Chapter 3: Just For You

Candice 

I was patiently looking at him as he scanned all of my documents. He was frowning and he was momentarily looking at me with suspicion. 

I started playing with my fingers because I was nervous. 

Three weeks after my parents' passing, I figured out that I should make a move for myself. I need to find a job. I have their insurance, yes, but that wouldn't provide for everything that I'll need in the future. It wouldn't be enough. That's why I tried roaming around the city to look for a job opening. Then I saw the sign, they needed a waitress in this new cafe. They don't need a work experience; they just need a CV and then I'm ready for the interview.

Now, I'm facing the HR of the cafe and I was waiting for his answer. 

Geoffrey Hearst - Human Resource Manager - that is what's written on his shining nameplate. He doesn't look like a Human Resource, he looked like an owner of much bigger companies. 

Louis Vuitton suit and those familiar red soles from a new release pair of Louboutin shoes. 

"Are you sure you're applying for the right job, Miss Larsen?" he asked, still frowning at my CV. I looked at him and I smiled. 

"I am sure." 

"Oh." He muttered; he was making me so nervous. "...but you're not qualified." he stated. I looked at him, confused. 

"W-What?" I asked. "But the sign outside said you only need a high-school graduate--I just graduated from high-school." I answered. "And to prove you of my credibility, I passed Harvard." I continued. 

He laughed heartily. His dashing teeth on full show. I paused for a moment to look at him. He looks angelic, there is no doubt. 

Candice, stop. 

He then wiped the little tear that escaped from his eye and shook his head a little bit. "No, that's not what I meant." he stated. "You are not qualified to be a waitress, Miss Larsen. You are over-qualified." He said giving emphasis to his last words. 

His statement rang to my ears, I became nervous but in a good way. Is that a compliment? "W-what?"--is all that I could say. 

"Your qualifications, your achievements, your seminars---you can even replace me as the HR manager of this cafe!" He spoke. "Hell, it was my dream to attend Noble Minds Seminar Workshop in London, but I wasn't able to--and you did." Then he chuckled. 

The Noble Minds? That was a seminar for the student scientists. It was a seminar and somehow like a research colloquium. Our main workshop was to present our researches. Only five people were invited from the country, and I was one of them, I was also the youngest. The workshop was exclusive, and not many people know about it. That is why I asked: "How did you know The Noble Minds?" 

He looked at me and smiled. Again, his dashing teeth shining in front of me. "My father pioneered the workshop." He stated and I couldn't believe him. "My father has been counting on me to be invited, he would ask me every year: "Geoffrey, did The Noble Minds invite you?" And every time I say no, he'll be disappointed."

I gasped at his statement. The mood suddenly became awkward. "Uhm..." I croaked. "I didn't mean to ask you such personal question." I said and looked away. 

Suddenly, a lump started to form in my throat. I missed my parents. They were never disappointed of me, even when I commit silly mistakes--or whenever I think of things I thought I sucked in. They were never disappointed. They loved everything I do. 

He chuckled and handed me my CV. "You know Miss Larsen; your qualifications are good. Your skills and volunteer experiences blew me away. Even your achievements. As much as I want to hire you, your potential shouldn't be locked up in a cafe, really" he spoke. He intertwined his hands and put them on the table. "And you said you passed, Harvard”, he then paused. "you wouldn't miss that for the world. You can't go to Harvard and work for me. Harvard is too far-away from this cafe." He then wiggled his brows. 

I breathed hard. That's it? That's his reason? He wouldn't accept my CV because I passed Harvard. 

I was looking at him. I was freaking sad. He was about to press the intercom for maybe a new applicant but I spoke. 

"I hate to break it to you, but I cancelled Harvard." 

In surprise, he paused--his hand hanging in the air. He was so close to pushing the button of the intercom. He looked at me, gaping. "W-What did you say?" He couldn't believe it, I know, from the look on his face. 

I looked down. My head started to panic. I shouldn't have said it! My breathing went rigid, and that's it, I decided to leave. "Uh--I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that--there are other applicants waiting if I really can't get this job I understand---" I stood up and he also stood up which kind of surprised me. I picked up my CV but he immediately picked it up first and held it up. It was weird. He was looking at me with eyes wide open, while his other hand is up in the air, holding my CV. 

"W-What are you doing?" I asked, weirded out. 

"Y-You cancelled Harvard?" His voice was shaky. "Y-You cancelled it?" he repeated.

I looked at him for a moment then I nodded slowly. "Y-Yes." I said, unsure. 

"F-For real?" he asked, again. 

I blinked at him twice. "Do I look like a liar to you?" 

"No!" he denied quickly. He put my CV down on the table, and he was shaking his head as if he doesn't know what to do. 

"I should go--" 

"No!" He exclaimed; I was surprise by the sudden rise of tone. "I mean...no." He calmed down. "Wait here." He spoke. 

I was frowning at him and he seems to be eager about something. I tilted my head at him and he was breathing while his brows were up. Even to my suspicion, I sighed. "Okay." I resigned. 

He smiled while he was still panting. He looked like a little kid. He sat back at his seat and he gestured me to do so too. "Please take a seat." he said joyously. 

He then fetched something from his pocket---a phone. He started typing on the phone and after a moment he look up to me and smiled. "Do you need water? Coffee? Tea? Do you want to try our menu? I'd give them for free." He spoke those words without a pause.

"I... uhm. No, thanks." I replied.

He nodded a couple of times, he put his phone down and he crossed his arms on the table looking at me with a pair of twinkling gray eyes. “I’m interested on your story.” He finally said.

“What story?” I asked. I was beginning to be uncomfortable.

“Why did you cancel, Harvard? The school of geniuses!” Before I could answer he held his hand in the air gesturing me to wait. “Wait a minute.” He then pressed the intercom and after one beep, “Hello? Glenda, I need you to cancel all of the applicants for today, something urgent came up.” And then he ended the line. He looked at me and wink.

I am completely puzzled. “Why do you need to know?”

“I’m sorry, I am nosy like that!” He said frankly. I was surprised by his straightforwardness but I just can’t help but be suspicious. He didn’t want to hire me because I was overqualified, but he was interested when he knew I dropped out of Harvard. Before I said I would cancel Harvard he was enthusiastic of me studying in the school, but he seemed to be happier when he knew that I was not going to study there anymore.

Now, I can’t help but to squint my Asian eyes. I looked at him directly. “What do you want from me?”

He was caught off guard, because he paused and his eyes started to roam around. “I…erm. I am…just…curious? I guess…” He said, each word having a long pause; too long that it made me more suspicious.

I tsked at him and crossed my arms on chest. “My parents died.” I started.

From roaming around the room, his eyes suddenly came back to me. He didn’t say anything.

“They died 3 weeks ago.” It was my turn to turn my gaze away. I found a beautiful painting in one corner of the room. It was a painting of what seems to be a galaxy. It was so intricately made; the details were absurd! I held my gaze there.

A lump started to form in the back of my mouth.

“They?” Geoffrey Hearst asked, he wasn’t sure of what he was asking, it was evident in his voice.

“Yes… they.” I was still looking at the painting. “I loss them to an accident.” I swallowed hard, and I breathed deeply.

Unlike other paintings this painting was unique, it wasn’t just blue and black and white, it was pink, violet, blue, red, white, it had everything. It depicted a universe. It was full of life. And when you look closer to it... I could see a faint image of a face. Like the whole galaxy was just a whole facade, to hide what the painting really beholds. 

Anamorphosis. 

“I’m sorry for asking.” I heard Geoffrey. Then I looked back at him.

"Anamorphosis." I said. 

He frowned and he looked really puzzled of what I said. "What?" he asked. 

I continued, "That painting is anamorphic." I looked at the painting I was referring to. 

"Ah! Yes---that's my brother's painting!" he said enthusiastically. "His really good at art, I'm very proud of him." he added. 

I looked at him and nodded. "It's beautiful." 

After that, there was brief silence. I composed myself and remembered the last topic we were talking about before I complimented the painting. And when I recalled, I broke the silence. 

“It’s okay.” I smiled. “The day I got the letter from Harvard was the same day they passed away.” This time it was harder to swallow. “Up to this day, it was still a shock to me, sir.” I added. “But I have to move forward. I need a job.” I honestly said. There was no time for dramas, I can’t beat around the bush.

He was confused now. The curiosity in his eyes suddenly changed into something… wonder, I guess. “B-But… I think Harvard could give you a scholarship! You don’t need a job, all the passers were given scholarship and if you’re in the top 10, you’ll have a complete scholarship. 100% exempted from all fees! I know because I was a scholar of Harvard, too!” He explained. “Out of the 100 applicants, what rank are you in?”

“I also know that. But you know, I just can’t do Harvard now. It was my parents dream, but I just don’t think my head could handle all the tasks, all the books. I needed rest. Everything came to me like a tsunami and I wasn’t ready for it.” I chuckled at my metaphor. I looked at him and his eyebrows were frowned.

“Yes, but what rank are you in?” He asked again.

“Rank 2.” I answered.

His eyes were almost coming out, then he leaned on his recliner with his shoulders down.

“Are you okay?” I asked. I was about to go to him when he stopped me.

“You want a job, Miss Larsen?” He asked, his tone was now different. It was as if we were getting into some underground trade.

I carefully answered. “Y-Yes sir.”

“Then I got the job just for you.” He said and grinned at me.