Chapter 5 Jobless Morning

EMERALD

He'll spare me?

"Oh, really? How kind... and noble," I force a smile and then scowl immediately. "I don't need your pity. You can enjoy the rest of your shots." I take Alicia's hand, gesturing for us to leave.

As I walk past him, I hear him sing-song. "Stay away from relationships."

"Asshole," I mutter, hoping it's loud enough to get to his ear. But seriously, why are the handsome ones ‌insane assholes?

"What was all that about?" Alicia, who had been quiet the whole time, asks. Wasn't she the one talking about killing my ex and his girlfriend minutes before the commotion?

She had joined the bartender in enjoying the show. I stop and narrow my eyes at her. "You were seriously enjoying that, weren't you? You are always quick to jump in and put an asshole in his place."

"That wasn't just any asshole, Emerald," she folds her arms.

"What do you mean? An asshole is an asshole."

"You really don't know who that man is?" She asks, her face now displaying concern.

"Of course I don't, do you?"

She scoffs. "I should teach you more about this city."

Now, this is troubling. "Why? Who is he?" I probe.

"I won't tell you this one. You'll have to find out for yourself, honey," she smiles. "Can't wait for your reaction when you do."

I gasp, ready to shoot her with questions, but she doesn't let me utter another syllable.

"Now, which club are we headed to next?" She asks, looking around. "Drinks on me this time."

✰ ✰ ✰

I wake up to the incessant ringing of my phone. My head weighs a ton. My world is spinning. Literally. When the fog clears, I check my phone to find Gabriel's missed calls.

Ugh.

It's a weekday. I'm about to shuffle out of bed when I remember I have no job. Just a reminder in my brain that makes me groan at Gabriel's name on the screen. On that note, I hit the block button, even though I can recite the numbers in my sleep.

A few minutes later, I'm still growling when my mother walks in with a glass of water and painkillers.

My savior.

I sigh, receiving the salvation package from her. I gulp down the glass of water. Only then do I realize I didn't tell her where I was going last night. Hell, I even missed dinner.

And how did she know I needed painkillers this morning?

The answer is unequivocal. She's my mother.

And she has been reading my mind all this time. I didn't even tell her what happened yesterday. After my conversation with Gabriel, I left in a rush.

I decide to explain my joblessness, but I hide the part where a woman threatened to make my life a living hell.

However, my mother tries to handle it calmly, giving me the kind of hope that's difficult to accept. "You'll find another one," she says softly.

Yeah, sure. Because in New York, jobs come running to you even when you don't have papers.

"That's going to be hard. You're talking to someone who doesn't have papers. I was hoping for something better, Mother. I want us to live comfortably. Furthermore, I wanted to save enough to get back to college. Time waits for no woman."

"You're beating yourself up so much, dear. We'll figure things out."

Yeah, what else can I do? I'm about to toss myself into the harsh job-hunting world.

After the small talk with her, she lets me rest, but not without saying, "Gabriel is a fool. Forget him. As we always say, past is past, present is a gift, and ...." She pauses to let me finish.

"And the future is bright." I groan.

✰ ✰ ✰

I VISIT THE HOSPITAL in the afternoon, feeling much better. My brother's condition is still the same, according to the doctor.

I'm standing before him as the sounds of beeping machines fill the room. They could be annoyingly monotonous, but their silence would be a nightmare I never want to imagine.

For the past four days, my brother's life has been dependent on them. He's been lying here, pipes connected to his body. A sight that breaks my heart.

"You have to fight, Theo. I need you. I miss you." I move closer and hold his hand.

Watching my brother fight for his life makes tears threaten to roll down my cheeks, but I try hard to fight, smiling when I think about how he would scold me for letting my tears fall.

How will you see the bright future if your eyes are covered with tears? He would say.

My one-sided conversation with my brother doesn't last long. I don't have much to say, since I have to go ‌job hunting. As much as I'd love to be here, if he opens his eyes....when he opens his eyes, the medical bills won't pay for themselves, and my parents already have a lot on their plate.

As I walk out of the hospital, I notice two guys a few meters in front of me. The only reason I notice them is that their focus is on me.

They are dressed in all–black and are the complete opposite of each other.

One is bald, and the other has his black hair tied into a small ponytail. One is taller than the other, slimmer than the other.

I'm holding a tiny bit of hope that they don't want anything to do with me, which is funny because their eyes are glued to me. Gosh, I should stop with these tiny bits of hope. They usually end up disappointing.

My theory is confirmed when I try to walk past them, and they block my way.

"Not so fast, young lady." The bald one grins, towering over me. Although they look intimidating, I try to mask my frustration. I don't want to cower and give them the satisfaction.

"Emerald. You're even hotter in person," the haired one says, with the same grin that makes me uncomfortable. The only consolation I give myself is that we're in public. They wouldn't try anything to hurt me, would they?

But...how do they even know my name?

"What do you want?" I ask, a hint of fear evident in my voice.

"She looks relentless," says the bald one, and they laugh. "We want to talk about Theo," he announces.