Chapter 2

• At her front was her belongings thrown out recklessly on the ground scattered, beside it was a letter to vacate the building.
• She already knew it would happen as she has been behind on rent for the past 2 years. Just that she didn't expect it to be today, not when her day was long.
• Ariel's trembling hands dug in her bag to reach for her phone with the intention to plead with her landlord. She dialed the number countless times but no one picked it.
• She reached for one of her pillows for a comfy seat. ‘Sigh' She exhaled sharply and shut her eyes.
• The faint sound of cars blaring from afar mingled with the rhythm of her heart, as she lost herself in the wilderness of her thoughts.
• Amidst her chaos with her thoughts, Her phone buzzed, interrupting her.
• She opened her tired eyes and stole a glance at the screen which revealed her bestie's name, a beacon of hope in her darkness. She swiped to answer the call.
• “Girl what's up, are you good, just wanna check up before I go to bed.” Anya uttered from the other end of the call, but her questions were not answered as Ariel kept quiet, not responding.
• The thought of how to respond to the questions wored her, in no time she started howling in silence.
• “Hello….Ariel are you listening?” Anya asked in doubt. Only the sound of the busy city was all she could hear.
• Ariel didn't answer as she continued sobbing in silence. Her sobs were punctuated with soft, mournful sniffs.
• Anya heard the sniffs and she immediately understood why she wasn't responding.
• “Girl, are you crying, what is the matter, talk to me I'm worried.” Anya exclaimed at the other end of the phone.
• Finally Ariel broke her silence. “I'm homeless now.” She whispered, her voice wavy and faint.
• She hates to trouble people with her own calamity, but no choice this night, she wouldn't want this chance to escape.
• “I'm on my way, we'll figure this out together. I will be there in 10 minutes, hang tight!” Anya blurted and hung up.
• Few minutes later Anya arrived at Ariel's place.
• On Anya's arrival she met Ariel sitting on the floor weeping profusely.
• “C'mon girl worriless, you can stay with me for the meantime. I have an empty room at my place. We can live together.” Anya suggested as she patted her back for ease.
• Ariel's eyes teared up again, a smile slowly curved on her lips. Tears of joy yeah.
• “I love you Anya. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me.” Ariel exclaimed as she hugged Anya tightly. Her tone was full of excitement.
• “C'mon let's pack your things and leave. It's getting late.”
• ————
• It was a rainy Friday morning, the sky was as cloudy as a watercolour painting, smudged with gray.
• A refreshing smell from the rain flooded Ariel's room where she laid down on her bed in slumber.
• Her day off at work is what she always loves to enjoy in bed.
• Knock knock knock
• A knock sounded from the outside of Ariel's room.
• “Hmmm…. come in.” Ariel mumbled, not wanting to open her tired eyes.
• “Good morning Girl, how was your night, did you sleep well? Anya bombarded her with questions as she entered.
• “Yeah…and you?” Ariel asked as she sprung up her body to sit up.
• “Same here…..I came to discuss something with you.” Anya said and straddled on Ariel's bed.
• “Okay what is it?”
• “How about you consider taking another job…..a high paying job. I know for a fact that you have your degree. So……” Anya suggested.
• ‘Sigh’
• Ariel sighed deeply, stroking her fingers through her messy hair as she blew the strands covering her face. Covered her face with her palms.
• “The business card you were given by some random guy yesterday at the store, how about we check if you can be offered a position in their company?” Anya asked. Her tone was empathic yet calm.
• “Are you sure?” She whispered, staring at Anya for validation.
• “I'm not sure…... .but you should try first, put the card in use girl, you never know what benefit you could gain from doing so.”
• ‘Sigh’ Ariel sighed again, got down from her bed and went straight to her drawer.
• She brought out the card, JC was embroidered on the card as a logo, alongside its full meaning, Johny Corps. Below it was a telephone number and an email address.
• “Are you sure about this?” Ariel asked her in a doubtful tone, staring intently at her friend.
• “You never can tell, you don't know until you try.” Anya remarked, wanting her friend to give a trial.
• “Okay, I'm gonna email them now.” Ariel said as she went straight to her laptop.
• “No, don't email, call….. c'mon it won't bite.” Anya suggested, tilting her head one side, blinking like a kid who wants to be pampered.
• “Okay…” Ariel responded as she jacked around to pick her phone.
• “What am I going to say if they pick?”. Ariel blurted, staring at her friend like she should come help her.
• “Just say you were given this card yesterday at the store where you work.” Anya responded.
• “Okay.”
• She called the contact, ringing profusely but no one answered. Then she ended the call.
• “No one picks.” Ariel murmured. Her tone was one of disappointment.
• “You didn't even wait for lon–” Anya's statement was interrupted by a buzz from Ariel's phone.
• They both widened their eyes in shock. Their mouths agape.
• “Pick up!” Anya exclaimed. Her tone was full of excitement.
• Ariel swiped to answer the call. “Hello,” she said.
• “I see you have no time to waste, I will send you the address.”
• A masculine voice sounded from the other end. Calm yet intimidating.
• Ariel was left with no chance to respond as the call ended. Both Ariel and Anya were still in awe from the goosebumps giving voice they heard.
• They were snapped back to reality by the alarm of a message from Ariel's phone. Ariel glanced at the screen.
• “An address and time. It's a restaurant” Ariel said as she stared coldly at her friend.
• “What time?” Anya asked.
• “2 o'clock.” Ariel responded as she rubbed her palms on her laps. Clicking her knees with her fingers.
• “Am I to dress formally or casually?” Ariel asked, rubbing her palms together.
• Anya could feel the anxiousness in her tone.
• “I prefer you dress formally since you will be going with your CV. Girl, pull yourself together you've got this. Good, you have enough time to prepare your CV. I will go select a perfect outfit for you.” Anya said and left the room.
• Ariel got up and headed straight to her laptop to prepare her CV.
• Hours passed, she was done with her CV, dressed up in a brown button down shirt, paired with a cream pant.
• Styled her blonde hair in a ponytail, and locked her outfit with a black low heeled shoe. And yes, she wouldn't go anywhere without her favourite floral cologne.
• “Girl, 1:30pm hurry up, don't be late.” Anya shouted from the outside of Ariel's room.
• “I'm done heading out now!.”
• “Wow you look stunning I must commend, bye break a leg!” Anya commented.
• “Bye sweetie.” Ariel waved and left.
• She rushed down the street and stopped a taxi. “Casa Petra.”
• “Come in Miss” The man said.
• Ariel entered and settled. Suddenly a call buzzed from her phone. A stare at the screen revealed Mrs Garrett. Ariel swiped to pick the call.
• “Hello Mrs Garr–”
• “Good day Ma'am your son collapsed!” The woman shouted from the other end. Her tone was wavy and terrific.
• Ariel calm expression turned horror, her palms became sweaty, her breathe became faster than usual.
• “What happened to Max, where is he!?” Ariel asked in a furious tone. Her blood went cold, her heart sank in sorrow.
• “Hospital Ma'am, ple
• ase show up your presence is needed.”
• “Which hospital?” Ariel asked. Her tone was sharp and sorrowful. Her last trace of sanity and constant reminder to stay happy, had been admitted in hospital.
• “Sant Joan hospital” The woman responded and hung up.
• “Mr please turn back, take me to Sant Joan!”