Greg froze.
The pen slipped from his hand and clattered onto the floor. The laughter of the other agents vanished, replaced by stunned silence.
“M-money…” Greg stammered.
He rushed forward and lightly pushed Paolo aside.
“Sir! Sir! I’m the Senior Sales Manager. I’ll personally assist you so the process will be faster. You’ll receive full VIP treatment!”
As Greg reached for the woven bayong, Mang Berting gently tapped his hand away.
“Don’t touch it,” Mang Berting said firmly.
There was weight and authority in his voice—enough to make Greg lower his head instantly.
“Earlier, you tried to kick me out,” the old man continued.
“You said I was ruining the ambiance. And now that you’ve seen what’s inside my bayong, I suddenly become a VIP?”
Greg’s face flushed red.
The showroom manager came out after noticing the commotion.
“What’s going on here?” the manager asked.
“I’m buying a car, sir,” Mang Berting replied calmly.
“But I don’t want this man to get the commission,” he said, pointing at Greg.
“I want it all to go to this young man. He was the only one who treated me like a human being—not like trash.”
Greg had no choice but to bow his head in shame as the other employees burst into applause for Paolo and Mang Berting.
When the new vehicle was brought out, Mang Berting got inside. Before driving away, he rolled down the window and looked at Greg one last time.
“Son,” he said,
“respect isn’t like a car that money can buy. It’s given freely—even to someone wearing nothing but a sleeveless shirt.”
Mang Berting drove away, leaving Greg standing there in disbelief, while Paolo wiped away tears of gratitude—blessed not by money, but by kindness.