Chapter 5: Back

As the days dragged on, I remained jobless after being let go from my previous employment. But for some reason, today I was feeling oddly optimistic, as if a stroke of good luck was just around the corner.

I was casually enjoying a bowl of cereal at the kitchen table when my phone buzzed with an incoming call. The number was unfamiliar, so I hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Hello?" I answered, trying to sound as professional as possible.

"Hi, is this Luna?" a voice on the other end asked.

"Yes, speaking," I replied.

"Great, this is Amy from Green Earth Solutions. We received your resume and we're interested in doing an interview with you. Would you be available tomorrow at 10am?"

I was taken aback. I had applied to so many jobs in the past few weeks, I couldn't even remember which ones I had applied for. But I was in desperate need of a job, so I quickly agreed.

"Yes, that works for me. Where is your office located?" I asked.

"Our office is located at 123 Main Street. Do you know where that is?"

"Yes, I do. See you tomorrow at 10am," I said, trying to sound confident.

I hung up the phone and let out a sigh of relief. Finally, a potential job opportunity. I quickly finished my cereal and began preparing for the interview.

The next day, I arrived at the office building a few minutes early. I took a deep breath and walked into the lobby. The receptionist directed me to the elevator and I rode up to the 5th floor.

As I stepped off the elevator, I saw a sign that read "Green Earth Solutions" and followed it to the door. I took a deep breath and knocked.

"Come in," a voice called out.

I opened the door and was shocked to see who was sitting at the table.

"Eddie?"

It was my apartment neighbor. He looked just as surprised to see me.

"Luna? What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I'm here for an interview. Amy called me yesterday," I replied, still in disbelief.

"Oh, right. I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you. Have a seat," he said, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.

I sat down and tried to compose myself. I never expected to run into Eddie in a professional setting. He was always so laid-back and casual at home.

"So, Luna, I see from your resume that you have a degree in business administration. Is that correct?" Eddie asked, scanning my resume.

"Yes, it is," I replied.

"But that's completely different from the agricultural qualifications we're looking for."

"Are you sure you can meet the qualifications?" Eddie asked again.

Despite the unexpected turn of events, Eddie was able to remain professional, as if he didn't even know me. We were in the middle of an interview and maintaining a professional demeanor was necessary.

"I can," I replied confidently.

Eddie nodded, "Good. Green Earth Solutions is a new company focused on sustainable agriculture. We're looking for someone with a range of skills, and most importantly, someone who can do the job. Can you tell us a bit about your experience in this field?"

I took a deep breath and began to summarize my education and work experience. Eddie listened intently and asked some follow-up questions.

"Impressive," he said when I was done. "I have some more specific questions for you. Are you familiar with hydroponics?"

"Yes, I am. I have a hobby related to hydroponics and I keep up with the latest agricultural technology," I replied.

Eddie raised an eyebrow, "Good. Can you explain how it works and what the benefits are?"

I took a deep breath and started to explain about hydroponics, its history and benefits. Eddie listened intently and asked a few more questions.

"You really know your stuff," he said after I finished. "I have one more question for you. Can you tell me about a time when you had to solve a difficult problem related to agriculture?"

I thought for a moment before telling him about an incident on a farm I had read about that was experiencing a pest infestation. I explained how I had researched various solutions and implemented a plan that successfully eradicated the pests without harming the crops.

Eddie nodded and smiled. "That's the kind of problem-solving skills we're looking for. Even if your college major isn't right for you, you've always had a desire to learn. Welcome to the Green Earth Solutions team."

I was stunned. I never thought I would get the job, let alone work for a neighbor of my apartment building. Eddie and I had always been friendly, even cooking together as an introduction. And now, he was my new boss at my new job.

"Thank you, Eddie. I'm very happy to be part of the team," I said with a smile.

"Good. We'll get started right away. Can you come tomorrow at 9am?"

"Yes, I'll come," I replied.

I left the office feeling happy. Finally, one problem was solved. I had been afraid that I wouldn't have any money to buy food and it was fortunate that I now had a job.

The next day, I arrived at the office early and there already seemed to be a lot of work to do. Eddie called me into his office and said we would go somewhere after this.

Eddie led me out of the office and to a waiting car. "I want to show you something," he said with a smile. I followed him, curious about what he was going to show me.

We drove for about an hour before arriving at a large field. Eddie parked the car and we got out. "Welcome to our farm," he said, pointing at the vast expanse of land in front of us.

I was stunned. This estate was huge, covering thousands of acres. "This is all yours?" I asked, incredulous.

"Yes, it is. And we're going to make it into something really special," Eddie replied.

He took me on a tour of the estate, explaining his vision for the land. "We have an environmental ethic at Green Earth Solutions. Everything we do will be built on a tiered system and use hydroponics, and various advanced techniques in agriculture. Our goal is to make this 1000 hectares of land produce a hundred times the harvest, or the equivalent of 100,000 hectares of traditional farmland."

That's a crazy ambition and one that most people would probably find absurd. But Eddie says it out loud as if he really believes he can achieve it.

I was amazed by Eddie's ambition. "That's amazing," I said. "But how are you going to do it?"

"We're going to use the latest technology and techniques in agriculture," Eddie explained. "We'll use precision farming, which uses GPS and satellite imagery to optimize crop yields. We'll also use hydroponics, which allows us to grow crops without soil. And we'll use vertical farming, which allows us to grow crops in stacked layers, maximizing the use of space."

I was seriously impressed by Eddie's knowledge and enthusiasm for sustainable agriculture. "You really know your stuff," I told him.

It was like the man had a grand plan already mapped out in his mind and was just putting it into action. I had never met anyone like Eddie before - he was ambitious, smart, and charismatic, the total package.

"But Eddie, why are you so focused on the aesthetics of the neighborhood?" I asked.

"I have to," Eddie replied. "World regulations on the environment and deforestation are getting stricter. We have to find a way to feed a growing population without destroying the planet."

I nodded in agreement. "It's a difficult balance to strike," I said.

"It is," Eddie agreed. "But I believe it's possible. And that's why I started Green Earth Solutions. My dream is to make sustainable food for people without destroying nature."

I was touched by Eddie's dream. "That's a noble goal," I said.

"However, it is a difficult thing to achieve," Eddie admitted. He chuckled for a moment, confident in his ambition but also as if he was laughing at his own lofty goal.

It sounded childish, but somehow I felt that Eddie would be able to make it happen. As we walked back to the car, I felt inspired by Eddie's vision. I was proud to be part of his team and help make his dream a reality.

But just as we were driving back to the office, my thoughts were interrupted by a phone call. It was Ethan, the guy I had hooked up with before. And for some reason, my feelings for him had only gotten stronger.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Luna, I need to talk to you," he said, sounding urgent.

"What is it, Ethan?" I asked, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice.

"My mom is freaking out because you refused to marry me. She threatened to kill herself if I couldn't convince you to change your mind. Please, Luna, marry me. It's only for three months. After that, we can go our separate ways."

I was stunned. I had already slept with Ethan a few months ago, and I had no intention of getting back together with him. "I'm sorry, Ethan, but I can't do it," I said firmly.

"Please, Luna. My mom is really angry. She threatened to cut me off if I didn't marry you."

I sighed. I didn't want to stress Ethan and his family out, but I couldn't marry him just to appease them. I remembered how Ethan's mom had treated me when we first met. She had treated me like trash, was I stupid enough to marry a man whose family was like that?

"I'm sorry, Ethan, but I can't marry you. I hope you understand."

Ethan was silent for a moment. "I understand," he finally said. "But please, think about it. My mom is really angry."

"Luna.. I don't want my mom to kill herself" Ethan said again, trying to guilt me into it.

I hung up the phone, feeling upset and confused. I didn't want to distress Ethan or his family further, but I couldn't marry him just to appease them. I sighed and leaned back in my chair, trying to clear my mind.

When we arrived back at the office, Eddie could tell that something was bothering me. "Is everything okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm just dealing with some personal stuff," I replied.

"If you need to talk, I'm here for you," Eddie said with a sympathetic smile.

I smiled back, grateful for his support.

**

I couldn't believe it. When I pulled up to my apartment, I saw Ethan standing on the side of the road, waiting for me. I wanted to turn around and leave, but it was too late. He had already seen me.

"Luna!" he exclaimed, waving his hand.

I sighed and got out of the car. "What are you doing here, Ethan?" I asked, trying not to let the annoyance out of my voice.

"I need to talk to you," he said, looking at me with pleading eyes. "Please, listen to me."

I reluctantly agreed and followed him to a nearby park. We sat on a bench and Ethan took a deep breath.

"Luna, I know we haven't been in contact for a while, but I want you to marry me," he said, looking at me desperately.

I was stunned. "What are you talking about, Ethan? I've repeatedly refused that."

"I know, but my mom is really sick. The doctors say that she might take her own life if she doesn't get her wish."

"Wishes? Didn't your mother reject me before? Didn't your mother not treat me well?" I asked, my tone clearly rising.

I remember how Ethan's mother saw me as nothing more than a cur dog who wouldn't even shake hands with me.

But after I left, did his mother wish I'd remarried Ethan for fear of embarrassment to their family?

"Crazy" I snorted at Ethan in exasperation.

"Please, Luna. This is only for three months. After that, we can go our separate ways. I'll even pay for your apartment."

I felt torn. I didn't want to stress Ethan and his mom out, but I couldn't marry him just to appease them. "I don't know, Ethan. I don't want to marry you."

Ethan's eyes glazed over. "Please, Luna. My mom is dying. I can't lose her. I would do anything to make her happy."

"Luna, one day you'll be a mom too, do you want your son to feel the same way?" Ethan asked.

I felt like there was something wrong with Ethan's question, and damn it, I felt touched.

I was touched by Ethan's plea. I didn't want to see him suffer, and I didn't want to be responsible for his mother's death. "Okay, I'll do it," I said, making a decision. "But only for three months. After that, we're done."

Ethan's face lit up with relief. "Thank you, Luna. Thank you so much." He hugged me tightly, and I didn't hug him back.

My heart still hurt that he chose his mother over me before that.

The next few days were a whirlwind. Ethan took me to the hospital to see his mother, who was being treated for a serious illness. When she saw me, she threw a vase of flowers at me, injuring my forehead.

Ethan quickly explained that I was willing to marry him, and his mother calmed down. She even apologized for her anger.

Afterward, we went back to Ethan's house. He showed me my room, which was decorated with flowers and chocolates. "I want you to feel comfortable here," he said, giving me a smile.

I nodded, trying to hide my anxiety. I couldn't shake the feeling that I had made a huge mistake. I didn't love Ethan, and I didn't want to marry him. But I had made a promise, and I was determined to keep it.