Cutting The Line

At Forrest Research Institute, the applicants were lined up outside the conference room.

Men and women, newly-graduates, and experienced workers stood waiting for their turn to be interviewed. Some of them were reading the Institute's Mission, Vision and Philosophy hoping that it will help them impress the interviewers, others were praying or holding their amulet, and there are some busily fixing themselves, making sure that there is not a hair out of place.

Among the applicants, Clara and Bryan stood next to each other. Both of them are applying for a Laboratory Technician position. Bryan wanted to apply as a Supervisor there, but because the Institute was not currently looking to hire new Supervisors, he decided to apply for this position instead. He can work his way up afterwards, he is sure of it. After all, with his experience, he will surely get a promotion right away.

Before Clara stood a girl wearing formal work clothes and eyeglasses. She kept doing breathing exercises and kept looking down at her notes.

Clara was increasingly annoyed at the other applicants' behavior while waiting for their turn, especially with the girl in front of her.

She tapped the girl's shoulder.

The girl turned. "Yes?"

"Can you stop doing the Hooo Haaa Hoo Haa. It's so annoying! If you're not confident then why not just leave? Don't waste other people's time!" Clara said, looking at the girl with disdain.

"I--I was just a little nervous that's all. I'm sorry." the girl stammered.

"You're not going to leave?" Clara raised an eyebrow. Seeing that the girl won't leave, she rolled her eyes. "Then stop that annoying breathing."

The other applicants that were around were surprised at the scene. The woman who looked to be older than the other one was too harsh just now. It's normal to be nervous about the interview. Especially when it's for the biggest Research Institute in the country. They became self-conscious with their actions as well and got increasingly nervous. And yet, this woman would even berate the younger one in front of others. She really did not give a face to the company she's applying for. She could have comforted the girl. Then it would show that she had class. Or if she can't do so, then she could have chosen to just ignore it. But there she was humiliating the girl who did nothing wrong.

Kudos to the girl. She didn't burst out in tears. She was at a loss on what to do. She couldn't fight back at the moment for fear of getting evicted from the premises instead. She could only grit her teeth, clench her fist and keep looking down, pretending to be deaf. Whereas Clara continued with her rant, all of the attention turned to her.

In the laboratory, the phone inside rang. Most of the lab technicians have already gone to take their lunch while Diana and Kate were waiting for Miriam as she put away her things. Kate answered the phone.

"Forrest Research Institute Laboratory, how may I help you?" Kate answered.

"Ms. Lane?" Tamara asked.

"Yes, Ms. Silva. Can I help you?" Kate replied politely.

"Yes. I need a favor. I left some documents on my table, can you bring it to the conference room? Or if you're busy, please ask someone else?" Tamara asked.

"Sure thing, Ms. Silva." Kate hung up.

She went inside the manager's office and took the folders.

Seeing that Miriam is taking a while to finish, she realized that they might not get a suitable table in the cafeteria, especially today when there is a job interview going on. There will be more people in the cafeteria.

"Diana, can you give this to Ms. Silva? She's in the Conference room. I better go to the cafeteria and save us a table already since there's a lot of people going there for sure." Kate asked.

"Yeah. I need a few more minutes to finish up here. I'll meet you guys there." Miriam said, waving them off.

Diana nodded. "Okay." Taking the folders, both Diana and Kate left the laboratory, one going to the cafeteria and the other to the conference room.

"Excuse me.. Coming through.." Diana said a number of times as she made her way to the conference room.

Some started to complain thinking that she's an applicant trying to cut the line but stopped when they noticed her ID.

Apart from one. As soon as Clara saw Diana's face, she didn't even look anywhere else.

"What are you doing here?" Clara asked, eyes glaring at Diana.

"How about you? What are you doing here?" Diana asked in return.

Clara scoffed. "Obviously I was called for an interview."

"Diana." Bryan said. Only then, Diana noticed that Bryan was also there.

Diana only blinked her eyes. Deciding not to entertain them anymore since she needed to meet up with Kate and Miriam at the cafeteria, she continued to go her way to the conference room.

Seeing that Diana was walking away, Clara fumed. She broke from the line and grabbed Diana's arm. The latter almost fell to the floor with how hard the other grabbed her.

Diana almost dropped the files. A good thing is that she held it tight with her other hand. She rearranged, securing it in her arm.

"How dare you cut in line?!" Clara shouted. She wanted to humiliate Diana in front of the crowd. The rest looked in their way.

"Eh? It's that woman again?"

"The one who bullied one of the applicants?"

"Yes! That one! Now she's bullying another one..eh, an employee!"

"Heh. She'll be in trouble for harassing an employee then."

"Darn, she's one bitter woman!"

"Is she going to pick a fight with everyone?"

"She didn't even consider that people were watching the altercation."

"Yeah.. There are people and CCTV cameras around."

The crowd whispered among themselves. There were even a few who started filming but were careful to hide the others' faces.

Diana cocked her head to the side and smirked. "Let go of me."

Instead of letting go, Clara held more tightly causing Diana to wince. Diana's hand started to become pale. Her nail beds were pale as well.

"Then why are you cutting in line?!"

"I'm not!" She said defiantly.

"Yes, you are!"

"I am not!"