Job For Living And Living As A Job

    

   

    

    The sun just rise when I woke up. I check the time and it was already quarter to six in the morning. The first thing I saw was the ceiling. A different ceiling from what I am used to. It is a new room I am waking up with. I rubbed my eyes and stretched my body. Then folded my blanket and arranged my bed.I got a very nice sleep. I stood up right away and started my morning routine.  

    

    

    

    

    I walked outside wearing my leggings paired with an oversized white shirt and flat shoes. Tim reminded me that today will be a busy day for the both of us. We need to find a job right away. I am very nervous since I don't have any experience having a job.Guess this adventure is really for my first times. 

    

    

    

    I quietly pass by his room and went downstairs . As I walked down in the stairs, the smell of morning air is very prominent and I can already perceive the morning menu for breakfast. The houselady is in the kitchen when I saw her. When she heard my footsteps, she gave me a very warm smile and greeted me a Good Morning. I gave her my sweetest smile as well.Her smile matches her beautiful face and her motherly aura. 

    

    

    

    We ate breakfast together after Tim came down. He's on his comfy outfit like me. It was already eight in the morning when we left the apartment. This is it,the real deal. I suddenly felt my heart racing like I am going to attend a very important event in my life. Calm down ,Kathareen- I'm trying really hard to appreciate my second name like how I appreciate my state right now. And I just realized, Kathareen sounds cute.

    

    

    

    We went to a not so crowded place. But it has this super festive mood .The sound of bells from ice cream vendors adds the mood of the place. The kids running, friends laughing, and lovers holding hands.The noise being created is not that unpleasant to the ears. It's like a sound of home. A home I've been longing for. 

The houselady-Miss Chim, suggested this place for searching job. She told us most of her ex-renters worked here and the pay was good.

   

    

    We first walked in the aisle of flowershops and candles. The scent of the candles are very fascinating and my nose is bless so early in the morning. Each store has it's own style- pastel- coloured, dark, just white, and the one I liked the most is the forest-like room. It's very flowery,even the ceiling.

    

  

  The weather is starting to get sunny causing me to sweat. I search and search yet I found no single store showing any signs saying ' We are currently looking for a new staff ', so I suggested to go farther. Tim and I decided to go separate ways to grab more chance finding our jobs. Now that I am alone, I can't help but to feel anxious. This is the real deal. 

    

    

    

 I turned to the right corner and now I am in a different 'world'. Dresses and gowns are what they sell here. It's the most quiet part I've been to in this place since there are only few people in this section. 

    

    

  I explore like Dora-but I'm the unlucky explorer since I got no Map to help me. I've been to different aisles causing me to feel exhausted. Still can't find a job. No vacancies. It was terrifying and tiring. I feel worn-out from walking, so I went back to the Coffee Shop where Tim and I agreed to meet before separating ways. I waited for him while watching the passing of people. Some turn their heads to me and some just pass by with a blank face. Tim was sweaty when he came.

“ No one wants to hire me because they got scared I might outcharm the boss.” He said proudly and I punch him lightly in his left bicep.

    

“No one wants to hire you since you look like a criminal.” I responded. He gave me a frown then patted my head and sat beside me. 

“Looking for a job for living is not that easy." He said while playing with the flower in the vase, placed in the middle of the table.

   

For the first time, as I stared at him, I can see he is like me. One who wants to escape from being ordinary. But he is tougher than me.

“ Living is a difficult job, too.” I stated. 

We ate lunch in the next block.I only ordered a can of cold milk and strawberry flavored yogurt. After lunch, we planned to continue looking for a job until five or maybe six. Tiring but I am really having fun. I feel alive. I feel like I am a human. Tim left and he said he'll try looking in the Music Instruments area. This place is really a major leaguer.

    I took a series of ' inhale Kathareen, now exhale.' I can't decide right away where to go. It's like deciding what book should I read first.I tied my hair in a low ponytail and I ended up walking in the food stalls area where most people stay- the crowded section. I scanned the places and my mouth formed in an awe. It was my first time to see a busy street gorgeously like this. It's like each store has its own personality. Dark, humorous, gibberish-you can't understand if you're not a part of it, and there's also a store like full of smoke inside since they sell barbeques. 

    

    

    I started walking going to the end and carefully look for a sign for a vacant work. I was already in the middle of the street when a store caught my attention. It was different from other stores. I got surprised when I saw Tim in the end of the street and he run to me quickly when he saw me. Sweats are already visible dripping to down to his forehead. He stand beside me and look at the store I am looking.

 “ Yeah. It's really different.” He said answering my thought in my mind.

    

    

    

    We tried getting closer to the stall and it was the loneliest stall- no customers, the interior design is weak, the cashier is sleepy, the entrance door is dusty and the position of the chairs and tables are awful. Like really awful.

    

    

    

    

  I opened the door causing the cashier to get panick and suddenly feeling awake. The sound of the bell in the entrance made them stare at me like 'hey, guess you are lost.' The guy in the cashier smiled at us right away while the other woman just ignore us, resting her head in the table with the support of her arms as pillows. He cleared his throat before speaking. “ Good Day Sir, Ma'am, welcome to Monochromatic! ”.

    

    

    

 I gave him what's-the-name-again face but he was too slow to get it. I got no choice but to voice it out. “What's the name, again?”

    

    

    

    “ Uhm-Monochromatic?” He said, quite unsure. 

    

    

    

    

    “ That's why there are no customer.” I whispered to Tim. 

    

    

    

    

    “Why?” He asked innocently. 

    

    

    

    I rolled my eyes on him. “ Monochromatic is just a synonym of boring.” I stated causing him to open his mouth in surprise- he then covered it using his right palm. 

    

    

    

    “That's unbelievable.” 

    

    

    

    “ Of course, you are not here to eat, right? So, what took you here? ” Said the curly haired woman in like late 30's. She's maybe one of the staff as she is wearing the same apron the guy in the cashier is wearing. She seemed impatient.

    

    

   “ We're looking for a job.” I uttered directly without stuttering.

    

    

   

    

    “Sorry, no available.” Oh. That was a quick response. She got a low temper, I can sense.

    

    

    

  “You can leave, now. Thank you for coming.” She continued and turned her back on us. 

    

    

    

 The guy in the cashier got startled and step out from sitting. “Hey there Mia.I'm the boss here.” He said looking at that impatient woman. The woman-Mia stared at him and her brows meet.

    

    

 “ Sir Flinn, don't tell me you're going to entertain them. Look-see this business is drowning, we got no time to act like we're doing good. Stop this nonsense.” Mia stated with a trying-to-convince tone. 

    

    

“We should leave.” Tim whispered. I look up to him since he's taller than me. I grab his arm and give him a furious stare. 

“ Stay.” I commanded.

I cleared my throat to get their attention. They stopped arguing and gazed at me. Sir Flinn show me a fake smile - a tired, 'i am freaking tired' smile. 

“ Actually, we're here to apply for a job.” I vocalised making Sir Flinn's eyes widened. 

“ You're hired! ” 

“ Wait, what?” Miss Mia seemed to not like the idea. She massage her forehead while shaking her head no, showing she doesn't approve it thinking it's a bad idea.

“That was quick.” Tim came closer to Sir Flinn and offer a handshake. “ My name's Timothy. My charm can give us success.” 

After exchanging handshakes, Sir Flinn eyed me and ask. “ And you, young lady? What should I call you?” 

It was a quiet moment. No one dared to break the silence. Miss Mia walked out and slammed the door. Timothy gazed at me like a Dad waiting for his child's first word. And Sir Flinn is still smiling. I blinked one more time.

“ You can call me Kathareen and I want to be the manager here.”