Benjamin and Nicholas' workplace was conveniently located near their block, allowing them to walk to work every day. Their close friendship was rooted in their shared experiences: they worked at the same company, attended the same school and offering same course.
During semester breaks, they took on part-time jobs to support their educational needs. Benjamin had an older brother, Mike, who was rarely at home but kept in touch with him daily over the phone. Benjamin cherished their relationship deeply.
Nicholas, on the other hand, was his mother's only child. He had lost his father at the tender age of seven.
Their mothers had struggled to provide for their children's needs, but Benjamin and Nicholas were determined to succeed. At work, their supervisor, Mr. Elijah, was consistently impressed by their diligence and consistency.
"I wish my kids were as hardworking as you two," Mr. Elijah would often say. Benjamin and Nicholas were aware of their potentials and appreciated the sacrifices their mothers had made to raise them.
Benjamin's father had left when he was a baby, leaving only his older brother Mike with memories of their father.
Six months later, Benjamin and Nicholas achieved a significant milestone: they graduated from university, both earning degrees in computer engineering.
The day was truly unforgettable for Benjamin and Nicholas, as they hosted a grand get-together party in their neighborhood. The event drew in a large crowd of family friends, schoolmates, and acquaintances. The atmosphere was electric, with everyone beaming with joy and excitement.
They even got to invite Mr Elijah to the party and introduced him to their mothers.
As the hours passed, the crowd gradually began to disperse, and the party slowly came to a close. Eventually, only a small group of close family members remained. They all gathered around the large table outside Benjamin's home, including both mothers, Lucas, Nicholas' aunt Angela, Mr Elijah(their supervisor at work) and Benjamin's older brother Mike.
Aunt Angela spoke up, her voice filled with pride: "Benjamin and Nicholas, you both have made our family incredibly proud. We are overjoyed by your achievements so far. We love you both."
Mike chimed in, his face radiant with excitement: "I'm so proud of you both! Congratulations! congratulations."
Benjamin's mother posed a thoughtful question: "It won't be easy, but are you both ready for the next chapter of your lives?"
Mr Elijah added, "Determination and consistency matters. Congratulations."
Nicholas responded loudly and confidently: "Yes, with all our heart and strength!"
Benjamin added, his voice filled with determination: "We pray for God's guidance, and we won't disappoint you all."
"I'll leave you all to enjoy the rest of your evening then, Mr Elijah said, his voice firm as he stood up and departed the party.
"Thank you for coming" they all responded.
Lucas stood up and said, "Congratulations Nicholas and Benjamin, may God continue to give you both strength and guidance, cheers ! .
"Amen cheers !!!!!" They all said loudly.
As the night wore off, exhaustion began to set in, but the love and excitement of the day kept everyone going for a long time. Eventually, they all retired to bed.
Benjamin and Nicholas were the last ones standing. Nicholas turned to Benjamin and said, "It's time for us to become the successful men we've always dreamed of being since we were kids. It's time to make a difference."
Benjamin replied, "Yes, brother, we won't fail. In God's name, we won't disappoint the family. They're all looking up to us. Good night, brother. Love you."
"Love you too, man. Sleep tight," Nicholas replied.
Two next day later, Nicholas and Benjamin embarked on a new endeavor, pursuing a job at a cutting-edge tech company specializing in robotics and electric cars. They both submitted their applications and qualifications, showcasing their exceptional intelligence and innovative thinking.
Nicholas received an email inviting him for an interview, while Benjamin didn't. Undeterred, Nicholas encouraged Benjamin to accompany him to the interview, saying, "We're going together! Bring your project, so you can present it to them. It'll demonstrate how ready we are for the job."
Benjamin's confidence soared, and he exclaimed, "Yes, brother! We're both getting the job. I will make sure of that!"
As they took a cab to the company, they encountered traffic congestion near the office. Benjamin, fueled by motivation, suggested, "Let's drop off here and walk the rest of the way. It's just 5 minutes away."
Nicholas agreed, "That's a great idea, Benjamin."
Benjamin's project had previously earned him an award as the best project of the year. He knew its value and was eager to present it to the company, confident that it would make a lasting impression.
Nicholas and Benjamin arrived at the company and met the receptionist, who seemed to be directing everyone to their respective destinations within the building. Nicholas approached the receptionist and said, "Good afternoon, sir. We're here for a job interview."
The receptionist replied, "Afternoon, sir. You'll find the interviewer on the fifth floor, third office to your right. The elevator is down that way."
Nicholas and Benjamin followed the directions and arrived at the office, where they met Mr. Elijah, who was sitting in the interviewer's chair. "Welcome, welcome, my boys! I'm so proud of you," Mr. Elijah exclaimed.
Benjamin replied, "Thank you very much, sir. We're both here for the job interview."
Mr. Elijah asked, "Did you both receive the email?"
Nicholas replied with a puzzled expression, "No, sir."
Mr. Elijah's question was surprising, given the company's policies and they all knew each other.
He asked again, "Who among you received the email?"
Benjamin responded, "It was Nicholas, sir."
Mr. Elijah said arrogantly, "You should wait outside, Benjamin."
Nicholas protested, "Sir, we applied for the job at the same time, but I was the only one who received the email. So, I asked Benjamin to bring something that's worth your attention."
Mr. Elijah raised his voice, "Who are you to ask him to do that? That's an offense, you know? The company has strict policies, and we don't tolerate such behavior here."
Nicholas looked on in surprise, struggling to believe that this was the same Mr. Elijah he knew.
Benjamin intervened confidently, "Okay, sir, I'll wait outside. You've got this, Nicholas."
With that, Benjamin stepped out of the office, leaving Nicholas to face the interviewer alone.
Benjamin thought to himself, "You never know what humans are capable of. Can you imagine Mr. Elijah acting so strict and all? I guess he has his reasons. God, please give Nicholas the wisdom he needs in there."
A few moments later, Nicholas emerged from the office, looking somber. He found Benjamin sitting in an empty office, jotting down notes. Benjamin looked up and asked, "I know you crushed it! What's with the sad face?"
Nicholas replied, "It's not about the interview, my brother. We've dreamed of this moment for so long. This can't be a good start, don't you think?"
Nicholas added, "Mr. Elijah said you might receive an email soon."
Benjamin's expression turned optimistic. "You see, we can't give up just yet! And this is a very good start, Nicholas. Don't get the wrong idea, please."
"Our motto should be: find a way, never give up on your dreams," Benjamin declared loudly and confidently.