CHAPTER 3: RIGHT OUT OF MY DREAMS III

I picked up the socks I had started knitting last night, I needed something to keep busy with till it's time for my bath. I had finished the other pair yesterday, hopefully I would finish this one before daybreak.

knitting is a skill I learnt during my years at the orphanage, back there almost everyone could.

Luckily, I finished the socks before 5am, just a few minutes before. I picked up my bucket and headed to the public bathroom, we used buckets because the bathroom shower was broken, but there was a tap in it at least. So technically, you fetch your water from the tap and then you know, do your thing the traditional way.

After my bath, I prepared for work... I mean, job hunting, I didn't have breakfast because there wasn't any. I was going to use the only money I had on me for my taxi fare.

So I hit the road and almost immediately, I boarded a taxi. I had a mental list of firms and workplaces I wanted to call in for job vacancies, and I was contemplating on which to check first, but the good thing was that they were all in the same neighborhood.

"Hey miss! what are you waiting for?? pay up and get down!" the taxi driver hollered at me and I jolted a little. I didn't realize when we got to my destination cos I was drowned in thoughts.

"I'm sorry sir, uhh... how much is it?" I asked, "5 bucks!" the snapped, he seems to be a short tempered man. "5 what??!" I asked in disbelief, "I think you heard me the first time" he retorted.

"B.. but it used to be 3 bucks! sometimes 2!" "are you gonna sit there and argue with me?? you should have asked before boarding my taxi, now pay me what you owe and get lost! I don't have all day!" he snapped again.

I knew it wasn't supposed to be 5 bucks, he just wanted to take advantage of me because he thinks I'm a weak girl, and he's right, I am a weakling and people always take advantage of me cos of it, I get that a lot.

Besides, even if I tried to stand my ground, and stand up to him, can I take on this man by myself?? I can't, he would pounce on me and get away with it and the fact that we were in a slightly remote area and it was still daybreak, would be an added advantage to him.

I'm about to give this man almost all I had on me, it would even affect my fare on my way back, but what can I do? this was really a tough decision to make, but I had to.

"Tick! tock! tick..." "there you go, happy??" I said handing him over the money. "Now get lost!" he spat and I had barely alighted when he zoomed off.

"Bloody con man!" I shouted after him, but I don't think he heard that.

I exhaled deeply and sharply. With what just happened right now, I wouldn't term today to be a promising one, I just got off a rocky start, but I tried to stay as positive as possible.

I have finally made up my mind on the firm to call in first, it was a restaurant actually. I think I might need to practice some breathing exercises, and I did, cos I was about to face a hostile manager, he had quite a temper too, 'oh! what's with me and tempered people today??'

When I arrived at the restaurant, it still had the 'closed' tag on the door, that's very unlike them, how can they be closed at this time of the day?? it was still 6:50 in the morning!

I summoned courage and entered the restaurant. They were packing up! What is going on here??

I walked towards the waiters' counter and there was Maya one of the waitresses, "good morning Maya" "good morning Selena" she greeted back.

"Please what's going on here? why are you guys packing up?? are you moving or something??" I asked worriedly. "This restaurant has been bought Selena" "what??!" I said in disbelief almost yelling, "how.. when??" I asked again.

"I don't know Selena, we got the news just this morning, we were just as shocked as you are right now, from what I heard, we are not the only building affected, I heard the new owner is a richass billionaire, he bought most of the neighboring buildings too" she replied gloomily.

Oh no! this can't be happening now! not now! "look Selena, I've got to go now, the new owner would be coming in here soon and we are expected to have vacated the premises before his arrival."

"Oh, alright, thanks anyway, bye" I said and turned to leave when she called me back, "wait a sec!" "huhh??" I said turning to her.

"Do you mind if I ask where you're going from here??" "job hunting" I stated plainly. "Yeah, I thought as much. Uhmm, I want to ask for a favor" "go on" I urged her on. "If by chance you happen to find another vacancy wherever it is you're going to find work, could you let me know?? I would really appreciate it" she said.

I pitied her, not that I didn't need the pity myself, but it beats me how things change, she must really be desperate right now and from the little I knew about her and her family, she needs this job as much as I do.

"I will do that, I will contact you if I happen to find any" I promised her. "Thanks Lena! you're too kind! I never thought I would wake up this morning to being jobless, how things change!" she said in a somber tone.

"How does it feel to be jobless Selena??! Cos I can't explain how I'm feeling right now" Sophia shouted at me from over the counter. "Sophia! that was too harsh!" Maya tried to caution her.

"What?? did I say something wrong?? I was just trying to express my feelings!" she defended, "you know, you could have done that without having to taunt her" Maya continued to defend me.

"Whatever! I'm always the one who's wrong! sorry for intruding!" she said snarkily and left

"Sorry about that Selena, don't mind...." "Maya! can you get back to the packing?! that's if you want to get your last pay!" the manager barked at her.

"sorry sir! I'm on it!" she apologized. "Alright Lena, I've got to go now, don't forget what I told you, okay??" "okay, bye" I said, "bye" she replied and ran off.

I left the restaurant dejectedly, that was my best shot, my confidence dropped to 20% I fought to keep it up but it just won't come up. I strode subconsciously to the next option.

If this next firm turns me down, I'm surely going to starve today and my weekly rent would be due by weekend. "Oh holy mother! do something!" I prayed desperately.

I need to be optimistic. I quickened my steps and in few minutes I was in front of the shop, it was a laundry shop, I entered.

"Good morning Mr Everett" I greeted as soon as I got to the man's desk, Mr Everett was the owner of the shop and he was kindhearted too, I was certain he would consider me. "Good morning Selena! oh you're early with breakfast today, I haven't earned any..." "no no! I'm not here to deliver breakfast" I assured him.

"Oh really?" "yes, I'm actually here to look for a job" I finally said.

"Ah! I wish you had come a little earlier, because you see, I just gave out the last vacancy. But you can call in tomorrow, cos I will be laying off some of my lazy workers today, so there will be lots of vacancies tomorrow, I will secure one for you, you don't have to worry" he said.

I was both happy and disappointed. Happy because, I will finally be getting a stable job, but disappointed because I might die of hunger today.

"Alright, thanks so much, I really do appreciate, and I promise to be at my best" I said. "You're welcome Selena, I know you to be a hard working young girl and I'm certain you will always be at your best. Alright, I've got to go attend to that customer that just came in, see you tomorrow" he said and left.

"see you too" I said and left.

It wasn't that bad after all, maybe I won't starve after all, cos I just remembered I had some leftover bread and jam; that would do.

As I walked down the junction where I would board a taxi, I came across the restaurant again, what a waste. This restaurant was opened last summer now this, but what would the new owner do with it? demolish it? renovate it? or turn it into a warehouse? it's likely to be the last option, that would be a total waste, but what do I care??

I saw a flashy black car parked in front of it, it seems to be leaving cos the engine was steaming. Then the back window began to roll down and someone popped his head out of it; that must be the new owner.

He's pretty younger than what I was expecting, and handsome too.

Wait... was he looking at me?? I spontaneously looked back just to make sure, but then there was no one behind me, there were trees, sure, but he can't possibly be looking at them, could be??

But why do I find him familiar?? I think I might have seen his face somewhere, maybe in a magazine or billboard or... wait a sec.... no this can't be! it can't be possible! there's no way... I looked more intently, it was indeed him! it was him!

It was my mystic prince! oh no!

Did my nightmares just come alive??