🤍 Jessica's POV 🤍
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXjzyCNsIR
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.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIB68WeTNe
I smile to myself still replaying my conversation with Nora in my head. She's such a sweet person.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUg7IMvyXbt
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.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZqUUN8fg7
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?
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGnmYtMlzq
I stop dead. "Why do you look like you just won a lifetime supply of energy drinks?"
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6gIx807tO
He pauses, squinting at me. "Why do you look like you've been adopted by another grandma?"
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9xMYQPnR7
I glance down at the Tupperware of leftover cake Nora forced into my hands. "Valid. But answer the question."
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnQX4Cnj9I
A grin cracks through his tired facade. "Got the job!"
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbSRZUziDp
"Shut up."
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7IdYepdS9
"Nope."
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eE6NlQ1F8
"Shut. Up." I jab a finger at him. "Delivery driver Ken? Rolling round town in a van blasting terrible music?"
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLJu4AAHnt
He laughs, scrubbing a hand through his hair, which already looks like he lost a fight with a leaf blower. "Eh, Not... exactly."
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBO0xHycEm
I frown "What do you mean?"
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGanOcI36Q
"Warehouse worker. I'll be sorting packages. Loading trucks. You know, the other glamorous stuff."
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXXYYZsNjZ
I blink. "They're not letting you drive?"
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58kiwwvGkX
He shrugs. "Turns out the company's not super into hiring guys who failed parallel parking twice during the test."
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQO5tvUand
A snort escapes me. "Wow. Harsh."
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGp0XiR6HCw
"But!" He holds up a finger "It's full-time. Has benefits. And they're paying me more than that pizza place did."
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhPUA5kqFj
For a moment, I study his expression, trying to gauge how he really feels about this. "And... are you okay with that?"
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcut0JEnout
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?"
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3h7LhoPqlS
I nod, my excitement returning in full force.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMJsJcif3E
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"
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcWlDSc76I
He pats my back awkwardly. "Yeah, yeah. Don't cry about it."
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05eNFytFMC
"I'm not crying," I lie, pulling back. "I'm just... allergic to your cheap cologne."
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6KzQrQH8o
He rolls his eyes.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0adFxjdBL
I grab his arm, pulling him towards our house "Come on, Rach's gonna lose her mind"
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkK0dT9980
•••••
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC37MM3Xeig
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.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyhMK4KuiN
Subtlety is dead, and honestly? I'm here for it.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahYOK6Jlqb
Then my traitorous brain whispers; Check the job listing.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Z1Crcr8K5
"No" I say aloud, stabbing my spoon into the ice cream carton.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRtshKhtyS
Just peek. For funsies.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hJ3Z2xcAb
No, bitch. Get outta my head.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzD6IFZXPk
Ken got a job. You're a hypocrite if you don't at least look at it.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bnsi8rnyo
This is crazy. Am I really having a conversation with myself right now? Maybe I need to apply to an Asylum.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUkEgR4VkF
"Ugh, fine"
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckF44tMj1F
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?'
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzuN58hexU
Name. Contact info. Resume upload... blah blah blah.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1z7Gn71oPZ
I click through, muttering, "Yeah, yeah, I'm Jessica..."
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkgGLUbRfQ
I continue filling out the application.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbW1P8h01D
Then I hit the question: 'Why do you want to work for Valentus Technologies?'
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5N9MmJHuA
I stare at it. The cursor blinks. Taunting and increasing my stress levels. Probably my blood levels too.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfikfdsqKD
God, I hate this arrogant question every job application on earth seems to have.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx95MDqWjrl
"Why do I want to work for you?" I mimic under my breath. Bet.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24dU0DByIQ
'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.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEYMwjjKfm
'I'm passionate about innovation and leveraging synergies to disrupt verticals.'
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoYm4GAOlY
Too futuristic. Delete.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGcpLzPeHt
'Valentus's commitment to excellence aligns with my personal brand of aggressively mediocre life choices.'
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbEFAZyCoA
What the heck is 'Valentus's'? I laugh.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZbXsJ1dHe
Delete!
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8CFdCUBpJ
'I heard your CEO is single. Asking for a friend'
I mean, Rachel is single and searching.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpp2bTrMEY
Delete. Delete. DELETE.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxfPDizz9V
What am I doing? Focus, stupid. You need a job.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkViq7Mbxv
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'
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70d5EMyiWp
But the form wants corporate poetry. At least a 500 character sonnet about my undying love for electronics and team meetings.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7nhbmhRL1
For fuck's sake!
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCJslSl8Sk
Time to invite the services of good ol' shatgpt.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jA7tTYTU7
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'
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpTNfzI4MB
There. Suck on that.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tr2Km1zmM
I submit.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mpOQmoYR6
Closing my laptop, I toss it aside, curl under a blanket, and let the K-drama chaos swallow me whole.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4anJpmwHY
No sleep. Priorities.
ns18.117.121.71da2
然後按「加至主畫面」