🤍 Jessica's POV 🤍
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGQ3gM8ltG
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.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUxJO6D2Rt
I smile to myself still replaying my conversation with Nora in my head. She's such a sweet person.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGDw6SHJYz
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.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4U6vhpTaW8
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?
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiLcxYJgye
I stop dead. "Why do you look like you just won a lifetime supply of energy drinks?"
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnndXmiPAQH
He pauses, squinting at me. "Why do you look like you've been adopted by another grandma?"
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXwafRuqut
I glance down at the Tupperware of leftover cake Nora forced into my hands. "Valid. But answer the question."
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PHokMDvO1
A grin cracks through his tired facade. "Got the job!"
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6RY8iNfgj
"Shut up."
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKmbNzJy50
"Nope."
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXFdfecdKc
"Shut. Up." I jab a finger at him. "Delivery driver Ken? Rolling round town in a van blasting terrible music?"
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ukw3aVfhc
He laughs, scrubbing a hand through his hair, which already looks like he lost a fight with a leaf blower. "Eh, Not... exactly."
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAb1NA7mhp
I frown "What do you mean?"
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuX7P9R2P27
"Warehouse worker. I'll be sorting packages. Loading trucks. You know, the other glamorous stuff."
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrDYF8hZbp
I blink. "They're not letting you drive?"
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFeioeCyk1
He shrugs. "Turns out the company's not super into hiring guys who failed parallel parking twice during the test."
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNKL16krQO
A snort escapes me. "Wow. Harsh."
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfQjgwd7Ki
"But!" He holds up a finger "It's full-time. Has benefits. And they're paying me more than that pizza place did."
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgQyrnDDmj
For a moment, I study his expression, trying to gauge how he really feels about this. "And... are you okay with that?"
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlbUxnrlb5
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?"
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoD52zrLVUj
I nod, my excitement returning in full force.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwdAMn2X6a
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"
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNwSGCDEFh
He pats my back awkwardly. "Yeah, yeah. Don't cry about it."
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbiROR5q9J
"I'm not crying," I lie, pulling back. "I'm just... allergic to your cheap cologne."
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoawqSoj9uM
He rolls his eyes.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfnAFJmyaX
I grab his arm, pulling him towards our house "Come on, Rach's gonna lose her mind"
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctBWFqAzV1
•••••
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4p1RctQlS
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.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycRq72gIig
Subtlety is dead, and honestly? I'm here for it.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7YgjPsPTM
Then my traitorous brain whispers; Check the job listing.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJ3i7RArmb
"No" I say aloud, stabbing my spoon into the ice cream carton.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MPoRVNhPy
Just peek. For funsies.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKSRkWdh5A
No, bitch. Get outta my head.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDjGqquFVT
Ken got a job. You're a hypocrite if you don't at least look at it.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2g0TuCpfN
This is crazy. Am I really having a conversation with myself right now? Maybe I need to apply to an Asylum.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOV7tDJ9j7E
"Ugh, fine"
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhmfFnFOWz
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?'
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6ieMyP5Ac
Name. Contact info. Resume upload... blah blah blah.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdP0L5EwGb
I click through, muttering, "Yeah, yeah, I'm Jessica..."
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoivvXtyic
I continue filling out the application.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdKK8v0gTZ
Then I hit the question: 'Why do you want to work for Valentus Technologies?'
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGV3edjktzX
I stare at it. The cursor blinks. Taunting and increasing my stress levels. Probably my blood levels too.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CeOO1OhUc
God, I hate this arrogant question every job application on earth seems to have.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yyZTbiELg
"Why do I want to work for you?" I mimic under my breath. Bet.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeenFvCuRZy
'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.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdWU8qLYcw
'I'm passionate about innovation and leveraging synergies to disrupt verticals.'
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvDMPTv0NC
Too futuristic. Delete.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTLkK6lSh0
'Valentus's commitment to excellence aligns with my personal brand of aggressively mediocre life choices.'
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJDUli6aGo
What the heck is 'Valentus's'? I laugh.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHamFYODLb
Delete!
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoZsr8ZSBx
'I heard your CEO is single. Asking for a friend'
I mean, Rachel is single and searching.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMy0FkEn4J
Delete. Delete. DELETE.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvD1kAQp1J
What am I doing? Focus, stupid. You need a job.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhSSft4xcI
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'
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6UT56xB1y
But the form wants corporate poetry. At least a 500 character sonnet about my undying love for electronics and team meetings.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwyKqXtjIn
For fuck's sake!
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡairK4frzUt
Time to invite the services of good ol' shatgpt.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc72Ad4WKOE
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'
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQSwsWSrWq
There. Suck on that.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTnmtKCIpg
I submit.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmtwCe1vfJ
Closing my laptop, I toss it aside, curl under a blanket, and let the K-drama chaos swallow me whole.
133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTqhSyYXub
No sleep. Priorities.
ns3.139.238.74da2
