The following day, she arrived at work early, hoping to avoid another lecture from her department head as her headache was pounding fiercely. She spent the morning assisting her youngest sibling, who was now in fifth grade, with a school project.
Her other sibling, a college student studying HRM, was also busy with studies to support their youngest. She had only returned home the previous day, as her mother had requested, after nearly six months away.She settled into the designated hiring room, one of two interview rooms, alone at a long table with two chairs in front. Besides the flower vases and glass windows on each side, she adjusted the AC to alleviate her headache and brought a cardigan in case she felt cold.At eight in the morning, her coworker informed her that the interviews were starting soon. She finished her water to ease her headache, realizing that conducting interviews in this state wouldn’t be ideal. She regretted not eating the breakfast JC had brought her; maybe that’s why she had a headache.One by one, the applicants for the vacant positions arrived. Most had impressive credentials, often graduating with honors. She enjoyed speaking with the applicants, but some seemed unprepared. Instead of just interviewing them, she found herself encouraging them, almost counseling them, more than conducting a job interview.As the interviews neared completion, with only one folder left, she called in the next applicant.“Good morning, Ma’am,” greeted the applicant as he entered. She looked at him for a moment; his face seemed familiar, like she had seen him before but couldn’t remember where.“Good morning, you must be Mr.-” she quickly opened his folder to read his surname. Vanth.“It’s Vanth, Zander Jaxon Vanth,” he replied. She stared at his resume for a moment. His name wasn’t just familiar.Jaxon.It had been a long time since she had heard that name, a name she never thought she would hear again. In this vast world, it seemed impossible for two people who had parted ways to meet again. And he was the last person she wanted to see, as she remembered her friend who was lost because of him, and she would never forgive him.“Ma’am?” She snapped back to reality when she felt a gentle tap on her arm.“Ah, yes. I’m sorry, alright Mr., please take your seat,” she said, as the man was still standing in front of her. He nodded and sat down.She felt a familiar fluttering sensation in her stomach, as if butterflies were flying around. Damn it. Stop it, don’t betray me, can’t you?“So you came from the US, why do you want this job?” she asked. She tried to be casual in front of him; she needed to be professional. If he was what the company needed, then so be it, but she hoped not.“I just want a job,” he replied. She waited for him to say more, thinking he might be contemplating, but it seemed he had nothing else to say. She looked at him, raising an eyebrow as she wrote down his answer, even though it seemed pointless. It was needed for evaluation and as a reference in case something happened.“That’s it? You just want a job?” He nodded and smiled.“Yes, is there a problem with that?” She almost wanted to pull her hair out because of his answer. Some things never change.She put down his folder and looked at him.“Mister, were you not informed about the vacant position? Did you not bother to read? Countless people want this job that you’re applying for, and you came here, telling me that you just wanted a job? You’re wasting our time. If you’re not serious about this, then leave,” she said calmly with a smile.“Ah, yeah, sorry, this is my first time applying for a job.”She almost laughed at his answer, but she held back. She returned his resume copy; this conversation was going nowhere, especially with someone who was useless. Disha couldn’t help but think to herself.“Okay, we’ll call you if you’re chosen. Thank you, have a nice day, Sir.”“Really? Why don’t you tell me now if I’m accepted or not? So I won’t have to wait?” He arrogantly replied, raising his pressure, figuratively.Instead of engaging with him, she just smiled. “Mister, I have a question.”His left eyebrow raised, an indication that he was waiting for what she was going to say.“Have you ever been promised something, held onto that promise, then all of a sudden, the promise disappears?”The man was puzzled by her question, but nevertheless, he answered.“Not yet.”Her interlocutor nodded. “Well, you’ll experience that if you’re looking for an answer from me right now.”She saw amusement in his face at what she said, so she smiled and nodded in response. “Okay, okay, I get your silly point miss, and I love the idea. Well anyway, I’ll wait for the call then,” the man said, standing up and heading towards the door to leave the company, but then he remembered something to ask her. “Anyways, what’s your name?”The woman just smiled. “Elara, long time no see, Jaxon.”Every chapter is a mix of flashback and present time.Five years ago.I tightly held the strap of my bag as I walked down the long hallway, the surroundings unfamiliar to me. It was my first day as a college student, and I couldn’t help but feel nervous about what life would be like inside.My building was at the far end, and I was running late, so I hurried my pace. It was frustrating—why did I oversleep today? Mom didn’t wake me up, and they weren’t home when I left, so I also felt hungry since I hadn’t eaten since last night.When I arrived at the room assigned to me, everything was chaotic, although our professor was already seated. I took a seat at the front since it was the only vacant one left.Like the usual routine on the first day, there were introductions to the lessons for the whole semester and getting to know each other. I didn’t know many people yet, so I just kept quiet as I walked towards the canteen near our building. The weather was hot, making it lazy to walk, and
Time flies, and our midterm exams are approaching. I’m often with Kim now; she’s still flirtatious and talkative, but I’m starting to get used to it.We’re on our way to the park; our first class for the day ended early. I’ve been planning to talk to Adri, but I don’t seem to be in the mood. Maybe I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. If I were someone else, I’d probably be scared.“What’s wrong?” I asked, pretending to sit on the bench we passed by. Walking is tiring. Luckily, this spot is under a big tree, so it’s nice to hang out here. It feels good because it’s cool.“It’s annoying because of Aldrin,” she said with a frown. She’s referring to her boyfriend, whom she started dating before college, so probably they’ve been together for three or four months. From her look, it seems they had a fight, or worse, they’re close to breaking up. It’s obvious that the guy isn’t that serious about her. She’s just blinded. That’s the problem with people who are too in love; they can’t see th
“Elara?” I was brought back to reality by a tap on the shoulder. Alex greeted me, looking puzzled by my distraction. He really looks so much like Kim, maybe that’s why I felt comfortable with him so quickly, just a few days after starting work at this company.“Why?” I asked, my thoughts were too deep at the moment.“It’s your off, it’s already 8 pm. Are you going to work overtime? If not, let’s go out together.” I smiled and nodded at his suggestion, checking the clock on the side of my table. He was right, it was almost eight in the evening.“Alright. Let’s go.” I replied and quickly tidied up my table, which was littered with papers.“By the way, do you know the last applicant earlier?” I paused, trying to remember who he was referring to. It was Jaxon.“Why?” Instead of answering his question, I asked one instead.“Earlier, before he left the company, he asked for your number, but I didn’t give it to him since it was private information.”“Thank you.” I replied, taking a deep brea
“Stop it. That’s enough. This is different, you look ridiculous,” I said and threw the bread I was holding at the person beside me. We arrived early today, with thirty minutes to spare before our first class starts, so we decided to go to the mall to kill time. School can be boring sometimes. “Sorry, Ely, but I really feel giddy about Zander,” she replied, still busy tapping away on her phone screen. I sighed as I watched her acting silly, smiling to herself. “Just remember what I told you, if he ever hurts you.” She paused for a moment to look at me, but then quickly went back to whatever was buzzing on her phone. “Don’t worry. He won’t hurt me, he said it’s just me.” “Yeah, just you. You’re the only fool in your relationship,” I retorted. “Wow, you’re so bitter! Get a boyfriend yourself!” she teased. I shook my head and tied my hair back. “No way, I’ll focus on my studies first. What will I tell my parents if I get a boyfriend so early? We’re just first-year college students,
“Oh no! That ugly doll is staring again.” I almost fell off my seat if I hadn’t grabbed the edge of my table because of the strong blow I received.“Why?! And I told you not to call me that!” I almost shouted back, tucking the fallen hair away from my face.“Because you’re a witch! What’s your problem? You’re always staring into space? And why? Elara is too long! What a waste of my saliva!” JC, the witch, yes, he’s gay, he’s my co-department head, and I was with him during my last year in college, asked.“Nothing, I’m just tired. I’ve been interviewing for 3 days straight, and please, fix your attitude.” I just replied, not in the mood to chat right now.“Anyway, oh yeah, congrats girl, the President liked the applicants you selected, but before I forget, he issued a memo.”“What memo? I’m not doing anything, why would he issue a memo to me?”“Not sure, but he said to see him before lunch.” I quickly checked the wall clock near my desk.“Shit, it’s already 11 am.”He nodded as if to s
“Wait, you’re early today, Elara?” Kaila greeted me as I entered the 4th floor, she’s the earliest one to arrive in our department, sometimes she’s the one who opens the air conditioning in the office and even in the pantry, and she turns on the PCs.I shook my head and sat down, taking a sip of the coffee I bought from the vending machine. “I haven’t left yet, I just went downstairs to pay for my bath, anyway, I have spare clothes in my car.”Her eyes widened at what I said. “What? Oh no! What if something happens to you?” She asked, leaning slightly towards me to inspect my face. Maybe I look okay today? I don’t know, I hope so.“I have to finish things up before I go home,” I replied, taking a sip of my coffee. I sat down and started encoding the data we would need for the next week.“Okay then, I’ll go to my cubicle, I still have a report to finish.” She excused herself and left my cubicle. I just nodded in response while still busy typing.I didn’t know what time I would finish h
“Hi Elyyyy my friend!” I paused typing my report on my laptop when someone suddenly spoke on my phone. I saw Alexis’ name on the screen, as it was set to auto-answer when on my speed dial.“Oh, you witch, why are you only showing up now? Why have you been absent for two days?” I scolded her. The background went silent, so I furrowed my brow.“I just had some things to take care of, you witch, and I filed for a three-day leave,” she said, laughing on the other line.“So, you’re absent until tomorrow?” I asked while still typing on the keyboard. I’ve already done half of my work for the day; I’m almost finished, and I still need to make copies of everything before organizing them in the cabinets. It’s past six in the evening, overtime again.“Mhmm,” I sighed, knowing what she was going to say next.“There’s a problem,” I concluded.“Huh? Who? Where?” I sighed even though she couldn’t see me.“You,” I said, which made her silent. “Gotcha,” I added, then laughed.“Freak,” she laughed back
“Witch! Are you okay? You’ve been staring off into space for a while now!” I heard the gay guy beside me speak, so I gave him a dirty look. He’s talking as if he’s deaf, is he trying to pick a fight? “Stop it, Carlo, you’re annoying me, you witch.” I chuckled at what I said, seeing the disgust on his face upon hearing his real name. “Eww sister! Give me the creeps, please? This nuisance, it’s Carla, not Carlo! Shut up! I’ll scratch you!” He shouted and even raised his hand with long nails, which made me laugh even more. It’s been three days since the incident with Alex, he’s back at work, but we’re still not talking. I know I did something wrong, who am I to stop him? I just got carried away, I’m afraid that history will repeat itself, maybe I’ll just talk to him on my next day off. I just sighed. Another guy. After what happened, I don’t know how to casually talk to him anymore, I really want to slap him. It’s Monday today, which means it’s the first day for all the people I inte