🤍 Jessica's POV 🤍
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkWaQJM0D2
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.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8z2tOG0IZ
I smile to myself still replaying my conversation with Nora in my head. She's such a sweet person.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbQL19vsPg
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.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbDxjlWZ9y
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?
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPUzkgbJgd
I stop dead. "Why do you look like you just won a lifetime supply of energy drinks?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMu3VQZ0g5q
He pauses, squinting at me. "Why do you look like you've been adopted by another grandma?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpUX6MWsbx
I glance down at the Tupperware of leftover cake Nora forced into my hands. "Valid. But answer the question."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0hRWCRMpu
A grin cracks through his tired facade. "Got the job!"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG58jAqYKqi
"Shut up."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkIGrwDitN
"Nope."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxzENSzq4s
"Shut. Up." I jab a finger at him. "Delivery driver Ken? Rolling round town in a van blasting terrible music?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbLsMGuIu0
He laughs, scrubbing a hand through his hair, which already looks like he lost a fight with a leaf blower. "Eh, Not... exactly."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEYENudMUr
I frown "What do you mean?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwrmEPidea
"Warehouse worker. I'll be sorting packages. Loading trucks. You know, the other glamorous stuff."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPE6NnyHs0l
I blink. "They're not letting you drive?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVhquwG2Le
He shrugs. "Turns out the company's not super into hiring guys who failed parallel parking twice during the test."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TmHQ5ifWi
A snort escapes me. "Wow. Harsh."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdcrCV8pE8
"But!" He holds up a finger "It's full-time. Has benefits. And they're paying me more than that pizza place did."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUkHRzORgo
For a moment, I study his expression, trying to gauge how he really feels about this. "And... are you okay with that?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPCWqspIwC
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?"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7lBkA43Ry
I nod, my excitement returning in full force.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvLi8JSi5S
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"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9zDo5dh0a
He pats my back awkwardly. "Yeah, yeah. Don't cry about it."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyeU4cAIrj
"I'm not crying," I lie, pulling back. "I'm just... allergic to your cheap cologne."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0ingpz4nI
He rolls his eyes.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaH2ljMhKp
I grab his arm, pulling him towards our house "Come on, Rach's gonna lose her mind"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfVWdseenB
•••••
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJe27xE8YpL
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.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wx4IOkBpm
Subtlety is dead, and honestly? I'm here for it.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuSFkUhFv1
Then my traitorous brain whispers; Check the job listing.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwsbP6afoq
"No" I say aloud, stabbing my spoon into the ice cream carton.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkV4WtssiZ
Just peek. For funsies.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOlwf87P3F
No, bitch. Get outta my head.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3sGho7PN7
Ken got a job. You're a hypocrite if you don't at least look at it.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9d9vtJeSNY
This is crazy. Am I really having a conversation with myself right now? Maybe I need to apply to an Asylum.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpXyLqD5sN
"Ugh, fine"
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUD4BpZ73k
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?'
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNYZvWy22L
Name. Contact info. Resume upload... blah blah blah.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMLzCtgknw
I click through, muttering, "Yeah, yeah, I'm Jessica..."
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9aBzAoms2
I continue filling out the application.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgLSguNP6c
Then I hit the question: 'Why do you want to work for Valentus Technologies?'
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwA2gdsfPp
I stare at it. The cursor blinks. Taunting and increasing my stress levels. Probably my blood levels too.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSdMCF6J8X
God, I hate this arrogant question every job application on earth seems to have.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4BW2hGuLd
"Why do I want to work for you?" I mimic under my breath. Bet.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG61WMVSBjd
'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.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1figaf1kxD
'I'm passionate about innovation and leveraging synergies to disrupt verticals.'
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzP6Y7xqgF
Too futuristic. Delete.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvR0lbavtwL
'Valentus's commitment to excellence aligns with my personal brand of aggressively mediocre life choices.'
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc727ZrwRyj
What the heck is 'Valentus's'? I laugh.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcn1iSDqKR8
Delete!
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmKfOi2VwM
'I heard your CEO is single. Asking for a friend'
I mean, Rachel is single and searching.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCRXXPPdNu
Delete. Delete. DELETE.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFBWQm17kj
What am I doing? Focus, stupid. You need a job.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmgpEuGQmP
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'
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tLA3h2TMH
But the form wants corporate poetry. At least a 500 character sonnet about my undying love for electronics and team meetings.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXg5gn00fC
For fuck's sake!
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKPelaZKc5
Time to invite the services of good ol' shatgpt.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqt6l2jaGt
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'
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqed32yAO0
There. Suck on that.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwVykaf61j
I submit.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8I2Tg255H
Closing my laptop, I toss it aside, curl under a blanket, and let the K-drama chaos swallow me whole.
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF224QjTuTq
No sleep. Priorities.
ns3.147.13.233da2
然後按「加至主畫面」