Preparing

Lucia went into the bathroom and turned on the tap. She splashed water on her face to wash off makeup and dirt. After drying her face with a towel, she brushed her teeth. In the mirror, she noticed her lips were still a little swollen from the kisses, which made her remember how he made her feel.

To clear her mind, she went for a bath. She filled the tub with warm water and added some bubbles. While soaking in the tub, she relaxed and felt calm. The evening's events played in her head, making her smile with happiness.

When she was done, she wrapped herself in a cozy bathrobe and changed into her soft pink pajamas. Then, she headed to her desk where the flowers were placed next to her laptop. The flowers still looked fresh and lovely, which was a reminder of the special evening. "Perhaps this was his way of ensuring I couldn't forget him, or maybe it was just a kind gesture." She shrugged, not entirely sure, and decided to put that thought aside.

Lucia needed to prepare for her important job interview the next day. She sat down and opened a document on her laptop that contained some interview questions she'd found online. She read through them and practiced her answers in her head, wanting to make a great impression. She was applying for a personal assistant position at MK Group, a well-known company in the country. She was aware that many people were competing for this job, and it was tough to get in. Lucia had put in a lot of effort to reach this point, and she wanted to be well-prepared. The salary for this role was substantial, which was exactly what she needed. So, she decided to take a chance. Even if she didn't get selected, she felt it was worth trying.

After about an hour of going through the interview questions, she felt confident. She decided to take a break and check her social media. She looked at photos and videos of people she followed and who followed her. She didn't have many followers and didn't post often, unlike some of her more outgoing friends.

As Lucia scrolled through the app, she checked out what her friends were doing. She came across some posts from her best friend and housemate, Rose. Rose went by the unique username @Rosebud_23, and she had a huge following, around 200,000 people.

Lucia watched a video of Rose dancing and holding a drink, and she couldn't help but envy her carefree and joyful expression. Rose was in the midst of music, colorful lights, and laughter, dancing with some strangers. It made her wish she had taken some pictures to remember this special evening. She let out a small sigh, thinking, "Well, I guess I'll have to save my fancy dress and makeup for another time."

After closing the app, Lucia felt a bit down and alone. She really wished Rose could be there with her so they could chat about their nights and swap stories. The silence in her room just seemed to bring her more sadness.

In a soft, almost whispered voice, she said, "Mom, Dad, I hope you're both safe." A sigh followed, expressing her longing for their presence.

With fatigue weighing on her, Lucia decided it was time to hit the hay. She powered down her laptop and strolled to her bedroom. She crawled into her comfy bed, tugged the covers up, and shut her eyes. Soon, she drifted into a peaceful slumber.

Lucia woke up bright and early, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. She checked her phone and saw that it was 7:00 am. She had a job interview at 9:00 am, and she wanted to be well prepared. She quickly got out of bed and went to the bathroom to freshen up. She had a long day ahead of her, and she needed to look sharp and professional. 

Lucia brushed her teeth, washed her face, and took a quick shower. After drying and styling her hair into a neat bun, she applied some light makeup to enhance her natural beauty. Glancing at herself in the mirror, feeling confident and ready.