"You want me to increase your working hours?" The woman questioned Melissa, as she cocked her eyebrow at her, strangely.
Melissa nodded slowly, her eyes pleading as she judged the woman's expression. The woman that stood in front of her was Regina Martinez, her boss at the day care. A short plump woman in her fifties, but her face looked quite young. Her short, blonde hair was tied up in bun and she cradled a baby in her arms.
Regina hushed the baby, while her face showed that she was deep in thought, pondering over Melissa's proposal. She looked up at Melissa and let out a regretful sigh.
"I'm sorry Melissa, but I can't increase the amount of hours you work. More hours mean more pay and I can't pay you more than I already am."
Melissa felt disappointed, but a part of her expected this type of reply. She knew that asking for more working hours was a huge risk and her request wouldn't be accepted, but she did either way, having a small ray of hope that it'll be granted.
Regina looked down at the baby in her arms and spoke. "I know you just lost one of your gigs and I sympathize with you, I really do. But this is a small day care that's barely even running. We don't have enough more to pay the other nanny's working here. I'm sorry Melissa."
Melissa gave a slow, wistful nod as she pursed her lips together, trying to stop herself from breaking down in front of her boss. Regina studied Melissa for a while, eyeing her face, the expression she made.
"I know how hard things are for you now. Why don't you go home and get some rest?"
Melissa looked up at her wide eyed, surprised. "But my shift is still on, I can't leave now."
Regina waved her off. "If you're worried that I'll deduct it from your pay, then you have nothing to worry about, I won't do that. Now go home and get some rest, sort your thoughts out, this is an order from your boss."
Melissa nodded and thanked her. Regina switch her focus to the child in her arms as Melissa walked out of the room. She got her coat and shoulder bag, before making her way to the reception. Melissa greeted the receptionist who returned her greeting and walked out of the entrance, almost in a hurry as she could not control her emotions any longer.
"Mel."
Melissa stopped dead in her tracks at the familiar voice calling her name. She turned to the direction the voice came from and saw Mark, standing at the left side of the entrance. He slid his hands into his pocket and walked over to her slowly, and somewhat quietly.
"Hey, I didn't get to see you yesterday. I heard you got fired and I'm really sorry, I wish I could've done something." He said, his voice filled with sadness and regret.
Melissa pursed her quivering lips together. She didn't need a constant reminder of how she had just gotten fired from her job. She was getting tired, and even angry each time she heard it.
"Well, you couldn't do anything about it, it's not your fault. Now why did you come to my workplace, again?" Melissa was getting impatient. All she wanted to do was run all the way home, bury her face in her pillow and cry, letting everything out.
"I uh," Mark looked around awkwardly, not meeting her gaze. "I wanted to get a reply to the question I asked you days ago."
Melissa took one good look at him. She suddenly felt a surge of anger, rage, not because of Mark, but her whole situation combined.
"Why are you still bothering me about that? Do I look like I want to talk about that right now? Do you think that it's so important to me that I'd still be brooding over it?" Melissa snapped. She was raging.
"If today's not fine, I can wait until you're re-"
"No," Melissa cut in sharply. "There isn't going to be a next time and I'm not going to think about it again. I'll give you an answer now."
Mark didn't look pleased. He frowned at her, a painful sadness on his face. He didn't speak. He just stared at her, waiting for an answer, but something about the way he looked, made Melissa know he most likely knew what her answer was going to be. She continued anyway, ignoring the sad look on his face.
"I'm not interested in you Mark, not just you, but the whole relationship, and love thing. I don't like it and I'm not willing to give it a try, maybe in my next life, but not now. So I'm going to have to say no to your question."
Mark looked to the ground and let out a shaky breath. Melissa could see his lips quivering and turned away from him.
"I thought we felt the same way Mel, I'm sure we did."
Melissa turned back to him, and gave him a puzzled look. "And what would make you think that?"
Mark looked up at her, his eyes showing how much he was hurting, but his lips were curled into a smile.
"The way you looked at me, the way you smiled at me. You even talked to me when the others didn't, you didn't think I was just a mean spirited person. So I thought..." Mark trailed off and shook his head.
"None of that matters now since you've just told me how you really feel." He walked closer to her and sighed. "But I still like you Mel, and I'm pretty sure I always will. No, it's not just like, I'm convinced it's love. I don't think I'll ever be able to get you out of my head, no matter how much I try. You mean a lot to me."
He moved away from her and gave her one final look before walking down the street. Melissa could only stare, unable to share his pain as she watched him walked away.