🤍 Jessica's POV 🤍
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEmiCQi2uG
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.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdzr9MeR4r
I smile to myself still replaying my conversation with Nora in my head. She's such a sweet person.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RR0YTkyEj
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.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhWPsHIGSv
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?
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MTNdCQMF1
I stop dead. "Why do you look like you just won a lifetime supply of energy drinks?"
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXjGttcUDP
He pauses, squinting at me. "Why do you look like you've been adopted by another grandma?"
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uowQZXvNU
I glance down at the Tupperware of leftover cake Nora forced into my hands. "Valid. But answer the question."
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iUnmLo749
A grin cracks through his tired facade. "Got the job!"
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcCo9i9Qmf
"Shut up."
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7XPUSpEYw
"Nope."
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96muocjfR7
"Shut. Up." I jab a finger at him. "Delivery driver Ken? Rolling round town in a van blasting terrible music?"
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mCAFagXf7
He laughs, scrubbing a hand through his hair, which already looks like he lost a fight with a leaf blower. "Eh, Not... exactly."
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sJPb9qOfE
I frown "What do you mean?"
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhFEf0c1NX
"Warehouse worker. I'll be sorting packages. Loading trucks. You know, the other glamorous stuff."
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXUUdSB23n
I blink. "They're not letting you drive?"
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYswQ7aZdn
He shrugs. "Turns out the company's not super into hiring guys who failed parallel parking twice during the test."
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRY2I4bJnb
A snort escapes me. "Wow. Harsh."
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wsRfu2f7O
"But!" He holds up a finger "It's full-time. Has benefits. And they're paying me more than that pizza place did."
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrplGGKnylu
For a moment, I study his expression, trying to gauge how he really feels about this. "And... are you okay with that?"
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVvZgCKe6p
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?"
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvyyFSpMh3
I nod, my excitement returning in full force.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbpkabMxUJ
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"
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2tkBt4edh
He pats my back awkwardly. "Yeah, yeah. Don't cry about it."
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrd7MKj2XMs
"I'm not crying," I lie, pulling back. "I'm just... allergic to your cheap cologne."
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FMjFSC04N
He rolls his eyes.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28TUxNutZw
I grab his arm, pulling him towards our house "Come on, Rach's gonna lose her mind"
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRcBtzmhfN
•••••
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFqc6s4xnR
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.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5osGeFEKsZ
Subtlety is dead, and honestly? I'm here for it.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalCIxeVgbl
Then my traitorous brain whispers; Check the job listing.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoFU0m4xLG
"No" I say aloud, stabbing my spoon into the ice cream carton.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluHlsLRlF4
Just peek. For funsies.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡme2nAigQxh
No, bitch. Get outta my head.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgDCoEDjVF
Ken got a job. You're a hypocrite if you don't at least look at it.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRB6Jpi8eQ
This is crazy. Am I really having a conversation with myself right now? Maybe I need to apply to an Asylum.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrvNvpyLW7
"Ugh, fine"
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOc8eHbke9C
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?'
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XLtq1DFDJ
Name. Contact info. Resume upload... blah blah blah.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KGQH8DRbS
I click through, muttering, "Yeah, yeah, I'm Jessica..."
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVhXXAaRAY
I continue filling out the application.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkh9Sn8LEr
Then I hit the question: 'Why do you want to work for Valentus Technologies?'
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQir2e7h6b
I stare at it. The cursor blinks. Taunting and increasing my stress levels. Probably my blood levels too.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHOY1Cgi1G
God, I hate this arrogant question every job application on earth seems to have.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgjpLuhu5y
"Why do I want to work for you?" I mimic under my breath. Bet.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOkH9DlkT8
'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.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrVhktUjQs
'I'm passionate about innovation and leveraging synergies to disrupt verticals.'
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GXGNwFnla
Too futuristic. Delete.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuBe3z83we
'Valentus's commitment to excellence aligns with my personal brand of aggressively mediocre life choices.'
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfmgcvZNp1
What the heck is 'Valentus's'? I laugh.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjNwNx22kh
Delete!
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvAMnzYqJ9
'I heard your CEO is single. Asking for a friend'
I mean, Rachel is single and searching.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKmkpM445E
Delete. Delete. DELETE.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HN47uaGWp
What am I doing? Focus, stupid. You need a job.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXaVkS69sV
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'
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdId2BjdHI
But the form wants corporate poetry. At least a 500 character sonnet about my undying love for electronics and team meetings.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjlDZFVvGp
For fuck's sake!
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP489tIrD6K
Time to invite the services of good ol' shatgpt.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5m9APi90q
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'
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopi6QXjNfu
There. Suck on that.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCADRBDRvl3
I submit.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGgmRCiOpG
Closing my laptop, I toss it aside, curl under a blanket, and let the K-drama chaos swallow me whole.
248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Q4VYnaSUj
No sleep. Priorities.
ns216.73.216.32da2
然後按「加至主畫面」