Chapter 3) Job approval to Blenka City.

“Can you please look at me, babe?”. He asked, but I didn't.

“Sweetie?”. He called me again, and this time, more sweetly, thus causing my heart to betray me, and I could feel it pounding rhythm after rhythm against my chest.

Also, he didn't let go of my hand, and due to how persistent he was, I had to give in to him and turn to him.

When my eyes met his, my eyes got hot, and the emotions I had been withholding, escaped.

My lips parted open, and I heard myself say, without realizing it, “I miss you. I miss you so much”.

He pulled me to himself and hugged me tightly.

His hand was on my head as he patted it, before I heard his deep voice, which came with a hot breath I felt on my skin. “I'm sorry for taking so long. I didn't mean to”.

Hearing his apology only made me feel guilty and selfish, and that was because I knew exactly why he had to stay behind in Cindaly City, and why he took a year before he returned to me.

He was in charge of taking care of the city and preventing terrorists from causing great harm.

After a while, we broke from our hug, and with just a nod from me, Micheal carried the clueless Vincent in his arms, and we hurried out of the airport together.

People had recognized me and were already approaching.

Since I knew how crazy it was going to end for me, I decided to prevent it from happening.

We arrived outside the building, and I led Micheal to the place my car was parked by the side of the road.

After we all got in the car and sat in the front seats, I drove off and was heading to my apartment.

I was not ready to let him go to his place, because I wanted us to make up for all the time we ought to have spent together.

Cindaly City,

Joanne's pov,

“She betrayed me. I am going to make her pay. I will. I promise”. My eyes darkened as I stared at her picture. She was everywhere in the magazines, and that was enough to make me burn, because that should have been me having the spotlight.

That should have been me having Micheal to myself.

We were so close to getting married, but she appeared out of nowhere and stole everything from me.

I should have guessed from the start that she approached and wanted to become my friend because she had bad intentions towards me.

I really should have known. But I had been so naive and foolish to see that.

I squeezed the magazine with every bit of anger within me. “Just you wait, Adira. Just you wait”. I said and gritted my teeth.

It has been a year.

I had watched her for a year.

Every single piece of news, posts, and updates about her… I was aware of all of them.

I threw the ruined magazine on the floor before I got out of bed and left my room.

The house was empty, as I was the only one in it. Not only that, it felt cold.

I felt isolated, as the house was new to me.

Of course, it was a new house.

My father bought it a month ago with the support of his army friends.

And yes, he had returned to the army and was currently serving full-time. While me? I have been stuck a little thinking about life.

I have left all the part-time jobs I had been doing. Most especially, I was disappointed in myself. I had not fulfilled my promise to my father.

I had not won the contest a year ago, nor did I help make his life better. Rather, I stayed quiet and watched him fulfill everything by himself. And today, I ended up being an unemployed lady.

I arrived in the kitchen and grabbed myself a glass cup from the tall counter.

That same second, I went to the water dispenser. As water poured into the cup, I was lost thinking.

I have not stopped thinking for such a long time. I did not understand why fate was cruel to me.

“Why me?”. I muttered, and got taken aback upon feeling something slide down my hand.

My eyes widened when I realized what it was, and immediately, I turned off the water dispenser and stood there staring at the floor in disbelief.

I stared at the mess I created, before sighing heavily, and I left the glass of water on the small counter, as I made my way out of the kitchen to grab a mop.

But, along the hallway, I heard my cell phone ringing, and feeling that it must be my Dad, since I pretty much didn't have anyone else who was close enough to me to call me on the phone, I hurried back to my bedroom and walked straight ahead to my bed, where the cell phone was.

I picked up the cell phone, and staring at the caller ID, I was taken aback because it was not my father calling me but someone else.

Other than that, it was an unknown number.

At first, I really didn't want to answer the phone call, but something deep within my mind told me to, and because of that, I gave in and answered the call.

“Hello?”. I said to the person, and waited to hear what he or she was going to say to me.

“Good day. Are you Miss Joanne Damien?”. The young lady's question threw me off guard, but still, I didn't hang the call.

I answered her, sounding unsure of whether to continue the conversation or not, “Y-yes, I'm her”.

“Is there any problem?”. I added, raising my eyebrows.

“Congratulations, Miss Joanne. You got the job and can report for work as soon as possible”.

My eyes widened in shock, and my heart skipped a beat the instant after I heard what she said to me.

My heart was literally pounding against my chest as I stuttered and asked her, “Wh- do you mind me asking what company?”.

I had to ask her that question because, when I applied for the job, I applied for it with a broken heart and did not actually think that I was going to get hired.

“Ma-Kings company”.

Her reply did it and made me fall to my knees, before I covered my mouth as I gasped.

Tears threatened to escape my eyes, but I had to hold them in and forced myself to say to her without a crack in my voice, “Thank you so much. I will definitely report to work this week”.

The call ended afterward, and my hands shivered, with my mind stuck and trying to understand what had just happened.

It was a month ago.

I had applied for the job a month ago after learning from my Dad that Micheal was soon going to return to Blenka City. I wanted to find a job there in Blenka City, so that I could be there with him and win him back.

But, I felt inferior that someone like me who had lost focus wouldn't get accepted to work in such a grand company.

And so, I gave up the idea of applying. Only for me to wake up the next day and see my laptop on my bed.

And upon switching it on, I saw that I had applied for the job and had given a sample of one of my finished jewelry products.

I was drunk when that must have happened.

“Oh my goodness. I did not actually think I was going to get it”.

“It's been a month”. I muttered with my hand still covering my mouth, before tears streamed down my face.

With this great surprise, I knew that I had been given a chance to make things right.

“Wait for me, Micheal. I'm coming”. I said to myself, and was desperate to go to Blenka City already, because I was aware that Micheal had returned there today.