𝑁𝑂 𝐿𝑈𝐶𝐾
1141 Words
ᗰᗴᖇIՏ
☆
The sky was Cirrus blue.
Meris stepped out of the glass building, clutching her files tightly against her chest.
She sighed, another no, another rejection. This was the fourth company today. But she couldn't blame them , could she? , even she wouldn't employ an uneducated fellow to become a liability in their company.
She walked onto the street, her mind wandering. It had been a week since she lost her job , Liam—everything .
Even her apartment .
The agency hadn't even given her extra time . Her access card had been deactivated , her things packed into boxes and left with security like she was some instrument to be used and dumped.
If it weren't for Leya , she'd probably be living on the streets now.
She inhaled deeply as her stomach rumbled ; she was starving.
She hadn't eaten anything since she left home.
Luckily for her , She had some change left .
Not much—but enough.
She spotted a small café across the street and made her way toward it, hoping to get something cheap.
The bell above the door chimed softly as she entered.
For a moment, she just stood there.
Then she walked to an empty seat near the window and sat down, placing her files on the table.
The bell above the café door chimed again.
Meris didn’t look up .
She was too busy calculating which item on the menu would cost the least and still keep her from collapsing halfway home.
Then she heard a laugh from behind her . She turned around to look and then she saw him "Liam".
Walking into the cafeteria like he owned it , with pride that disgusted her greatly and beside him
"Keisha" her sister, or should she say stepsister since they only shared their mother.
Meris’s stomach twisted, and it wasn’t from hunger anymore.
Then Liam saw her.
Recognition flashed across his face, quickly followed by satisfaction.
“Well, well !” he said, his lips curling slightly. “If it isn’t Meris."
Keisha turned to look.
Her eyes scanned Meris slowly—from her simple clothes to her tired face, to the files on the table.
They both walked towards Meris and sat at her table.
“Oh,” Keisha said lightly. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”
" I don't remember inviting you to join me " Meris shot back. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction they wanted.
Liam leaned closer and peaked at her files.
“Job hunting?” he asked his voice filled with mockery
Meris met his eyes.
“Yes.”
He chuckled softly.
“That must be difficult.”
Keisha tilted her head. "heard the agency replaced you " She added " now you see how important it is to be educated , because at the end of the day people are still going to pick the educated or rather the wealthy one ".
Meris was hurt , but she was not going to give them the satisfaction they wanted." well I'd have been a woman of literacy and affluence if one of us didn't waste the scholarship she got by stealing another's identity to go to Harvard and then went on ahead to steal the other's man". She said with a smirk . Keisha's expression tightened , she didn't expect such audacity let alone reply from Meris.
Meris adjusted her folder and stood up .
“I hope things work out for both of you,” she said sincerely. She turned and walked away.
The ride home was quiet, The sun had already begun to set by the time she reached Leya’s apartment. She unlocked the door and stepped inside.Leya wasn’t home yet. Meris placed her folder on the side table and sank into the couch.
She wasn't even hungry anymore , she sat thinking about all the companies , she had visited, and got rejected by "screw them " , She thought , they'd never bring down her spirit. She concluded that since she couldn't get a job as a secretary , she'll apply as a cleaner in any Field. "what do I have to loose anyway? " She said to herself.
The door opened suddenly.
“Hey, I’m back—”
Leya’s voice cut through Meris’s thoughts.
Meris blinked, startled, turning slightly on the couch.
“Sorry,” Leya said, dropping her bag near the entrance. “Did I scare you?”
Meris shook her head lightly.
“No… I was just thinking.”
Leya walked closer, “So,” she said, sitting beside Meris. “How was job hunting today?”.
Meris lowered her gaze.
“I stopped looking for secretary jobs,” Meris said quietly.
Leya frowned. “What do you mean you stopped?”
"I am going to apply as a cleaner " nobody wants a non-graduate as a secretary, I mean you can't blame them, can you?".
Leya didn’t speak immediately.
“Meris…” she said softly. “You used to be an influential model".
“I know.”
“You used to work in an agency.”
“I know.”
“You don’t have to—”
“I need money,” Meris interrupted gently. Her voice genuinely tired .
“I don’t care what job it is,” Meris continued. “Office cleaning, building cleaning, whatever. As long as it’s honest work and I can survive and get off your shoulders ".
"I'm not complaining about you being here ". Leya interrupted.
"I know, I just don't want you stressing over a mature and able-bodied adult like myself ". Meris added.
Leya’s heart tightened, She reached out and squeezed Meris’s hand.
“You’re stronger than you think, you know that?”
Meris gave a small, tired smile.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m just stubborn .Leya pulled her into a hug and both giggled.
Leya stood up suddenly.“Okay, enough heavy thoughts for today.”
Meris blinked. “Where are you going?”
“Hungry people should not make life decisions,” Leya declared.
Meris laughed softly. “Is that a scientific theory?”.“Yes,” Leya said seriously. “ And I just invented it.”. She walked toward the small kitchen area. “Let’s see what we can eat,” Leya continued, opening the refrigerator door and scanning quietly .
"Can we cook Spaghetti aglio e olio?"
"With eggs?" Meris asked.
"Yes".
“Approved.”
When the spaghetti was ready, they served it on two simple plates and sat near the small low table in the living room.
Meris took a small bite first.
Then smiled.
“This is good.”
Leya smirked. “Everything tastes better when you are alive and hungry.”
Meris chuckled softly.
- Writer
