🤍 Jessica's POV 🤍
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvQwKjdnXw
The sky's bleeding orange and purple by the time I step out of Nora's house, the air crisp with that weird 'almost-fall-but-not-quite' chill.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyRfYa5O2A
I smile to myself still replaying my conversation with Nora in my head. She's such a sweet person.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowW8F20Xct
The kind that instantly makes you feel at home. It's funny how I had only intended to drop off a cake and a warning, but instead, ended up with an open dinner invitation for any weekends i'm free.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSR2c4ubRor
I'm halfway across the street when I spot a familiar figure trudging up the sidewalk, his tie hanging loose like a noose and his shoes coated in a fine layer of city grime. His face is a mix of exhaustion and something suspiciously close to... happiness?
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBFrYlzqEL
I stop dead. "Why do you look like you just won a lifetime supply of energy drinks?"
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5dabvG1hW
He pauses, squinting at me. "Why do you look like you've been adopted by another grandma?"
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xGuFa1vA0
I glance down at the Tupperware of leftover cake Nora forced into my hands. "Valid. But answer the question."
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdYsTkHz5X
A grin cracks through his tired facade. "Got the job!"
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjy657b9K7T
"Shut up."
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgOfgzyLHR
"Nope."
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxsUWgAorx
"Shut. Up." I jab a finger at him. "Delivery driver Ken? Rolling round town in a van blasting terrible music?"
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKBckN8APF
He laughs, scrubbing a hand through his hair, which already looks like he lost a fight with a leaf blower. "Eh, Not... exactly."
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LBx5uxQ1p
I frown "What do you mean?"
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7nZP2OUYG
"Warehouse worker. I'll be sorting packages. Loading trucks. You know, the other glamorous stuff."
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLzBi0Wgih
I blink. "They're not letting you drive?"
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8fB6VTMmA
He shrugs. "Turns out the company's not super into hiring guys who failed parallel parking twice during the test."
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NlCe3Utre
A snort escapes me. "Wow. Harsh."
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NVnwAJMxo
"But!" He holds up a finger "It's full-time. Has benefits. And they're paying me more than that pizza place did."
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMIYU8b0fQ
For a moment, I study his expression, trying to gauge how he really feels about this. "And... are you okay with that?"
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPtSF73Zmt
He lets out a short laugh. "Jess, I just needed a job. Any job. I'm not complaining. At least it's a start, right?"
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWYlyaCPRy
I nod, my excitement returning in full force.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOTgC4wcHJ
Then I lunge forward and wrap him in a hug, cake container squished between us."Absolutely. That's all that matters. Kenneth, I'm actually so proud of you"
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2H4amCJQx2
He pats my back awkwardly. "Yeah, yeah. Don't cry about it."
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYQQ5oOEiG
"I'm not crying," I lie, pulling back. "I'm just... allergic to your cheap cologne."
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBM5eCs6DF5
He rolls his eyes.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3Y9QaFM5V
I grab his arm, pulling him towards our house "Come on, Rach's gonna lose her mind"
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEmEVphFRg
•••••
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSbC5WMU4x
The clock ticks past 11 p.m, and I'm sprawled on the couch, half-watching a Kdrama where the heroine just happens to trip into the male lead's arms for the eighth time this episode.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjr0WModSp
Subtlety is dead, and honestly? I'm here for it.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeTRbHkx02
Then my traitorous brain whispers; Check the job listing.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WgQ5f9PBc
"No" I say aloud, stabbing my spoon into the ice cream carton.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOJvBm62oX
Just peek. For funsies.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjUTegjcK2
No, bitch. Get outta my head.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1WzwpXgiH
Ken got a job. You're a hypocrite if you don't at least look at it.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UTVYSYVLJ
This is crazy. Am I really having a conversation with myself right now? Maybe I need to apply to an Asylum.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3uYwj6hdP
"Ugh, fine"
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWY7E10QbY
I put my iPad aside, and drag my laptop to my knees, the screen glowing like a judgmental beacon in the dark. The Valentus job listing is still open in the eighth circle of my browser tabs, right between '10-minute ab workout' which I never click and 'Is sourdough starter sentient?'
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tKa5jCP2i
Name. Contact info. Resume upload... blah blah blah.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQVCQLx2kq
I click through, muttering, "Yeah, yeah, I'm Jessica..."
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyOxHZHIVD
I continue filling out the application.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMnse6TF7W
Then I hit the question: 'Why do you want to work for Valentus Technologies?'
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDycHITzofe
I stare at it. The cursor blinks. Taunting and increasing my stress levels. Probably my blood levels too.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xXeayAKSL
God, I hate this arrogant question every job application on earth seems to have.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5qep0U1GY
"Why do I want to work for you?" I mimic under my breath. Bet.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfoz8cX7mk
'Oh, I don't know, maybe because YOU are the ones looking for marketers? Or maybe because your company's former CEO allegedly murdered his mistress? So inspiring'
I type, but delete after the demon that possessed me for a second, leaves my body.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkd3RNrw54
'I'm passionate about innovation and leveraging synergies to disrupt verticals.'
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklry0fi8Wt
Too futuristic. Delete.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggPeYncjL9
'Valentus's commitment to excellence aligns with my personal brand of aggressively mediocre life choices.'
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeap7sy4ig
What the heck is 'Valentus's'? I laugh.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9WQ2SOaFy
Delete!
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8f89BPkN72
'I heard your CEO is single. Asking for a friend'
I mean, Rachel is single and searching.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMSrRNjvhQ
Delete. Delete. DELETE.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYV1HFjN5L
What am I doing? Focus, stupid. You need a job.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsZd9fwmCY
So I go with 'I admire your innovation in electronics. My skills in marketing align with your vision, and I'm eager to contribute to your growth while advancing my expertise in the industry'
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyR0Ev1oTbm
But the form wants corporate poetry. At least a 500 character sonnet about my undying love for electronics and team meetings.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA11xgVkbcN
For fuck's sake!
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWD8BiodLB9
Time to invite the services of good ol' shatgpt.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41BzKSx1SG
I end up going with 'I admire Valentus Technologies for its innovation in the electronics industry and its commitment to excellence. My skills in marketing align with your vision, and I'm eager to contribute to your growth by developing strategic campaigns, enhancing brand visibility, and driving customer engagement. Joining your team would allow me to apply my expertise while learning from industry leaders, making a meaningful impact on the company's success'
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyq9PZ31B6
There. Suck on that.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcTs0ZNoDo
I submit.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGi51qAVrG
Closing my laptop, I toss it aside, curl under a blanket, and let the K-drama chaos swallow me whole.
180Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZznMrdoAc2
No sleep. Priorities.
ns216.73.216.144da2
