Feeling so stupid

Victor felt very stupid. He sat in front of the locker with a gloomy face and looked at his mobile phone. He tried to call Mario, but was not picked up.

"Am I being lied to?" muttered Victor. "No. It can't be like that. Maybe he was busy, so he didn't have time to come here today. I'd better ask. When will he come?"

Victor was uneasy. He already imagined that he had to find a new job on the internet, then prepare a new job application letter. How about being unlucky? Can be idle within months. Victor didn't want that to happen.

Next month he will have to pay the rent for the boarding house. His pocket money could not be relied upon to live in Jakarta for more than four months. Then, he must get an employment contract as an employee in this company.

Victor sent a message asking when you would come up with a formal speaking style. Victor then waited for a reply. He didn't get it even though he had arrived home.

Victor sat on the edge of his thin, bottomless mattress. The floor is cold. Victor didn't wear socks or slippers in the boarding house. He left it at the door.

Victor tries to live as clean as possible in a room measuring 3x3 meters and ensuite bathroom.

His clothes are still in the suitcase, he hasn't bought a closet or any other furniture. He lamented his room. He contemplated himself like that room. Almost empty.

Rami's warning to him recalled. "If you don't reach the minimum target again this month, you should prepare to find a new job. Sorry, I had to say this, but that's the company's policy. Our leadership doesn't want to hire someone who is incompetent, meaning one that doesn't meet the standards set by him."

Victor gritted his teeth, swiping his hair roughly. He growled and wondered who the leader of the company that had set the rules was.

Victor felt that the rules were unfair. For a person like him, who still lacks connections, he thinks he will definitely lose. Connection is especially important in a world where people judge people not based on their abilities or the results of their creativity. In order to enter a company, many rely on connections, so their competence can be a number. Many employees can be promoted quickly not because of achievement, but because of their closeness to the ruler. Let alone in private companies, in the government it is the same. I don't know how long the habit will last. Nothing has really changed.

"Can I really trust him?" whispered Victor to himself. There are still a few days, so it is possible that Mario will appear tomorrow.

Victor calmed down and looked at the situation more positively. He decided to take a bath. Water may be able to help him get rid of anxiety.

After taking a shower, Victor put on a tracksuit suit. He went to the convenience store to buy instant noodles. He cooks and eats it on the spot. Many minimarkets today provide self-service services. Such a thing also exists in a minimarket near Victor's boarding house.

Victor looked at the street while eating his glass noodles. He also brews tea using cardboard glasses. He enjoyed his dinner with a feeling of not knowing what tomorrow would be like.

He remembered his hometown. He felt fortunate that his parents didn't count on him. They can still make a living on their own. That way, now he can think of a plan in case he really fails to be unable to get an employment contract at LV.

Had his parents depended on him, waiting for him to transfer money for their living expenses, then Victor could have been more frustrated than he is now. The burden of his life is only himself, so he can think that he saves expenses as best as possible until the decree of appointment as an employee is officially signed.

The next day, Victor returned to work with a more relaxed look. He meets Luis in front of the locker. The man was also gearing up, wearing his work coat.

"How is it? Have you contacted him?"

Victor nodded and shook his head.

"Woi... What kind of answer is that? So you contacted him and then he didn't answer or how?"

"You're smart," Victor said, not intending to compliment him and sounding sarcastic.

"He didn't reply to your message?"

Victor nodded.

"I asked him when he would come and he didn't reply. After that I didn't ask any more. I feel like we're not very close. So, I limited myself. You know... That person might just make small talk to me and me who were too hopeful. From now on, I will lower my expectations of anyone."

Luis saw Victor with a sad face, but still had fighting power radiating from the look in his eyes. He felt that he had to be careful with someone like Victor. But for a while he can feel happy, because it means that his position is still safe.

"Actually, I'm already curious about who will be your first VIP customer. What can you do, tomorrow you try again. In the gym center, you can still get acquainted with some rich people's children and take them to be members."

"I wish I have better luck next time," Victor said, his lips smiling, his feelings bitter.

Luis patted Victor on the shoulder, encouraging him. Although he is glad that his position is not threatened, seeing colleagues who are grieving and preparing to lose their jobs makes him sympathetic.

"I go out first. Cheers up Man! There is still time to catch up," Luis said. After that, he left Victor standing in front of the locker of the new employee.

Victor looked at himself in front of the mirror. Seeing himself wearing a work uniform. He pinned his name on his chest.

"I like this uniform. Makes me look like a member of Man in a Black," Victor said silently. Immediately he imagines himself as an undercover secret agent working in a store to spy on the appearance of a long-awaited high-profile criminal.

Victor smiled at himself, imagination is a comfort to himself. He is happy to be able to do it because it makes his mood and heart more comfortable. He can get out of the locker room with more stable steps.

"I'll sell, with or without VIP," Victor said encouraging himself.

Victor proved himself to keep working wholeheartedly. His commitment to being a good employee did not waver. In his mind, he set a determination. If he is at his lowest point now, so be it. Victor chose to enjoy it and made this an experience. At least, if he really doesn't qualify, he already has experience that makes him more adaptable to working in a new place.

Victor smiled and served kindly to every customer who came. At lunch, he eats with Luis and Eka.

Eka stared at the sturdy back of Victor who walked back to his shop from the Falcon Face Mall foodcourt, where they worked.

"He definitely chose not to think about sales targets. It looks like he is ready to leave," Eka said. The spoon she was holding froze in the air. The Soto Bening in the bowl has been half eaten.

"What can you do. We can't help him," Luis said. "We can't share our VIPs. Isn't it?"

Eka observes Luis's face. "Are you happy? Any of our classmates did not qualify?"

"Hey, what the * are you talking about. I'm not happy, but I can't help him but encourage him to stay focused on working as usual," Luis said.

"I think you're glad he's not here anymore," Eka said. She stood up and left the table. Food and drinks are prepaid, so she doesn't have to stop by the cashier.

Eka leaves because she suddenly feels annoyed with Luis. She smells Luis as an unfaithful friend.

"Somehow, I really don't want to talk to Luis," Eka said to herself as she walked back to her store which was two blocks farther away than Victor's. He passed the shop where Victor worked and greeted him. They encouraged each other before finally reconcentrating on work.

The mall is crowded until it closes. The store where Victor works also has several customers.

After get off work, Victor did not go home directly to the boarding house. He went to the gym center. This time, he started to maintain his body fitness by swimming.

Feeling well swim, he sat by the pool, resting for a while before later continuing to run on the treadmill. That's if he doesn't change his mind later. He doesn't need the assistance of his trainer all the time. However, that person was always on standby on the spot if Victor needed anything.

Just when Victor turned his head to the left, he saw his trainer appear.

"Think of something?" Yoshi asked when he got close and sat down on the poolside chair.

Victor snorted. "Reflecting on my life," Victor said.

"Waw... It sounds heavy. What's the matter?"

Victor shook the beer can in his right hand. He has drunk it by a quarter.

"Work is not smooth?" Yoshi guessed.

"Smoothly..." Victor said. When he said it, his mind was filled with uncertainty.

"So? Why is your face gloomy? You know swimming with a gloomy face can make you drown," Yoshi said intending only to scare and joke.

Victor laughed bitterly.

Yoshi became uneasy because the young man in front of him didn't laugh or respond in a more cheerful way. Victor's expression at this time was an expression he didn't like.

"You're frustrated, heh?" Yoshi guessed just from Victor's expression.

Victor took a deep breath. "I don't know. Suddenly I remembered the first time I set foot in Jakarta. At that time, I packed my clothes into the suitcase I bought on the spur of the moment. Then, when I arrived at the station, I imagined a new life full of enthusiasm and I would live happily. However..." Victor stopped talking.

"However..." Yoshi repeated Victor's words with great curiosity.

"It seems that I have to lower my expectations," Victor said turning to Yoshi and then smiling. He then avoided eye to eye with Yoshi.

Yoshi stared at Victor for a long time. Then patted the young man on the shoulder.

"Is this a matter of sales standards and targets at LV? In that case, there is only one piece of advice I can give you..." While you still have a chance, keep fighting. As for the results, you don't have to think about it. Just let it happen no matter what, let it happen. And accept it with airiness. Trust me, the work experience at LV will make it easier for you to be accepted in other well-known brands."

Yoshi left Victor to reflect back. Secretly, after moving away from Victor somewhat, Yoshi sent a message to Mario. "Your target is gloomy. What are you doing?"

Somewhere, Mario received the message and smiled. He then called his secretary.