The Unexpected Gift

It was cold and dark when Luna walked home that night. She had just failed another job interview, and was feeling really low. Luna studied psychology back when she was in college. She wants to understand what others feel, perhaps to help them, but she didn't use her degree to find a job related to it…

After a not so long walk, she arrived at her small apartment. She went inside and threw her shoes at the door and rushed to her bed. She then fell asleep because of exhaustion…

Later that day, Luna woke up with her tummy growling. She slowly stood up from her bed, and walked to her kitchen like a zombie. She looked at her rice cooker. Feeling disappointed, she spoke to herself that she really needed to find a job as soon as possible or she would move back to her parents.

She went to the sink to brush her teeth. After brushing her teeth, she took a bath and prepared for the day. She decided to find a job again. She went outside of her apartment and walked positively as if she could find a job this time.

While Luna walks along the pedestrians, a man in a black hoodie rushing to the other side bumps into her. She saw the man's face and stared at him while the man started to get further away. Luna continues to walk and as she arrives on the other side, she keeps a glance at the man that bumps into him who's still rushing as if someone will catch him at any moment.

"What is wrong with that man?"

She whispered. Out of curiosity, Luna stopped walking and thought of chasing the man, but then she remembered that she needs to focus on finding a job. She started to walk again, she went to the other side where the man went. While wondering, she sees a coffee shop. She stopped and stared at the signage. She breathed deeply and went inside, not to apply for work, but to buy a coffee with her money that was about to run out.

After buying a drink, she continued walking while holding the drink she bought, until she reached the police station. She glanced at the glass door and saw a wanted poster of the man that bumps into her earlier.

"Wait, is that the man earlier?"

She felt shocked, that man was probably running away. As she stopped, a police detective saw him standing near the station.

"Uhh, Hi"

The detective raised his voice to catch Luna's attention.

"Do you know that man?"

Luna glanced at the detective.

"Oh, hi"

She took her phone from her purse and took a picture of the wanted poster. She then looked back at the detective and breathed deeply.

"I saw him earlier while passing to the pedestrian lane. If I am not mistaken, it is near The Frappé Hut, the coffee shop where I bought this."

The detective stared at her eyes.

"Are you sure that is the man?"

His tone made Luna feel uneasy. She wondered what the man had done to be on the run.

"Uh, y-yes"

The detective rushed into the station without saying anything back after confirming the man in the wanted poster. Luna grabbed the detective's hand to stop him.

"Wait, what's the big deal?"

The detective then grabbed Luna's hand and faced her.

"That man you saw murdered his family and we have been looking for him for months now."

Then the detective rushed again to the station. He slowly looks back to Luna.

"Anyway, my name is Evan, thank you for your help."

He continued to run until he reached the station. Meanwhile, Luna put up her drink and stared at it.

"How could that man do that to his family?"

She breathed deeply and sighed. A moment before she stepped, she suddenly remembered the coffee shop earlier.

"I-I think I could apply for work in that shop?"

She threw the drink near the station and sprinted as fast as she could, thinking someone might see what she just did and also to get to the coffee shop soon.

Luna reached the coffee shop, feeling a bit awkward. She had seen the sign that said they were hiring, although she didn't notice it the first she went to the shop. She entered and asked a barista girl standing near the cashier table.

"Uhm, hello ma'am. Is it possible to apply for a position in this shop?"

The barista looked up and recognized Luna.

"Oh, hey!"

She exclaimed, sounding cheerful.

"Yes! That is right. You're Luna, aren't you? We went to the same high school!"

Luna was surprised. She slightly remembered the girl's face, but she couldn't remember her name.

"Uh, yeah. Hi. Do I know you?"

She asked with a confused face.

The girl grinned and introduced herself.

"I'm Alice, I know we weren't really friends or anything. But it's nice to see you again. And yes, we are hiring. Do you want to apply?"

Luna nodded and said yes. She was eager to work at the coffee shop. She hoped Alice wouldn't bring up their past too much.

Alice handed Luna a clipboard with an application form and a pen. She pointed to a table near the window.

"You can fill this out over there. It's pretty simple. Just your name, contact details, education, and work experience. If you have any questions, just let me know."

Luna thanked Alice and took the clipboard. She walked to the table and sat down. She looked at the form and felt a pang of anxiety. She hadn't been in a work like this, and she didn't have much to write. She wondered if Alice would judge her for that.

After some time, Luna handed the application to Alice and looked down, she felt so nervous. Meanwhile Alice read the application and noticed a blank. She looked at Luna and asked,

"Could it be that it is your first time doing a job like this?"

Luna nodded with a sad face. She knew she had little chance of getting the job.

Alice looked at Luna with sympathy and understanding. She remembered how hard it was to find a job when she was in Luna's situation. She decided to give Luna a chance.

"Well, don't worry. Everyone has to start somewhere. And I think you have potential. Why don't you come back tomorrow for a trial shift? I'll show you the ropes and see how you do. How does that sound?"

Luna's eyes brightened and her mouth curved into a smile as Alice gave her the unexpected offer.