章 2: Job hunt
3 days ago
'And here again I could only get a chunky bit of work in my hand this month. Life sure suck for a 'F grader' like me.' She raised her hand, wryly counting the number of jobs she could get this month and it stopped at four.
'Still glad since there's no debt for me to pay, I only need to fend for myself.'
She let out a deep sigh with that thought giving her a feeling of relief yet dismay continued.
And obviously how can life be so easy. A second with her noisy phone alerting her all of a sudden.
"There is no need for you to show up. We got someone better."
The message was a day breaker. Her eyes rolled as she felt a sudden setback, once again cursing the fact that she was only a 'F grader'.
Her eyes stopped at the cemented road that continued as long as she walked. The touch of her fingertips traced the line where the short hair met the longer strands, a tactile reminder of her boldness amidst the bleak future.
The undercut wasn't really her choice though it gave her a handsome and charming look often leading to misunderstanding among young maidens.
Well, it was important… important for her to get a job in this world where gender discrimination made it harder for her to get something. Not really a big deal but for her it was. She was a 'F grade' achiever and it was hard for her to get any noble work yet because she was a girl, she couldn't even get any heavy physical work so what left for her?
At least thanks to her height and a handsome face, people assumed on their own and let her do the work they would often refuse a woman.
A world set apart by how it worked. People got job by the grade they have achieved which indicated the capacity of power they withhold.
Lydia Wren an unfortunate girl in her early twenties got the worst grade – F grade. Anyone can trample her. That's the way it worked but not really for her. She might be at a loss when it comes to power but no one can out win her in wits. She has skimmed through many skills to fend for her weakness but world really a cold place. Employers mostly kick her out just by seeing her grade not caring for her skills.
"I lost a job already. Well, it's just the beginning of this month, surely can get a few more job. Huh…"
She suddenly stopped walking in the alleyway and patted her pulpy cheeks. The cold has gotten through her skin. Her breath mingled with the winter mist, a silent sigh that mirrored the melancholy in her heart, dissipating into the vast, indifferent day.
She checked her loose woollen sweater that gave off a cozy vibe, tenderly with her long fingers fixing it back on her body, she turned right. Looking at the second floor of the old house with her hands clasped and kept near her mouth that uselessly tried to warm it.
Once a vibrant hue of sky blue, had faded over the years, revealing the exposed, rough-hewn bricks beneath. Trees with canopy lining beside the house.
She took a deep breath, preparing herself for something rough. Her deep forlorn eyes gazing keenly at the window. She swallowed and the next thing was to enter inside.
Slowly and cautiously, she walked inside, taking off her boots in her hand and walking the stairs in silence in case she wakes up her irritated landlord.
She reached the second floor. Opened the door and finally took a deep breath after shutting the door back and leaning over it.
"What's up?" a deep voice knocked some cautiousness back into her.
She quickly confined her bleak emotion behind her smile. Her eyes fell down over the ground. Her brother was lying over the thickly padded mattress over the ground while a book was in his hand staying still in front of his face.
He smiled as he asked and quickly sat back, putting the book aside.
Seeing his cheerful smile, Lydia placed her boots in the shoe rack beside the door and walked in, taking a seat on the mattress that was stretched and spread long covering the half area of the living room.
A small room with wooden floor to keep the cold from leaking inside the mattress.
Lydia eyes kindly glanced at her brother left eye that was covered with a patch. It was the power source for him. A 'D grader' whose grade raised this year by his constant hard work and now it is stable at 'C grade'.
Not everyone gets the chance to raise but those who do raise their grade aren't at less number either.
"I came back after job hunting, filed tens and twenty of forms and got recruited for four jobs but well one of the jobs I was eagerly anticipating ditched me. I no longer need to work there. Sigh…"
She laid on her back, keeping her eyes straight up at the roof. Aimlessly staring the cracks on the roof that seemed more soothing than her brother's eyes pitifully staring her.
"But you still have three on your hand, right? And guess what," Nerua Wren grinned excitedly.
It was his way of changing the atmosphere, seeing that the girl was avoiding his eyes and any further conversation over it.
Lydia eyes finally gave him some attention, she folded her hands back under her head and nodded, "What?"
"I got it. I got my very first job and its permanent."
"No way! Did you get into the company. Your dream ones?" she slightly sat back, staring him with her widened eyes and as he nodded, her eyes brightened.
She hopped over him, hugging him excitedly, laughing and giggling with him.
"Oh my gosh, my brother is all grown! This brat caught a big one the very first time!" Lydia slapped at his back twice, praising him. her cheeks wrinkled by the wide grin she kept over her face and finally she moved back.
"So, you are a guide now, right!" Lydia asked, keeping her hands over his shoulder.
He nodded, "Elexieria. I got into Elexieria. It's the best company reaching out to the top guides. I… Lidi, you don't have to worry any longer, I will support you and our parents from now on."
It was the second day of the month. The siblings who often fought all the times like normal kids were now getting emotional.
Every month it was very normal that Lydia gets angry and sad over the temporary jobs she could get and at this time of day, her brother would try to get less under her skin by being obedient but this month was different.
Her 18 years old brother, with chubby cheeks and fair skin, a bob cut with a neat look, slant eyes and average height has finally got his dream job as he ranked up. He could be called a genius for getting into a top tier company after just coming of the age.
And Lydia was proud of him but still something was amiss.
She patted his hair, ruffling the tiny thing with a stupid smile, "You should go and celebrate with your friends but here you are talking about foolish things. Get shits out of your head, will ya!" she fingers flicked his forehead.
Nerua frowned but deep within he was happy. He suddenly woke up and saw the call letter but his sister wasn't at home for him to tell her the huge news so he waited. Calming his anxious heart and waiting patiently so that the first one to hear it would be his sister and now that he has finally did it, he stood up.
"Party or not, it doesn't really matter but I am going to tell my friends now".
His lips stretched from both sides as he nodded at Lydia nod. He quickly picked up the brown coat hanging over the wall and wore it. His body movements showed how restless he was to run out and scream about this news.
"Take care," Lydia eyes stopped as the door shut back and left her in the room all alone.
It wasn't so big but she felt empty and it would be a lie to say that she didn't feel envious. She was the older between them but she could barely feel that.
"Well, genetics do play a huge role, I guess!" she whispered plopping back on the mattress and raising her arm over her head, making her hand an aim for her to stare.
Since she wasn't a biological daughter to her parents, she couldn't really blame their genes. They have adopted her and she could feel that she must've gotten worst genes from her biological parents to be at the bottom of the rank or more like hit the rock bottom of the world.
Her longing eyes filled with melancholic, stared her arm tirelessly. When at the one end she felt guilty for not truly feeling happy for her brother, at the another end she could empathize with herself since her misery wasn't just from this life.
Still, she can't sulk for her job for too long, that's a waste of her time.
Finally, she laid her hand back on the mattress, took her cell phone and stared at the numerous messages she got from the morning. Mocking her for her failure. The writing went like, "Sorry, but you are not eligible for…" and this and that.
Lydia cleared the stock of messages and took a deep breath before checking the three job that still hasn't abandoned her. Alas, she got another two messages telling her to get lost indirectly.
Maybe this month wasn't really hers. She got unluck filled with baskets over her head and a deep sigh escaped her parted lips while she felt completely discouraged about doing anything.
Still, she has to make a living so she sat back. Tightly shutting her tired eyes before opening up the last page with the last job.
"Fucking hell! For three months, really?" she was startled. She placed her hand over her mouth, calming herself down in case she disturbs the landlord. The introductory page of the third job wasn't that sparkling but as she reached the end, it got her eyes sparkle. The monthly payment for three months was more than she could get by completing five different jobs in three months.
Suddenly her heart turned anxious. She could feel the lingering insecure feeling within her.
The job was too dreamy to be true, quickly she pinched her cheeks but the dream didn't break so she got up. Restlessly moving here and there, biting her lips and then fingernail. Then staring at the clock for a minute or two.
She finally came to her senses when she realized, "Oh, I have to set an appointment first to meet the employer. Damn, where was I even going in such a hurry!"
She wryly laughed at herself and sat back, crossing her leg and arms.
It wasn't her obsession toward her luck that she felt so negative. It was her experience of life that got her really bad.
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