Chapter 2

RUBIE'S P.O.V.

It's finally Friday. It's the day of my interview. How time flies. I am not going to work today because of the interview. I get out of bed and look around; my study table is a mess and...shit! I forgot to submit my project; I've been so busy with the upcoming interview; I rushed to the project that I just needed to put my name and submit it. Physical tasks bore me out; why can't I type it and send it through email or something? But Miss McCall is old school. I put my name on it and rush to the bathroom; thankfully, just a few people are there.

After my shower, I decided to submit my project, I looked at the time, and it was 9:00 am. I'll have to submit it now cause my interview is set for noon. Since I have no classes today, I'll submit it and return to my room, "Good morning Miss McCall."

"Ohh Rubie, you're here but don't have classes."

"Yeah, I came to submit this," I say, handing it to her

"Ah, right; I was wondering when you'll turn that in," she says, smiling and taking it

"Yeah, I am sorry; just been busy finding an internship and all."

"It's fine; I hope you get that internship," she says, smiling as I leave the office.

I get food before the interview; I go to McDonald's.

When I get back, it's just 9:45; why is that time so fucking slow when you're waiting for something...ugh!! I'm so tired. I have nothing to do, I'm that uninteresting, to pass the time I decide to clean my room listening to 'Butter' by B.T.S. It's good. I have nothing to do; I haven't cleaned my room in weeks; thank God I don't have a roommate. I could get a space all to myself because of my condition, and no, it's not pregnancy. I have some shortness of breath issues and can't work myself up for too long or else I might pass out, so the doctor gave me a report saying I have to stay on the first floor so I won't have to climb too many stairs. Suddenly my music stops. What now!

"Hello," I say in an irritated tone

"Good morning to you, too," my mom says

"Mom?, Good morning. Sorry I didn't see the dialer," I say, sighing

"Were you sleeping?"

"No, I'm cleaning."

"Ohh, have you had the interview"

"No, it's by noon."

"Okay, dear. So have you eaten"

"Yes, Mom, how's dad?"

"He's good, just left for work."

"And Ryan?"

"He's left for school as well."

We talk some more, and I decide to get back to cleaning.

"Yes, Mom. Okay, I'll call you later when I finish the interview. We'll talk more; love you bye."

"Bye"

After cleaning and eating, it's 11:45, almost time I look at myself in the mirror again. Yes, it's a video call; I'll be able to see them, but I might need help understanding what they're saying.

Well, the email was in English, so they'll have a translator or stuff like that. I join Google Meet on my laptop and place it on my table.

"Good morning... Ma'am, "I say with a slight bow.

"Oh, Good morning, dear," she says, smiling; the fuck did she just speak English.

A/N: I don't think all Asians can't speak English; my character is a naive American girl.

She continues;

"I'm Son Jin-Yeong, secretary to Mr. Jung, Chairman of Mama's home-cooked food company," she says, and I nod.

"So tell me about yourself, Miss Jackson."

"Yes...uh, I'm, uh, my name is Rubie Jackson, I'm 21, I'm the firstborn of my family. I am a Junior, like in 3rd year at California University; I have a major in food and nutrition and hope to become a chef," I say, a little taken aback by the English.

She smiles and writes it down.

"Yes, I saw that in your CV. You major in food and nutrition but applied for an internship as a food researcher; why?" She says with a quizzical look; I knew she would ask that.

"Well, although I want to become a chef, I also want to learn more about how companies get the perfect products. I want to learn how they get the best results" and also because of the money, but she doesn't have to know that.

She sighs and writes it down.

"So, do you have any experience"

"No. But I plan on getting more exposure and experience with the help of the biggest food company in Asia, ma'am," I say confidently.

She nods

"You have some good achievements, I've gone through your CV, and you're impressive. Straight A student, so many projects and places you've done part-time jobs, but I want you to tell me about the real you."

"Thank you, ma'am, and well, I'm just a girl who didn't have so many opportunities because my family wasn't rich, but I studied and got that scholarship so that I'll make them and myself proud; I also picked food and nutrition cause it's one of the best aspects to dive into in the world but is overlooked because it's just "food" as they say, but it's not just food. It's understanding our nutrition, and it's a real job. I already have a flair for cooking, which I learned from my mom, but I decided to take it to the next level, ma'am. That's why I want to get exposure and more experience with this company, I've researched this company, and it's my dream place to work," I say, smiling.

"That's amazing, Miss Jackson," she says, writing something down. "Okay. I'll reach out to you by the end of the day and tell you if this company can help you achieve your dreams."

"Okay, thank you, ma'am," I say, nodding and bowing again then she cuts the call.

Phew, it's so hectic having an interview with someone like that; she was so intimidating; all I said there was the truth, though, And she spoke pure, clear English throughout the freaking interview. I'm so stupid; I face-palm myself. Of course, the interviewer will talk in English. They know I'm an international student.

Now we wait; I honestly have nothing else to do; I've said this before, but I'm pretty dull. No friends or boyfriend, just boring, but I wasn't always like this though; there was once a time when I was happy, had friends, had a boyfriend, and wasn't dull, but that ended three years ago, and after entering this college, I decided; NO MORE DISTRACTIONS.

I was not always a straight-A student in high school, I had a best friend from grade 7, and we were an unbreakable pair; I always spent time with her until I had a boyfriend in grade 10. But let's say it went downhill. I'm seated eating pizza and scrolling lazily through TikTok when my mom calls.

"Hello Mama, how are you doing," I say, biting into my pizza

"I'm feeling good, my love; how are you? How was the interview."

"It was good and unexpected; she spoke English throughout, like wow."

She laughs. "Did she confirm that you've gotten it?"

"Nah, not yet. She said by the end of the day, she'll get back to me."

We talked much more before I hung up and started reading for my semester's final exam.

It's 2:00 am, and I'm still reading. I get an email stating that I've gotten the job, and I'm so excited until I read at the bottom that I have a flight for Friday the following week. That means I won't have time to visit Mom, Dad, and Ryan.

I've been saving for flight tickets for six months now. Yes, they don't live in California or the U.S.; they stay in Canada, Dad's job took them there, and I couldn't go with them, or I'd have forfeited the scholarship, so I stayed back.

With a worried expression, I go to sleep.