"You're fired!"
I can still hear my boss's voice over and over again. I can't believe I just got fired by someone who trusted me for almost six years.
Why is it so hard for him to believe that it wasn't me who's trying to steal his properties? I was just a victim of accusation!
Now, I don't even know how to start again.
While I'm walking in the rain without an umbrella, my co-worker called.
"Hey!" Isla greeted.
Isla is one of my co-workers, I mean 'ex' co-worker who became my friend.
"Did our boss said sorry for accusing you?" She asked.
I just sighed and let my tears fall down.
Perks of crying under the rain? Nobody can see your tears.
"He fired me," I answered, trying not to stutter.
"What?!" She almost shouted. "Why? How? Did he seriously choose to believe in that slut instead you?"
I just cried and cried.
"I'll talk to him, Liv," she offered.
"You don't have to," I answered.
Because it just won't make any sense. He accused me of stealing his money. That means that he doesn't trust me anymore. Why would I work for someone who doesn't trust me?
"So, what's your plan now?" She asked worriedly.
"I don't know," I sounded so weak. "But thanks for calling. I really appreciate it."
"Just call me when you need anything, okay? I'll see what I can do," she said.
"Yeah, bye."
I continued walking and when I got home, I immediately took a bath.
"Summer?" I called.
Summer is my younger sister. She's the only family I got after our parents died in a plane crash, six years ago. She was 10 and I was 17 back then. I had no choice but to sell our house and some of our things to continue with our lives. However, the money is still not enough. Summer had an operation four years ago and the hospital bills are so much higher than I thought. So, I decided to work so that my sister can continue her studies. Now, we're living together in an apartment which I pay every month.
"Summer?" I called again but she didn't respond.
I got worried so I went to her room.
I found her lying on the floor with a blanket.
"Summer!" I shouted worriedly.
She was so hot and her skin feels like burning.
I carried her up to her bed and I immediately went to the kitchen to look for medicine. Luckily, there are still some for her fever. I filled a bowl with cold water and I took a clean towel from her drawer.
"Summer, can you get up?" I said while soaking the towel in the cold water.
I helped her to lean on the headboard of her bed.
"Why didn't you call?" I was a little bit angry.
It could have been worse!
"I thought t-that," she stuttered. "It was just a headache."
"Next time even it's just a headache, call me. Okay?" I reminded her.
She nodded and I gave her the medicine. I helped her hold the glass of water because she might drop it.
"I'll make soup for dinner," I said.
When she was already asleep, I heard someone knocking.
"Liv, open the door! It's freezing out here," I heard Alice's voice.
"Coming!" I rushed to the door.
She was a little wet when she entered. I grabbed a dry towel for her when she sat down to put down the food she bought.
Alice lives next door. She became my friend since I started living here.
"I'm so hungry!" She exclaimed.
Alice comes here often because she lives alone.
"This one's for you and this is for Summer," she pointed.
"She's sick," I explained.
"Why? What happened?" She asked worriedly.
"I just saw her lying on the floor. I was so scared," I said.
Summer gets sick often. There are some times that I have to rush her to the hospital so that they can provide her the perfect cure.
"How is she now?" She asked again.
"She's asleep. I need to take good care of her," I said while opening a can of beer.
"You won't go to work tomorrow?" She asked while opening a can of beer too.
"It's not like I still have a work," I sighed before taking a bite of my sandwich.
She looked so shocked when I said that. Well, who else wouldn't be shocked that I lose my job because of my boss whom I thought that trusts me the most?
"What?! Are you kidding me? Why?"
"Mike Egerton fired me two hours ago," I explained like I don't even care about it anymore.
But what I'm really worried about is how am I supposed to pay for my debts. I haven't been paying rent for three months. Thankfully, the landlord gave me some time to pay her.
That's why I really need to get a job sooner.
"No way," she exclaimed. "Did you just say that your boyfriend fired you?"
She was clearly teasing me.
"Alice, he's definitely not my boyfriend. I would rather kiss a frog than date someone who can be tricked easily by a criminal," I said then shook my head in annoyance.
The truth is Mike has always been my friend. Almost all of my co-workers thought that me and him are dating secretly because he always gives me flowers like he's giving me a hint that he's already courting me. Well, I did say that I appreciate everything he does for me. But I also said that I have a lot of responsibilities and I don't have time for romantic relationships. From that day on, he started to make me work overtime like he's been wanting me to pay for shutting him down.
I don't plan on taking back what I said to him because I was just being honest that I'm not ready for those kinds of things.
"Criminal? You mean the new employee that you said before?" She asked before eating a piece of French fries.
"Yup. To be honest, I heard her talking to someone on the phone about stealing Mike's properties. I didn't have enough proof so I decided to keep it first. Then earlier, Mike went with her at my office and then boom," I made an action with my hands. "I got fired right away."
"Did that bitch have a proof when she accused you?" Alice asked.
"That's why it hurts," I sighed. "She doesn't even have a proof but Mike still believed everything she said."
"So, will Summer stop school for a while?" She asked.
"No," I denied. "Of course not. I won't let that happen. I'll look for another job as soon as possible."
"Do you want to work at Parker Hotel?"
Parker Hotel is where Alice is working.
"Alice," I sighed. "You know that I can't work there. I stopped studying, remember?"
When I first met Alice, she was already working at that hotel. She tried to find me a work on that company but they refused to give chance to those who didn't finish college. Their standards are so high.
"Tomorrow, there's a job interview for those who are willing to be Mr. Parker's secretary," she explained before drinking her beer.
"Mr. Parker? You mean the CEO of that hotel?" I asked just to make sure.
"Yes," she answered. "As long as you graduated high school, you are qualified for the interview."
I pressed my lips together.
"I can't go. Summer is still not well," I explained.
I can't leave her even it's just a fever. I'm traumatized as a big sister.
"Don't worry about Summer. Tomorrow is my day off. I can take care of her," she offered.
"No, Alice. You've done enough for me. But, thank you for the offer," I answered.
"Liv, you need this job. And, the starting salary is way higher than you'll expect it to be."
She was really pushing me on this interview.
"We're not even sure if I'll get the job," I said. "I'm sure that there's a lot better than me."
"This is the first time I heard you saying negative things," she said.
"It's because I'm not prepared," I answered before drinking.
I can't just go to that interview without being prepared. I should know how to answer the questions. Well, I'm not saying that I should memorize everything that the interviewer might ask me but at least some of it.
"Just do your best," she suggested. "That's what matters the most. Take it or leave it?"
I don't have a choice but to grab the opportunity.
The next day, I woke up at 8:00 AM. The job interview will be at 10:00 AM. I wore a peach-colored long sleeves and a black pencil skirt. My skirt is a bit small but I don't have anything to wear aside from this.
Alice is already here when I got dressed.
"Are you sure you'll be fine?" I asked her while fixing things in my bag.
"Of course. I'll take good care of Summer. I promise," she answered while making coffee.
"Wish me luck," I said. I'm kind of nervous for this.
"Goodluck!" Alice smiled.