We chose this life

Chapter 4 - The beginning

"Wait... wait... Got it! Let's sit down now!" my brother, Kosta, couldn't hide his excitement when he caught the WiFi signal from a cafe behind the palm tree.  It was the only place where a free WiFi existed in the whole village in which we were staying the entire month before heading back home. The palm tree had a low circular wall around it, made in poured concrete mixed with stones, which everybody used as an improvised, very uncomfortable bench, only to get a bit of WiFi to check the latest news and reply to urgent matters. As much as we didn't like using the technology so often during our time at the seaside, we would occasionally check messages from people who needed our, somewhat, prompt replies. For Kosta who was trying to impress a girl he recently met back home, every second below the palm tree counted. I, on the other hand, was secretly hoping to get some answers about the vacancy for which I applied during my brief stay at hometown before packing the bags for a month-long holiday at the seaside. How disappointing to find the inbox of my email empty.

"Kosta... It's getting hotter and hotter. Let's go back to our apartment." I suggested while wiping off the sweat from my forehead."Yes, you are right. Let's go," he said without even blinking.

"So that's it? No more texting to this mysterious girl you met and won't tell me about?"

"No, I've had enough of chatting. Besides, it's not like we are having something serious, you know."

"I wasn't aware of it, and I don't want to discuss it. But honestly, doesn't it bother you that it's all just a game for you two?" I protested slightly, although I knew it's my brother's business and I shouldn't be judging.

"Why should it? If we both think it's fun playing this game, as you call it, why would it bother us?"

I knew he was right. Between the two of, I was always feeling certain discomfort to have these frivolous relationships, and I never accepted being in one. I wouldn't say I liked thinking about even the slightest possibility of being the hurt one, or on the contrary, being in the shoes of the one who will hurt the other. Kosta was the opposite; he didn't mind as long as it is not serious before he feels he should settle down. I sometimes even wondered if he wanted ever to do so.

I checked once again my phone only to realize I had a message on f*******:. I didn't pay much attention to who the sender was, I just swiped my screen to check the content. To my surprise, it was coming from Michael.

M: "Hello, Annie, it's been a while. How have you been?"

How on earth...? Oh yes, right, I did befriend him on f*******: way before we even met. Based on the number of our mutual friends and famous f*******: suggestions, I figured we know each other from one of few late-night parties at the university campus where Nathan and Marc always dragged me against my own will. Now that it dawned to me, I could focus on replying to Michael.

A: "Hello, Michael. It's nice to hear from you. I've been great as a matter of fact. How about you?"

M: "I've been doing great as well. How are things since you got back?"

A: "Oh, I am still at the seaside with my brother."

M: " Really? When are you coming back? Weren't you supposed to be two months away?"

A: "Yes, another three more weeks to go. ;)"

M: "Wow, that is so long. Anyway, how are things at the seaside? Are you enjoying it?"

A: "Yes, I sometimes wish that I never leave this place. But, I still have to come back and figure out what to do next. I'll maybe leave to another country and start fresh."

As I finished typing, I've noticed that Michael was not online anymore. Meanwhile, Kosta cleared his throat and got up from the little circular wall around the palm tree. I already forgot about the brief exchange I had with Michael, and my brother and I silently agreed it is high time we went back for the long-awaited siesta. Once we slid out phones in our pockets, we started dragging ourselves towards the apartment we rented. There was no way we could walk fast enough with all the heat melting every inch of our body. We did, however, stop at the stand with fresh fruits and vegetables on our way back and bought a big watermelon from the old mustachioed man. Kosta carried it uphill and up the stairs of the house where we booked a nice two-bedroom apartment for our stay.

"Finally!" he sighed from relief while putting the watermelon into the bathtub for me to wash it.

"Thanks, Kosta. I'll take care of the watermelon; you go and take a nap."

"You are great, sis. Thanks!"

I quickly washed the uneven skin of the watermelon we bought, cut it in half and put both parts in the fridge to cool it down so we can have something fresh to eat in the upcoming days. Kosta was already sleeping, and I sneaked into my room, took off my sandals and collapsed on the bed. It wasn't long before I closed my eyes and wandered to the world of dreams.

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And so our holiday ended, quite quickly, in my opinion. Kosta and I packed our bags and went to buy the tickets for the ferry. It will be a long ride before reaching our home. We had an hour on the ferry, two hours of waiting for the bus and then another nine hours of the ride. I wasn't very fond of the trips by bus, but it was the only way to get to this beautiful island. I didn't want to leave.

While Kosta was busy buying our tickets, I sat below the palm tree and checked once again my emails. In the sea of junk mails, I regularly got from different websites I followed, my sight fell on one particular message. When I read who it was from, I couldn't believe my eyes. The CEO of the company where I applied for a vacancy before our holiday finally responded. I felt my fingers shaking as I was reaching to click on the email and read its content. Everything depended on what's inside, my whole life and the decision I will have to make from this moment onward.

"Dear Ms Nobokov, I read your email and CV with great interest. I must say that I am positively surprised to see such a strong resume. I want to schedule a meeting with you to discuss the possibility of working for us. How about we meet in three weeks in my office in Longfield? Would Wednesday 13th August at 10 a.m. work for you? Kind regards, Thomas Van Denkx."

I replied immediately without even thinking about how I would get to Longfield. This was a chance I couldn't miss; otherwise, I would have to start planning my life elsewhere. I told Thomas that I accept to meet him when he proposed. Once I hit the send button, I got a notification from f*******:. It was Michael's reply to our last conversation.

M: "Leave to another country? Is that confirmed?"

I was puzzled by his reactions.  We didn't know each other at all, and he was showing hints of fear that was obviously related to my life decisions. I didn't have much time as I heard Kosta letting me know the ferry arrived, so I recorded my reply.

A: "Apparently, I will have to come back as I have a scheduled meeting with a company where I applied for a certain position before I left for my holiday. Nothing is yet confirmed, but I might stay if I get the job."

There was no more time to wait for Michael's reply. I had to join Kosta and embark on the ferry. Bye-bye sweet island, I will miss you, I thought as I climbed to the dock facing the small port of the village. Kosta was sitting on a bench with his eyes closed, enjoying the morning sun. I sat next to him and said quietly:

"I might get a job when I go back."

He turned to me and looked me straight in the eyes.

"That's wonderful news, Annie. Now I am so excited for you!" Kosta couldn't hide his enthusiasm.

"Nothing is confirmed, I just have a meeting with the CEO to discuss the possibility of working for this big company," I said and looked down to hide my fear.

"I know you will get it. After all, Annie is not a quitter, and she always finds a way to get what she wants." Kosta lightly brushed my chin with his fingers to lift my head so I can look at him.

"Thank you for believing in me, little brother." I hugged him tightly. It always felt so good when I confined in him. Kosta and I were extremely close as a brother and sister, and we could always sincerely talk about anything.

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As soon as I got to the apartment, I unpacked my luggage and started searching for a way to get to the company office where I was supposed to meet Mr Van Denkx in two weeks. I figured out there is a train that leaves from the Blakesfield station close to my apartment, and I would have to walk an additional thirty minutes until I reach the office. There was the option of taking a bus from the Longfield train station, but according to Google Maps, I had to wait around fifteen minutes and then have a ride of another fifteen minutes. I decided to walk before the meeting. I believed this would help me calm myself and feel confident. I went to the railway company website to buy the round-trip ticket when I was interrupted.

DING.

I took my phone before finishing the purchase and unlocked the screen—a message from Michael.

M: "Hey, are you dead? :) What became of your?"

A: "Oh, sorry Michael, I was busy these past few days. I didn't mean to ignore you. Right now, I am back in my apartment that I am renting, and I am trying to figure out how to get to Longfield for my meeting. What about you?"

M: "That's nice. Would you like to go out? Just the two of us?"

Very subtle, Michael, I couldn't help but think sarcastically. Just like that, huh? At this point, I thought of Michael as a new friend. He seemed nice, if one can conclude that from a few phrases we exchanged face to face before I went on holiday. Besides Nathan and Marc, I didn't really have many friends, so I thought Michael could be a new addition.

A: "Sure, why not? I am free most of the time, so let me know when it suits you the best."

M: "How about this Saturday? You've got to choose one of the following: 1. a movie in one of the cinemas I have in mind, 2. a wine bar (the one I had in mind has an excellent choice of all sorts of wines) or 3. a small jazz concert (though I am not sure if you like jazz music, plus for this one, we would have to wait another month, it's on 6th September). So, let me know... ;)"

A: "I adore jazz! But 6th September I already have something planned out. I'll go for the wine bar. ;)"

M: "Alright then, I'll make a reservation for... how about 7.30 p.m.?"

A: "Sounds perfect. Send me the address. I'll meet you there on Saturday. ;)"

While waiting for Michael to type the wine bar address, I quickly went back on the railway company's website and bought the tickets I needed to get to Longfield. Meanwhile, Michael finished his typing, and I thanked him for the address and taking care of the reservation. It was time to take a shower after the airport and unpacking.