Job Hunting

    “I'll try to pay back when I have the money.”

“If you can't pay back, I have a better idea” Damien leaned in with a playful smirk.

     “What?” I took a step back.

“Be my tutor” I blinked, not sure if I had heard him right.

  “You heard me. Be my tutor” he grinned. “At some point I have to start writing my assignments myself unless you like doing them for me”

    I stared at him for a solid three seconds.

Then without a word, I slammed the door at his face.

  There's no way in hell I'm going to spend more than three minutes with that jerk. Be his tutor? That was like walking into a disaster. He was already difficult to handle, how much more tutoring him.

   Out of habit, I locked the door, then laid on my bed staring at the ceiling.

    Fabian was out.

I clenched my fist, He wasn't supposed to be out till the next two years. I've been saving every penny I've ever earned, barely eating, and trying my best to survive, all so that I could leave the country before he was released. The more I spent on my parents and Mia, the more I lived on a tight budget.

   But now. I let out a defeated sigh.

Fabian was released and my plan was in ruins, there was not enough to disappear and on top of this mess I was owing Damien a hundred million.

   I wanted to cry, I just wanted to curl up on my bed and wallow in tears.

Should I just end it all? I don't think anyone will care if I leave this world. Being dead would solve everything.

  The thought made me sit up abruptly. I needed to find a job, being in my own space was harmful.

    I spent the whole night calculating how much I had left wondering if I should take up the offer of being Damien's tutor.

   I shook my head. No way!

The next morning, I dressed up and headed out. Today was Saturday and I was going to spend it on job hunting.

    Rejection after rejection made me realise that being honest wasn't going to get me anywhere. I had to stop telling people that I was fired from La Vienne, I don't think it would make me seem trustworthy enough.

  Just when I was about to give up.  I saw a neon sign that said ‘Eclipse Lounge,  hiring.’

It was a bar. I've worked as a chef, waiter, delivery man and lots more, but I've never worked as a bartender or at a bar.

  I hesitated, before stepping inside. It's not like I had a choice.

The bar was empty which was understandable since it's still daytime. A man leaned against the counter scrolling through his phone.

    “Excuse me” I said “I saw the sign. Are you still hiring?”

   The man lifted his head and scanned me from head to toe.

   “You don't look like you're eighteen yet”

I smiled at the compliment “I'll be twenty-one this year”

 The man hummed “You have the kind of face that brings customers in. You're hired”

   “Really? You're not going to test my skills or anything? I don't know how how to mix drinks”

   He gave me a weird look “who says you'll be mixing drinks? Your job is to serve the guests and entertain them by doing what they ask of you. You'll start tonight. We close at midnight, hope you can handle it?”

     Midnight? Fabian's face flashed in my mind and my stomach twisted.

    “Are you in or not?” the man raised an eyebrow. “The pay is good and you will receive more from customers who like your services.”

   I clenched my fists “I'm in”

   “Good, I expect to see you tonight. One more thing” he glanced at my hands “don't come here with those, it's not good for business”

I glanced at the bandage in my hands “I'll remove them, it's not a problem at all” I quickly ripped them off my hands, ignoring the pain.

    He smiled in satisfaction “Nice, I'll see you tonight then.”

   I nodded.

    I grabbed a cheap meal at the convenience store on my way home. I couldn't get the text I received two days ago off my mind. Fabian hasn't made any move yet. What if it wasn't him? He still has two years in prison so how can he be out, maybe it was a prank by someone that knows our history.

Yes, that might be it.

I froze when I reached my apartment.

Damien was standing there.

 I sighed, already exhausted. “What are you doing here?”

    He held up a small bag “Brought you some medicine”

 “I said I don't need them, and besides I'm already fully healed”

I brushed past him and unlocked my door.

  Suddenly, he grabbed my hand.

I struggled “what's wrong with you? I said I didn't need them”.

  “Why did you remove the bandage? Your hands are not fully healed yet. Let's go in so that I can wrap your hands back, there are spare bandages in the bag”

   I released my hand from his grip and glared at him “Don't behave like we're close. Get lost, I don't need the bandage or the drugs. You're interfering too much and it's pissing me off”

  Damien stepped back and scanned my face “You look tense, where have you been?”

  I almost wanted to applaud his ability to ignore my words “None of your business” I muttered.

    When he saw that my mood was becoming worse than it already was, he set the medicine down and walked back to his car.

    “I'll see you on Monday,” he said before driving away.

I exhaled slowly.

 For a long time, I just stood there staring at the medicine.

Then, finally, I picked it up.

After eating the food I bought from the convenience store. I stretched on my bed, my phone buzzed beside me.

   Mia [Don't forget it's the weekend, we're meeting today]

A small smile tugged on my lips.

  Mia, the only ray of sunshine in my life. I texted back, telling her to look for a restaurant while I got ready.

   She chose a small, cozy restaurant. When she saw me, she grinned. “You look like hell”

  I smiled at her taking a seat in front of her “And you look as pretty as ever” I wasn't lying. The girl was pretty, she had long flowy hair, fair, flawless skin, a face and body fit for models and a smile that could light up anyone's world. But she was too lean.

   I frowned and called the waiter, ordering her favourite meals.

   “You don't have to order so much,” she said.

   “You're too thin. Don't you eat enough? Is the money I give you not enough? Should I add extra?” I enquired.

   She shook her head “I'm fine, you look like you need the money more than me, you seem to lose weight anytime we meet.” She sighed “I'm worried about you Lee. Is anything going on? You can tell me I'm an adult. I can help you”

   I ruffled her hair “An adult hmm? You're not even eighteen yet”

  “I'll be eighteen next month!” She frowned and fixed her hair “Why do you always do this? I've warned you to stop touching my hair”.

   The food came in “Eat up, the food is here”

   She pouts “You don't tell me anything”