Two Worlds, Two Lives

CHAPTER 5: Find a Job

I felt a tap on my back. I gently raised my head from my mom's embrace, rubbing my eyes. Dr. Julian and a nurse stood beside me, the nurse holding a clipboard. "Good morning," Dr. Julian said. "Morning, what do you want?" I replied. "We need to check her vitals," he said, his hand gesturing towards my mom.

I stood up and left the room, watching Dr. Julian and the nurse through the door. After a few minutes, Dr. Julian came out, facing me. "How's she doing?" I asked, hoping for good news. "Her body isn't responding to treatment, and she needs a new heart urgently," he said, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"I'll go pay the bills," I said, trying to process the news. "Keep her stable and breathing until then." Dr. Julian nodded. "I'll go inside and let her know I'm leaving," I added. He nodded again, his hands on the door handle. "And please don't tell her," he said, turning back to me. "Okay, I won't," I replied.

I kissed my mom's cheek, whispering, "I'm going to go search for a job." She winced, her eyes blurry, but she faced me. Her hands found their way into my hair, caressing it. "Good luck," she whispered, her voice strained through the oxygen tube. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I kissed her knuckles. "Thank you," I said, before quickly leaving so she wouldn't see me cry.

The cold air hit me as I stepped out of the hospital. It was time for me to face reality. I took a bus to New York City, determined to find a good reporting job. But after hours of searching, I was met with rejection. Every company seemed to say the same thing: "No vacant spot" or "Not hiring at the moment." I pushed the thoughts aside and walked into a small restaurant, taking a seat by the window.

A slender figure in a black and white apron, with sand-colored hair, called out my name. "Jones!" It was Maxwell, my best friend. We used to tease him about being a waiter instead of having an "official" job. We shook hands, and he sat down across from me. "What's the problem, bro? Aren't you going to get to work?" he asked.

I hesitated, trying to hold back tears. "I lost my job... and my mom's been hospitalized. She needs a new heart." Max's expression turned sympathetic, and he shot me a comforting gaze. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea you were carrying all this burden."

"It's not your fault, brother," I said, trying to reassure him. "I just don't like spreading my problems to people." Max nodded understandingly. We talked for a while, and I found some comfort in his company. He offered to help me out, lending me some money to cover half the hospital bills. He also offered to get my mom her favorite meal: chicken noodle soup and a chicken burger.

"Thanks, man," I said, smiling. "I'll get going to the hospital." Max smiled back, his eyes genuine. "No need to thank me. You've done more for me in the past, remember? You'd drop everything to bail me out of trouble. I appreciate what you've done for me, bro. You showed me what it feels like to have a brother."

"My regards to your mom," he said, as we parted ways. "Take care of yourself, brother. Come see me tomorrow." I nodded, I felt a sense of gratitude towards him.

When I got to the hospital, i went to my mom's room. As i stood in the doorway, I saw Marie Yoon-Ah my Korean American girlfriend. She wore a white shirt tucked into her blue pant, more like an official work outfit and her long hair swaying at her back . She had light makeup, though without the makeup she's still pretty and a matching necklace and earrings. We met when I was on an interview section with Kai Won Alexander. It was crazy and thrilling when she ask for my number from a colleague. We became friends, but she wanted more for us than friend, And so did I. We've been dating for the past six months, she has been so supportive and caring even when I wasn't showing more of it. I Love her so much cause she makes everything seems easy and makes me want to do better. And offer her a good life, the kind she's used to than this miserable one I'm living.

She said something that made my mom laughed while she giggles acting cute. The view of both women made my heart sink into happiness and a smile lit up my face.