Two

The following day, she arrived at work early, hoping to avoid another lecture from her department head as her headache was pounding fiercely. She spent the morning assisting her youngest sibling, who was now in fifth grade, with a school project.

Her other sibling, a college student studying HRM, was also busy with studies to support their youngest. She had only returned home the previous day, as her mother had requested, after nearly six months away.

She settled into the designated hiring room, one of two interview rooms, alone at a long table with two chairs in front. Besides the flower vases and glass windows on each side, she adjusted the AC to alleviate her headache and brought a cardigan in case she felt cold.

At eight in the morning, her coworker informed her that the interviews were starting soon. She finished her water to ease her headache, realizing that conducting interviews in this state wouldn’t be ideal. She regretted not eating the breakfast JC had brought her; maybe that’s why she had a headache.

One by one, the applicants for the vacant positions arrived. Most had impressive credentials, often graduating with honors. She enjoyed speaking with the applicants, but some seemed unprepared. Instead of just interviewing them, she found herself encouraging them, almost counseling them, more than conducting a job interview.

As the interviews neared completion, with only one folder left, she called in the next applicant.

“Good morning, Ma’am,” greeted the applicant as he entered. She looked at him for a moment; his face seemed familiar, like she had seen him before but couldn’t remember where.

“Good morning, you must be Mr.-” she quickly opened his folder to read his surname. Vanth.

“It’s Vanth, Zander Jaxon Vanth,” he replied. She stared at his resume for a moment. His name wasn’t just familiar.

Jaxon.

It had been a long time since she had heard that name, a name she never thought she would hear again. In this vast world, it seemed impossible for two people who had parted ways to meet again. And he was the last person she wanted to see, as she remembered her friend who was lost because of him, and she would never forgive him.

“Ma’am?” She snapped back to reality when she felt a gentle tap on her arm.

“Ah, yes. I’m sorry, alright Mr., please take your seat,” she said, as the man was still standing in front of her. He nodded and sat down.

She felt a familiar fluttering sensation in her stomach, as if butterflies were flying around. Damn it. Stop it, don’t betray me, can’t you?

“So you came from the US, why do you want this job?” she asked. She tried to be casual in front of him; she needed to be professional. If he was what the company needed, then so be it, but she hoped not.

“I just want a job,” he replied. She waited for him to say more, thinking he might be contemplating, but it seemed he had nothing else to say. She looked at him, raising an eyebrow as she wrote down his answer, even though it seemed pointless. It was needed for evaluation and as a reference in case something happened.

“That’s it? You just want a job?” He nodded and smiled.

“Yes, is there a problem with that?” She almost wanted to pull her hair out because of his answer. Some things never change.

She put down his folder and looked at him.

“Mister, were you not informed about the vacant position? Did you not bother to read? Countless people want this job that you’re applying for, and you came here, telling me that you just wanted a job? You’re wasting our time. If you’re not serious about this, then leave,” she said calmly with a smile.

“Ah, yeah, sorry, this is my first time applying for a job.”

She almost laughed at his answer, but she held back. She returned his resume copy; this conversation was going nowhere, especially with someone who was useless. Disha couldn’t help but think to herself.

“Okay, we’ll call you if you’re chosen. Thank you, have a nice day, Sir.”

“Really? Why don’t you tell me now if I’m accepted or not? So I won’t have to wait?” He arrogantly replied, raising his pressure, figuratively.

Instead of engaging with him, she just smiled. “Mister, I have a question.”

His left eyebrow raised, an indication that he was waiting for what she was going to say.

“Have you ever been promised something, held onto that promise, then all of a sudden, the promise disappears?”

The man was puzzled by her question, but nevertheless, he answered.

“Not yet.”

Her interlocutor nodded. “Well, you’ll experience that if you’re looking for an answer from me right now.”

She saw amusement in his face at what she said, so she smiled and nodded in response. “Okay, okay, I get your silly point miss, and I love the idea. Well anyway, I’ll wait for the call then,” the man said, standing up and heading towards the door to leave the company, but then he remembered something to ask her. “Anyways, what’s your name?”

The woman just smiled. “Elara, long time no see, Jaxon.”