4. A Calm Mind and Soul

Jack was about to ring the doorbell when it unexpectedly opened from the inside. He was stunned to see a very calm, sophisticated, elegant corporate dressed Brianna when the door was widely opened. She was wearing a half-sleeve, top to bottom buttoned, collared white shirt tucked in her waist with a black pencil cut, knee-length skirt. She was standing taller with a few inches of black Pump formal shoes. He knew she was beautiful, but this beauty he is looking at right now is something he had never seen in her. And in all honesty, she was a sight to behold.

“What brought you here?” She asked as if his presence was very much unexpected.

“I am here to drive my lovely little sister to her interview.” He smiled brightly. He was surprised to see her the way she is right now, but he didn't want to ruin her mood, so he played along. He was discreetly observing if she was just pretending to be calm in front of him as a preparation for a day to get through. But then he noticed nothing different with her. She is the way she has always been. Calm, composed, and confident.

“And why is that? I have a car, and I can definitely drive. I bet even better than you.” She teased as she retorted his offer. He was even more stupefied with how she can still tease him and brag about her driving abilities. He admits he had never won over her. Because she would sometimes ask him to bring her to drag races when she is feeling under the weather about something or anything. The craziest part is, she isn’t there to watch. She is there to dare the devil himself and win the race. She is so fearless that watching her is even more deadly than being on her feet instead. But covering his curiosity, he kept his playful countenance.

“Well, it is so that you won’t hesitate to treat me to a good meal or drink when you get your first salary.” And he beamed, smiling widely like a fool.

“Alright then, make sure to get me there on time. I don’t want my hair or make-up ruined along the way, bear in mind.” She took her smart car key from her purse and handed it to Jack. It was her all-time favorite. A silver Porsche 911 Carrera 4S. She was having second thoughts about using it or her daily or least favorite dark granite Metallic 2017 Cadillac XT5, but the latter is too big to drive around, unlike the former mentioned car. Feminine and elegant. She was also considering the thoughts about bringing such a car when the position she was applying for was just a Personal assistant. But then again, the building she would be going to is a sixty-story one, with many commercial business offices and employees. No one will know who brought which cars, right?

“Finally, I am able to drive this baby you have here!” Jack exclaimed. He knew the car was so precious to her. She even had it modified. It looked sexy itself but driving it is beyond words anyone can ever describe.

“Yeah, I must be out of my freaking mind to do so, but humor me.” She shook her head in annoyance at how he seems to rub salt on her. But she was not annoyed in a bad way. She would just feel this way when he would still say something that she preferred he would have not. So childish of him! She laughed softly, seeing how contagious his smiles were. A sight that had Jack mesmerized. Good thing she was looking down at the doorknob of the car as she was about to get into the passenger’s seat. She did not see his reaction. Or else her mood might really be ruined. He really has so many questions to ask her later.

He didn't know that he was right to have worried for her with how she acted yesterday. She was cramping, panicked, worried, excited, and all mixed emotions were evident in her face and reactions. But when she woke up in the morning after a good eight hours of sleep, she did her morning rituals of twenty minutes meditations, and her mind became clear. She reminded herself of her goal for the day. She felt peace in her inner self. She realized that if she let her emotions rule over her, right at the moment, she might lose the chance to avenge her parents' death. If she fails in this simple thing, such as an interview to become a Personal Assistant and Secretary, it will be her life’s greatest loss even if the boss she will be serving is someone she would never wish to be working for. Had she had any other choice, she would have said, never! Over her dead body!

Her parents died so early that she wanted to remember them in every little way possible. That is the reason why she meditates every morning for twenty minutes right after she wakes up. Her parents used to say that a calm and peaceful mind makes better decisions in every situation, if not the best. And so they made it their family tradition to spend a quiet time the moment they wake up. She even kept her mom’s gardening hobby for herself, just like she kept her dad’s bills of different currency and coins collection. She talks to the flowers and her plants in the garden whenever she misses her mom, and she wipes her coin collections, just like her dad would do, whenever she feels like talking to her dad. All along, she rants her heart and thoughts out as if her dad is just right next to her, listening quietly. And amazingly, she feels like she can hear them answer her or respond to her in silence. Just like she did last night, she spoke to her dad in the collection room, and she spoke to her mom in the garden before ending her day, her chaotic day yesterday. But she seemed to have felt their comfort that she even asked them to help her sleep well at night and wake up afresh the next morning, just like what happened to her today.

“Are you hungry? We still have time for a quick breakfast if you want.” Jack offered. He made himself sound casual, but he was hoping she would not let her emotions rule over her and even neglect her health. Breakfast is necessary when you are going to be facing an expectedly rough day.

“You’ve had yours, right?” She squinted her eyes at him, looking sideways as they were still on their way out of her garage area. Driving slow and easy, just like she would always demand him in whatever car he is driving in this part of her house. The garage entrance was actually narrow as a sharp curb. She is okay with it since she is used to driving in and out of her home, but she isn’t comfortable when someone else is driving the car as it might scratch her garage walls and paint.

“Yeah, but have you had yours?” Jack asked, giving her a quick glance.

“Eye on the road. I had mine already. Just bring me to where I am supposed to be today.” She answered nonchalantly. Checking her makeup on the pocket mirror on her side of the car. She had her up in a nice simple bun. She had light makeup on, and she applied a natural red lipstick on her lips. She just had her purse in her hand as her applications and credentials were already sent to the HR department for her interview today.

“Alright then, here we go.”