He Belongs To Me

The time

I hear the sound of knob twisting and turns back, it's my aunt.

"Celine!" She calls me, smiling.

I signal her to lower her voice and gesture towards Jack's sleeping form.. she mouths oh and walk in a lighter step towards me.

She stops in front of me and looks me all over.

"Celine you're becoming very thin.. Are you not eating enough?" She asked with a frown, still accessing me.

I laugh lightly.

"Aunt, I have enough food back home" I reply her... Which is a big fat lie.

"Oh, I see... It must be because you don't get enough rest...."

She drops the flask in her hand on the small table in front of us and take my hands in hers.

Oh God! I know where this is going....

"I know things are hard now and you're working hard for us... but don't forget to rest and eat.. don't forget to read your books....."

I tone her off since I already memorize all she's about to say.. she tells me this everytime I visit.

"... do you understand me?"

"Yes, Aunt, I understand!"

She smiles and glances at Jack before turning back to me.. she caresses my hair.

"Did you meet with doctor Christopher?”

“Yes”

“What did he say? I have been asking him and he keeps telling me Jack is getting better...”

She sighs.

“.. but I feel like he's hiding something from me!”

I wanted to tell her the truth but recalling doctor Christopher's advise, I decided against it.

“Aunt, Jack is really getting better, don't think too much!”

She stares at me as if she doesn't believe me.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Aunt!"

"But...."

Blaring of my ringtone cuts her off, I quickly reach for it inside my bag and sees Gina's name (my best friend) flashing on the screen.

"Aunt, let me take this... It's Gina!"

Aunt nods and I quickly press the answer button.

"Hello, Gina..."

"Don't hello Gina me, miss Blake!" She screams and I move the phone away from my ear.

Her voice is so loud that even aunt can hear her even without the phone been on speakerphone.

"Where the hell are you, Celine?!"

I open my mouth to speak but her voice comes up again.

"Have you forgotten about your interview by 10am? It's starting now... Where. Are. You?"

I release a nervous laugh and grab my jacket from the bed, I signal my aunt that I'm leaving.

She nods and pecks my forehead, she waves me to leave. I wave her and hurry out of the ward.

"Celine? Celine, are you still there?"

"Er... Gine I'm.. er...."

What should I tell her, that I'm still at the hospital? She's so gonna be livid if I tell her that.

"Don't tell me you're not even close"

"Ok.. I won't tell you that"

I hear a bang and I smile, I said it.. she's gonna be so angry.

"Why aren't you there yet? Have you forgotten so soon how difficult it was for us to get...."

I roll my eyeballs.

"Fine, fine, Gina, I'm heading there now!"

She pause, then I hear her taking deep breaths to calm herself down.

"You really know how to rile me up!"

I laugh and she joins me.

"You're lucky you have my baby with you, or I swear I don't know how you'll make it in time!"

Her baby.. that's her old, rusty truck which she inherited from her grandpa.

I stop in front of the truck, I open the door and throw my bag in the passenger seat... I hop in.

"Alright, Gina, we'll talk later.. I'm about to hit the road!"

"Ok.. good luck, girly!"

"Thanks, I guess I really need that!"

"Muaaah!" She makes a long kissing sound.

"Muah!"

I hang up and step on the gas. I check my time, it's 9:49am... God, I have just ten minutes to get there.

God help me!

★★★

Finding a space in the parking lot, I park my car and step out... I walk towards the tall building and stop right in front of the big doors.

JAKE'S ENTERPRISES

Boldly written on top, I smile and breaths in the fresh air here.

I can't believe I'm attending an interview at my dream company, I intended to do my internship here after graduation.

My phone starts beeping and I reach for it in my pocket.. my eyes bulges out when I see what the time is reading.

9:59am!

I shove my phone in my pocket and rushes through the doors into the building... I head straight to the receptionist.

"Hello, welcome to Jake enterprise... How may we help me?" She greets me with a warm smile.

"Interview... I'm one of the candidates!" I reply.

She looks at me with a frown, then checks her wristwatch.

She sighs and points to an elevator.

"Take the elevator, the interview is holding at the 19th floor!"

"Thank you!" I said and rush to the elevator without wasting time.

Thankfully, someone steps out of the elevator. I jumps in and tap the 19th button.

I don't know if it's because I'm already late or if this elevator is actually slow...I groan and lean my back on the wall of the elevator.

Finally, I hear a ding sound. The elevator doors open and I step out... I begin to walk down the floor.

Until I see a group of young girls like me, sitting on a bench.. see chatting together and some just sitting on their own.

They're all dressed formally, I guess they came for the interview too.

But the thing is, I don't know if the interview has not started yet.. or if they're done and waiting for results.

I move closer to a girl whom I deemed friendly, I wave her and greet her with a polite smile.

"Hi, I'm Celine!"

"Hi, I'm Rita Orson!" She smiles back.

"Er... I wanna know if the interview has started"

She nods.

"Yeah, it's just getting started.. someone is inside the office!"

I smile and breath out in great relief.. I'm lucky!

"Thank you!" I told her.

She nods and turns away from me, not the type that keeps friends?... Well, at least she answered my question.

I look around and sees a space in one of the benches.. I quickly head towards it and sits down.

Then I begin to arrange my credentials.

Suddenly, I hear my name being called, I stood up at once and rushed towards the lady that called me.

"You're next!" Was all she said before going inside.

I adjust my dress and put on a smile, I open the door and step into the office.

A very beautiful lady sits on a big chair, facing her laptop.. she seems to be a few years older than me.. I think 2 or 3 years.

My eyes scan her quality dress, I can feel her grace from her sitting posture.. she look so calm, like a sophisticated lady.

I guess I was too busy admiring her that I didn't notice she's already staring at me... she clears her throat and that woke me up.

I blink in embarrassment.

"Miss Blake right?" She asked.

"Yes, ma'am!"

She must have known my name from my CV I submitted online last week.

"Miss Celine, what time did you arrive at Jake enterprise?"

Oh? Is this how they start their interview here?

"Miss Blake?"

"Huh?"

"What time did you arrive at Jake enterprise today?" She asked again.. narrowing her eyes at me slightly.

I can't let her know I arrive late else I can't guarantee I'll get the job.

A little white lie won't cause any damage... right?

"I.. I.. arrive.."

I pause and clear my throat, I should speak firmly so she won't detect I'm lying.

"I arrived at 9:30am!" I answered.

She puts her elbow on the chair's armrest and rests her chin on her palm.

"Are you sure you arrived at 9:30?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

She didn't say anything more, she simply presses a few buttons on her laptop and turns it to face me.

"Who's this walking through those doors?" She asked.

My mouth hangs open as I find words to defend myself.. but I found nothing to say.

I mean, even a kid can clearly tell it's me, there's no way I can deny it.

"Is that you, Miss Blake?"

"Yes, ma'am.. but there's a perfect explanation for...."

"I don't need any perfect explanations!" She cuts me off.

I open my mouth to defend myself but a glare from her shuts me off.