"AHHHH! I GOT ACCEPTED!" Zaina burst into my room screaming. I swear my eardrums just burst. I managed to pull my eyes off the computer, where they had been glued for hours, and looked up at her.
"What is it now?" I asked, confused.
"I got into my dream school!"
I blinked, still trying to process the noise and what she had just said. My brain, fogged by exhaustion, took a moment to catch up.
"Wait, what? You're in? Really?" I asked, finally focusing on her face as she jumped around excitedly.
She nodded furiously, her wide grin threatening to split her face in two. "Yes! I got the acceptance letter this morning! Full ride and everything! This is a huge deal, A!"
I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the lingering fog from all the work.
"A full ride?" I repeated, blinking in disbelief. "Zaina, that's incredible! Seriously, this is huge!"
She nodded vigorously, practically bouncing off the walls with excitement. "I know! I still can't believe it. All the sleepless nights, the stress, the applications—it was all worth it!"
I sat back in my chair, my exhaustion momentarily forgotten as I took in her joy.
"We have to celebrate. This is incredible. I'm so proud of you."
She beamed, her eyes shining with pure happiness.
"Thank you!"
"Did you tell Zara yet?" I asked. Her smile faltered slightly as she shook her head.
"I'm not sure how she's going to react. If she finds out I'm going somewhere 200 miles away from home, she's going to bawl."
"Regardless of that, she will be happy for you. After all, she also got into her dream school. I'm sure she won't be that sad."
Zaina sighed, her excitement dimming just a little.
"Yeah, I know. I just don't want to see her upset. She's already had a hard time with everything lately. I don't want to add to it."
I nodded in understanding. I knew how close the twins were, and the thought of them being separated for the first time in their lives probably felt like a big shift, even if it was for something amazing.
"She'll come around," I said reassuringly. "You two have a strong bond, and no distance will change that. Plus, you'll be able to visit each other. This is a huge achievement for you, Zaina. She'll see that."
She smiled faintly at my words but still seemed unsure.
"I hope so. I mean, it's just so much change at once. But I'm excited… I really am. I've wanted this for so long."
I gave her a comforting smile.
"You've earned it, Zaina. You've worked your butt off for this, and now you're going to make the most of it. Nothing's going to stop you."
She nodded slowly, her confidence starting to return.
"Yeah… you're right. I just need to tell her. I'll figure it out."
"Do it when you're ready," I said. "And if you need me to help break the news, I'm here."
She grinned at me, clearly feeling a little better.
"Thanks, Asani. I don't know what I'd do without you."
I chuckled, the weight of the moment lifting.
"You'd probably drive Zara crazy with all your stress. Now go, call her, and celebrate your good news. You deserve it."
With that, she hurried off to share the news with Zara, leaving me sitting at my desk, thinking about how much was changing for both of them.
———————
Three days passed with me constantly checking my phone every second, waiting for a call or a text, but still no sign of acceptance or rejection. I started to give up hope until one Saturday evening, while I was home alone and the twins were out with their friends, I got a call.
My heart skipped a beat when my phone rang. For a second, I debated whether I should even answer it, anxiety building in my chest. But I quickly pushed the doubt aside and answered the call, forcing my voice to sound calm.
"Hello?" I said, trying to keep my nerves in check.
"Asani Saidi?" a voice on the other end asked. It was a professional-sounding woman, and my pulse raced at the sound of her voice.
"This is him," I replied, my grip tightening around the phone.
"I'm calling from Tech Innovators, Inc. regarding your application. I'm happy to inform you that you've been accepted for the position you interviewed for."
I froze for a moment, my brain not quite processing the words. Had she just said what I thought she said?
"W-What?" I stammered, my mouth dry. "You're saying… I got the job?"
The woman chuckled lightly. "Yes, you've been selected for the role. Congratulations, Asani."
A wave of relief and excitement flooded through me, and I couldn't help but let out a shaky breath. I had done it. I had made it.
"Thank you… thank you so much," I said, my voice filled with disbelief and joy. "I—I can't believe this."
"Your training will start on Monday," the woman continued. "We'll send you all the necessary information via email, including the schedule and onboarding materials. Please check your inbox later today, and let us know if you have any questions."
"Of course, I'll keep an eye out," I replied, my voice still shaky with excitement. "Thank you so much again."
"You're welcome. We're excited to have you on board, Asani. Have a great evening."
The call ended, and I stood there in stunned silence, the phone still in my hand. Monday. That was only two days away. My mind raced with a mix of excitement and nerves. This was it. The beginning of a new chapter.
——————
Later that same evening, before the twins got home, I decided to prepare their favorite meal to celebrate their accomplishments—and mine.
I wanted to make the evening special, so I rolled up my sleeves and got to work in the kitchen. The smell of sizzling spices filled the air as I carefully prepared the twins' favorite meal—something warm, comforting, and celebratory. Cooking had always been my way of showing love, and tonight was no exception.
As the food simmered, I set the table neatly, placing a few candles in the center for a cozy touch. This wasn't just a celebration for them—it was for all of us. We had worked hard, pushed through challenges, and now, we were finally stepping into new opportunities.
Just as I was finishing up, I heard the front door swing open, followed by the excited chatter of the twins.
"Whoa, what smells so good?" Zara's voice rang through the apartment.
Zaina peeked into the kitchen, her eyes widening when she saw the setup. "Wait… did you cook all this?"
I smirked, wiping my hands on a towel. "Of course. We've got a lot to celebrate, don't we?"
They exchanged glances before rushing over to hug me at the same time, nearly knocking me off balance.
"You're the best, A," Zaina mumbled against my shoulder.
I chuckled, patting their backs. "I know. Now, let's eat before it gets cold."
—————————
Once Monday morning came around, I was ready to start my day. I woke up earlier than usual, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. First things first, I made breakfast for the twins. Thankfully, they weren't giving me a hard time this morning—mostly because it was senior skip day, and they'd planned to sleep in until noon.
After finishing up in the kitchen, I neatly placed their breakfast on the table, covering it to keep it warm for when they eventually woke up. I added a small note beside the plates: "Have a great day! Don't forget to clean up. - A"
Satisfied with my morning progress, I glanced at the clock and realized I needed to hurry. Rushing into the bathroom, I hopped into the shower. The warm water helped ease some of the tension building in my shoulders as I mentally ran through the day ahead.
This was it—my first day at Tech Innovators, Inc. I wanted everything to go smoothly, to make a strong impression, and show them they hadn't made a mistake hiring me.
After quickly drying off and getting dressed in the most professional yet comfortable outfit I could put together, I took one last look at myself in the mirror.
"You've got this," I muttered to my reflection, straightening my collar.
Grabbing my bag and double-checking that I had everything I needed, I stepped out the door, ready for a real work experience.
The crisp morning air greeted me as I stepped outside, my breath visible in the cool breeze. I checked my watch—plenty of time to get to work without rushing. Still, my heart pounded with anticipation.
The subway ride felt longer than usual, every stop making me more aware of the weight of the day ahead. I gripped my bag tightly, running through all the advice I had read about making a good first impression: Be confident, be attentive, and, most importantly, don't mess up.
By the time I arrived at Tech Innovators, Inc., I took a deep breath, straightened my posture, and walked inside. The familiar scent of coffee and clean office air filled my lungs. This time, I wasn't a nervous interviewee—I was an employee.
As I approached the front desk, the receptionist looked up and smiled.
"Good morning, Mr. Saidi. Welcome to your first day."
"Good morning," I replied with a polite nod.
"You can head up to the third floor—your orientation will be in conference room B. Just take the elevator down the hall."
"Got it. Thank you."
The elevator ride felt surreal. As the doors opened on the third floor, I stepped into a sleek, modern workspace buzzing with quiet energy. Employees moved around with purpose, some engaged in quiet conversations while others focused on their screens.
I found conference room B and stepped inside. A few other new hires were already seated, chatting quietly. I took a seat near the front, wanting to absorb every detail of what was to come.
A few moments later, a familiar voice spoke up.
"Welcome, everyone. My name is Nala Quinn, and I'll be overseeing your training today."
I looked up, immediately recognizing her from my interview. Her sharp, professional demeanor was just as I remembered. Next to her stood Mila Grey, offering a warm smile as she glanced around the room.
"This will be a busy day," Nala continued. "So I hope you're all ready to learn. Let's begin."
And with that, my first day officially started.
...
"And that's all for the company rules. Now, you will be taken to your respective departments by your fellow colleagues," Ms. Quinn said as she finished her presentation.
"Graphic designers, please follow Mr. Miles; HR, please follow Mrs. Gwen; and for programmers, please follow Sean."
I stood up, adjusting my bag as I followed the small group of programmers toward Sean, a tall guy with a laid-back expression and glasses perched on his nose. He gave us a nod before leading us out of the conference room.
"Alright, welcome to the tech department," Sean said as we walked through a hallway lined with glass-walled offices. "Things move fast around here, but don't worry, we won't throw you into the deep end just yet."
The workspace was open and buzzing with quiet conversations, fingers tapping away at keyboards, and the occasional sound of someone explaining a project to a colleague. Monitors displayed lines of code, some with simulations running, others with detailed UI designs.
Sean stopped at a row of desks, each set up with high-end computers and ergonomic chairs.
"These are your workstations. You'll be assigned tasks by your team lead, but for today, we're starting with a simple onboarding project. Think of it as a warm-up."
I sat down at one of the empty desks, taking a moment to absorb everything. The setup was impressive, the atmosphere professional yet not overwhelming. A notification popped up on my new work email—a welcome message with my first small assignment: debugging an internal tool.
"Don't stress too much about speed today," Sean added, leaning against a nearby desk. "Focus on accuracy. If you need help, just ask."
I nodded, rolling my shoulders before cracking my fingers.
Alright, first day. Let's do this.
TBC