Job Offer

Two weeks after, Noelle got some devastating news. When she was washing the dishes at one of the finest restaurants, one of her co-workers approached her, saying, "The manager needs you right now. She's calling you at the office."

Noelle stopped scraping the leftovers on the trash bin. She wore off her apron, went out of the kitchen, and headed upstairs. The hallway was cold, and Noelle nearly froze. Besides, she liked the restaurant's ambiance. It's the only place she have some peace at night.

Noelle will take care of her job as she could.

Reaching the door, she knocked three times. As she came in, she greeted a good morning. The manager pursed her lips. Noelle sat down in front of the deck, observed her name, and asked, "You called for me, Ms. Bella."

Bella smiled sadly, and retrieved a paper from the pile. She asked, "How many absences do you have for the past month?"

Noelle got nervous, replying, "I lost count of them."

How many? 10? Noelle blinked in embarrassment. She prayed every day not to get fired on one of her jobs. 16 hours of her day is intended to work. Noelle didn't have single thoughts of going to shopping malls. She didn't deserve to go buy some clothes when her mother was lying down on a hospital bed, her back already sore from treatment.

Bella observed the x marks again, asking, "Do you have any problem now?"

Noelle glanced at her, hesitating to answer honestly. She doesn't want to talk about it.

"Uh… Ms. Bella, it's…" … too personal to even talk.

"I understand your absences might be of something from your environment or family at home. But as we stated at the contract, Ms. Noelle Iris, I have no right to debunk that rule to make you an exception from the clauses. You made absences more than what we expected from you, and we have…"

They have no choice but to fire her. It's the morning full of dark revelations for Noelle.

"The second we hired you, I know you can do a good job. But now, we are seeing you poorly. And, I'm really sorry, but we have to fire you," Ms. Bella stated apologetically. Noelle didn't gaze at her, and just stare at her wounded fingers. Uh, she got those wounds when she's picking the ice at the corners of the freezers.

There's no wound deeper than getting fired at her part-time job.

"We can refer you…"

Noelle shot up a look, trailing in, "There's no need to do that, thank you."

She stood up, had one last bow, and went to the door, resisting the tears from falling down. Noelle leaned at the door for a while before sniffing up the courage, and walked briskly. Reaching downstairs, she headed straight to the locker room.

Her co-workers called her out, but she ignored them. Noelle wasn't in the mood to talk.

After she got out, Noelle slung her backpack and said a short goodbye to her fellows. Smiling a little, she stormed out of the restaurant, and ran at the street at midday. Reaching a fair distance, Noelle halted in the middle, closed her eyes, and cried loudly.

She crouched down, buried her eyes in her knees, and whimpered.

…

"Two weeks have gone, Ms. Noelle Iris. Your promise and my statement wouldn't do magic anymore. The finance wanted half of the amount in the promissory note, and you have to provide it at the end of the day or else…"

Noelle's eyes were still puffy. She was unable to go to her next job earlier, consumed by the thoughts of finding another restaurant to work with. So far, she failed to get hired. Noelle stared at the amount in the paper, and pursed her lips.

She let go of her bag, and retrieved her wallet.

Noelle opened it, got one dollar bill, and placed it above the clipboard. Pursing her lips, she glanced at the nurse, saying, "Is that enough?"

Of course, it's not. The pity on the nurse's face was undeniable. Noelle clenched her jaw.

"Ms. Iris. Your mother will get kicked out if you don't provide the amount today. You have to find a way," she explained. Noelle closed her eyes, sighing.

How can she provide that kind of amount when she got fired and haven't got any penny?

…

Nighttime dwell. The nurse was still at the station, waiting for Noelle. But she didn't do anything but to sit down at the waiting benches and stare at the large windows. The moon appeared, and Noelle stared at it for the longest time.

"I wished a one-million peso will land on my lap," Noelle whispered to the moon. Though impossible, she felt hopeful. She closed her eyes, sighed, and clasped her hands together.

Few minutes of silence passed, and the seat on the edge creaked, indicating someone sat down. Noelle shot her eyes open, turned slowly. Seeing the person, Noelle widened her eyes when she recognized Blake.

Noelle shifted her head to the other side, and secretly scraped her hair to cover her face.

"Why is he here?" Noelle hissed. Blake took a deep breath and scrolled in his cell phone.

Unexpectedly, the nurse appeared at the side of the bench, and greeted her a good evening. Noelle widened her eyes as she said, "Ms. Noelle Iris, you have to…"

She hitched the nurse's arm and dragged her away but it was too late.

Blake heard the name of the woman, stood up, calling out, "Noelle?"

She closed her eyes tightly. She's already doomed. The nurse didn't know what was happening, and brushed off Noelle's hands from her arm. Noelle doesn't have to pretend and turned around. Blake flashed on a wondrous smile after seeing her.

"What are you doing here?" Blake asked. He's still handsome with a hoodie on.

Noelle couldn't answer. It's humiliating to have a reply. Plus, she promised to see him at a convenience store, and not in the hospital where her debt has piled up. Noelle stuttered, scratching the back of her head, completely forgetting that the nurse was still there.

"Uh, Ms. Noelle Iris, you have to settle your mother's bill of one-million peso today…"

Blake heard it, and raised his eyebrows. Noelle has… debt?

Noelle chose not to reply and motioned for the nurse to head to the station. Out of curiousness, Blake followed. The nurse stated every tiny thing, and Blake was following Noelle's foot. At each second, Noelle wanted to sink in the ground.

Out of all people, the man she met yesterday was the one who heard the biggest burden of her life. Noelle had to deflect his attention away, but she had to settle the bill, and she got no money or penny to give.

"Settle the one-million peso today or your mother, Ms. Noelle Iris, will get kicked out tomorrow."

The amount of bill gave her a headache. Noelle bit her bottom lip, tapped her foot impatiently. Blake saw her rummaging for her wallet, but he can read her so well. It must be empty.

He stood beside, chiming in, "I'll pay the bill."

Noelle's body got frozen. She turned to Blake hastily.

The nurse got delighted, asking, "Your name, sir?"

Noelle acted quickly, pushing Blake out of the counter, hissing, "What are you doing?"

Blake chuckled, waving the credit card in his hand, stating, "Paying your bill."

Noelle reached for his wrist and dragged him to the corner, arguing, "You don't know me at all, Blake."

"I know your name, Noelle," Blake muttered. Noelle groaned, astonished by his behavior. What kind of a man he is? Why is he lending money that easily?

"Why do you need to pay for my bill when I'm a stranger to you a week ago?" Noelle hissed.

Blake shrugged that, answering, "Do you want to get your mother kicked out?"

Noelle couldn't answer. She doesn't have anyone but Blake now. No one will intentionally pay her bill out of nowhere. Noelle doesn't have any choice. Blake took advantage of her silence, and showed her the credit card.

"I have one-million peso here, and you don't have any choice but to say yes," Blake smiled, patting her shoulder. Noelle was left hanging when Blake transacted to the nurse once again. She patted her forehead, shaking her head.

"What the f*ck just happened?"

…

The nurse informed her of the 0 balance at the bill sheet and she couldn't help but to stare at it for a while. After many months, Noelle prayed that her mother's fees would get settled. She was clueless that a man will pay it for her.

As they reached the parking lot, Blake turned around, saying, "You'll do anything to me, right?"

His words broke Noelle's bubble right away. She stared at him. Blake beamed.

"The dinner you promised. You have another favor."

Noelle realized what he's talking about. She folded the bill and nodded.

"Ah, yeah, the dinner, I should… have you two night straight, right?"

Blake tilted his head to one side, pointing at her, indicating, "You needed a job."

Noelle got flummoxed, admiring his reading skills. She asked, "How did you know?"

Blake shrugged. "I just knew. I know that face of a person losing her job in the same day. Maybe that's why you can't pay your mother's bills in the right time. You keep on switching?"

Noelle crossed her arms over her chest. This man was exceptional. How come he entered her life so sudden and unexpectedly? Did the Heavens send the answer to her problems?

Noelle muttered, "You're unbelievable. How can you read my mind?"

Blake stuffed his hands inside his hoodie's pockets, replying, "In that case, I have a job offer for you. I know you needed it badly."

Her ears flickered up. A job offer?

"What kind of job? I can do anything, Blake."