Chapter 3 JOB HUNTING

The morning light seemed warm and inviting, waking Lilian up. As the memories of the previous night flooded her mind, it left her with a sense of mixed emotions. Lilian makes a conscious decision to shift her attention towards the more immediate and pressing needs that require her attention. Her primary concern at the moment is how she intends to secure a job quickly enough to sustain herself and pay for her rent. The fact that her landlord might evict her before she can figure things out looms large and adds to her mounting anxiety.

As Ethan turns around, Lilian takes a closer look at him in the morning light and notices some details she didn't catch the night before. She can't help but observe his features once again, and she feels intrigued by what she sees. Suddenly, Ethan makes a deep sound in his throat, and Lilian wonders what it could mean. Despite her curiosity, she remains respectful and doesn't pry into his personal space.

"He is handsome," she thought to herself.

Lilian couldn't help but be captivated by the man standing before her. His long, curly locks cascaded down his broad shoulders, framing his strikingly chiseled jawline. His lashes were so long and luscious that they could rival any woman's, and when he turned his head, his high cheekbones caught the light in a way that left her breathless. But it was his piercing blue eyes that truly mesmerized her - a rare and alluring shade that she couldn't help but get lost in.

Lost in her perusal of him, the chime of her phone starts her and she comes crashing back to reality.

Lilian realized that although she may have had a one-night stand with a stranger, it wasn't typical behavior for her.

She was always conservative by nature, which is why she refused to comply with her principal's requests, even though she knew it could cause her to lose her job, which is eventually what happened.

She decided to leave before he woke up. As it was, she felt very shy and would probably die of embarrassment if he were to wake up before she left.

Slowly, she slid from under the covers of the bed, picked her clothes from the floor, and hurriedly went to the bathroom to dress up.

A few minutes later, she comes out dressed and picks up her bag. Lilian stops a minute to admire Ethan on the bed, thinking to herself that this might be the only time someone this good-looking and charming would ever talk to her, much less show sexual interest in her again.

As she ponders on that idea, she slowly gets up and begins to walk towards the door. She reaches out and grasps the handle, turning it with a faint click before pulling the door open and stepping out of the room.

Stepping out onto the sidewalk, she walks down a few steps and enters into a Café not filled with a lot of people. She goes to a seat close to an open window and takes a seat while calmly observing the passersby outside the window. A waitress comes up to her seat and asks her what she would like. Lilain orders an Americano which is later brought to her by the waitress. She thanks her and picks up her drink to take a sip.

She sits there staring out the window for perhaps hours, not concerned or mindful of the time. Her thoughts were chaotic, wondering what life held for her now.

"I guess I will have to start job hunting again" Drops her head and bangs it on the table

"Just Imagining the stress of job hunting is already killing me," she says aloud not mindful of people around her.

She signs and continues looking out the window. She takes note of the passers-by, analyzing their lives by how they looked. Just then She sees a young lady walk hand in hand with a good-looking man.

"she must be so happy, she looks happy. Why can't I be like that? Beautiful, well loved. Happy with a stable job and just no stress, Struggles, and sadness whatsoever? I'm so tired" she says in her thoughts as she begins to sob.

She stays there like that for some time, silently thinking. After some time she comes to a conclusion

" I'm starting my job hunt today to earn money urgently," she tells herself.

She gets up and goes to the counter to Pay for her drink. After paying she asks the person manning the counter

"Is there a vacancy here"?

"No ma'am " the lady behind the Counter replies. Lilian thanks her and walks out.

While walking down the street, she asked for directions to the nearest internet cafe. She planned to use their computers to search for available job openings online.

After some time. She sees one and goes in. Once inside, she chooses a computer far from the door. Better to stay out of the way and avoid any distractions.

The gaming house is not as bust as it would be during late hours because it was still early in the morning; only a few patrons could be seen sitting in different chairs in front of some computers. The place, although quiet, was noisy but not rowdy due to the background noise coming from the computer systems working.

Lilain searches online for close to two hours, seeking various job entries. She thought to herself that the problem wasn't the lack of jobs, but, if the available jobs were easy for her to take on and if it were close to her place of work. Seeing as she needed to save up on cash to be able to foot her bills and also save up.

Eventually. She finds three job opportunities with good prospects for her. A receptionist at a clothing fashion store with a pay not good enough considering the bills she had to pay in a short amount of time. It is a stay-in housemaid for an average well-to-do family consisting of three children, two Boys, and a little girl.

The job entailed her being their nanny house help and teacher as well. The pay was good, the only thing being she has never been comfortable being in the atmosphere of others. Lilian had always been a loner because she was comfortable that way. But, she kept the job in the back of her mind.

The last job opportunity that she saw was a secretary Job at a place not too far from her house with easy access to a train station for days when she would feel Like taking the train instead of walking the short distance or as the case generally is with her, for days when she would wake up late. And the pay was extremely great. Getting only a month's wages would settle her money problems with a little left over for groceries.

She decided she would ask her best friend Tonia about it first before giving up on it.

On this thought, she gets up pays for the services, and walks out of the gaming hall into the busy, crowded street.

By this time it was already late afternoon and she decided to walk home, all the better saving up on much-needed cash. As she went, she passed by the park close to her house and stopped to look at the children playing in the park with their mothers close by watching over them, and remembered a time when she was like that as well. So free with no worries about what tomorrow and the future might bring.

"Enjoy it while it lasts little ones. Enjoy it" With that said, she turns and walks away.

Getting close to her house. She brings out her phone from her bag and calls her best friend who picks up the second ring.

"What's up best friend? How are you doing?" Tonia always had this amazing energy that made everyone around her feel happy. Her voice was so lively and cheerful that you couldn't help but smile and keep chatting with her.

"Not good Tonia. Not good at all", Lilian sighs.

" What's wrong Lilian? You don't sound too good." Tonia asks.

" I don't want to talk over the phone. Can you come over to my place this evening?" Lilian responds.

Knowing Tonia, she wouldn't say no, she was an amazing friend aside from always being curious.

"Of course I can. I Will be dear love. And I will bring a bottle of whiskey when coming. How does that sound?"

" heavenly. Thank you"

" You are welcome my love"

Lilain disconnects the call.

When she gets to her house she goes inside and closes the door behind her. For a minute she stands there in her small sitting room just staring at everything and suddenly she bursts into tears.

With tears streaming down her face, she looks up at the ceiling and whispers to herself,

"Why does it seem like bad luck follows me everywhere I go? Why can't I catch a break?"

Her mind races through all the times she's been let down or disappointed, leaving her feeling helpless and hopeless. She wonders if things will ever turn around for her or if she's destined to keep struggling.