a part-time job?!

It was late at night when the party’s finally over. Vi’s driver picked us up and we went home in a half-sane condition. Jeremy kindly accompanied me to the car and he kissed my hand before he closed the car door. What a night!

That’s what we call as a party after all. And the thing, it’s school again.

There’s this new gossip in my school and everybody’s talking about it. It’s about Alissha and Dean. They’re both my seniors and they’re expelled from Bardwood High because they both had sex and now Alissha’s pregnant. And that’s a pretty good reason to avoid Vi’s advice “to get a sex life”.

“See. I choose not to be pregnant, thanks.” I say in a low voice. We’re in class and our Math teacher, which is not any closer the word “kind”, is standing right in front of the class and explaining complicated topic which I don’t even understand.

“you won’t if you wear condom!” she retorts back. “and uh sorry, didn’t you have sex with Jeremy yesterday?”

What?

“No!” I automatically forget to lower my voice

“What?!” Mr. Harris has turned his head to face me.

“Uh, nothing.” And I can see clearly on his face like it’s stamped there that he thinks I’m a liar and wants to know why the hell I said “No!” in the middle of quiet room. So he embarrassed me in front of the whole class by telling me to do question number 5 on the black board. And as he wishes, I can’t do anything.

When the recess time finally arrives, the story of the expelled couple has reached our juniors and the whole school just can’t stop talking about it. Even teachers!

“So…why didn’t you had sex?! I thought you finally had sex after so long time since your ex, Edward. I saw you two went to the bathroom!” Vi really wants to know everything!

“It’s because I felt sick and he took me to the toilet. And then I threw up there.” I say, Vi winces “a lot.” I add.

“Lame you! I thought he will be the one for you if it’s not the shop keeper! I’ve arranged it so well and I also told Sean about this and I told Jeremy to dance with you and….”

Wait! What was that?

“You told Sean about this? And you told Jeremy to ask me to dance? So you set me up yesterday?!”

I feel rage rising in my whole body. It wasn’t his initiative like how I thought it was. I have just started to adore him and it turn out that he did that because Vi told him to!

“Uh.. well…. Actually not all! Not the taking you to the bathroom part or…or.. the kiss your hand part.” She swallows hard, doesn’t dare to look at me.

For real, I can’t believe she did that!

“You’re unbelievable Vi!” I say in anger and I turn my step and walk away.

The only thing to soothe me now is a bottle of Lavender aromatherapy that I bought in Sanctuary when I also bought one bottle for Vi. How could she do that? I just can’t believe her.

Suddenly my cell phone blips several times, I’ve just received a text message. It’s from Vi, saying, “I am so sorry Sugar…how could I ever make it up to you?”

And I simply delete it. I don’t care a thing she says.

“Sugar! Can I come in?!” a voice suddenly interrupts me. it’s Mom.

“Sure! Come in!” I say. The door opens with a click and she come in. she sits beside my bed and have a look at the aromatherapy.

“It smells nice, Dear.” She says after smelling it for some time. “Actually…there’s something I want to tell you.” She begins.

“What is it?”

“It’s about me. I have been fired from my job recently..”

“What? You? No way! You work so hard isn’t it?” I just can’t believe it! My Mom is a hard-worker and she works so damn hard everyday! How could she been fired?

“It’s not like that Sugar. It’s because I refuse to lie to a company! The company where I work asked me to manipulate the financial data to be shown to the government so that they think our company has done well. Which is not. The company is drowning right now, their profit can’t even cover the workers salary and that’s why some of my colleagues have been fired before me.” She explains. And that explains to me why she didn’t get ready for work the other day.

This is what I normally call as “survival of the fittest”. The stronger, the winner. And my mother is not stronger than the whole company who recruited her and that’s why she’s been dismissed from the job. Another “survival of the fittest” prove is that the company can’t win by the government and they will be closed sooner or later.

“Well then, search for other jobs! There are loads of companies that will surely accept you!” I say.

“It’s not that easy Sweetie… “ she exhales sadly and I suddenly feel angry with the stupid company that fired my Mom. How could they?!

“That’s why I come here Sweetie. I think in a hard situation like this, you should help me and your Dad.” Mom says.

“Anything!” I straighten my body as a symbol that I’m ready for anything.

“How about a part-time job? At least you can earn your own money so that I can stop giving you pocket money.”

What!?

Not a good idea!