The morning sun, a relentless intruder, found its way through the blinds, casting stripes of light and shadow across Rene's still face. She grumbled, turning away and pulling the duvet over her head with a forceful gesture, trying to escape the sun's glare. The room was quiet, the lingering traces of sleep hanging in the air. Suddenly, a shrill ring pierced the silence, a sound that immediately shattered the calm. "Oh God...who could that be at this hour?" She muttered, tossing her legs in frustration. She considered letting it ring, hoping for no further calls, but the phone rang again, the unexpected noise jolting her from her slumber.
Suddenly, her eyes flew open, a groan escaping her lips. She impatiently threw off the duvet and lay there for a moment, disoriented, the remnants of the sleep dissolving as she stared at the phone with a pout. Letting out a deep sigh, she began to sit up, but just then, the call ended, only for the phone to ring again. Without a second's hesitation, she reached for her phone with her left hand, her right hand rubbing at her sleepy eyes; her movements were slow and lazy. The screen flickered to life, the caller ID illuminating the dark with a familiar name, and in that instant, she chuckled, "Why is this one calling me so early?" She wondered aloud, before answering the call and placing it on speaker. Before she could even speak, Eliana's voice burst through, "What is wrong with you? I've been calling you! I know you're asleep, aren't you going for your interview today?" Suddenly, it clicked. Rene glanced at the time on the screen and gasped... "Jesus Christ, it's almost eight o'clock!" She yelled, dropping the phone on the bed and rushing into the bathroom to shower.
"Here! Right here!" Rene shouted, her hand smacking the passenger seat as she directed the cab driver. The car screeched to a halt, and she immediately jumped out. "Miss, you haven't paid!" The driver called after her. "Crap! Right, how much?" She asked, flustered. He checked his phone, then announced, "Thirteen dollars." Rene quickly pulled money from her purse, paid, and dashed away, yelling over her shoulder, "Keep the change!" As she sprinted into the office.
As Rene entered the building, she spotted a young black man behind the front desk and approached him. He greeted her with a smile, "Good morning, how can I help you?" Gasping for breath, she whispered, "I'm here for the store manager position." The young man's eyes widened, and just as he opened his mouth to respond, a woman's stern voice cut through the air. Rene turned to see a stunning middle-aged woman with a perfectly styled blonde bob, flawless makeup, and a sharp pink and black office outfit. She looked Latino and was tall and thick in the right places. The young man, forgetting Rene, rushed towards the woman to take her bag. "Welcome, ma'am. I'll take your bag to your office," He said politely. But as he moved, the woman pointed a finger at Rene, giving her a pointed look...
"Do we now welcome strangers into my company?" The woman asked, her voice calm but her expression severe. "She's not a stranger, ma'am. She's here for the store manager position." "No, she isn't!" The woman declared, cutting him off. Rene dropped to her knees, clasping her hands. "Please, ma'am, don't turn me away for no reason," She pleaded. The woman glared. "For no reason? Honey, I never do anything without one. This will teach you to be time-conscious and always punctual, especially for interviews." "Please..." "Young lady! Don't test my patience. Get up and leave before I call security to throw you out. I don't have time for this pity me joke of yours. You, come with me. I have a few calls for you to make." She gestured to the young man, who followed her into her office like a shadow. He offered Rene a sympathetic look, who had sunk to the floor. He nodded gently, attempting to comfort her before disappearing with his boss.
Rene, her face etched with sadness and shame, rose to her feet, brushed away her tears, and silently left the office.
As she exited, her phone buzzed, prompting her to stop and answer. "Girl, how'd it go? Did we get the job?" Eliana's voice was filled with excitement, but when Rene didn't respond, trying nog to break down. "Rene? You didn't get it? Girl, I'd be so pissed if you were messing with me right now!" Eli said sarcastically but before she could say anything else she heard sobbing and paused. Rene knew she'd been heard, so she covered her mouth, trying to muffle her cries, but it didn't work. "Where are you?" Eliana asked sternly, getting off her bed. "I...I'm..." "You know what, just find a cafe nearby and send me your location. I'm on my way. Don't forget to send your location and get a drink or something nice on me. I'm coming!" Eliana shouted, then jumped off her bed to get ready before rushing out to meet her friend.
"This has to be the place," She muttered, confirming, "Rusty's Breakfast Bar... Yes, this is it." Eli then slowly guided her car into the parking lot, gathering her phone and white purse before exiting. With a click of her key fob, the car locked with a confirming beep. She quickly entered the bar, scanning for her best friend and frowning when she wasn't there. Checking her phone, she chuckled, "I'm m sure this is the place!" Just then, she looked up and noticed a young lady in a green dress, her head resting on the table. "There she is!" She exclaimed excitedly, hurrying over. Eager to cheer Rene up, she called out loudly, only to be met with a bewildered look from the the young lady. It wasn't Rene.
With a gasp, she immediately raised her hands, a wave of embarrassment washing over her. Before she could speak, Rene's laughter erupted behind her, and she turned abruptly. "Forgive us," She added, linking her right arm with Eliana's left. The young woman smiled, "Don't worry, we've all been there." She replied politely as they waved and headed to the far right table.
Before Rene could even sit, Eliana chuckled, "Girl, where were you? Why would you embarrass me like that?" Rene laughed, "You embarrassed yourself. Why didn't you call? Did I tell you my phone was off?" Then it clicked, her expression shifting to calm as she pouted and squinted, taking her seat in front of Rene. She shrugged proudly, "Well, God forbid a girl tries to surprise her heartbroken best friend." Rene chuckled, shaking her head. "I'm not heart broken, just hurt my job hunt isn't going as planned. Now, what are we ordering?" Rene chimed in, evidently ignoring her emotions. Just as she reached for the menu, Eliana placed her hand on it, making Rene look up.
"Girl, what is it now?" Rene asked, her lips pursed as Eli squinted, tilting her head. "You're doing it again." "Doing…what again?" Rene replied, feigning ignorance. "Oh God, don't give me that. You're doing that thing you do, acting like you don't feel the pain you just went through. How many times have I told you not to mask your emotions around me?" Eliana asked, arms crossed as Rene exhaled dryly. Rene desperately wanted to release all the emotions, but a swift glance around the pub made her hold back. Instead, she picked up the menu and began to flip through it, "I don't know what you're talking about. What are we having?" She argued, her voice trembling as she tried to contain the pain. Knowing Rene, Eliana reached for her hand and whispered, "Renata it's me." At that, Rene yanked her hand away and covered her face with both palms, sobbing bitterly. Usually, Eliana would try to stop her from crying, teasing her and trying to make her laugh, but not this time. She knew how much Rene had held in for so long, so she knew it was best for her to let it all out. She reached for her purse, pulled out a pocket tissue, and placed it on the table before gently caressing Rene's hands with her fingers to offer comfort and support.
Rene brushed a stray hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear as she reached for a tissue to dab at her tears. She sniffled, letting out a shaky breath. "I'm exhausted, Eli... I'm just... so frustrated. Why can't people be decent? Kind? Human? Why do people have to shot all the time? Your family isn't kind, neither are those outside! Why is everything so awful?" She lamented, blowing her nose before grabbing another tissue. Eliana took her hands, offering a smile. "I don't have all the answers to your questions, but what I can tell you is that everything will eventually work itself out. I don't know when, or even if, but I do know things will be okay. Alright?" Rene, her head still lowered, looked up and met Eliana's gaze, sniffling and then licking her lips.
After a few moments of silence, Eliana decided to break the tension. "Was it a Shrek or a Fiona?" She asked, and Rene immediately burst out laughing. She looked up, "Seriously? Shrek and Fiona?" Eliana shrugged, leaning back in her seat. "Well, if it treated you badly, then it could be either Shrek or Fiona." She replied proudly as Rene chuckled. "It was a... a woman. And honestly, she was very attractive. The kind of beauty that draws you in and demands attention. But, she's not the most patient person. You know I was late..." "So what? Hasn't she ever been late before? Why is this suddenly a problem?" Eliana argued, clearly upset. Rene shrugged, resting her right hand under her chin, her elbow firmly positioned on the table. "Her company, her rules."
As they spoke, a male voice interrupted from the side, and they turned to face him. "I apologize for the interruption, ladies, but I'm here to take your order. And miss, I hope you're feeling better?" She asked, looking at Rene, who looked up, confused, and ran her fingers through her hair as a yawn escaped her lips. She exchanged a look with Eliana, who wore a wide smile, a chuckle escaping her lips as she gently nodded. "I am, thank you!" She replied. The waiter nodded as well, pulling out his notebook for their orders. "I'm glad to hear it. Well then, can I now take your orders?" He asked politely. They quickly grabbed the menus, but just as Eliana was about to speak, another gentleman approached their table, saying, "Chocolate frosty donut with your famous caramel cappuccino, with extra frosting." A wave of confusion washed over the group, as they all turned, the unexpected interruption hanging in the air, charged with unspoken meaning.