. Helen was trying to pick up her jaw from the ground too. She knew that Fabian would come to her rescue, but she didn’t expect him to give the shop assistant a thundering slap. In fact, no one did.
He must’ve decided that it’s easier to let it out on a shop assistant. I bear the name of Wandrie. What’s there to fear? Shania then inched closer to Helen and hissed, “So? You’ve decided to throw a tantrum after figuring out that you can’t afford it? There’s no place for such lowly behavior here. Helen, bring your beast to beg for mercy now, and I might consider forgiving his outrageous actions.”
