Chapter Twelve

Nora and Sara left for the job hunt together after waiting for Andrew but he didn't show up. Few blocks away, they saw a vacancy at a convenience store. "Would you like to give it a try?" Sara asked Nora tucking her hands in Nora's arms.

"Do I look like I have any choice?" Nora asked as they went inside the store. They took notice of the store and when they got the feeling that it would be a good place to work, Sara asked some people about the boss.

"He is with a customer. I will alert him that he has a visitor." A young girl with brown hair and brown cute eyes said with a smile.

Nora smiled at the young girl and thanked her watching her leave to meet the boss.

"This place is amazing. How come I never noticed a place like this?" Sara asked looking at the items in the store. Nora smiled as the two of them stared at the beauty of the store. There was this comfort the store gives and it's hard to find it anywhere; the silence and the beauty made it a best place to shop.

"Hi ladies." A man in his fifties with bald head greeted. Nora and Sara turned to return hid greetings. "What can I get you ladies?"

nora looked at Sara as to who was going to talk first. Sara nudge her urging her to talk, "This is your chance." She whispered. Amelia sighed .

She mustered up the courage and said to the man, "I saw a vacancy here and I thought you'd be kind enough to let me work with you."

The man looked up at her and asked, "Do you have any experience?"

She nodded. "I worked in a Confectionary company and..."

"Why did you leave?" The man asked. He noticed the confused look on their faces so went ahead to elaborate, "I am asking because for a young lady like you who worked in a confectionary company coming to work in a convenience store, it's something I can't seem to understand and this is one of the ways I know my worker."

Nora was scared, she didn't know what kind of explanation to give the man. And she didn't know how the man would take it. She turned to look at Sara and she also was deep in thoughts but when their eyes met, Sara gestured her to tell the man the truth since sincerity and honesty is an important virtue of a worker. Amelia looked at the man trying to see if she could read the man's expression and know the kind of person he is but his face was expressionless, so she couldn't get the tip she was looking for.

The man waited patiently to hear her explanation.

Nora went closer to the man and said, "I was caught in a sexual scandal." She whispered to the man.

"I just knew you must have done something wrong for you to move from grace to grass." the man said as he walked away from them. Few meters away, he turned back and with a loud voice he said, "Whores aren't allowed in my store. Leave!" He ordered.

Everyone in the store turned to look at them. Nora couldn't bear the shame so she ran outside. She stood outside the door, she bent down and covered her mouth with her hand trying to hold back her tears. Sara bent on her knees to console her; she patted her back several times and when Nora was done crying, Sara wiped her tears. "Are you sure you want to go on with this?" Sara asked.

Nora joined Sara to wipe her tears. She nodded and said, "I am not going to give up that easily." Nora said.

"I know you won't. The Nora I know is not a quitter." Sara admonishes her friend. She checked her wristwatch and it was almost 6pm.

Nora noticed Sara checked her watch and she said to her with a smile, "I think you should start going so you can prepare for work tomorrow." but Sara shook her head.

"Go and leave you like this?" She asked. "Definitely not."

Nora stood on her feet and smiled at Sara pulling her into her warm embrace. "Thanks for being such an amazing friend Sara..." She pulled Sara away a little so she can see her face. "..but now, you need to go home and prepare for work tomorrow. I will be fine."

Sara tried to maneuver so Nora would agree but Nora still stood by her words. "Promise me you are going to be fine." Sara said,

Nora nodded.

"And if you need anything, you are going to ask me without hesitation." Sara added.

Nora held Sara's hand and took her to the bus stop where she can get a bus to go home. When the bus arrived, Nora gestured Sara to go in and if there was anything, she would call her. Sara got in, took a seat next to the window where she could see Nora and with a smile on her face she wave to her friend as the bus drove off.

Nora turned to look at the convenience store and she said to herself, Why are humans so judgmental? Telling lies ends you in a bad situation and so does telling the truth, which one is a person suppose to do when the both ends bad? She thought.

~~~

An expensive blue sport car arrives at the Netherland's house. The door of the car opens revealing a fine young man with charming green eyes. His hair was a black curly hair which he packed up in a pony tail, his appearance is that of a charming prince; cute, tall and handsome. He wore a blue shirt and a black trouser with pairs of white canvas, a blue face- cap and an ocean blue sunglasses. Locking the door of his car with his key, he entered the house.

The maids in the house were ogling at him. The young man was smiling and waving at them with his killing smile that sends most girls heart on fire. Kelvin dressed in a fashion wear; a rainbow-stripped shirt and trouser and a rainbow color sunglasses to go with it saw him as he was coming down from the stairs. He glanced at the young man who was also glancing at him. "Diego??" Kelvin asked in awe.