It was lunch hour, and the small noodle shop at a corner of the street is full of people. Inside, a woman named Averil and her son Tate were sharing a bowl of noodles.
"More noodles," Averil demanded. "Free refills, right?" They have been in the shop for over an hour. Outside, there were a long line of customers waiting. They looked through the window. "Boss, when can we sit?" asked a tired worker.
"Yes, our lunch time is limited," added another.
Meanwhile, Averil ordered her 4th refill. 2 people sharing a bowl with no ounce of shame. "Mum, I'm full," Tate whispered. "Shh," Averil silenced her son. "We paid for this. Eat everything free." Just then, Ivan, the owner of the noodle shop approached them politely.
"Ma'am, perhaps you could move to make space for...," he began. But before he could finish his sentence, Averil cut him off rudely.
"How dare you? I'm a paying customer," she barked and pulled out her mobile phone. "I'll expose this rip-off online." Her loud voice attracted the attention of other customers, who recognized Tate.
"Isn't that the kid from school? His mom is like this, unbelievable," said a boy.
"That's right, how shameless can she be," added a lady.
"Other customers are waiting under the hot sun and yet she refuses to make way for other customers. How selfish can she be," chimed in another lady. Hearing this, Tate's face turned red with shame. Ivan quietly refunded their money. "Ma'am, please just leave so that other people who have been waiting can sit," Ivan whispered. As Averil and Tate left, there were still people whispering behind their backs. Once outside, Averil streamed live: Boycott this place. But much to her chagrin, instead of the support she was hoping for, viewers were berating her.
"Teaching your child to scam?"
"A bowl for 2 people?"
"Poor kid."
"Your children are watching. What lesson are you teaching?"
With no support from viewers, Averil left the scene with Tate, ashamed. She, who behaved both selfishly and shamelessly, was left to deal with the backlash from her actions.
