Finished!
She finally took a deep breath and expelled it into the air, dropping the rag, the broom, and the rest of her cleaning materials onto the small cabinet in her kitchen.
Luisa turned her back and scanned the room, looking satisfied. Finally, she had her apartment clean and back in order. All that she needed now was a stable job.
She hoped she got one today. Well, fingers crossed.
Her hands automatically grabbed the phone on the counter and checked for any messages. Although she had not heard her phone make a sound, she still wanted to scan if she had missed anything.
"Nothing!" She muttered under her breath, a little disappointed. But what did she expect? A miracle.
Suddenly, companies would line up before her, begging her to work for them. She would be lucky if even one of those she applied for even gave her a second interview.
But she was glad she was not fired from her extra job last night. At least Cole made good on his promise that he would talk to her boss.
Still, what a coincidence that she would see her old friend at that party. Of course, it was his party. Therefore, he was likely to be there. But she did not realize it at first.
"Luis, are you home?" A knock followed, making her look at the door. She was not expecting anyone, but she knew that voice.
"Come in, Noreen. The door is open." Immediately, her friend strode inside the room, and shock covered her face.
"Wait, am I in the right apartment?" Noreen mocked her as she walked further inside the living room, inspecting the new arrangement of the place.
"Do you like it?" Luisa waved her hand to the air, enjoying the feeling of accomplishing something, even if it was as mundane as this.
She was not a slob, just unmotivated for the last few weeks. But today, she was changing her ways. She woke up with a renewed spirit. She thought she was dying yesterday, yet, she had a second chance. A bit dramatic, but she seldom felt this way.
"It is nice." Noreen strode straight to her kitchen and rummaged through her fridge for food. "But this needs replenishing." Finding the inside almost bare of necessities.
"Don't you have classes today?" She wanted to change the topic, not particularly interested in discussing her financial status.
Well, how could she buy more when she had less money left? Last night, she only received half of her pay which was understandable given the circumstance.
"I do, but I want to check on my friend. That is if she is still breathing." Her friend continued rummaging in her cabinets and found some chips.
"Of course, I am still alive. You could have called or texted to do that." Luisa uttered as she started washing the cup she used for coffee earlier. Now, her stomach was growling because it was almost lunch.
"But I have to see you. I heard what happened last night. Now, I am jealous." Noreen slumped down on the table, carrying a glass of instant juice and chips. "I should have been there if not for my damn exams this week."
Now, it was she who had her eyebrows raised on her forehead. Yes, something did happen last night. "Why would you be jealous that I almost drowned and died last night?" She asked, confusion plastered on her expression. "Are you in a death wish or something?"
She decided to get herself a drink and joined her friend at the table. The chips looked appetizing enough, especially when her stomach was growling.
"Not that. Of course, I still want to live a long life." Noreen snapped at her as her friend swiped her hand away from the chip. "You know this is not healthy food." But she munched on a mouthful of it before drinking her juice.
"Well, you are not a doctor yet, and I don't think I want you to be mine if you become one." Luisa snatched the chip away from her friend. "Now, why are you here again?"
She believed that they had gone off-topic. She was still curious about her friend's sudden appearance in her apartment. Noreen did not answer her question.
"Oh, about that." Her friend licked her fingers first before facing her again. "I hate you for not calling me and telling me about that kiss that brought you back into the land of the living."
"What the heck are you talking about, Noreen? Are you high or something?" She still did not understand.
"You don't know." This time, her friend looked at her funnily. "Wait." She pulled her phone out of her bag and started scanning the screen with her fingertips.
"If this is another of your nonsense, Noreen. I think you better get yourself checked into that hospital of yours." She was growing exasperated with her friend.
Noreen could be a genius, but sometimes, she was not funny, not at all. Having no choice, she waited until her friend shoved the phone in her face, making her look at the display on the screen.
It was a social media app showing a recent upload that was gaining popularity. But that was not what made her eyes bulge out of their sockets. It was the title.
PRINCESS FOR A NIGHT: SLEEPING BEAUTY WAKES UP WITH A SWEET KISS FROM A REAL-LIFE PRINCE.
Somehow the title alone made her shiver as if she could already guess the content of the video even if she had not seen it yet.
"Come on, watch it." Her friend encouraged her. But when she did not move, Noreen took it upon herself to press the play button.
She wanted to look away, but her eyes could not look away from the two people on the screen. They were kissing. Well, not precisely in that context. But his lips were on hers.
It was indisputable that whoever took the video edited the incident, but she was sure that was not what happened. However, it looked like the Prince was the one who saved her last night. All the while, she thought it was Cole.
"They posted this last night," Noreen informed her. "You just kissed a Prince." Her friend dreamily spoke again as she pulled the phone back and stared at the picture of the Prince.
"Oh my!" Luisa said with a trembling voice, covering her mouth in shock. She could feel herself hyperventilating as she wondered if many would recognize her in the video.
She pulled the phone again from her friend and checked again. Thankfully, they did not get her name, referring to her as Sleeping Beauty.
Maybe, after the hype, it would be buried with the rest of the million stories in there. Luisa started breathing again, feeling better after convincing herself that it was nothing.
"Are you ok?" Her friend asked concernedly, noticing her distress. But before she could answer her, her phone rang.
Automatically, she grabbed her phone and answered it, curious at the unknown number on the screen. "Yes," She said after clearing her throat.
"Is this Luisa Richmond?" The voice on the other line asked.
"Yes!" She again replied, wondering who was on the other line.
"We need you to report this afternoon if you are still interested in the Personal Assistant job you applied for." The voice stated on the line. "Well, are you still interested?" The girl on the line impatiently asked when she could not respond immediately.
She was still slightly dazed by the sequence of events as she stared at her friend, who was still scanning her phone while she searched her brain for a response.
"Ms. Richmond, are you still there?" The girl raised her voice higher, jerking her barely back to reality.
"Yes," Luisa responded. "Yes, of course, I am very interested. I will be there this afternoon." She added, listening to the rest of the instructions given to her.
She dropped her phone on the table and looked at her friend, still in a slight daze.
"I have a job."