The offer

1. THE OFFER.

~~Dear Hazel Robert, you application have been reviewed and accepted you have been selected among the 10 interns to work in NOOK NEWSLINE. Congratulations. The date to resume and other important informations would be communicated to you via email.~~~~

I screamed as I finished reading the message on my laptop and I jumped up on my bed happily. My mom and younger sister, Savannah rushed into my room.

“What’s wrong?” My mom asked in fright.

I held my chest and smiled at them and rushed towards them hugging my mom tightly.

My mom seems surprised by my hug but she hugged me back anyways.

“Okay...what’s wrong? Is everything alright?” She asked me and I disengaged from the hug.

“I just got selected!” I screamed and my mom and Savannah looked at me confusedly.

Oh shoot! I didn’t tell them about it. I applied as an intern without their permission because I wasn’t sure I would get in. I wanted to tell them if I got accepted.

I held my mom’s hand and directed her to my bed and made her seat down.

Savannah followed but she stood watching us with curiosity.

“Start talking” my mom said looking at me.

“You know how I have always wanted to work in a big broadcasting company after graduating as a journalist?” I started.

My mom rolled her eyes. “I know that, just get straight to the point” she said.

“Well, I applied as an intern last month to Nook Newsline” I finally said hoping my mom doesn’t get mad.

Savannah gasped. “Isn’t that in Brooklyn(new York)?” She asked.

“Yes” I replied her.

“So if I am correct, you got accepted?” My mom asked to be sure.

“Exactly” I smiled.

“You aren’t going anywhere” she said and my face fell.

“What are you talking about, Mom? Working there has always been my dream. It’s like one of the biggest Broadcasting Station in this country. It is...”

My mom interrupted me. “There are many companies you can work here in Austin(TEXAS). Can you even listen to yourself right now. You want to leave for a new state entirely. You aren’t even old enough to take care of yourself alone” she said.

“When would I be old enough. I’m 21 already mom!” I almost screamed but I know raising my voice at her won’t help matters so I decided to calm down.

“You are still small to me” she said.

I stared at her angrily. “You said that when I was in high school and I wanted to go to a boarding school. Fine, I was just a teenager then. But now, I am a youth...A youth mom!” I said.

“When your dad comes back, I would tell him to look for companies here for you to work. You aren’t going to Brooklyn and that is final!” She said in a tone of finality.

“Mom!” I whined.

She stood up from my bed and walked out of my room while Savannah looked at me pathetically.

“Sorry big sis” she said.

“I’m going to Brooklyn. She can’t keep me locked here forever” I said angrily.

“But Nook Newsline isn’t the only...”

I interrupted her. “It is my dream to work there! You don’t get it, do you? Now that I get an opportunity to work there, you want me to throw that all away”

“I do understand you but you know Mom won’t go back on her words”

“Well this time she will. I can get dad to support me”

Savannah gave me a look. “You sound like you don’t know mom. She has the power to make dad be on her side”

She is right but I am not going to give up.

“I just have to do something. Anything” I said taking my hands through my hair.

Savannah just sat on my bed watching me. She is 16 and still in high school. Her dream is to be a model but my mom won’t hear of it. She wants her to go for any other occupation other than been a model. Savannah has the perfect body and sometimes I envy her. She is tall, slim and has the shape while I was not that short neither am I tall. I was just average. But my younger sister is more taller than I am.

I have slender eyebrows, rapture blue doe eyes, tiny pink lips and my hair is ebony black. Even though, my mom usually reminds me of how beautiful I am, I still has low esteem in myself and I believe I don’t look that good whenever I go out in public.

I don’t get compliments like my sister does when we go out together so I usually prefer going out as I know my sister would always take the spotlight.

I don’t really know the reason why my mom doesn’t want her to be be model but I guess it is because of the dangers attached with it. I thinks she feels she would want to do anything to get to the top and managers are out their looking for young girls to prey on.

I know Savannah is very stubborn and she would do whatever it takes to be a model. I am like that too and I would do anything to make sure I go for my dream job in my dream company whether my mom likes it or not.

*****************

THE NIGHT....

  We all gathered at the dining room for dinner. My dad is a banker and is always home at night and during weekends. He is a workaholic and he would do whatever it takes to make sure the family lacks nothing. My dad is my role model and I am more closer to him.

After my mom finished serving the food, silence sets in and I kept on stabbing the fork on my plate.

“Stop doing that hazel” my mom warned.

“Dad, there is something I need to tell you” I said and my mom glared at me.

“What’s that sweetheart?” He asked.

My mom gave me a look not to talk but I pretended I didn’t even see her.

“I got accepted to work as an intern in Nook Newsline, Brooklyn” I said.

His face expression changed and a smile appeared on his face.

“Really? Congratulations. I know you would always make me proud” He said.

My mom eyes widened. “What do you mean congratulations? Did you even listen to what she said?”

“The girl majored in journalism. The job is right for her”

My mom scoffed. “She should get a job here and not out of the state.”

“She is old enough” my dad said not getting her point.

“She is just 21!” My mom half screamed.

“You got married to me at 21” my dad said to her and my mom gulped down nothing.

Seems dad is winning.

“This is different. Hazel isn’t that mature yet and...”

“Mom!” I called.

“It is true” she shrugged.

My dad faced my mom. “I know you love your daughter and you want her around but she can’t live with us forever. She have to start a new phase of her life. You don’t want to be an hinderance to that do you?” He explained.

My mom looked defeated. “I will think about it” she finally said.

I know my mom would prove hard to get. I still have time before I leave and I would wait till whenever she agrees.

I faced my dad and mouthed ‘I love you’ to him.

*********

Three days later...

My mom finally agreed to allow me go to Brooklyn.

“Awwn mom. Thank you!” I said excitedly.

My dad have gone to work while Savannah have gone to school.

My mom and I were the only one at home.

My mom had a blank look on. “But there are rules you have to follow” she said.

“I agree to everything”

“You haven’t even heard it” She rolled her eyes.

“I know but I will do everything” I said. I was really happy.

“You must call me on video call every night, you must not get in trouble. You must ....” she said thoughtfully looking for what to add.

“I will add to the rules later” she said.

“No problem mom” I smiled.

She pulled me into a hug and played with my hair.

“I will miss you baby” she said.

“Me too” I said hugging her back.

I heard a sniffling sound.

“Mom...are you crying?” I asked.

“No!” She lied. “Let’s just stay like this for a while” she said and I nodded resting in her arms.

***************

  There is one person I haven’t told about my departure and that was my boyfriend, Ben.

Ben have been my boyfriend for two years now and he is the best boyfriend ever. We went to the same university. We met online actually and later discovered we are in the same university. I was in my third year while he was in his final year when we met.

After our first meeting, we went on several dates and he finally asked me out and I gladly accepted as I was in love with him.

He was my first boyfriend and it took me days to convince my mom to accept Ben.

I am currently in front of Ben’s house and I took a deep breath as I was nervous. I wonder how he would take the news.

I finally summoned courage and walked to his front door.

Ben lives alone in a three bedroom flat. His parents are rich business tycoon and he started working in his dad’s company immediately he finished college.

I rang the doorbell and played with my fingers as I waited. Ben finally opened the door and he looked surprised to see me.

“Hey babe” he said with a smile.

“Come in” He added and I entered the house while he closed the door behind him.

I entered the living room and sat on the couch. He came to seat beside me.

“Wasn’t expecting you” He said.

“Decided to pay you a surprise” I uttered.

We haven’t seen for about a week but we have been chatting.

“Well I missed you” He said and moved closer to me and started kissing me.

After the kiss, I stare at him. “There is something I want to tell you” I informed him.

“What’s that?” He asked.

“Well...” I scratch my hair nervously.

“What is it? Is everything okay?” He asked staring at me worriedly.

“Yea...yes of course” I nodded and after taking a deep breath, I told him.

After telling him, he moved away from me and am angry look appeared on his face.

“What do you mean? It means you are moving to Brooklyn?” He asked.

I nodded positively.

“Is it a must you go there. You can easily find companies to work for here” he said.

It took a long time to convince my mom and now my boyfriend?

“But it’s my dream to work in Nook Newsline” I said.

“Then what about our relationship?”

“it would continue of course. Common, you should be happy for me.”

“So you are choosing your career over our relationship?”

“Of course yes! I value our relationship but my career comes first! I can’t believe you right now” I said trying not to get angry.

“I don’t want a long distance relationship! A lot of things can go wrong” he said.

“We just have to be faithful and loyal to each other and nothing would go wrong” I told him.

He seems to be thinking. “If you are adamant on leaving, then you need to prove to me that nothing would happen to this relationship”

“Like what?” I asked.

He gave me a look and I understood him immediately.

“No...no, I am not ready yet” I disagreed.

He scoffed. “You are not ready yet. For two years now. Which guy would date a girl for two years and they won’t have sex! I have been patient enough. We have to make our relationship stronger and solid. You leaving would make me believe another guy would come in”

“So giving me your body is what would make our relationship stronger? You are been ridiculous right now” I said angrily.

“If you can’t do it. Then let’s break up. I can’t wait for you forever. I don’t even want long distance relationship”

“are you been serious right now?” I said in shock and surprise.

“Yes. So make your decision now” he said.

I stood up and glared at him. “Let’s break up alright. I am not going to choose my relationship over my career and I definitely am not sleeping with you. You can go to hell”

I carried my bag and left the house angrily making sure to bang the door really hard behind me.

I can’t wait to get home and cry in my pillow. I can’t believe my two years relationship just ended just like that!