Chapter 3

I woke up to the creaking fan. For longer than I could remember, it’d been that way. I lived in a one bedroom apartment with mom since dad was away.  It wasn’t the best and sometimes, it felt suffocating but it was always my safe space. Until Mom’s death. Now it just reminded me of the gaping absence in my life.

It’d been two months since her funeral and Dad was starting to seem right. I couldn’t do this on my own.

I had nothing but $90 in the bank and 50 rejected applications to my name. Not to mention, $20,000 debt for medical expenses and $2000 for the funeral.

I went to sleep with headaches and woke up with migraines. Today was no different. I got up at 8 a.m. and made cereal. The fridge had nothing but a near empty jug of milk. I turned it all into a bowl and sat to eat. Three eviction notices decorated the table beside my bowl.

My phone lit up and I checked the screen. It was a text from Derek.

We can’t see anymore. I’m getting married now.

Derek and I were fuck buddies for almost four months. He was at Mom’s funeral but I hadn’t seen him since then.

I tossed my phone on the table. My life was falling apart and sex was the last thing on my mind right now. I hurried what was supposed to be breakfast and took a quick shower. I had an online interview in an hour and I had to be at a café. Choosing clothes was difficult but I managed something official.

I grabbed my old laptop and slipped it into a bag, then checked my reflection for flaws. I looked around to confirm I had all I needed and nodded in approval.

I arrived with time to spare, ten minutes before the interview.

“Great,” I said under my breath and settled into a seat at a quiet corner.

The waiter came around and I ordered a cup of coffee.

I was only really here to use their public Wi-fi. I opened my laptop and pressed the power button. It powered to life, black at first, then white.

Thirty seconds passed before I realized it wasn’t coming on. I waited thirty seconds more, careful not to panic. When nothing changed, I hit the power button, turning it off and back on. It repeated the same process and panic started to creep in.

The waiter returned with my order but I paid him no attention, occupied with my dilemma. There were only five minutes left before the interview. I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. Then, I flipped the laptop over, removed its battery and slipped it back in.

“Please work,” I muttered, pressing the power button again.

When I turned it on again, it came to life and I squealed in excitement. In no time, I was connected to the Wi-fi and waiting for my interviewer.

A female voice started. “Hello, good afternoon. Thanks for being on time.”

“Good afternoon,” I replied, enthusiastically.

“Let’s get this started right away,” the voice replied. “From your application, it says you have a degree in Business Administration. Is that right,”

“Yes,” I replied softly

“Alright. Could you tell me what’d be your contribution as our marketing manager?”

“I’d help improve visibility,” I said, my voice shaky but hopeful. “I’ve studied different marketing approaches and I’d try to implement them to attract new customers.”

“Okay. Where do you see yourself, say in 4 four years?”

The question caught me off guard. I only wanted a job to escape my current crisis. I didn’t have the luxury to dream of my future.

“I-I- I’m really satisfied with just this role.”

“Okay…” she replied slowly, trying to conceal surprise and disappointment. “Finally, what’s your desired monthly pay?”

“Maybe one thousand dollars?”

A short pause followed that felt forever.

“Alright, that’ll be all. Thank you for your time. We’re still conducting interviews right now, so we’ll get back within the following week.”

“Thank you,” I replied, certain of nothing positive.

I saw the subtle look of disappointment in her face. A look I’d become too familiar with in my life. I exhaled and closed the laptop.

I sipped my lukewarm coffee. “Another day, another failure,” I muttered.

A show interrupted my thoughts. I looked up to see an interview with my father regarding some new innovation at Monroar Motor Corporation.

A conversation at a nearby table started right. “Arggh, he’s so hot,” one girl said.

“I wish he was my dad,” the other replied.

“Your dad? Girl, I want him to bend me over and load me like a shot gun.”

“Yeah, good luck with that,” the first teased. “Besides, hasn't he got tons of baby mamas?”

“Who cares? I just want my spot,” the second laughed.

“And didn’t one die like a month ago or something?”

“The blogs said it was cancer. It was sad.”

“Please,” the second said, unapologetically. “She’s just another gold-digging, money grubbing slut.”

I stopped listening, blind with rage. The conversation was disgusting enough but that last line was unforgivable. In a split moment, I emptied the rest of my coffee into her face and lunged. She pulled at my hair in defence and I landed a slap twice across her face, before getting pulled off her.

I was asked to wait for the police and did so without protest. At that point, I couldn’t even care anymore. The TV, the chatters, the annoying voice of my victim, even the distant siren of the police approaching— everything faded into an echo.

The ride to the station would have been a lot easier, without my hands cuffed behind my back. At the station, I made a statement, was given a chance to make a call, then returned to my cell.

About twenty minutes later, Maya arrived and I was let out of the cell.

“Let’s go home,” she said, taking my hand.

“Is everything settled?” I replied, glancing from Maya to the girl, unsure if it was okay to leave.

“It’s fine. She didn’t press charges.”

She must have recognized my surname. It was only in moments like this, I was grateful for my father’s name.

I obeyed and left in Maya’s hands. She flagged down a taxi and we got in. Five minutes passed and she didn't say anything. I could tell she was upset.

“Maya—“

“You’re better than this, Sussay,” she cut in. “Your mom would hate to see you like this and so do I.”

“I know. I’m sorry. It’s just… it’s been a really tough day.”

Maya sighed. “You need a change of pace and I have just the thing.”

She rummaged through her bag and I watched curiously.

“There’s an exclusive event tomorrow and I happen to have two invites,” she said, holding up a ticket. “There’ll be elites in attendance, so you should be able to network. Who knows? You might even get a job.”

I smiled for the first time that day. “Oh, Maya. What would I do without you?”