NEGATIVE MARKS

ERIKA P.O.V

Fat tears have formed in my eyes after opening the mail. I felt like my world has turned upside down after seeing -5 marks under the total column. ..I mean how can I get such a low score, it's not even 0 for god's sake, it's freaking negative 5 for god's sake.

I didn't wanna cry but my traitorous tears haven't stopped, before attempting this exam I had a small hope that someday I would get to work with my idol but now..I don't even have it.

Like Jenny said it's high time I should stop dreaming about working with Christoper stone and move on, but I just couldn't bring myself to forget about my dream for 4 years, I have never felt so down and depressed in my life.

I heard the sound of footsteps approaching, it must be jenny, I quickly went inside my bathroom and closed the door..I don't want her to see me crying. Then I heard a knock "Eri.. are you in there?? " she asked slowly, I composed myself and replied, "Hey.. I am washing my face, I will be there in a minute".

But I was not at all ready to face anyone in my current state so I stayed sitting on the bathroom floor. And then I heard another knock "hey..are you ok?? u have been in there forever, are you planning to come out today or should I come tomorrow?" she asked impatiently.

I groaned "I am ok..just gimme a minute jenny," I said looking at myself in the mirror and saw my red face and puffy eyes. Jenny's gonna eat me alive until I tell her what's wrong, she knows me very well so there's no way she's gonna leave my puffy red eyes unnoticed I thought to myself and went outside to see jenny sitting on my bed checking her phone.

she took one glance at me and hurried towards me asking"Eri..what's wrong ?? have you been crying??"

"Nothing jenny .. it's .. it's just that I was disqualified in an exam for Mr. Stone's project-O42, now I don't have any chance to work with him " I said trying to stop myself from crying but failed miserably.

Jenny hugged me trying to comfort me but nothing could comfort me today so I cried uncontrollably, Jenny didn't say anything for a few minutes she just stayed silent patting my shoulder and wiping my tears.

I know that she would say something to comfort me now but I was not at all ready to hear anything so I slowly unwrapped myself from her and said "Jenny ..if you don't mind I would like to be alone for some time, don't worry about me I just need some time alone"

she nodded in understanding my request and stood up adjusting her ankle boots" call me when you are ready to talk ok!! don't just stay in your room all day, if I don't hear from you by tomorrow I'm gonna come here to take you out myself" she said almost warning me.

I know she will definitely do it but I am not in a mood to say anything to her so I just nodded my head, after jenny left I just stayed in my bed all day thinking about my broken dream .how could I be so careless during the exam and spoil my only chance to work with Christoper stone.

I have opened the mail so many times just to see the same result, I felt like someone slapped me hard every time I saw those marks later I decided to stop crying over something which I can't change, though my long last dream was broken I can't just keep crying all day right!! I still have to find a job to help dad so I will just move on and find a job elsewhere I thought and went to sleep that night tired of all the crying.

AFTER TWO WEEKS

It's been two weeks since I got the result, I have been trying really hard to get over it by indulging myself in things that aren't related to my experiments or projects since i didn't want anything to remind me of my broken dream.

I have started watching Netflix and learned to bake chocolate chip cookies from my dad, jenny tried to cheer me by taking me shopping which was really a bad idea because I am very bad at fashion and styling.

I have always been a t-shirt and jeans girl, I have never understood jenny's ranting about different shades of pink or styling my hair according to a certain dress or which shade of foundation suits my skin.

I was sitting in the living room watching some documentary on polar bears wearing my favorite red hoodie with a cute cat print and white shorts, my hair in a messy bun.

Edward came and sat beside me leaving an exhausted sigh, his laptop bag still hanging from his shoulder and he was in his work clothes so he must be coming here from the office directly, he sometimes drops by like that to avoid his mom eating his head off for not getting a girlfriend since he's single from 2 years.

"Hey, Ed.. escaping from your mom again huh.." I asked still watching the documentary. He took the remote from my hand and changed the channel saying "exactly and please don't force me to go home by making me watch this stupid documentary"

" Ok then .. I am gonna make some coffee for myself would you like to have some??" I asked walking into the kitchen and he gave me a thumbs up so I started making coffee for both of us.

" you know you should listen to your mom Ed..you have been single for two years " I told him handing him his cup of coffee and sat beside him with my cup," Coming from the girl who has never dated anyone ..wow" he said drinking his coffee and changing to some sports channel.

I smacked his shoulder and said "hey I am just 21 Ok!! It's just that i haven't found the right guy yet ,when i find the right person i will definitely start dating" i said trying to grab the remote from his hands.

" And when will be that Eri.??.anyways why are you looking for a non existent guy when you have this handsome hunk before you " he said pointing to himself, which he always does to irritate me.

I rolled my eyes and said "seriously Ed..you?? ..please spare me dude, i don't wanna spend my life struggling to take remote from your hands and making coffee for you and dad while you both watch your stupid matches"

with that, we both started fighting for the remote while dad entered the living room and started collecting the pillows on the floor while muttering to himself "stupid kids ..always creating a mess".

" dad see..ed is bullying me, he ate my chips and took the remote," I said while pulling ed's hair and him defending himself.

"oh please dear I know both of you very well..please don't involve me in your silly fights," dad said walking into the kitchen and returned with a cup of coffee and some snacks and sat beside Edward.

I know that dad will definitely take ed's side and they both will watch their stupid match now. it will be better if i escape from their horrible commentary so i slowly started walking upstairs but dad called me back "Eri..come here i would like to talk to you about something important".

what did I do now? I thought to myself and went back into the living room sitting beside him

"whatever ed has told you, I didn't do it dad" I said glaring at ed.. who's smirking at me like he won something.

"no dear it's not that... it's about your job, Ed found a good job for you, it's a research assistant position at your university professor, Mr. smith's laboratory" he said excitedly.

"Edward and Mr. Smith's son are good friends so when Ed told Mr.smith about your interest in plant research he immediately agreed," he said looking at Edward with a big smile on his face.

I was not happy with the job because I didn't get it through my talent but with Edward's recommendation and how can i forget about my dream to work with Mr.Christopher so easily.

Dad saw my unhappy face and asked me worriedly "baby what happened?? are you not happy to work for Mr.smith??"

it's not time for me to be picky and I badly need to start working somewhere to reduce some burden from dad's shoulders so I smiled at him and said " i am very happy dad and Mr.smith is a nice person,its just that i am little surprised " and turned to Edward who's looking tense.

"Thanks ed... I really don't know how to thank you "I told him smiling gratefully at him.

" you don't have to say anything little monster, just enjoy your time working with Mr.smith since researching on plants is your favorite thing" he said smiling back at me.

I might have lost the chance to work with my idol but I am lucky enough to have such a loving father and friends who care about me, I felt really happy and hugged Edward with tears in my eyes and thanked him.

He hugged me back and said" hey champ don't cry ..you know how you look like when you cry right".

"Hey... I still look better than you ok!! " I said smacking his shoulder playfully at which he laughed and said "Mr.Smith asked you to join his team from day after tomorrow ..so be ready ok!!".

I stood up and saluted him like a soldier and said"sir yes sir" and left both of them to their football match and went to my room.