Reaia Evans
She was long gone while I sat in my newfound happiness.
"One that creates with people in mind" was how she described my company.
I was elated, ecstatic.
That had always been the idea behind this company.
It wasn't a money grabbing scheme like most were.
While it was an occupation and the aim was to make a living from it, the major aim had always been to create pleasant and complementary pieces. For all colors, shapes and sizes.
The motto of Mi En Dish Limited was: breaking the boundaries of fashion.
We serve the people and the most beautiful payment is the satisfactory smiles on their faces.
I twirled in my chair when Joan walked in, pulling me out of my reverie.
"How did it go?" She asked approaching the table.
"See for yourself" I told her.
She saw that the last applicant was approved and so were two others from the pile.
"Shall we go now? There's more work on your desk, mister C-E-O" She emphasized because I was doing these interviews as a break from my actual problems.
Ughhhhh
We exited through the back door to my private elevator and went up to my office.
.....
Reaia entered into a nearby pastry shop. She needed sweets badly.
Buying bagels, a sponge cake, soda and chocolate cake, she sat down to enjoy them.
She lazily took a bite of the sponge cake and sighed in appreciation of its fluffiness when her eye caught a familiar silhouette.
"April?!" Reaia called out, half sure it was her friend.
"Ray!" The lady replied, waving with her left hand as her right hand was interlocked with another person's hand.
They approached the table She sat on and sat down with her.
"It's been so long April. When did you get back from your posting?" Reaia asked, excited to see her friend.
"I got back yesterday Ray. I requested to be posted back since I felt home sick" she said.
Reaia's eyes wondered the man beside April.
As if sensing her curiosity, April explained, " this is Oliver, my fiance"
"Oh my! Congratulations on your engagement" Reaia said.
"Thank you" April blushed.
"So what are you doing around here?" Reaia asked.
"Oh, Ollie works there" April said pointing at Mi En Dish Limited.
"Really? I just finished an interview from there"
"Interview? What happened at your other job?"
"Laid off"
"I'm sorry"
"It's alright. I hope I get this one though. Bills have been piling up"
"I hope so too. Perhaps..... Would you like me to talk to Ollie to check if you're on the list of newly hired?"
"Can he? That would be so helpful. Thank you April"
"You're welcome"
Eyeing the sweets before Reaia, April spoke, "I see you still have a 'diabetic' tooth" and Reaia laughed out loud.
That was what they called 'sweet tooth'.
"Yes I do. Especially when I need to relax. Like right now"
They began speaking about her posting and how the job went.
Reaia hadn't even touched the sweets and she felt relaxed already.
She loved to reconnect with friends.
They laughed and giggled.
Oliver walked in with his phone to his ear.
"I'm sorry baby, work emergency. I have to go. I love you" He said as he gave April a big smooch on the lips.
April blushed like a sixteen year old girl who just got kissed and by her crush.
After he was gone, Reaia spoke, "you really like him"
"I love him" April held her rosy cheeks and took a bagel to eat.
After catching up, they exchanged contacts, and April let her know once again that she would talk to Oliver about the job.
They said their goodbyes and went in opposite directions.
.....
Reaia was happy she got to unexpectedly catch up with a old friend.
It was refreshing to be able to take her mind off anything else.
*Bzzzzt bzzzzt*
Her phone vibrated in her pocket.
Checking the caller ID, she smiled and swiped green.
"Hi Mom"
"Hey darling. How are you?"
"I'm alright mom"
"Will you come home for dinner tonight? Your aunt is in town and she wants to see you before she leaves"
"Which of my aunts?"
"Just come to dinner. I'll see you later, bye"
And the line went dead.
Reaia squinted her eyes as she suspiciously eyed her phone.
She really hoped it was one of her cool aunts.
The other ones were just way too interested in her life which she found weird as they weren't that Invested in their own children's lives.
Reaia called for a taxi and went home.
She wanted to relax and hopefully get some sleep before dinner.
...
That evening,
Reaia climbed out of the taxi that stopped just in front of a grey and white coloured duplex.
Her parents invested in their house as they wanted it to be a home to their children and grandchildren.
And for the first time in a long time, Reaia wanted to admire the house and how intentionally designed it was.
She knocked on the door and waited for a response.
"You're here!" Her mother, who has opened the door, exclaimed excitedly.
Reaia hugged her mom tightly and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Now, are you going through tell me who?" She added.
Her mom put on a smile that told her she was definitely hiding something.
"Who is it???" Reaia pushed.
"Is that our dear Rea?" An older lady's voice filled the hallway.
Reaia could identify that voice anywhere, even if she was deaf, and she disliked the sound.
"Hi auntie, it's Ree-yay-yuh not Ree-yuh" Reaia corrected.
"Oh potato potahto, same thing" she rolled her eyes.
"Hey Ree" another voice echoed.
It was her cousin, Linda.
"Hey Lin" they hugged lightly.
Reaia didn't particular dislike Linda. She was a great person but she sometimes mirrored her mother's personality which was trash.
Claudia, Reaia's mom, shut the door and they all walked to the dining room.
Dinner was amazing for Reaia, except that her aunt kept asking random questions that had nothing to do with her.
"Oh Rea, when will you get married? My Linda over here is engaged you know. Time waits for nobody and you're getting older"
What was wrong in getting older for goodness sake?
"I am happy with where I am right now auntie" Reaia said with a slightly clenched jaw, trying to be respectful.
"Oh but dear, in a few years you'll be unhappy. Everyone else would be married and you'll be alone"
"Marriage is of no importance to me"
"Oh goodness! Did you hear that Claudia? Your daughter wants to be a spinster, look like a hag and age like milk"
Reaia was fed up with the disrespectful comments her aunt was making and she couldn't stay silent any longer.
"Why would I want to get married when marriages like yours are what I see often. You are all you just described except that you're married. There's literally no benefit then" Reaia spat.
"Reaia!!" Claudia said sternly.
The silence after was loud.
Linda was stuck in between. She didn't like seeing her mom embarrassed but she knew her mom had it coming with all the unsolicited statements.
"How dare you speak to me in such a manner" the aunt rose her voice.
"I see your daughter is as badly behaved as ever. If only you had listened to me when she was growing, she wouldn't have turned out with such a filthy tongue" The aunt sid to Claudia.
She got up and without a second thought, she left, not minding that Linda didn't follow her out.