"It's delicious." I hummed, as I took a bite from the sandwich. I was a vegetarian, which Lyla understood, and prepared another set of sandwiches. "Glad, you liked it. Estella prepared for you."
I gazed at Estella who poured juice in a glass, "Estella, you did a great job. Wish I could take you with me to my hometown," Estella giggled and responded, "Oh Ms. Carter, stop with that buttering."
"I might give you a better raise than Ms. Gomez." I joked making Lyla gaze at me with one eyebrow raised. " Will you be able to afford to pay her ten thousand dollars?" I almost choked on my drink and gawked at Lyla and then Estella who chuckled seeing my reaction. After thinking for a moment, I smiled at them and responded, "Nah but I can learn cooking and replace Estella. What do you think?" Estella who was laughing up till now gave a warning look, "Ms. Carter, that's not fair."
I showed my widened smile and sipped the juice, "When it's about money and family, everything is fair, right Ms. Gomez?"
"I cannot agree more, Ms. Carter," Lyla also joined in my act making Estella humphed in response. We both broke into laughter when the door opened and Christina entered the dining area. "What's the special occasion?" Her gaze fell first on her mother following Estella and then me. I bowed a little and greeted, "Good Morning, Christina."
Christina too bowed while sitting beside her mother and greeted back, "Morning, Rose. How is your stay till now?" I gazed at Lyla who was busy sipping on her drink but her gaze met with mine and I could not help but recall the last night. "Well.. it's been interesting is all I can say." Christina did not try to dig deep and focused on her breakfast while Estella served her juice. "If you don't mind, can I ask you a question?" I did not care much and replied, "Yeah, sure. What is it?"
"Have you thought what will you do? Don't mind me but if you wanted to do something, I can help you." My hand stopped in the middle. It was an awkward position but I did not care about that. I kept the spoon aside, "I was thinking the same. I mean about getting a job." I did not care if I was being seen as a desperate unemployed girl who wanted work to keep her mind sane. Christina and Lyla shared a look before she replied, "That's nice to hear. I have heard that you did your graduation. Can you tell me any of your interests?"
"Oh no, I don't want to be near anything related to my degree's interests."
"Why is that?" This time Lyla shot the question slightly getting interested in the conversation.
"Don't get me wrong. Computer Science was never my pursuit. I had to do my graduation in CS was that my parents wanted me to do it. Apart from that, I did not have any interest in it." Computer Science was never my thing. I did not even think of becoming one in the first place. Just because my other cousins were doing it, my parents also wanted me to do it. I tried, very hard to get my interest in it but after a few tries, I gave up knowing it wasn't my pursuit.
"That's unfortunate but do you have any other interests like any hobbies or any passion regarding one special thing." MUSIC! I wanted to say it out loud so badly but I couldn't. I neither have much confidence nor did any professional study regarding it. "I did some jobs in my hometown. I worked as a waiter in a cafe and restaurant. I also once got promoted as a manager. So, I had experience of that too."
I expected them to make faces listening to my jobs as that's what I got whenever I shared my experience. For me, no work was small until it was getting me money which made me survive through the month. Christina raised her eyebrows and Lyla had no expression look on her face. Both of them did not say anything for a long time. It started to suffocate me when Christine broke the silence, "If you don't mind then I might know someone who could help you. If you like, we can meet her today at lunch."
"..."
"Umm..Excuse me, Rose. Are you there?" Christina waved her hand at me.
"..." I was still silent still processing what just happened.
"So, you don't mind me being a waitress before?" Unintentionally, words came out of my mouth. "Why would I mind? Also, my friend also works at a bakery, so I know how hard it must be for you. She is the one I was talking about for your work. So, are you in?"
"Huh? Umm..Yeah, why not."
"Good. I got your number from Mom, so I will text you after fixing the time and place. Then we both can go." With this, she continued having her avocado salad. My gaze met with Lyla who was watching me intently as if she could read my mind. I jerked all the thoughts aside and finished my food. Christina was already finished and went back to her room maybe making plans for lunch. "I am sorry." I apologized to Lyla, who also seemed to stand from her place. She sat back when she heard my apology and crossed her hands. "I should not have judged you or Christina but.."
"You did think like that because usually, people tend to judge you."
And, just like that, she read my mind again. "Yeah." I did not have much to say. "My kids are brought up in different environments. They have compassion for the kinds and ignorance for the idiots. I did not teach them to judge because it's none of their business what people do and have. Especially, Christina. She is a soft child unknown from the cruel reality of this world and me and Maximus will tend to keep it that way until our last breath."
"I understand." I may or may not be jealous of Christina now. My phone buzzed with a notification of three continuous messages. It was from an unknown number consisting of a place name and time, maybe Christina sent it.
"Go get ready. I hope you will find something of your interest." This was Lyla's last words before she disappeared in the same lobby, which we just come to before breakfast.