🤍 Jessica's POV 🤍
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAQW9nARCy
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.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUD2GfEyYHO
I smile to myself still replaying my conversation with Nora in my head. She's such a sweet person.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRag4PQgWw
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.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNaSefkOGS
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?
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNirDfcgq5H
I stop dead. "Why do you look like you just won a lifetime supply of energy drinks?"
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98tGWs2KNP
He pauses, squinting at me. "Why do you look like you've been adopted by another grandma?"
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzfyncoCKm
I glance down at the Tupperware of leftover cake Nora forced into my hands. "Valid. But answer the question."
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK5NUszhF8
A grin cracks through his tired facade. "Got the job!"
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NCRVtAXRh
"Shut up."
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMx7UrXDcMj
"Nope."
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfynar81yB
"Shut. Up." I jab a finger at him. "Delivery driver Ken? Rolling round town in a van blasting terrible music?"
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZMv7k2BAO
He laughs, scrubbing a hand through his hair, which already looks like he lost a fight with a leaf blower. "Eh, Not... exactly."
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKdaa3qY7L
I frown "What do you mean?"
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvwbHOHxyH
"Warehouse worker. I'll be sorting packages. Loading trucks. You know, the other glamorous stuff."
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboa0K7NM2v
I blink. "They're not letting you drive?"
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlUw4awX7A
He shrugs. "Turns out the company's not super into hiring guys who failed parallel parking twice during the test."
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBP2nvoGiN
A snort escapes me. "Wow. Harsh."
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsT2SoOojiu
"But!" He holds up a finger "It's full-time. Has benefits. And they're paying me more than that pizza place did."
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZWvxjNntW
For a moment, I study his expression, trying to gauge how he really feels about this. "And... are you okay with that?"
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oTZpypHZO
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?"
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhfZpTjjN9
I nod, my excitement returning in full force.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJdh8Umdcf
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"
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS78rJShveZ
He pats my back awkwardly. "Yeah, yeah. Don't cry about it."
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKdNn7A7id
"I'm not crying," I lie, pulling back. "I'm just... allergic to your cheap cologne."
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfS24cSFI1S
He rolls his eyes.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaC2iHCySt
I grab his arm, pulling him towards our house "Come on, Rach's gonna lose her mind"
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm10HznxleX
•••••
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImWrRybPzY
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.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp14ZRoF1CL
Subtlety is dead, and honestly? I'm here for it.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZUkX1sTdc
Then my traitorous brain whispers; Check the job listing.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadQ9Oixd27
"No" I say aloud, stabbing my spoon into the ice cream carton.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwk68aQDvl
Just peek. For funsies.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yVQWvBafG
No, bitch. Get outta my head.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWYyVFUA4b
Ken got a job. You're a hypocrite if you don't at least look at it.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyF9loDhDqk
This is crazy. Am I really having a conversation with myself right now? Maybe I need to apply to an Asylum.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmdcBdUIha
"Ugh, fine"
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFL0nwraLKv
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?'
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKk2F9w9l4
Name. Contact info. Resume upload... blah blah blah.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWnsVTfNCI
I click through, muttering, "Yeah, yeah, I'm Jessica..."
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubgx9uTxer
I continue filling out the application.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLyikZVdo4
Then I hit the question: 'Why do you want to work for Valentus Technologies?'
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYuz72kESY
I stare at it. The cursor blinks. Taunting and increasing my stress levels. Probably my blood levels too.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfVWAqHVdW
God, I hate this arrogant question every job application on earth seems to have.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdi5HK0osAQ
"Why do I want to work for you?" I mimic under my breath. Bet.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0fxqsgTEk
'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.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrl5YIScODN
'I'm passionate about innovation and leveraging synergies to disrupt verticals.'
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQc5aQRY7O
Too futuristic. Delete.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeyjKZqM6I
'Valentus's commitment to excellence aligns with my personal brand of aggressively mediocre life choices.'
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNxA5reooj
What the heck is 'Valentus's'? I laugh.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLICcDCm8s
Delete!
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2n9FCvd1a
'I heard your CEO is single. Asking for a friend'
I mean, Rachel is single and searching.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKn5KJaJr6
Delete. Delete. DELETE.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSD96w2NXG
What am I doing? Focus, stupid. You need a job.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XRNxAjR7U
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'
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50J87GOVqh
But the form wants corporate poetry. At least a 500 character sonnet about my undying love for electronics and team meetings.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCD1c2uc5B
For fuck's sake!
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGLy6S2qYl
Time to invite the services of good ol' shatgpt.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtpLEMUTkG
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'
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxfIBEUou5
There. Suck on that.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuHD9GBMDf
I submit.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEN0M7KXfn
Closing my laptop, I toss it aside, curl under a blanket, and let the K-drama chaos swallow me whole.
258Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScjxnKABi4
No sleep. Priorities.
ns216.73.216.82da2
然後按「加至主畫面」