"Hmm. . . Eron Yun is that right?"
"Yes, I've come to see about my termination?"
Eron had almost stayed up the entire night. Anxiety clawed at his stomach like a fowl beast. His mind always wandering towards the worse case scenario. That night was nearly a sleepless one because of it.
The receptionist clicked a pen as she patiently explained, "As you know we have a strict policy about complaints. If you receive three we have no choice but to terminate your membership."
"I am aware, but I thought if you had a year of good behavior your complaints would be removed!"
"Yes we do have a policy like that."
"My first two complaints were from my first year. Ever since then I hadn't had a single one!"
"Hmm, while errors with the system are rare it's not foolproof. I can check for you, but if there isn't anything wrong I cannot help you."
"Thank you!"
Typing on a pc the receptionist casually scrolled through lines of information. The light from the monitor reflected off a pair of low hanging sunglasses. Eron tried desperately to read the reflection, but failed miserably.
Pausing her movements she explained, "It seems what you said is true, and your first two complaints have been voided."
"Then-?!"
"But you received three complaints just recently. All within the same week."
"What?!"
A flicker of annoyance lingered in the receptionist's eyes. Maintaining her professionalism she continued, "I can show you the jobs that gave complaints, but I'm afraid there's nothing I can do."
"Yea please!"
His mind scrambled. Every job he did up until now he did perfectly. He had to! Just a few mess ups and his main source of income was out the window. He learned that lesson early!
Lifting a tablet the receptionist showed Eron the contents, "These are the three jobs and the complaints."
Scanning his eyes across the tablet his face turned into a frown. The jobs shown were ones he remembered. They were ones he gained praises for!
So why was there complaints suddenly? Even the complaints listed didn't make any sense.
{Complaint: Was incredibly impolite during the job. I understand not everyone wants to do jobs like these, but I felt incredibly heart broken!
Additionally he left a bit of a mess too.}
{Complaint: Was rude from start to finish. Not a single bit of professionalism. Truly I expected better from a large company. Won't be paying for your services again.}
{Complaint: Job was half done and he insisted to be paid. I didn't want conflict so I obliged, but I can't help but feel like I got scammed!}
The receptionist slowly took the tablet back, "Perhaps you had a bad week, we all have them. Within six months you can reapply for a membership, but if this happens again you will be permanently banned."
Six months. . . ?
He didn't have six months! He only had one! No. . . even less than that! How was he supposed to come up with the money?
"There has to be a mistake! I've always worked hard, I've been a member for years! My record should show that this behavior is an anomaly!"
The receptionist shook her head, "I'm afraid there's not a thing I can do."
"Could you contact someone who can help?"
"I can't do that, if you have an issue you can report it through email. A response will get to you within one or two business days. However it's very likely they will tell you the same thing I'm telling you now."
"So I really have no other options?"
"I'm afraid not sir."
Life was drained out of Eron. The liveliness in his expression fizzled out like an extinguished candle. Thanking the receptionist he then left the building. His feet nearly dragged across the floor. He found there was hardly any energy in his body to keep moving.
Time turned to a blur. Eron kept walking, his mind in a constant turmoil. This was everything he knew. Even though he spent all his free time searching for a steady job the OJA was the only place that accepted him. Despite all his efforts the only way he knew how to make money was through the OJA. Now that was gone. . .
His knees trembled and nearly caused him to fall. Leaning against a nearby wall he slowly slid to the ground. Lying there with a blank expression he failed to move as time continued to pass. Overwhelmed with shock and despair he soon found himself without thought. Like this everything warped together.
After a few hours it began to snow, the cold snowflakes failing to wake Eron from his stupor.