2. Keya

I dragged myself out of the bed earlier than my usual wake up time.

I’m serious about looking for another job today. I’m going to be staying the whole semester break here in Houston so I might as well don’t waste the free time to look for jobs and earn enough money until the new semester starts again this August.

My schedule as a waitress at the diner is only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. However, I don’t want to work full time in there during the break because even if it pays me fine, the job is really draining. The Steve’s diner is quite popular in town so there are way too many customers every day especially if there are certain events that are happening on the nearest arena.

I head straight to the dorm’s communal bathroom to take a shower. As I walk on the corridors I couldn’t help but envy my other fellow students carrying huge trunks with them, ready to leave their dorms and went home to their families for the break.

I sighed.

“Keya!” Someone called up which sends me to look back.

“Hey Paz! Good morning.” I greeted.

She’s wearing yoga pants, a blue tank top and a cap on. She’s still breathing hard and it looks like she just got back from a run. She’s a one of my bestfriends and dorm mate staying at the room across from mine but most of the time she stays in my room. She’s one of the seven girls I share the floor with here in Leyton House and probably the closest. We became really close because she’s way too friendly, bubbly and always invites herself in your own dorm room and that's why she also met my three other friends Jessy, Alexa and Lily, instantly, we all clicked together.

“I heard you’re not going home to England during the break?”

“No. I’m not. How did you know?” I answered.

“I asked the dorm manager if who are the students who are staying here during the break. Why didn’t you tell me?” She asked as she wipes her sweats using her bare hands.

“Because you didn’t asked.” I answered snorting. “Why did you asked by the way?”

“I’m planning to stay during the break too to work on my thesis.”

“Oh that’s nice. I’m working on my thesis too.” I said in complete enthusiasm despite of my worries earlier thinking about getting a new job. Even if this has nothing to do with it, I kind of feel a little bit better that someone like me isn’t going home for the break to work on their thesis. Paz is a journalism major, and is also on her senior year once the new semester starts this August just like me.

“Great! You’re going to be my thesis buddy in the next few weeks.” She said giggling. “What are you doing today by the way?”

I sighed right before answering. “I’m going to go look for a job.”

“A job?” Paz asked in complete surprise. “Oh my god, the TV station I am currently interning for are looking for part-time assistant in the production department. I can really recommend you if you want to.”

“That’s absolutely wonderful! Can you fill me in?”

“Of course! I’m actually going in there later. You can come with me.”

“I’m all for it.” I answered right away even if I still don’t know what kind of job that waits for me in there.

Few moments later, Paz and I went to the nearest TV station in the city. According to her, the station are looking for part-timers that can specifically help the production department. Paz is a journalism student so I am definitely not surprised that she’s interning here.

I’m not gonna lie, I’m not into sports kind of a gal. British people are well-known as football hooligans but I’m not one of them. Ever since I was a kid, I always prefer books and writing materials more than anything else. I played lacrosse a bit when I got to middle school because it was mandatory, but other than that, I’m totally not into it.

However sometimes, if you’re desperate enough to get a job even if it’s not really your thing you’ll have to be interested on it, and that’s specifically what I am doing right now. Besides, this is actually better than working at Steve’s diner from seven a.m. to eight p.m. all week, I’ll just hope that I’ll get accepted.

“How long have you been interning here for?” I asked as I tail her off.

“I worked here before during my sophomore year, just making coffees, so I stopped and I recently went back last January.”

“Why did you stopped?”

“Because the station manager before was an asshole and didn’t gave me the kind of job I want.” She answered and opened a door right away. “Ready for the initial interview?”

I exhaled. “I’m kinda nervous.”

“Oh don’t worry. Miss Joanna is a nice woman.” Paz commented. “We’ll get the job.”

“Who’s Joanna?”

“The station manager.”

“The what?” I slightly exclaimed. “Why the station manager? Is interviewing applicants’ part of her job?”

“Not really. But according to her secretary, Miss Joanna wants to be involved sometimes. Don’t worry, there’s only seventy-five percent chance she’ll talk to you.”

I exhaled one more time right before I followed Paz inside the said office. According to Paz, this is a small station in Houston airing different sports events happening around the city including college Division I games and stuff.

A man on a glasses approached us when we entered a room full of huge television screens airing different sports on different channels.

“Hey Ryan!” Paz greeted the man giving him a light hug. “Ryan this is Keya. Keya this is Ryan, Miss Joanna's secretary.”

“Nice to meet you.” He said shaking my hands and I did the same thing too.

“Glad you came early Paz. I was supposed to give you a call about the part-time job available in here.”

“What is it? I brought my friend here for that actually.” Paz asked.

“The slot on the production department have already filled in.” Ryan started which totally disappointed me. “However, one of our editorial staffs is in need of an assistant editor so that’s the only position we have at the moment.”

“Well then that’s perfect!” I inserted right away, even if I feel like it's still rude to do so. “I’m a Literature student, writing and editing is one of my skills.”

Ryan smirked at me which definitely makes me feel uncomfortable and thinking about whether if he’s laughing at how over-confident I am or overjoyed perhaps? I don’t know.

“You co-sign this?” Ryan said beaming to my friend.

“Hundred percent!” Paz replied without any hesitation.

“Well in that case Keya, I’ll introduce you to Morgan right now.” Ryan said which surprised me how instant this negotiation went. I was expecting an interview first but based on my own judgement, an interview session is no longer needed.

“As in right now?” I said still surprised.

“Yup!” Ryan said guiding me to follow him. “You’re not coming Paz?”

“I’ll have to run something with our department head first.” Paz then beamed at me. “You’re gonna be okay?”

I nodded. “Thank you so much!”

“Alright, I’ll see you later babe.” She replied and walked out of the room.

Ryan and I walked into another door in the building and this time, the room is kind of a bit smaller and filled with tables with few people facing their computer monitors. We approached a table on the far end corner of the room and right before Ryan can speak up, the ginger haired man stood up adjusting his eyeglasses while looking at me.

“Is that the assistant I am requesting?” The man said, he’s intimidating if I’m honest.

Ryan only nodded and introduced me to the man.

He accepted my extended hands and shook it.

“I’m going to be straight right away. So the thing here Keya, there are already four applicants that I rejected instantly right before you. So I’ll ask you a question right away.”

He cleared his throat right before talking. “Are you into ice hockey and applying for the job just to have an excuse to meet a hockey player?” He asked. “Not to insult you, but the last four applicant were absolutely a huge nonsense.“

“Sir, I’m afraid that I don’t have any interest on neither of those.” I answered in all honesty. “I’m only applying because I need the job and I am perfectly confident that the qualifications do suits me well. I’m a senior English Lit student in Houston State University and writing is one of the skills I can offer.”

He didn’t responded and just beamed to Ryan beside me.

“Where did you get this?” He said pointing at me. I’m not gonna lie, I’m already sweating me tits off thinking that I might get rejected right away. This Morgan guy is a bit intimidating and seems like a guy who doesn’t know the verb smile or something.

“Paz recommended her.” Ryan replied completely unbothered with Morgan’s scary aura.

“The intern?” Morgan asked and Ryan just nodded.

I was supposed to talk again to convince Morgan to accept me despite of my lack of knowledge and interest in Ice Hockey or any other sports. However, I wasn’t given the chance to do so because a pretty excited looking man just entered the room.

“Don’t cancel the news! Our sources confirmed that Tyler Hollis and the Switzerland Bulldogs’ VP had a fight last night.” The man said. “Our sources got an exclusive photos. And the internet is starting to buzz about it.”

Morgan immediately went into his computer screen clicking the mouse several times right before looking at us.

“This is perfect! Keya, can you make a quick edits to this article and further revisions perhaps?”

“As in, right now?” I said completely surprised. I was expecting that this man will reject me but who would have thought about this?

“If it’s not too inconvenient for you, then yes.” He answered sarcastically but instead of minding it. I immediately accepted the task.

Morgan is intimidating and I am completely unaware of the sports environment but there’s no time for me to choose what kind of job I want because I need a job. I’m ready to accept any kind of job just as long as my dignity is in tacked and my freedom is not in complete jeopardy.