🤍 Jessica's POV 🤍
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ELfu433XQ
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.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6PQDnncAY
I smile to myself still replaying my conversation with Nora in my head. She's such a sweet person.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXcR9EPjCs
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.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WMQRy6M0d
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?
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybW5ZW0zzh
I stop dead. "Why do you look like you just won a lifetime supply of energy drinks?"
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUmfvzDNR0
He pauses, squinting at me. "Why do you look like you've been adopted by another grandma?"
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjL33rKPDg
I glance down at the Tupperware of leftover cake Nora forced into my hands. "Valid. But answer the question."
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsL84GQA50f
A grin cracks through his tired facade. "Got the job!"
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNZ8awVffy
"Shut up."
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvWwJDfIUc
"Nope."
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9Kllc5Wnp
"Shut. Up." I jab a finger at him. "Delivery driver Ken? Rolling round town in a van blasting terrible music?"
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Hq5LifvI2
He laughs, scrubbing a hand through his hair, which already looks like he lost a fight with a leaf blower. "Eh, Not... exactly."
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLn0kAs5kz
I frown "What do you mean?"
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZKwN6UECL
"Warehouse worker. I'll be sorting packages. Loading trucks. You know, the other glamorous stuff."
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrxLdC19fR
I blink. "They're not letting you drive?"
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0djO9Wr7K
He shrugs. "Turns out the company's not super into hiring guys who failed parallel parking twice during the test."
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqiISHSmbC
A snort escapes me. "Wow. Harsh."
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zUJgIrnm1
"But!" He holds up a finger "It's full-time. Has benefits. And they're paying me more than that pizza place did."
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmD5nMhKLoQ
For a moment, I study his expression, trying to gauge how he really feels about this. "And... are you okay with that?"
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8Znf9JYMw
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?"
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOz7JsotXqT
I nod, my excitement returning in full force.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wS5OBmEBk
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"
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT07wD2vcNz
He pats my back awkwardly. "Yeah, yeah. Don't cry about it."
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6aJqI8E2o
"I'm not crying," I lie, pulling back. "I'm just... allergic to your cheap cologne."
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0N1Yc6Nvb
He rolls his eyes.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskYuNo3wag
I grab his arm, pulling him towards our house "Come on, Rach's gonna lose her mind"
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuZRKSZ9EY
•••••
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK051yd9abC
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.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpbSTyZ0XG
Subtlety is dead, and honestly? I'm here for it.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4O7egEig4j
Then my traitorous brain whispers; Check the job listing.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sXAbasohn
"No" I say aloud, stabbing my spoon into the ice cream carton.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSEs7sIZzj
Just peek. For funsies.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyqjfyvfRE
No, bitch. Get outta my head.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6y2gyqVvEv
Ken got a job. You're a hypocrite if you don't at least look at it.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QoZjkr5Gz
This is crazy. Am I really having a conversation with myself right now? Maybe I need to apply to an Asylum.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF59N2r74ux
"Ugh, fine"
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tzDRGxK9v
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?'
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0PTv8o6xe
Name. Contact info. Resume upload... blah blah blah.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nFuSvT66h
I click through, muttering, "Yeah, yeah, I'm Jessica..."
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiE1MFO7tU
I continue filling out the application.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4026MlK7l
Then I hit the question: 'Why do you want to work for Valentus Technologies?'
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ijsrv2IIF
I stare at it. The cursor blinks. Taunting and increasing my stress levels. Probably my blood levels too.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhc4oCPuAf
God, I hate this arrogant question every job application on earth seems to have.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXOuUiOQuy
"Why do I want to work for you?" I mimic under my breath. Bet.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2X8y02Fv3
'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.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJAj2C872u
'I'm passionate about innovation and leveraging synergies to disrupt verticals.'
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0J2ufDZ7Y
Too futuristic. Delete.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZTk6XuXPq
'Valentus's commitment to excellence aligns with my personal brand of aggressively mediocre life choices.'
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElxsBZLx26
What the heck is 'Valentus's'? I laugh.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrDs6KqF1g
Delete!
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQqMcBQmEl
'I heard your CEO is single. Asking for a friend'
I mean, Rachel is single and searching.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgdIVo06Bs
Delete. Delete. DELETE.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEeJCWK4FB
What am I doing? Focus, stupid. You need a job.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBqa1U6lPq
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'
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6BNVwVYk8
But the form wants corporate poetry. At least a 500 character sonnet about my undying love for electronics and team meetings.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIhTyJk5KA
For fuck's sake!
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeokpW8h8os
Time to invite the services of good ol' shatgpt.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RR6ArVVZC
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'
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbJbS5o9A6
There. Suck on that.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbHMl4CT2R
I submit.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7S0HLkZ6z
Closing my laptop, I toss it aside, curl under a blanket, and let the K-drama chaos swallow me whole.
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMIwownEkm
No sleep. Priorities.
ns216.73.216.113da2
然後按「加至主畫面」